Free Witchalong for October

 

I was so excited about the drawing I made and the thoughts of joining all of you for a stitchalong in October and I was wondering how I would organise it. I also realised that October is my birthday month but it's been a few years since I last did a free pattern for my birthday. So to celebrate that (since I can't have a party this year) and to thank everyone for their support of my designs and me over the last few years I am offering this pattern for free and inviting everyone to join me for a witchalong for the month of October!!

I spent all weekend test stitching this little cutie so that I would have it all ready to share with you. I'm so happy and proud of how it turned out and VERY excited to do this stitchalong or witchalong ... I think I like witchalong better :D!

So how do you get access to this pattern? 

I'm going to offer it in two forms.

1. It's going to be available for download from my facebook group. It really is the easiest way to share PDF patterns.  As I release the parts (the cross stitching and then the next week the back stitching) all the pattern parts will be available there to download and for you to share your stitching as you do it.

2. But because I know not everyone is on facebook, I'm also going to send it out to everyone on my email list because I want as many people as possible to get access to the pattern. You can sign up to my email list from here. At the top of my blog page is a subscription box to sign up for my mailing list. 

 

 What will I need?

Well the pattern itself is only about 30x45 or so stitches so it's a little piece. You can use scrap pieces of aida or evenweave. Unless you want to play with the different colourways and try out a few of them and then you'll need a bigger piece of fabric. 

The pattern only uses 10 colours. With the 4 main ones being 4 shades of the same colour. When trying to decide on the colours to use to test it I ended up laying out a few choices and while I only had time to stitch one all these will be possible colours you can use (or you can use your own entirely.)

 

My tester was done in the blue but I'm also going to start a purple one because ... why not? And it's me and purple!

Thread Colours

Every colourway will use these DMC colours:

920 for the hair

945 for the skin and 841 for the cheeks. I haven't worked out what would suit for darker colours but if you go too dark you may need to change the backstitching colour... 

434 and 744 for the broom.

For the blue colourway:

797,798,799,800

For the Purple:

550, 552, 553, 554

For the Pink:

3802, 3803, 3687,3688

For the Green:

500, 501, 505, 562

 What else do you need to know?

So the first pattern will be released on October 1 ... if you wish to get all the patterns via email you must be signed up to the mailing list by then I'm not sure if I know how to resend the emails but I may be able to send the link out if you email me. 

I will release the backstitching on the 8th :D Which I kinda like the symmetry of as that is my birthday! An awesome present for me!! To give you wonderful stitchers the full pattern. 

The week after I will release an email talking about finishing techniques. Over the years I have written NUMEROUS tutorials on how to finish your cross stitch as everything from pillows to book covers and a few things in between. SO I'm going to dig out those tutorials and we can have a look at all the cool ways you can make this design look cuter. 

There is one thing I ask of everyone participating. SHARE. Please don't share the pattern itself but share about the stitchalong on social media. Share photos with me and with others. Let people know where they can get a hold of the pattern themselves. I want to see what you are creating. That is half the fun of a stitchalong. 

So Happy Stitching and I look forward to seeing your creations, 

Caitlin

Christmas Owl Wreath Stitch-A-Long

I will start this with saying I have NEVER done anything like this but I am extremely excited to make this come to fruition! So please be nice as I deal with the teething problems!

What am I talking about? Well I have been really enjoying designing and drawing these last 6 months and one project I really wanted to do was run a stitch-a-long. But my designs are not big and complicated. I deliberately design stuff that really won't take you long to stitch from start to finish because I like those sorts of projects.

OWL WREATH STITCH-A-LONG

So I am making my Stitch-a-Long a little different. The stitching component is only half of the SAL. The second half is a finishing tutorial. I'm going to give full instructions with a video on turning your piece into a little pillow that you can hang on your christmas tree or put in a decorative bowl. You're going to be able to finish all your ornaments from now on and they make awesome gifts for friends and family to hang on their trees.

Time:
This is going to be a 4 week SAL with week one being cross stitching and then by the end of week 4 you will be able to showcase your finished ornament. 

Requirements:
Cross stitch fabric
Threads - 8 colours
Backing fabric
Stuffing
Sewing Machine and/or Needle and thread
Fabric Glue
Ribbon/thread for the trim

Design:

This is a mock up of the finished design as I haven't finished the stitching to show you what the pillow will look like.

It is 50x50 stitches so will end up at about 3.5 inches square.

So down to the important questions what do you get?

This SAL will include:

-Weekly videos of the steps involved and the instructions.
-Full pattern to stitch the above design
-Instructions and options to finish your design
-Exclusive pattern group for the above SAL where I can answer any questions and you can get help from me or others doing the SAL.
-Access to the videos and pattern for eternity (well maybe not depends on the internet not me!)

 How much will it cost?

This is probably a large question as there is a lot involved. I am offering this SAL for the awesome price of $1 AUD. (I don't know what exactly that will translate to in your country with the taxes that get added) I figure this is my first ever SAL and outside the design and videos the majority of the cost of supplies will be on you so I want to make it as available for everyone as possible. I will also suggest cheaper options and alternatives as we go along if it is at all possible.

So please come join me on this fun journey! I look forward to sharing this with you!

Get the pattern HERE and join us for a fun November!

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin