I shouldn't have done that....

[mechie]

I was bored and decided to take a look at Chatelaine's site, which I hadn't done in a while. Well, now I've gone and fallen in love with her new Japanese Moss Garden Mandala. I can't afford to kit up a Chatelaine right now. I really should know better than to look at designs that I can't afford....

Hubby doesn't understand my problem, but I figured y'all would.

mechie

[nachosmiley]

Oooo pretty!

You could always just use DMCs instead of silks Amandas Chat looked just as stunning when she subbed the threads. ..... not enabling no no no......honest

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Ooooo Mechie - you gotta do a Chatelaine one day! I'm not tempted by that one myself - I breathe a sigh of relief when Martina releases a new design and it doesn't grab me as I have quite a few already! Obviously no one will know the materials until Martina releases them very end of March/April - but someone will post it on the Chat Yuku board so you know any damage before you commit to the class! The materials list will also include the DMC subs if you wanted to go that way - or buy the silks piece by piece from Margaret at The Little Thread Shop (USA), who has the best prices around by far.

I know that I would rather stitch a Chatelaine in DMCs than not ever stitch one at all............... . Having stitched (almost!) 2 full size Chatelaines, one in DMC and one with Martina's materials, I can say that the materials you choose will not effect the finished piece in any way. I have a few opinions on the matter which I won't bore you with - but I think if you pick a detailed Chatelaine like Japanese Moss you will have so much fun stitching it that you'll soon forget you are using the substitutions! If you have any questions or anything you know where to find me........

[mechie]

Thanks for the info (and encouragment ), Amanda. I knew that you'd done a least one of yours with DMC subs and it turned out beautiful. I really do want to do a full size Chat at some point (I've done 2 of the freebies), but it's the cost that's really holding me back (well, that and time, but I'll never get more of that ).

How about this, I won't rule anything out until the materials list is posted. At that point I'll at least have a better idea of what I'm looking at. I do like the idea of using the full silks just for something different, but I know I can't do it if it ends up being $200-$300. For now I can just play with the fabric viewer and see what color fabric I like!

mechie

[rcperryls]

That is a pretty one for sure. And there are options as to materials. I'm sure it would be fun with DMC threads and lots less expensive. I don't know how much beads are. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depends on which side of the fence I'm on at the moment) I hate beading and so find that a grand excuse for watching rather than stitching these. Can't begin to imagine where I would find the time. And I guess none has completely grabbed me yet. I have a few of the freebies downloaded but not stitched. Maybe one day....

Carole

[Raine]

I was on a similar fence when I thought about starting my Chatelaine. I tried to talk myself out of it because of the expense (and my personal lack of experience) but I was so hopelessly in love I just couldn't resist. Happily, some birthday money arrived in the mail that pushed me over the edge. So if you have a birthday, anniversary, or something similar coming up, you might want to hint!

[LadyS]

I drool over those Chatelaines ALL the time, and keep dreaming of the day I'm employed somewhere nice where I'll be able to afford to kit one up.

[Fljotsdale]

[MaudL]

I'm stitching my first full size Chatelaine right now (Sleeping Beauty Castle) and, like you, cost of materials was an issue for me.
What I did was first not use a hand dyed fabric. The stitched and beaded piece is already so complex and eye-grabbing that I thought a non-plain fabby would detract from it.
As for the fibers, I am using Martina's silk recommendations, but I'm only getting a little bit at a time. I ordered 1 skein of each of the silks necessary to stitch parts 1 to 3 from Margaret (she's the cheapest for silks); I figure by the time I'm done with those 3 parts I'll have saved enough for the next batch

[nhmomquilts]

If it helps "the cause", I am most happy to donate/share from my stash to help you towards your goal! As yourself, I have more projects than I'll ever get to so just let me know what you need and where to send it to and if I have it, it's yours......us sisters have to stick together you know Blessings, Linda

[vanessanjf]

Oooh that certainly is a pretty one!

[tgnd]

I've been drooling over all the Chatelaines ever since finding them on this forum. Oh my, I want to do several of them! But the cost of them is way too much for me right now. But some day - hopefully by this time next year - I'll be able to spare some cash and go all out on one of them. The symmetrical nature of the patterns really appeal to me, and they look like the perfect artwork to put up on my walls, unlike all the HAED patterns that I look at and while I'd enjoy stitching, I would never put dragons and fairies on my walls, that's just not my style of decor.

I've got a birthday coming up in april and my mom asked me what I'd like.. I started leading off with 'Oh, I picked up cross stitch again recently' and got shut down with 'don't you have enough things that you've already started that you didn't finish?' before I could even finish. Guess I won't be suggesting she get me a Chatelaine pattern or help me kit one out! Bah humbug!