Hina Dolls 2020

I have completed the three Hanging Hina Dolls I had set out to make this year.

From these pieces of chirimen (silk or polyester crêpe)

I made a mouse, a seahorse and a Hozuki plant (Physalis Alkekengi or Chinese or Japanese Lantern)

I now have 82 ornaments in my Hina mobile.

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 121: Point á la Minute

Welcome to the first stitch in a set of five new embroidery stitches.
Today we are looking at a cousin of the Wrapped Cross Stitch (stitch #85).
Here is Sunday Stitch School stitch number 121, Point á la Minute.

I have come across it in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches, where it is worked in two colours, as well as various embroidery blogs.

It is best worked in a thread with a good twist, like Perle.

Make a cross out of eight Straight stitches.

Come out in the same hole as the blue thread and wrap the first Straight Stitch.

Anchor and continue with the next Straight Stitch.

I think it would be better to use the same colour thread, to avoid the blue thread peeping through.

Homework is as usual, to work the Aida Sampler, the Sunday Stitch School Reference Chart and the Teal Wool Tailoring Scribble Cloth.

Friday Revision Homework - Stitches 116 - 120

I N V I T A T I O N

Sunbonnet Sue 

is cordially invited to a Fancy Dress Party at 

The Crystal Ballrooms, Metropolis City

on Friday February 7th 2020

at 9pm.

Sue:   Wow! What fun! I really want to go, but Fancy Dress... What shall I go as? How should I dress?

Queenie:   They didn't invite ME!!! Why??? 

Sue:   Don't sulk! 

Queenie:   Well, IF I had been invited I know just what I would have gone as!

Sue:   You do? Tell me, tell me, tell me please!

Queenie:   You see, I have just learned this fancy stitch, Woven Long Tail Lazy Daisy Stitch.

Sue:   Oh really? How would you use it?

Queenie:   Well, it always reminded me of an Egyptian collar.

Sue:   So you would dress as an Egyptian princess?

Queenie:   Yes, I think so, and the Magic Split Stitch would be excellent for the black hair.

Sue:   Oh, why don't you make me a collar and the wig and the dress and the armbands...

Queenie:   Why should I?!

Sue:   PLEASE!

Queenie:   Oh well, all right then. As I am not invited I guess I could just as well make it for you...

Sue:   You're a great pal!

Queenie:   Pfft... Just remember, it's going to be very windy. So windy your hair will cover your face! No one will see your pretty face, but everyone will see MY costume!

Sue:  Pfft!

WIPW - Preparing for Hina

Work In Progress Wednesday, here we are again. A week passes so quickly, have I managed to make any progress?

Freeform Embroidery
I added two stitches, both or them were learned years ago in the TAST online course run by Sharon of Pintangle.
The stitches are Detached Buttonhole Stitch, and Barb Stitch.

Tvistsöm Cushion
I have just completed row 32 and will start 33.

Hina Dolls
It is time to add three more Hina Hanging Dolls to the mobile.

If you don't know what I am talking about read about Hina dolls here.

I have picked out the fabric and started making the paper patterns.

Now what will I be making, do you think? The hints are: an autumn plant, the animal of the year and something from the sea.