House Hippos Cross-Stitch

Not long ago, I was struck by unexpected inspiration: I needed to make a cross stitch piece featuring house hippos.

If you're a Canadian of a certain age, house hippos are a cultural touchstone; if you're not, you might be a little confused. House hippos were born in 1999:

En francais:

Cute, right? The lesson may not have stuck, but house hippos sure did. Without a house hippo pattern available (at least, not one I could find), I came up with my vision. Then I went looking for patterns to put together.

I didn't really record the details (sorry). I got a hoop that I thought would be a good size, grabbed the aida cloth that seemed like the right one, picked thread colours that seemed appropriate, and found patterns that worked with what I had.

The hippo took longer than I expected. It's a pretty simple design, but there's a surprising amount of detail in it.

The lettering really scared me; I was so worried about it being off center. It's not perfect, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

The red I used for "Caution!" caused me some consternation. I thought I already had the right shade on hand, but it turned out I didn't. It needed a special trip to the store to get the perfect shade of Canadian flag red (DMC 321), and it's not even showing up properly in the picture! This is what it really looks like (or as close as you can get on a screen):

And now for the real stress. The French writing.

The French lines involved longer words/phrases and several wide letters to try to fit in. Paranoid about running out of space, I narrowed the writing on "Attention!" I probably should've left it alone, but by the time I realized that, it was too late to change it.

My original plan was to put a maple leaf on either side of the hippo. Then I realized the French and English parts are equal-- it made no sense to have two large maple leaves and one small fleur de lys. As proud as I was of my freehand mini fleur de lys, it had to go.

For a second I thought about adding a tiny maple leaf to balance out the tiny fleur de lys, but I didn't want it getting too busy.

The final design! I'm happy with how it turned out, especially the fleur de lys, which not only ended up the right size, but is also a pretty good representation in both colour and style of Quebec's fleur de lys (my home province).

I also like to sign my needlepoints. It's always in a hidden spot, but I choose to believe some future needlework enthusiast will notice one of them and start an epic journey to find all the pieces of the mysterious "ASB."

This was actually my first time backing an embroidery hoop with felt. I used this video for the instructions. You can see in the picture above that my "fringe" of aida cloth looks messy and is also too wide. I ended up re-doing it, because it really shows through on the front.

I think that's better (at least there's less excess fabric). By the way, I know people pride themselves on the neatness of the backs of their embroidery pieces. That's great for them, but I can't be bothered. I do needlework to relax and for the love of creating-- I don't need the stress of making sure the back (that no one will see!) looks as good as the front.

I really enjoyed sewing the felt into place. I also enjoy sewing knit/crochet parts together too, which a lot of people seem to hate, so I think I just enjoy hand stitching. The felt isn't completely flat, because (despite my best efforts) it was a tiny bit too big. But it's not so bad that I needed to re-do it. 

All done!

Now to get some mini hippos to leave around the house...

As a bonus, I had enough aida left to make a bookmark!

Anyone familiar with A Series of Unfortunate Events should recognize the quote :)

Speaking of books, have you downloaded mine yet? 

Love Lies Bleeding

Bleeding Heart

Blood Magic

Tooth & Claw

(Links take you to all available stores. Love Lies Bleeding and Bleeding Heart are also available in paperback.)

What projects are you working on lately? If you do needlepoint, do you care what the backs look like? Did you grow up with house hippos? Share in the comments...

Cheers,

Aspasia

PS: Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com. 

All photos by Whimsy Bower/Aspasia S. Bissas, other than the picture of the embroidery threads.

Cushioned, or how to turn a needlepoint into a pillow in a few easy steps

Anyone who crafts knows the heartache of running out of storage and display space. Unfortunately, the joy of creating doesn't come with a TARDIS. Life is unfair. If you're heavy into needlepoint or embroidery, limited wall space is your main nemesis (damn windows taking up prime real estate). One way around this is to turn your needlepoint into a pillow. If you have basic sewing skills, it's actually really easy. This is the first pillow I've made and it took me about three hours total, including breaks and picture taking (but not including making the needlepoint).

You can make a pillow out of any needlepoint, but you can also get kits specifically meant to be turned into pillows. The kits come with a heavier, yarn-like, thread that will hold up better to wear and tear than the finer silk or cotton threads usually used in needlework. My aunt gave me the kit I used for this pillow (as well as supplying the basic instructions for the pillow-making technique). Thanks, Thia Toula :)

Step 1: Have a completed needlepoint on hand.

Step 2: You'll need two pieces of fabric the size of the needlepoint. One should complement the needlepoint design; the other one won't show so the colour doesn't matter. I was lucky and found the perfect red fabric in my stash:

Step 3: Iron the fabric.

Handy tip: if you hate ironing, then sewing isn't for you.

 

I decided to trim the excess canvas from the edges of the needlepoint.

Step 4: Once the fabric is ironed, pin needlepoint to it with the design facing outward (if you're using two fabrics, use the one that won't be showing):

Step 5: Once fabric is pinned, cut it to the size of the needlepoint. I decided to trim the canvas a bit more and ended up regretting it. Longer edges will be tucked inside the pillow anyway, but super short ones have little bits that tend to poke through the seams once the pillow is finished. Next time I'll leave them about a centimetre (half an inch) long on all sides. 

 

Step 6: Use the first piece of fabric as a template for the second piece: pin both together and cut the second piece to match the first.

Step 7: Pin the first piece of fabric to the back of the needlepoint again and sew all around the edge, keeping the needle as close to the needlepoint edge as possible. Make sure all the fabric is attached securely.

Step 8: Next pin the second piece of fabric--right side down--to the front of the needlepoint. Leave one end unpinned (preferably a short end).

Step 9: Sew around three sides, leaving the unpinned end open. When sewing, keep the needle close to the edge of the needlepoint, but it's okay to sew onto the needlepoint if you need to. Double check to make sure the three sewn edges are secured and there are no gaps in the stitching.

I left the short end on the right open after sewing the other three sides

Step 10: Now you need to turn the pillow right side out. Do this gently so that you don't accidentally rip a seam open. If you pull too hard, or didn't check your stitching well enough, you will discover something like this:

Arg.

If you find stitching gaps, you'll have to turn the pillow inside out again, rip out the bad stitches and loose threads, and re-sew it. This is something you'll want to avoid, if you can help it. Once you're all done, you'll have an empty case.

Step 11: Before continuing, iron the whole thing again, paying particular attention to the edges.

Step 12: Have something to put inside your new case. If your needlepoint is a standard size, you can buy a ready-made pillow form. Mine was an unusual shape, so I bought a bag of fiber fill. I don't think the type matters--I got this on sale at Michaels. But if you have an option, it's probably a good idea to go with a brand that's washable and hypo-allergenic.

It's so fluffy!

Step 13: With fiber fill, just grab handfuls of it and place them inside the case. You can fill your pillow as much or as little as you like. I stuffed mine like a sausage, using most of that large bag of filler. I can use my pillow as a blunt weapon now...

The sad remains

 Now it's pillow shaped:

Step 15: But you still have an open end. This will require hand stitching to finish off (and this is why it was best to leave a short end open). If you don't know how to hand stitch, you can check out this tutorial or this video tutorial or Google how to hand stitch a pillow closed. Any of those options will explain it better than I can.

Once you've sewn the final edge shut, you're done! My pillow is actually supposed to be placed in front of a door to block drafts, but that's not happening. An obstacle in front of a door seems like asking for trouble in case of an emergency. Also, who wants to move a pillow every time they open the door? Besides, in this house we have actual cats, so a floor pillow is another name for a fur-magnet/hairball-target. This "draft stopper" is staying on the sofa, where it looks cuter than on the floor and is much handier for snuggling.

Questions? Comments? If I wasn't clear about something, please let me know and I'll do my best to clarify. Hopefully now you can stop fretting about diminishing wall space and start turning your needlework creations into pillows. Just try not to think about where all those pillows are going to go...

[Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com] 

In Stitches

Thought I'd share my latest completed needlepoint project. I'm happy with how it turned out, although I think the colours ended up being a little too cool.

Wraith steals the show

Nox was keeping us company too. He's sitting on the cat tree, enjoying the view out the window.

And Shadow was just below, trying to nap in peace :)

 

My next project is actually an old one--I've resumed working on the blanket I'm making for my cousins. I'm probably about halfway through making the granny squares. Hopefully I can focus now and finally get it done. The downside of crocheting for me is weaving in the ends--hate that part. I don't suppose anyone knows a way around it?

What projects are you working on? Share in the comments.

 Photos ©Whimsy Bower

[Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

 

Review: Stitch Step by Step by Maggi Gordon and Ellie Vance

I love needlepoint. Seriously, of all the crafts I've tried, needlepoint is my favourite. I'm not sure why. I don't think I'm particularly great at it (you know how your work is supposed to look just as good on the back as on the front? Yeah...not so much). The results don't generally have a practical use, like say, a sweater you knit or a necklace you beaded. It's kind of expensive and time consuming. And can cause some serious eyestrain. But there's something so completely relaxing about it. And there's a satisfaction in making something purely for the sake of creating (as opposed to for the purposes of wearing it or eating it) that resonates in a way more practical endeavours don't.

That said, when DK Canada sent me Stitch Step by Step to review as part of 2013's Start Something New theme, I was excited. This is a book made for me. Besides needlepoint and embroidery, it covers smocking, openwork, beadwork and more. It is a book of sheer inspiration, but it also gives you the knowledge needed to turn that inspiration into completed projects. As with any intricate craft, clear instructional photos are key and you get them here. In fact, this is one of the best sources I've found for showing stitches. There's also useful information on topics such as how to use an embroidery hoop and transferring designs.

As with my review of Knit Step by Step I tested the instructions by trying out some of the techniques in the book that were new to me. And the verdict?

Fern Stitch: First let me say the light grey instructions placed over a dirty white background is nobody's friend, and it recurs throughout the book. That is definitely a design fail. Luckily the photo instructions are much easier to decipher and the fern stitch was a breeze.

Spider's Web: A cool filling stitch that's also fun to do (okay maybe I have an odd idea of fun). The instructions were clear and easy to follow.

Byzantine Stitch: I love this stitch. It's another filling stitch that has a lovely staggered, geometrical appearance. It's a slightly tricky design to get right (and I think the instructions could have been more detailed) but it's not a difficult stitch to learn.

Leaf Stitch: One more filling stitch, composed of interlocking leaves, and another easy one to do once you get the hang of it. It creates a lovely effect.

One thing I learned from Stitch Step by Step is that there's really no such thing as a difficult embroidery stitch. All you need to do is break it down into smaller steps. Which I suppose is the way to do any task, really. But this book has boosted my confidence and made me even more excited about delving deeper into the craft of embroidery. If you have any interest in needlework (or think you could with the right encouragement) I highly recommend this book. It'll help you get through any project, whether following a pattern or working your own designs. So far I'm loving trying new things in 2013. Hope you are, as well. If you're still looking for your new thing to try keep an eye out for my future reviews on sewing and preserving.

Stitch Step by Step by Maggi Gordon and Ellie Vance. Published by DK.

 

[Edited to update links. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

Stitches that Bind

In my trays post I mentioned that I also brought home two framed needlepoints that my mom had told me she wanted me to have. So I thought I'd share :) But before we get to those I have to show you my prized possession (above and below)...

This is an embroidered piece that my mom made when she was about 11 or 12. When she went back to her childhood home (for the first time after 30-ish years!) in the late 80s she found it again and brought it back and had it framed. I loved it from the beginning: the colours, the design, the workmanship. How thrilled was I when she gave it to me when I moved into my first house! If there's ever a fire I'd grab my cats, my computer, and this. If I had to I'd leave the computer behind.

Swallows are common in Greece (at least around Sparta) and they nest under any overhangs they can find. My great aunt has them on her porch under the grapevine arbour. My dad had them inside his childhood home in the rafters (times were rough back then)! Everyone seems to like them, though--I've never heard anyone complain (I think they're considered good luck). I'm a big fan myself so I'm extra glad that they're the subject of this work.

My mom had what are called "blessed hands." She could look at a picture of a dress and recreate it (when she was sewing professionally most of her customers would bring her a photo instead of a pattern). Or if she had a swatch of a crochet design she could figure it out and turn it into a finished piece. I know she didn't have any kind of pattern when she made this needlepoint--and look at how fine the stitches are. If I had a tenth of her skills and talents I would feel blessed myself.


Speaking of the trays post, I forgot to mention another tray I found that day. This one has an embroidered piece framed inside it. My mom did the embroidery but I don't know who framed it or chose to put it in a tray (great idea, though). I could use it for more practical purposes but the back is on the fragile side so I decided to hang it in my kitchen instead.

Again, I marvel at the workmanship...

This next piece is one that was always hanging in our house ever since I can remember. I always liked it and I'm so glad my mom gave it to me. It's weird to see it in my house now, though. Takes me right back to childhood...

The frame isn't my usual style but I hung it over the piano (in the dining room) and it actually looks perfect. The wood blends nicely with all the other wood in the room; the colours work well; and the theme is most suitable. I tried to get a photo including the piano but despite taking about a thousand pictures I only ended up with a couple that looked remotely decent. The photography gods were not with me that day...

I'm really sorry for the glare but I wanted to show the picture and the stitches a little closer. Non-reflective glass, my ass. Anyway this style of embroidery is (I believe) called half-stitch (in Greek, which is how I know it, it's called kedima). You work it on a pre-printed pattern. That sounds dull but it's very soothing work and allows for plenty of creativity with the colours. I was taught it when I was 4 or 5 but that's for another post...

This last piece wasn't made by my mom but it was given to her as a gift (I wish I could remember by whom but if I ever knew I forgot a long time ago). It used to hang in our living room (over this exact couch, actually, which I also inherited). I'm not sure yet where to put it. There's an ideal spot in the foyer but it's awkward to reach as it's over the stairs so hanging it may prove to be a problem (that's also why painting the foyer is an issue).

For some reason Greeks really seem to love stitching these "olde" English/French countryside/village-type scenes. I even made one for my mom but it's in Greece now so it'll be a while before I can photograph it!


It seems like ages since I've worked on a half-stitch project. I've been doing some cross-stitch lately, as well as working on other crafts. As soon as I'm finished my current cross-stitch piece I'm breaking out one of my waiting kedima patterns (yes, I have a minor stockpile). There's something really comfortable--and comforting--about carrying on traditions.

Note: I finally found out that this kind of needlepoint is called Tapestry Embroidery in English

Photos by Whimsy Bower

[Edited to update link and to add note. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]