SO NEAR YET SO FAR!!!

Here I am again with yet another post. I've been working quite a lot on my TW . Back stitching takes such a long time doesn't it? While plodding along I discovered that I had missed out a flower completely and a couple of leaves, not to mention the 1/4 stitches. What a horror. Still not to be daunted I have put in the missing bits and straightened my shoulders, taken a deep breath and kept stitching.
I know it is probably very difficult to really see exactly what I have done so I'll give you a quick run down. The blending filament is completed on the horse's head and saddle area, also on the bottom left and top right fans. The Horse's tail and mane are now fully backstitched and I have redone some of the ribbons in the mane because I was not happy with their appearance.
I've completed a little more of the outer frame and have backstitched the majority of it (thank goodness). There is one big flaw in all this there is a part of the ribbon section of the frame(on the top towards the right) that I used the wrong blend in so I have to unpick that colour and redo with the correct blend (wish me luck).
Once again I can only say THANKS for all your support.
Keep stitching out there.

Finish Post in Sight

Here is my progress. I'm really pleased with how it's going. All the pink flowers and leaves are now done( I think). The outer frames still need completing and then it's all the remaining back-stitching(Argh). After that is the blending filament (another Yuk), when that's done I'll be exhausted.
I have been on the hunt for my next UFO. I can tell you all now that it is nothing like the Carousel Horse. The pic (I know it's not a good one) is to whet you appetite and make you wonder What in the World is that? You'll have a surprise when you find out.



Anyhow thanks again for all your support with my UFO and Happy stitching to you all out there.

Still Moving on, Nearly on the Last Part

The thread arrived from Janlynn so I've been back stitching like crazy. The horse body is now finally completed just some back-stitching on the mane and tail. I've been catching up on the border as well so that it will all hopefully finish together. When all the main pattern is completed I have to go back to do the blending filament on all the fans (I really am not looking forward to that bit.)
Thanks again for all your support it's helped such a lot. Happy stitching to you all

On the Gallop again. Carousel Horse TW

Well after one or two (or maybe more) drastic days I seem to have got back on course. One poor leaf was done three times at least you know the system -right place wrong colour, right colour wrong place finally right place right colour. Next disaster was the realisation that I'd run out of a thread. Now to contact Janlynn. Thread on the way-Yippee-. Anyhow it's not as thought there isn't much else to do so I've battled on regardless. Huge amounts of backstitching done and also the border is growing . Any way my mind is now definitely drifting towards framing and also finding out my next UFO (perhaps this is wishful thinking for a while yet but HOPE springs ETERNAL. Happy stitching to you all and keep the good work with your own UFOs

Plodding along -slowly Carousel Horse(TW)

Hi there. Well here's how I'm doing. Very slowly at the moment I'm afraid. I went along and did quite a lot of the purple/blue border and then discovered I had counted it one thread out. So enter the frogs. I was really disheartened at this point. Anyway I've taken it out and re-done a section of it. I've also started on the blending filament on the corner fans again. After me first attempt at them getting in a mess I was unsure whether to bother putting it on but I've had another go and this time I've used shorter threads and have not got in such a muddle. Must admit the weather has been rather good just lately and have been enjoying myself watching the European Volley Ball competition being held on the sea front and also the finish of a stage of the Tour of Britain Cycle Race- makes me feel super fit!!! Please note only FEEL fit. Still now it'll be back to the Land of Stitch and hope I can make better headway with my horse. All you out there with your posts are really doing well you should all be proud. Happy stitching to you all.

Watch Out ! FROGS on the Course (Carousel Horse TW)

Here I am again with my latest up date. I've been back stitching again for about 4 hours just today. The blue parts on the corner fan, head, and the blue under the saddle are all backstiched with Pearl blending filament---ENTER THE FROGS----- I had great problems with the filament it kept shredding and breaking. (Could be its age, as it has been languishing in a cupboard for in the teens of years.)Have any of you out there had this problem? I'm debating on buying some new but as it is not something I use very often so am unsure of what make to get( in case I buy a rubbish type.) It took ages to get out the shredded bits -what a nightmare. Still not to be daunted I did it and soldiered on. Apart from the blending filament parts that section of border is complete. I keep finding bits on the horse that I thought I'd finished but I'd missed so I put them in as I go along.The finished size of this piece is 20" x 16" , it sometimes seems as though it's going to be alot bigger. When I'm doing it now I find myself starting to think about the framing. now that's just got to be a good sign. Anyway onward and upwards to you all Happy stitching.

Stumbled at Fence(but still in the race)

At last an update on my TW Carousel Horse. I've been backstitching for what seems like an age . The chart is so hard to read I've had to do it by using a magnifying glass on the picture (and guesswork). There has been some frogging as usual but I'm becoming quite an expert at that now. As you can see I've started part of the border. I decided that I'd do some border, some backstitching and some horse-I've got my own rota going with it. I'm not sure that progress is as obvious but as it all has to be done I may as well do it like that. I've enjoyed watching all the progress reports on other UFOs and must congratulate you all. Happy stitching to everyone.

Almost a trip (Carousel Horse)

Well Here is my latest progress pic. I have almost finished my costume making so decided to cross-stitch for a while. I can tell you the horse nearly only had three legs. I have frogged it four times. I came up with the idea of putting a message on where the leg should be saying 'GONE FOR REPAIR' . I was getting desperate and then I thought of all you other UFO-ers frogging away without too much complaint and finally managed to do do it. I have decided not to attempt another leg for a while in case I have the same problem. The back stitch is yet another nightmare that I am having a struggle with so PLEASE send me lots of support I really need it at the moment.
To all you others out there in UFO-land keep going and I'm enjoy watching for your progress pics. Happy stitching

We're Off

Well surprise surprise, I have made a start on my UFO. After thinking I knew exactly where everything to do with this UFO was -Horror of Horrors- I couldn't find the chart. So it was then as case of where and when did I last see it. I came to the conclusion it was when I was visiting my sister. Gasp! I hear you all thinking just go and get it. Not that simple- she lives a few hundred miles from me. I kept looking at home. Relief I found it. It was tucked safely in a bag so that I didn't lose it.(Please tell me I am not the only one who does this). Several deep breaths and a large drink (tea- honest). Out came the hoop and you've guessed it I sat down and began to stitch the dreaded UFO. Two minutes later I was frogging, I had already gone wrong- one thread out. Still not to be daunted I squared my shoulders and off again my trusty needle flashing (slight exageration) through the air. I thought 'this isn't so bad ' and patted myself on the back. Give it another twenty minutes or so and I'm frogging yet again (I told you I was an expert). I have not given up, found out the magnifying glass to try and make out some of the chart. My dearly beloved(Husband) has copied them for me on the computer so that I can mark off where I'm up to, but the actual chart in parts really is not clear so obviously although enlarged I am still have some deciding to do. There are millions of half stitches and I am brilliant at putting them in with the wrong colour or at the wrong angle (frogging again). Goodness knows how I'll go on with the back stitching. I think if the back stitching is laid out flat it'll go to the moon and back. I have done a little on the 'frill' part around the saddle. I've put on a photo for you to see what I am trying do. You will have to decide on my progress. This is three and a bit days (not full days) mainly afternoons.



I change to my WIP in the evenings which is a Jim Shore piece called Santa's Workshop. Anyhow let me know what you think. All encouragement received with much thanks. To be truthful- without this blog this cross stitch would probably still be in the cupboard. Thanks Jen.

The One that got Away (with many others)

Well here it is. Started approx .1991 (definitely qualifies as a UFO) . It's that long ago I can't honestly remeber why I folded it up and put it away. Perhaps I got my mind blown by all the 1/2 stitches and blends of this Teresa Wentzler design. I have started to do some of it recently when I found it again.At this point I discovered that although I had all the threads and chart I had miraculously lost the important part that told me what the blends and symbols were. So I contacted Janlynn and they sent them to me. My excuses for not getting it done are dwindling. But at the moment it is once again cast into the unknown while I get a wider frame. By the time it's finished the Carousel will have updated and will now probably be space ships and all kinds of animals from someone's colourful imagination. Perhaps I'll try the rota system. Trouble with that for me is I find that I am enjoying what I've started and forget to change. I've got to be truthful and say I almost unpicked what I had done to use the fabric for somthing else but then I thought don't give in, get it done. So by putting it on this blog perhaps I will (nothing with me is ever definite). Now I will have to do some of it so watch out I just may surprise you and even myself.