Monday, August 18, 2014

Petit Point Carpet Progress




I have decided I am total rubbish at petit point. Not that the stitches are bad, not at all. The back looks great. It is just that I make counting mistakes which I then have to spend a ridiculous amount of time taking out. Then of course putting back in. I pay close attention to the chart and I still do it. AAARRRGGGHHH. I am determined. I have never been one to hold up the white flag, But oh boy this thing is kicking my proverbial!!!!!!

Some people take their needle and thread and happily dance across the canvas outlining something five and ten inches away. They get bored with one area and have totally vacant spaces between their other body of stitches. Oooooh I wouldn't dare. I don't stray too far from the mother ship! I am looking forward to getting on with the navy blue that outlines this center medallion of the carpet. That will make all these colors pop to life.

BTW... This is a different canvas from the first one I started and didn't like. I also bought a new frame to work it on.

39 comments:

  1. Hello Catherine,
    Don't give up just yet. The picture is lovely and it looks very well made. You might not make mistakes after a bit more stitching. I'm sure those people who have complete control of their canvas said exactly what you are saying here at first. It is coming along beautifully!
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Thank you Giac. I really hope I get better as time goes along.

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  2. We call ripping out stitches frogging Catherine! And it happens to us all, even people who have stitched for many years! Hang in there, the end result will be worth it all. I stay close to the mother ship too, it boggles my mind that some people stitch all over the place too! XXX

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  3. By the way, your rug looks great so far :-)

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    1. Awwww Thank you Elga. I was getting worried I was the ONLY one. I was truly beginning to question my brain function! No kidding!!!!!

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  4. Keep at it, Catherine, this looks great. Alas, frogging is part of the process.... I am a petitpointer myself, but heavily counting impaired :-). Sometimes I can brazen it out, sometimes ( usually) I am not so lucky and then the air turns a bit blue....
    There is a group of petitpointers , you can join us if you want to and we can cheer you on.

    In any case, good luck!!

    Cheers,
    Elly

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    1. Thank you for coming in to share all of that with me Elly. I really appreciate hearing it. It is so nice to see a comment from you. :-)

      The air blazes blue here too at times. If there is a Froggy Queen I'd bet Kilmouski I would be wearing the crown.

      Thank you for the invite to the Yahoo group too!

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  5. Hello Catherine!
    Your carpet is already......wonderful!
    Frustrating yes......but your efforts will pay off with an exquisite piece that most of us can only dream about. Having seen the amazing minis you create, I know you will conquer this one beautifully! Don't give up....
    Your pal Ray

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    1. Thanks Ray! I never give up. It isn't in me to do it. I will finish something if it kills me. This might just polish me off. haha

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  6. It looks fabulous Catherine.....so you won't be taking orders any time soon....he he!!!!!!

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    1. I'd rather be tarred and feathered! haha

      Thank you Linda!

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  7. Whaow this looks fantastic so far. Don't know what gauge you are using but it looks very tiny. Love the subtlety in the soft blues.

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    1. It is a 40 gauge canvas. That is what the pattern called for. 1,600 stitches an inch. I am using variegated threads which is what makes the rug look old when it is finished.

      Thank you!!! XXX

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  8. I think that you are a Very Brave Person to have decided to tackle such a complex piece to begin with, and to me it already looks Fabulous and it is not even finished. I know that you are not a quitter but it is must feel very encouraging to see so many rooting you on! And we will all be green with envy once it is all finished and you have your Outstanding Finished piece of Needle Art that you will be so proud of!

    elizabeth

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  9. Thank you Elizabeth. I just hope mine is half as nice as all the other ones I have seen in this pattern. XXX

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  10. This piece is amazing! I can't stop looking......Truly staggering, I am looking at the picture and cannot begin to fathom trying to count.....or follow....or.....words escape me.......
    You are doing a GREAT job, it will be fabulous, it already is :)

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    1. UGH! You have hear me grumbling for weeks. Thank you Linda xxx

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  12. Sincere admiration, I know how hard this pattern would be!

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  13. The design is absolutely stunning Catherine! I have attempted petit point in the past (I have a few pieces in progress laying around) but I'm not good at counting either. Plus I find it very hard to see the holes. 40 and 48 count is the smallest I can work in. As I read on PP, frogging is an unfortunate part of the process.

    You were so right to start again on this piece as those wrong colours would have annoyed you forever and that simply would not be worth all your effort.

    It looks great Catherine! You are definitely not rubbish at this.

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    1. Thank you Josie. It is very encouraging to see so many comments. It really helps!!! I am so grateful for all those who have so much experience telling me they make mistakes too.

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  14. Rubbish? You're kidding right? I can't imagine anyone getting through such an intricate piece of work such as this without making a mistake. You're doing a great job. I love how the colours are soft as if the rug is already aged some. Lovely =0)

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    1. Thank you Pepper. What I loved about Catherine's design and how she stitched it were the soft faded colors. I hope I can manage to find the right mix myself.

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  15. I applaud you for your determination and keep on going even with all the mistakes you make, that I can imagine are very frustrating when paying such close attention. And especially when knowing other people are (almost) freely going over a canvas and still doing fine. But I don't think your rubbish at this at all, I think you are a real trooper doing it and keeping at it even though it's with falling and getting up again, many would have given up a long time ago (they would never even have started this one, after the last). That makes you a winner!

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    1. Thank you for your kind comment. I will finish it. I have gone through too much with the learning process to give up now.

      I STILL cannot get over those blue jeans you made. OMG! I just LOVE them.

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  16. O'my....Your work is syunning! It will be fabulous!
    Hugs
    Kikka

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    1. Thank you Kikka. All this encouragement really is heart warming.

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  17. Estás haciendo un trabajo fabuloso.Me encanta.

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    1. Gracias por venir y dejarme un comentario tan alentador usted.

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  18. Your carpet just looks gorgeous. Keep going. I've done a lot of cross stitching in real size and miniature for years and got very creative with "inventing" my own design. :-) Which mean's I'm even to lazy to remove the area I botched up ... lol.

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    1. Thank you! I love hearing from experienced canvas stitchers. How wonderful you are creating your own designs. I would love to see them.

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  19. Catherine, this carpet is going to be just Stunningly Amazingly beautiful! And yes, you will always have the memories of the blood sweat and tears it took to create it! Your persistence is so admirable! And the pattern and the stitching looks just Incredibly difficult and Beautiful! Bravo for the amount of care you are giving this project!

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    1. Awww Thank you! I couldn't possibly give up now. Especially considering all these encouraging comments. You, along with all the others have given me just what I needed to see it through.

      I do adore miniature people. They are the very best you could ever find.

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  20. It has not option other than to come out beautiful!

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  21. It looks pretty darn good to me, no needlework pun intended :D Yes, don't stray from the mothership, I did that, not recommended for obvious reasons :D Looks great, can't wait to see it finished.

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  22. It's beautiful!

    I stay close too, but I've found a great way of keeping track of where you are on the pattern. I have a square thin sheet of what looks like aluminium but magnets stick to it, so it can't be. I also have some strip magnets and by putting them on the pattern at right angles exactly where you are stitching, it's much easier to keep track of where you are. But I think nobody goes without frogging, it's just a pain to have to do it!

    You're making amazing progress and I'd love to see more pics!

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  23. I totally know what you mean by losing your place with stitching. I have that trouble with full size stitching. I am about to have a go at doing a miniature rug and I am sure I will do a bit of frogging too.

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