handmade by stefanie

At the start of this year, I managed to knock one of my favorite cross stitch pieces off the wall it was hanging on, breaking the frame. Since the glass miraculously didn't break, I was hoping to glue the broken pieces of the frame together, but unfortunately it didn't work out.  Then I remembered the cool wooden frames from Modern Hoopla I'd spotted on Instagram, which are designed to fit a cross-stitch piece that is in a wooden hoop. I was hoping to get another black frame, but they didn't have that finish available in the styles I wanted, so I decided to buy two to see which looked best, figuring I could save the one I didn't end up using for my Pretty Little Chicago (whenever I finish it). Option 1 Option 2 After taking a quick poll via Instagram stories, I landed on the darker finish, and it looks great - perhaps even better than the original frame job. I will definitely be ordering from Modern Hoopla the next time I need to frame a finish cross stitch piece....

I've dabbled here and there with cross stitch in recent years, but it's quickly becoming one of my favorite crafts for stress relief during the pandemic. It doesn't take a ton of brain power (at least, not the projects I've been making!), and it's immensely satisfying to transform all those little x's into a pretty picture. Before the pandemic hit, I'd already been working on a project from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery called With Love , which was a fundraiser for the Australian Bush Fires. It became one of my first shelter-in-place finishes, and after finishing it up, I was hungry for more cross stitch! While spring cleaning, I came across a small project kit I'd forgotten about and decided to use some of my own floss, sparkly aida cloth, and a nicer frame (so, basically, just the pattern....kinda defeats the purpose of a project kit I guess!!) to stitch it up: Then, on Star Wars Day (aka May the 4th), I couldn't resist impulse buying this ...

The last two weeks have been a little crazy, and I'm glad to get back to my regular Wednesday posting schedule. Since it's been a while since I've shared any WIPs on this blog, I thought I would share everything I'm working on now that all of the secret knitting projects for designs in progress have been published ( I blogged about the 3 newest designs here if you missed it ). To kick off September, I started a Weekender Sweater for this knit-along using Prairie Spun DK from Brown Sheep. And because I like to live dangerously, I used my shiny new Ginger interchangeables from Knitter's Pride (which arrived just in time for the KAL start date) instead of the needles I swatched with. Considering the sweater is to be work with plenty of ease, I'm willing to take the risk. So far, it's looking great and is the perfect, soothing knit. Also in the same roomy knitting basket is another project using Brown Sheep yarn! I'm knitting the Color Block Cowl ...

At the end of last year, I bought a ton of wooden cross stitch blanks, intending to stitch up some cute holiday ornaments to give as gifts. But then a bunch of stuff happened, and they ended up sitting in my craft room for the next nine months, untouched. It wasn't until another bout of arm and hand pain reared its ugly head recently that I decided to pick them up. Once I did, I was hooked - and once I discovered that Shangri-La lace weight yarn from Bijou Basin Ranch was perfect for stitching, I became totally obsessed! At first I would look up other people's projects to use as a guide, but I quickly started experimenting and playing around with my own ideas. Before I knew it, every single blank I'd purchased from this Etsy shop  had been used. Naturally, I bought another batch of blanks and I'm anxiously awaiting their arrival (they ship from the Ukraine). I'm excited to play around with more fun colors and designs! Don't worry, I'm still knitti...