{How to} Stitch on the Unstitchable

OR- How to stitch on stuff other than fabric.

Don't get me wrong, I love fabric.  But I like this a teensy bit more.  

I don't make things that can be made in a simpler medium. Meaning if fiber doesn't add to the art I don't make it fiber art.   A cross stitched portrait is beautiful.  But it's time consuming and I would rather just hang a photo.  

What I love is to combine mediums.  I'm not an artist.  I'm a try-er.  

And this is something I had to try.

First - get your materials

In this case I had a cardboard box from Hobby Lobby.  You know those brown boxes.  I think they are cardboard.

A phrase printed big enough to put onto said box.

A large needle, tape (double sided and normal), scissor, thread, ruler, a pen and a "poker" (an Awl tool).  An Awl tool is used for leather crafts.  It's near the jewelry at Micheal's.  You can use a needle too but the eye hurt my fingers when I pushed it through so I switched to this with it's comfy rubber handle.   It works perfectly.

Use double sided tape to adhere the phrase to the box.

Double sided works better than normal tape because it's somehow not as adhesive.  It comes right off, not ripping anything.

Figure out where you want your holes to be.  I chose to split up the larger lines so the thread wouldn't easily get caught on anything.  I used the ruler to make it uniform.

It ended up looking like this.  The purple dots is where I poked the holes.

Poke your holes.

Here's the back.

Your holes should be somewhat uniform, so try to give the same pressure with each hole punch.  This will take a while.  Longer than you would expect.  I had to stop to rest my wrists a few times.

I used a simple backstitch and all 6 strands of DMC.  And this is the result.

Added a border.

You have tape to tape down the excess when beginning and ending thread.  I don't try to tie them in simply because this is easier and it holds firm and flat.

I've used this method to stitch on paper, cardboard, boxes, canvas, and leather purses.  At some point I want to stitch on wood.

 At the moment I'm trying to decide if I should stitch on my new coach purse I got off ebay.  Hmmm.

Stitching on Canvas: Be Excellent to Each Other

I've completed a couple and started a couple embroidery on canvas projects.  I really like to stitch on a store bought canvas.  They are always on sale, no matter the craft store you prefe,r and they are ready to hang.

I've seen a few of those "House Rules" hangings.  Lots of people have them.  I feel like they are too sentimental for us.  I call my husband jerkface and tell him I hate him.  He tells me to shut up pretty often.  This is our way to say I love you.  (It's ok, we still actually say "I love you")  People don't always get it.   That's ok.  It's our humor and we match.

So something sweet on the wall just wasn't going to work.

However, be excellent to each other.

It's the golden rule really.  We say mean-ish things to each other.  I'm sure it will be the same with the kids, assuming they will have our dark sense of humor and dorkiness.  If they don't then we won't.

I want to go to sleep knowing that I have shown the people I love that I love them.  That I've treated them the way that they deserve.

I also needed something to cover that hole in the wall.

~ANYWAYZ~

16x20 stretched canvas
DMC numbers 413 and 3801
I created a template in Photoshop, printed it, taped it to the canvas and poked holes with a stamping tool that looks like an ice pick.

It's one of the few things that I enjoyed all the way through and still like completed.  :)

Lil Cross Stitch Buttons. Wheeeee!

I have been knocking out little projects and working on larger ones.  I made a list yesterday, I have 14.  Not including the things still in my head.  I'm gunna need a nanny. 

I've been cross stitching for about 3 months and I'm ready to expand.  I like working with the smaller project.  It's really satisfying to complete something nearly daily and be much more portable.  An afghan can take months and it's going to sit in the same spot for a while. 

First was these...

Which I LOVE.  The colors are perfect.  I made them into earrings but they felt weird and I don't have the guts to wear them. So I'm going to rip off the earring back and make them buttons also. 

But I'm wearing them everydamnwhere.

Then this - 
I experimented with an idea I saw on Pinterest.  I LOVE this. 

I buttoned it and threw it on my pea coat.

Then I did a heart and a skull.

These are just something cute for Violet's coat.

The skull is done in Kreinik Metallics.  This stuff is great.  I have a huge assortment of colors to play with.  :D

She loves skulls and monsters.  She calls them "rawrs". 

The buttons are 7/8" and 1".  They have a few different sizes and I'm mos def going to be making more.  I love me some buttons. 

I'm planning a tutorial for the buttons.  That is.  If you want one...

Car Seat Afghan

I fell in love with the shell stitch I did on the cozies.  Its SO simple, yet so much more interesting to look at than straight sc or dc.

GOUR-JIS!

While I was daydreaming about the texture I was thinking Vi needs a blanket for her legs in the car, but she just kicks everything off.  She's like her dad.  No shoes, socks or anything else on her feet if she can help it.  So she needs something that is somewhat connected to her.

Simple enough idea.  An afghan that has an opening for the buckle.  She can't kick it off, but can still play with it and move it around so she doesn't just get mad at it.

So wha-la.

My gramma would be so proud of that razor sharp edge.  :D

With Ollie the Octopus! (Although doesn't he look more like a squid?)

This took me a day.  But probably 6 hours all together.  Very nearly an entire skein of Red Heart Dark Orchid.  And some definite wear on the wrist.  But DAMN it's cute.

OHSOCOZY!

One of the easiest things I've found to make are coffee cup cozies.  There is no real necessity for them, but they feel so nice.  Hot Chocolate is THAT much better with one.  It's like a glove for your mug.  You know you want one.  

I've got a pattern for a handle-less mug, but I really like this one I found tonight of a handle mug.  This is the original pattern I used.  Very cute site, check it out.


I tend to use the pattern, then take it out and modify it.  The way this is written works very well.  I changed it for the yarn I was using and because I wanted a more bulky feel but tighter fitting.  Also, I don't have any cute buttons and I'm impatient so I had to make it without them  :)

I love this shell stitch.  Its simple and much more interesting to look at than sc,sc,sc,sc,sc ugh.

Here is my pattern taken from the site and modified...

Let me know if I can help you with any questions at all!  :)

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn, preferably something easily washable
Size J hook

Stitches used:
Ch- chain
SlSt- slip stitch
SC- single crochet
DC- double crochet


Instructions:
Row 1- Ch 4, and SlSt into beginning chain to create a loop. Ch 2, (counts as a DC), and then make 11 DC in the loop, join to the top of the CH 2. (12)

Row 2- Ch 2, make a DC in same stitch as the CH 2 just made, then make 2 DC in each stitch around, join to top of chain 2. (24)

Row 4- Ch 1, make 1 SC in front loops only in each stitch all the way around, join. (24)

Row 5- Ch 1, (make 1 SC and 1 DC both in the same next stitch, skip next stitch), repeat parenthesis all the way around until 3 stitches are left unworked. 1 SC in the next stitch. Chain 1 and turn

Row 6-  Make 1 SC, and 1 DC in the stitch above the DC from the previous row. Repeat all the way around until 1 stitch is left undone. Make 1 SC in that last stitch. Chain 1, TURN. Repeat row 6 until the mug cozy is the desired height of your cup (about 5 for a normal size mug)

Row 7- Sc around top to beginning.  Sl 4 and join to opposite side.  Sc around the opening to complete.  Sl and tie off. (please note that I did a ch8 in the gray one above. this is when I realized 4 would be more appropriate.)
 

Puff Stitch Flower Tutorial.

These are starting to look decent so I'm going to show you how I make them.  

Keep in mind I've been agonizing over them all day today.  I've made 10.  And started more.  Watched every video I could find and read every tutorial.  It really isn't a difficult stitch.  But its awkward at first.  

Crochet is all about muscle memory.  ALL about it.

Also I apologize for the background switch up.  It took me a minute to realize the glare.

Start with two colors.  You can do one.  I just like to look of two.

Make a Magic Circle.  This was a pain in the ass until it clicked, now I use it for everything.  You can also chain 4, join with a slip stitch, and do 6 single crochet in the hole and start with the second color.  If you wanna do the majestic magic circle try this.  

Pull the yarn through, not a SC (Single Crochet) yet.

Now 5 SC (Single Crochet.  The last loop on he yarn here is going to be the 6th loop for the petal.  One SC per loop.  So in theory, well, in practice really, you can make as many petals as you want, just make that many SC.  If you need help with Single Croceht, try this one.  

***PRO TIP***  Make that first SC a bit exaggerated   It's hard to see and get in with you tighten the yarn.  This will help.

Pull the yarn tight to pull the SCs together.  This is where you are going to want the video linked above.  (Keep trying!)

Join with the first SC.

This is a SL (Slip Stitch whenever you see "join" you are completing the circle with a slip stitch.  Here you may be able to see the 6 ST (stitches) that will become the petals.

Here you are going to grab the yarn again, pull to through and cut it.  You cut it off only if you are going to do another color.  If you are continuing this color skip this step.

Pull it tight.  You will be crocheting into this loop and don't want it to pull more than the rest.  That will warp the petal.  

Ok, now you need to add the next color.  Insert your hook at the ST before the tie you just made.  Put your yarn on the hook and pull it through.  This might help.  Skip to a minute.

When you have it through, chain (CH) 3.  This is going to be the height of your petal.  You can vary this a bit.  Some people are tight crocheters, some are loose.  It's just want is natural for you.  When working in a round I'm tight.  I apologize if the three chains are difficult to see here.

Yarn Over (YO).

Insert the hook into the SAME SC ST (don't forget your vocab!  This is Single Crochet Stitch, this is what you made when you did the magic circle.  You remember, each one is a petal.)

 - Different View - Same Directions - 

Pull through.  Pull up with your hook so that the three loops you have on your hook is the same length.  This will help create space you will need later and keep the height of the petal consistent.

Do this YO (Yarn Over) and pull through 4 times.  This will give you nine loops on your hook.  You can do more or less depending on how full you want your petal to be.  It's your call. 9 seemed good to me, that when the SC ST started getting tight.  When it does start getting tight there is nothing wrong with pulling the circle to stretch it a bit.  It will spring back.  

YO....

And pull through all 9 loops.  This is going to take you a couple tries.  The more consistent the height is, the easier this will be.  A couple pics up when we started this step.  That's what I was saying.  :)

Tug it a bit to bunch the loops up a little and CH 3.  Some patterns will tell you to SL (Slip Stitch) one and chain 2 but really you're chaining 3 so, yah.  Do that.

Now this is important.  This is what I was weirding out about.  Take that and go back into THE SAME HOLE.  The same one.  

Pull through.... 

And chain 3. (SL and CH2)  
***PRO TIP***  The difference in a chain and a slip stitch is really where you are in the pattern.  If you are going into a ST its a slip.  If you aren't and you are just grabbing the yarn and pulling it through itself, then it's a CH.

YO and insert your hook INTO THE NEXT SC ST.  This begins your next petal.
* Repeat all steps 5 more times.  

At this point is when I cut these.  I stitch around them for one petal and get rid of em.  Some people keep them the whole time to secure them.  I figure they are secure.  The likelihood of this coming undone from those tails is like ... like ...  someone giving me a time machine so I can go back to 1945 to pick up some dresses and get a hair cut.  Not bloody likely.

FF>>

Alllllright.  Good job getting to here!  Now, you are back at the top of the 6th petal.  You are going to do the same...

CH 3 and connect with a SL to the same SC ST.

The difference here is that you are going to pull it up and cut the string.  I tend to cut the tail part.  I'm keeping a long string because I'm using it to sew the flowers together later.

   
Pull it TIGHT and in the direction of the center.  This will keep it close to the middle to make it look more complete and secure.

Pull on the side that you have designated as the "wrong" side.  The side that won't be seen.  My "wrong" side is the flatter one.  I want the puff to be the visible part.

Aaaaand done.

I kind of love them.  :)

The Official Pattern
Color 1 - 
Row 1 - Magic Circle, SC 5, SL to join
Color 2 - 
Row 2 - Chain 3, YO, through SC ST, YO* Repeat 4x, Pull through loop, CH 3, through ST, SL, CH 2, YO through next SC ST * Repeat 6 times.  Last SC SL complete with SL.

(All those pics for THAT.)