The Gentle Art of Stitching

The Gentle Art of Stitching: 40 Projects Inspired by Everyday Beauty by Jane Brocket

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book is as lovely and informative as Jane Brocket's other "Gentle Art" books.  None of the projects are daunting, and all are easily do-able both in skills and materials for anyone without years of experience and without a really good needle-work store nearby. 

My only complaint (and it's a paltry one) is that I'd like to have had a few photos of the pieces as they were in progress.  I find it easier to see the way to do something than to read a description of the process.

But that is a preference of mine and I'm still happy to have bought this book.

Needlework - getting there...

The metallic thread arrived and I stitched the Algerian eyelets:




I listened to an audio book and cross-stitched the flowers:



I carefully cut and removed threads:



I wrapped and stitched the center full Greek crosses:



And now I need to wrap bars and stitch the partial Greek crosses, remove all basting threads, then hem. And I will... soon.

Unfinished business

This is a little tablecloth I began making for my mother to give her on Mother's Day - Mother's Day 2003. I took about three days to baste the fabric, then completed one design square each day after that. (Each square is a pattern from Victoria Sampler- the Beyond Cross Stitch series by Thea Dueck.) Since I began it in March, I had plenty of time to finish it.


But one day I put it down and worked on something else. A week went by. Then another week. Mother's Day came and went. And somehow I just forgot to get it out and finish it. When I did pull it out to work on it, I realized I could no longer see very well to do the delicate work required in each pattern.

Last weekend I looked at it again and decided I had to finish it, no matter what. I only have 4 squares left undone.


Working slowly and carefully I thought I could finish it in about two weeks, then pull out the basting threads and hem it and finally give it to Mom.

However... when I was getting rid of all my needlework supplies I didn't think to keep any metallic thread and wouldn't you know, I need just enough to make 4 little Algerian eyes in each remaining square. So now I'm stuck again while I wait for the thread to be shipped to me.