The pillow in question

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I have a phobia about REALLY finishing needlework. I’m working on it. But I’m always terrified (and it really is terror) that I’m going to ruin a piece of stitching that I’ve spent hours and hours working on. If it entails more than just lacing it to a back and sticking it in a frame, I freeze.

But I’m taking it gently. I have several pillow designs that I want to release this year. They’re going to include finishing instructions as well as the needlework design. (There, I said it!) So I’ve been trying to get myself to finish the pillows I have half finished around the studio so that I can do it.

I started with this candlewicking piece. I got the kit at a garage sale for about 25¢. The stitching was finished in about a week other than the three months I spent trying to find enough thread that matched for FOUR knots after I ran out. Candlewicking thread is NOT all the same. Ick. But I found it, finished the stitching three years ago and put it in my “Finished Objects to Finish box.” (As usual, click the photos to enlarge for more detail!)

The "scary" zipper... Not so scary after all!

Last week I dug out my Singer Sewing for the home book that my heart-sister the former interior stitcher recommended, teased the instructions out of three different areas in said book (not the best organized, but really good instruction!) and to paraphrase Nike, “just did it.” I’m pleased. I’m not completely happy with the zipper, which I wanted because we always have pets and cats like to bring up hairballs right where you don’t want them: In other words, the pillow cover NEEDS to be washable! But it’s more than serviceable. I’ve made a pillow form for the crazy quilted pillow I posted about ages ago, and now I just need to attack it with the black backing, black zipper and the same book. I figure by the time I get to the models, I’ll have enough stitched that I’m not QUITE so terrified any more.

The full dragon banner. Has tab hangers at the top.

FINALLY!

My godson/pseudo-nephew turned 13 yesterday. In honor of the event, I made a point of finishing his dragon banner – that he still doesn’t know he’s got, since he spent the weekend at his father’s. After I post this, I shall be delivering it to him.

Dragon Detail

Remember the banner? This has been a LONG year for me. While I finished the stitching back in the summer, I still have a phobia of ruining my embroidery during my attempts to really finish things. So it took me until this weekend, when, in a fit of  “I feel much better after a week of being sick, thankyouverymuch” energy, I just went and DID it.  I’m proud of the results. The EO says if the kid doesn’t like it, he’ll take it himself.

Click the images for more detail!

Edited 2/26/10 to add – Well, when he opened it he hugged it to his chest and went dancing around the room with it, so I guess it’s a success!

Last year was hectic on the family front, and although I managed to maintain my art development, and got some designs completed, nothing quite got finished the way I intended.

This year promises to be an improvement. The family issues should be mostly resolved by the end of March, and I hope to have things up and running by June. (Note that this is a goal: It’s subject to slippage.) What I’d like to do is get Golden Circle Designs back up and running completely, business license and such so that those of you who have asked me about designs I had for sale five years ago can have access to them again.

In addition, there are several knitting patterns in the works, a companion piece to Lucinda in the Rose Garden, and quite a bit of one-of-a-kind artwork that is ready to go. I’ve included a photo of Lucinda for you, I’m sorry it’s small and not the best: my original image is my old business disks, which of course need different hardware to read. I’m going to have to do some conversions… and soon!

I’m considering making some of these available via Etsy or Ebay before I can get the website up and running. I’d love opinions on this option…

Knit on size six needles with KnitPicks Shine yarn. I love this stuff. And it really DOES wash well!

Anyway. On to the bad picture!

I think when I knit it again I’ll make a couple of changes: First, despite the called-for amount of garter stitch edging, the hem rolls. I’ll double it at least. It’s not a big deal right now, but I could see it being a problem in a silk top intended for something other than my casual office.

I’ll add a half-inch to the armhole depth . Although I like the fact that they come up higher than most, they just aren’t quite deep enough to be comfortable for me. That extra half-inch should solve the problem.

Highly recommended. On me it doesn’t look very good with more than an inch of ease. Your mileage may vary.