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2 more fabulous designs! I really like the sheath specialty stitch--and it really looks great in the yellow, better yet, it looks to be pretty easy to do!!

I remember when you first started Hardanger. You fussed a bit about tucking threads in and such. Now your work is like an old pro. It's gorgeous! I see what you've done and how far you've come and I think I'd like to try it but I've got too many cross stitch projects on my hands right now. Besides, I could never be as good as you this fast. I think I'll stick to cross stitch for now and just enjoy your work (which I do very much).

I've decided to unpick some of North and South, I didn't think they were quite as balanced as I wanted them, and I've done some re-charting while stitching West too
Anyway, here is West in its final form , plus a closeup of the leaf and rice stitches:

Fresh pretty colour choice.

I've been showing another avid hardanger friend of mine your designs! She loves them....I hope she follows up the link I sent her to your Fancies!

West is lovely. I really like the close-ups also. The stitches look so intricate.

Carole

They are so neat and proper! How do you do that?!
Faith

Nachstenliebe wrote: They are so neat and proper! How do you do that?!
Faith

I just follow my stitch diagrams

beautiful as always Mabel!

Beautiful as always.

You make it sounds so simple.. West is lovely.

Such super lovely new projects!

Right, I spent most of last night unpicking and re-doing bits of North and South, and I'm finally happy with them *wipes perspiration from fevered brow*. I changed the position of the double cross stitches on North (though very little so it's not all that visible) and the corner motifs which were OK but a bit small; and on South I changed the border from fairly skinny sheaf stitch to slight bulkier modified shaef stitch. I'll post old and new side by side here, but please, if you prefer the old ones, don't tell me -- I must have unpicked North at least four times! Oh, and a close up of the modified sheaf stitch.

I think I prefer.............

wait for it!!!!! ....................................


the New one!!!



Sorry had to tease a little!

Seriously, Mabel, you do make some really good patterns!

I much prefer the bulkier sheaf stitch, although I loved the original too.

All the designs you've posted recently have been lovely and one even has a stitch that I've just learnt to do - Rice stitch

Love the bulkier sheaf stitch, they all look great!

Must admit that I like the new sheath better--and I loved the original one!! Looks great!!

Really interesting designs, and I like the look of the specialty stitches which do lend themselves to counted designs. Four elements next? I can imagine Earth, Air, Fire and Water...

I agree with the others. I too prefer the newer ones so all that unpicking and redoing was worth it, but if you hadn't changed anything they would have been lovely as is. I like the blukier stitch and the larger motifs. Seems to really set off the pattern. But both versions are elegant as usual.

I can't wait for the next set

Carole

A sad "in-between" project -- a good friend of ours was told last week that cancer has spread to his liver and is inoperable. He and his wife and sons are so peaceful and strong under it all, and carried by a strong faith. They are the worship leaders at our church, and so I thought a line from a song would make a good card. I stitched the little anchor and with it the line "we have an anchor" -- the verse ends, "fastened to the rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love", which is what I based the text inside the card on. That was the easy part. The hard part is to know what to write in it. I think assuring them of our love and support, both spiritual and practical, is probably best.

Sorry to learn of this Mabel. It will be a challenge for all your group. IMHO, simple is always best, and then words can be followed by deeds.