Find Happiness in Simple Things

Last year I finished the beautiful Ann Gott sampler from NeedleWorkPress.......

I stitched my Ann Gott on 40 count Abecedarian linen from R and R Reproductions using the called for Classic Colorworks cotton thread... except! for the Bandana color.  For that I used dmc 816 for a brighter POP! of red.  

I also added my initials and year at the bottom and changed the verse to Find Happiness in Simple Things.   Someone reached out to me to ask if I had charted this verse and thought that was a great idea so that anyone who would like to use this verse on this sampler or for any other project can do so!

I have included the little bits of leaves on either side of Simple Things to help with placement within the Ann Gott sampler.  

It truly was a fun stitch and I was unable to put her down once I started!  However you choose to stitch your own Ann Gott I am sure it will bring you many happy stitches!  

Enjoy this freebie!  

Happy Stitches Always!  

Krista  

New!! Jane Bell!

 Happy Valentine's Day!  

I have a new release to share and it is filled with hearts and flowers and pretty red and pink so today is the perfect day to bring this fun sampler out!  

Meet Jane Bell.... a reproduction sampler adapted from an antique in my collection.  

Jane's original sampler (see video on my instagram @juststitchingalong) seemed to start as a sampler with a plan but Jane ran out of room and then used the bottom of the sampler for practice stitches, eyelets and satin stitches and such.  I adapted the design to feature some of these elements and love the outcome!  

A darling sampler with sweet motifs that could also be done as a small pin cushion, ornament or scissor fob!  

My model was stitched on 40 count light mocha linen from Zweigart with Classic Colorworks cotton threads in:  House Wine / Old Blue Jeans / Balsam Fir / Old Money / Holly Berry / Pine Needles.  

 The stitch count is 105 stitches wide by 88 stitches high.  The pattern is in cross stitch over two with just a small bit of cross stitch over one (the two little birds on the line with Jane Bell's name).  

While it is not known when Jane stitched her sampler I would venture to guess it was from the 1800s.  One of my favorite parts of this sampler is the thistle and roses motif in the upper right corner with the birds and crown.  Perhaps this is also a glimmer that suggests that Jane may have lived in England?  It is a mystery but fun to ponder.  

This sampler is available in my Etsy shop JustStitchingAlongX as a PDF download only.  The PDF has both color and black and white charts to suit your preference.  

I hope you think Sweet Jane is as darling as I do!  

Happy Stitches Always!  

Krista 

New!! TGA Redwork Sampler!

Something NEW and something RED!  

I am pleased to present my new release!  The TGA Redwork Sampler!  

Featuring two-tone red alphabets, along with fun florals, baskets and a grey kitty cat!

From the research I have done I would guesstimate this sampler is from the late 1880s to 1890s and has been reproduced from an antique in my collection.  I have named it the TGA Redwork Sampler because the stitcher only included their initials, TGA, and not their name.  So it is a mystery sampler of sorts but I do believe it is Italian or Italian-American based on the motifs used.  

The stitch count is 302 wide x 118 high.  I have stitched the model using 40 count R and R Reproductions linen in Espresso using all Gentle Art Sampler threads.  A conversion to DMC is also provided although may give a different result.  

Gentle Art:  Bluebell / Cherry Wine (2) / Cottage Blue / Deep Sea / Grasshopper / Highland Heather / Midnight / Moonlit Path / Pomegranate / Punchberry / Schoolhouse Red (4) / Sunflower / Willow

OR DMC:  928 / 815 (2) / 926 / 924 / 370 / 3727 / 930 / 453 / 347 / 211 / 816 (4) / 742 / 744

Also included is an additional alphabet in the font used for the TGA so you can use to personalize if you wish!

The chart is available from your favorite shop which is done in a full-color chart OR pdf is also available with both color and b&w charts in my etsy shop here!

Thank you for looking!  

Happy Stitches Always. xxxxx

PDFs on ETSY!

You can find my designs now on ETSY!  

This will give the option to the buyer if they prefer to get a booklet from their local or online stitching shop OR a PDF digital download for instant gratification.  

The PDF digital downloads will have both color and black/white charts included as well as all the details found in the printed booklets!

You can visit my Etsy shop, JustStitchingAlongX here!

Favorite the shop to learn when new items are added!  Thank you for looking!  

Happy Stitching Always x

Krista 

Mary Barker 1830 conversion update!

 Whoops!  

As I am stitching along on my #MondayswithMary I noticed that two of the silk colors were noted in the wrong place!  All the colors are correct but the 693 and 763 NPI need to be swapped.  

Here is a snap of my progress through last night with the colors noted above.  

Sorry for any confusion or inconvenience!  

Here is an updated conversion list with the NPI color numbers in the correct place!

#MondayswithMary !

Hello there! I hope you are all enjoying your Summer! and for those down under... Winter! We are coming around the corner to #SamplerSeptember very soon! My Miss Mary Barker 1830 model is on display at Attic Needleworks in Mesa, AZ so if you visit be sure to take a look-see! The model was stitched using dmc thread but I have now created a silk NPI conversion which can be found on my instagram @juststitchingalong ! Here is a look at the pretty colors and my start from Monday night. I thought it would be great fun to have #MondayswithMary heading into #SamplerSeptember so come along and join me if you like! On Miss Mary Barker, or perhaps another sweet 'Mary' sampler!

In the meantime, I have been busy working on a few of my favorite Wips! Here is my August update on the Martha Dawson Sampler which is being done as a stitch a long following a month-to-month schedule. If interested in more info please find the Our Sampler Years group on Facebook. I have monthly Stitch with Me videos as we make progress along the year!  I am using 100/3 au ver a soie silk on 40 count Old Sheep linen from XJudesign.  

Next up is pic with me! holding my progress on Those Who Sing by the Drawn Thread.  Such a fun stitch, I love all the birds and the pretty flowers done in satin stitch.  I am doing this also as a stitch a long as a birthday SAL with Colette (Highway stitcher on Flosstube) as we both share the same birthday!  This is the second year we have had a dedicated stitch a long for our birthday year.  I am using the silk package from the Drawn Thread which was mostly Dinky Dyes silk - which I absolutely loved!  On 40 count zweigart Summer Khaki linen.  

I did have a finish in July!  - I was so surprised at how quickly this sampler stitched up!  This is Ann Gott from NeedleWorkPress which is a dedicated stitch a long from Attic Needleworks this year.  I chose to change the verse and add my initials, and also changed the Bandana color to dmc 816 for a brighter pop of red.  I stitched this on 40 count Abecedarian linen from R and R Reproductions.  

And last night I wasn't sure what WiP to pull out next but settled on one I haven't seen in quite some time.... Elizabeth Furniss from Hands Across the Sea Samplers.  I fell in love all over again with her.  I am doing my sampler in dmc thread on 40 count vintage country mocha linen.  I have some ideas to change things up but we will see how it goes.  I love my bling-y needleminder!

Some other beautiful Hands Across the Sea Sampler charts have made their way across the ocean to me too!  So many samplers so little time.  I have gotten the silks to do Harriett Godhard so maybe soon there will be a start!  And, that Jane Hopkins with those flowers!  I have the dmc all ready to go on that one too!  

So aside from stitching I have been getting out more and more lately.  I went in to NYC for the first time since beginning of 2020.  I went to one of the Van Gogh experiences and it sure was! Such an amazing visualization in combination of sound and reflection.  Highly recommend!  

I also visited one of my favorite, happy places near my home... Candlewood Lake in Connecticut!  Always so relaxing to sit by the lake!  

The colors have been fantastic this Summer, the flowers have been really soaking up the sunshine!  

And I was surprised to find this display at my local Michael's store!  A whole rack of Anchor threads!  I am looking forward to trying some.  It even provides the dmc coordinating color so if the dmc thread is out there is another option!  

I think that catches things up for now!  Some things to look forward to.... I have a new release planned for next month.... something very RED!  

You can also find me @juststitchingalong on Instagram.   Hope you will join me on #MondayswithMary !  

Take care and Be well!  

Be Thankful Always

Happy Thanksgiving!  

I thought today was the perfect day to share this sampler with you.  A freebie sampler from me to you!

Miss Mary Yerger 1859 is a sweet Pennsylvania German sampler that I reproduced from my personal collection.  I stitched the model almost as Mary had stitched her own structuring some of the motifs and letters to give it some balance.  I have also adapted it to add a special message at the bottom, Be Thankful Always!  

I stitched the model on 32 count Apple Brown linen from R&R Reproductions using Ginny Thompson Flower Thread.  A fun thread to work with, one strand is comparable to using two strands of DMC thread.  They come already wound on floss cards and very easy to unwind as needed.  

I have also provided a DMC conversion so Mary Yerger's sampler can be stitched on any fabric of your choosing!   Here is the DMC color conversion:  

You can access the pdf of the chart here !

Enjoy!  

You can also find my updates for Just Stitching Along on Instagram @JustStitchingAlong 

I wish you all a wonderful holiday, albeit a different kind of holiday this year.  

Be well and stay safe! 

Krista