Cross stitch memories : )

Hi!

 

On my bed I have some cross stitched cushions so yesterday I took some pictures of them so I can document them on this blog . When I stitch a cross stitch project that I want to turn into a cushion I often stitch it on 11-count aida so that the motive stitches up slightly larger and more eye-catching . Stitching on 11-count aida I know that I should stitch with three threads , but since I prefer to begin with the loop method ( which you cannot do with three threads ) I almost always stitch with two threads anyway . Maybe my stitching doesn't pop the way it could with three threads , but I'm still quite happy with the results .

 

This first cushion I stitched from a chart in Cross Stitcher magazine .

 

 

I love the sewíng theme of this chart and the slightly whimsical feeling that reminds me of Cinderella and the birds that helped make her dress . In the original chart there was some real buttons for decoration , but since I knew I wanted to turn it into a cusion I decided to cross stich all my buttons instead .

 

I think this pattern comes from Cross Sticher too .

 

I loved the big , bright and bold flowers and all the greenery surrounding them . I used some matching flowery fabric and turned it all into a colourful cushion and I am very pleased with the end result.

This smaller cushion was stitched by my maternal grandma Gerd . She used to cross stitch a lot when she was younger , and I remember this cushion on their sofa when I grew up .

 

These days she's in her eighties and sadly she can only manage long stitch due to her eyesight . It really is a charming cushion ; grandma wasn't a cross stitch expert and looking closely at the stitching I can see the top stitches going in different directions and the back isn't the neatest . However , that is what I love about this cushion ! It shows my grandma's love of stitching and her enjoyment of it , regardless of if it was perfectly executed or not : ) A lesson to us all , and me in particular !

 

The final stitched cushion is from my paternal grandma Mary . She REALLY was a cross stich wizard!

 

I remember her sitting on her livingroom couch with her huge charts on the table and her huge stitching in her lap . She stitched big , gorgeous pictures and the most impressive one is a panoramic view of Stockholm which now lives at my dad's place . I tell you , she would have LOVED to stich HEAD pictures! This particular project was sadly not finished before she passed away , and my mum very kindly finished it and turned it into a cushion for me . Now it has pride of place on my bed together with the other cushions and reminds me of wonderful stitchers in the family and the simple joy of stiching .

 

Happy stitching everyone !

 

Annie