A very late gift for Thing Two
I bought a cross-stitch birth announcement kit to work on while expecting Thing One, and wanted to make a matching sampler for Thing Two. Although the floss and fabric were purchased well in advance of Thing Two’s arrival, I didn’t actually get around to starting it until the week before this Thanksgiving. (Yes, Thing Two is two and a half now.) The goal was to finish it in time for Christmas; I managed to complete it a few days after the holiday. Still, considering all the other tasks and projects that needed attention during this time, I’m pleased that it took only six weeks to complete. The design was worked on 18 count white Aida fabric and measures 11″x14″. Next I hope to finish up a set of small Peter Rabbit designs (also 18 count) that were started when Thing One was a baby.
ETA: I should have mentioned this kit was by Heartwarmer Designs, purchased from Deseret Book. I haven’t seen the kit in stores for years, but it occasionally shows up on eBay. Heartwarmer Designs doesn’t appear to be around any more, either.
The original package included fabric, 14 colors of DMC floss, and a needle. No fancy embroidery, just cross stitches (using 2 strands of floss) and back stitches (1 strand). Kits were available in two color schemes: bright primary colors and pastels; I own the pastel version. While the personal information can be stitched in pink or blue, the main poem and border around the sampler are blue; it would be interesting to see how the sampler would look with those parts stitched in pink.
Besides stitching samplers for the two Things, I think I stitched one as a gift for a nephew. I don’t remember making any others for the rest of the nephews and nieces, so if any of the sisters-in-law feel like their children have been sampler-deprived, get in touch and we can work something out.
