Hello, I’m Anne. I, too, am a lover of Greece who lives in the PNW (Seattle). In non-Covid times, my job took me to Greece a couple of times per year — and I’m really hoping to get back there this spring. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Lying in bed this morning, I was searching for smallish traditional Greek cross stitch patterns (something portable to stitch on the plane) and came across Krista and Avlea — and felt as though I’d stumbled across a kindred spirit!
I’m enclosing a photo of the band sampler that I’m currently working on — I couldn’t resist replacing one of the bands with a Greek key design. Can you tell I’m itching to go back? 😊
Anyhow, I just wanted to introduce myself. If you’re a pattern-peeper like me, and are interested in seeing more of my work, I’m on Instagram [at]lotsa_little_xes. Gotta scoot now and peruse the patterns. (How will I ever choose?!) Yamas!
DO. NOT. HIDE. THOSE. You can frame them if you like, but you could also. make lovely throw pillows, cover a box lid, make a wall hanging, etc. These are too lovely to hide in a drawer. Life is short - use your best stuff every day!
These are the "drawer projects" from the last few years – all have been stitch-alongs with Modern Folk Embroidery. 2019 is top left, 2020 is on the bottom, and 2021 is top right. The last few years have been pretty monochromatic (which I love) but it's been so fun to be choosing and adding colors to this year's. The one at the top of the post that I'm currently working on was a 2017 stitch-along from Linen & Threads (now Fox & Rabbit Designs).
Thanks for all of your display ideas! While I am pretty proficient at cross-stitch, my finishing skills definitely could use some work. I've lately been doing one large project per year to "mark" the year, and all of these are sadly in a drawer with blanket-stitched edges. I've been intimidated by the idea of hem stitching, but will be giving it a go with the bit kit I've ordered from Avlea – I've watched Krista's tutorial video which is really helpful.
No need for frames! Try making a wall hanging with pretty tassels on the bottom to help weight it. This is really much too lovely to languish in a drawer, and a wooden dowel and a cord is all you need. Depending on how large your piece is, Krista has a lovely one on her site. I got one and it's the bomb.
Why don’t you Take them out and just use a really strong steel tack and just put them on your wall unframed
Great
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I don’t know yet what I’ll do with this band sampler — it’s going to be quite large, and I’m not sure I have the wall space (or $$$) to frame and hang it. It’ll likely languish in a drawer, keeping my other unframed pieces company. :)
This sampler is stunning! Glad to see it, and to hear about you and your stitching.
Kalimera to you too and welcome. I think you're 10 hours behind Athens time. Still morning for you; night for me. Beautiful design you're working on. How do you plan to finish it...framed? The Greek key band is a perfect addition to your band sampler. I did the largest cross from Krista's Byzantine Crosses to give as a gift and finished it as an ornament. Perfect.
LOVE this band sampler! I've been working on a Byzantine band sampler design for the last couple of months as I think these traditional borders make fabulous band samplers and really versatile patterns.
So glad you're joining the Avlea community! I just got my tickets to head to Greece in the fall for an embroidery research trip and am counting the days! Please keep posting your work--it's lovely!