Thursday, May 12, 2016

ABC Sampler is here!!!

After many weeks of waiting I finally got my copy of the ABC Sampler by Jeannette Douglas and the gorgeous thread pack that goes with it. 

I was all excited, until...
1) I saw that Envelope was damaged and open. Water marks and damage to my pattern. Still legible but just not as pretty as should've been. Boo mail people! 
2) Reading through the pattern and trying to understand the instructions I have realized I'm likely in over my head. I think I will need to do some other JDD patterns first to be more familiar with some of the stitches Jeannette uses. 

Unless I just do the pretty alphabet (top half with no bands) which is just cross stitch... But I'm feeling like Once Upon a Tree is likely a better JDD piece for me right now as its easier... I have all the supplies for it too so that's a plus. 

Like Carolyn Mitchell's patterns (for those long time readers you may recall my orange canvaswork that I wanted to cry over) it seems these elaborate, specialty stitch pieces really do require the designer to be in the room and teaching you. Or someone a lot smarter than me to decipher. Lol. 

But... In good news I also got my Ink Circles Reflections of Canada pattern in this package and it's just the way I like my patterns; uniform and easy to read. Lol!!

Maybe it's best I'm not jumping right into ABC Sampler, as it will hopefully mean I finish some other WIPs first. ;)

16 comments:

Irene said...

Hi Mel,

For the stitches you are not confident about I would recommend the following:
1. Get yourself some scrap fabric and thread to practice them on.
2. Look around the internet to see if there are other instructions or videos on how to execute a particular stitch.

I'm sure you'll work them out. The pattern looks lovely.

Justine said...

That's a beautiful sampler and I'm sure you're up to the challenge! I renewed has given you some great advice. I taught myself to crochet using YouTube videos.

Justine said...

Sorry, that should say Irene has given you great advice!

Amy said...

Thank goodness the thread pack wasn't damaged too! :-O

That's a lovely pattern, and I will look forward to see how you approach it eventually!

Faith... said...

It is gorgeous! I think that Irene has given you some great direction concerning all those specialty stitches and I do hope you will give it a try. Looking forward to seeing it started ;)

Joy said...

I like how some designers are putting out YouTube videos on how to do certain stitches. I'm doing the mini twists by Northern Expression and she has great instructions in the pattern but also a Facebook page for support where you can ask questions.

Mouse said...

practice on a scrap first until happy with how too ... google, there are lots of how too's on there as well and if all else fails ask on here ... I can do quite a few speciality stitches :) love mouse xxxxx

Clare said...

What a wonderful pattern.Hope threads were not damaged and I`d like to think the post would take better care. Take it slowly and follow Irene`s notes. I must get this pattern as love Jeanette`s designs. Look forward to seeing your progress. Happy Stitching.

Tiffstitch said...

Good luck with it, and yay for Reflections of Canada!

Heather said...

That sucks but at least you can still read it! I'm sure you can figure it out :)

Vickie said...

Sorry about your pattern! I like it though!!!

KimM said...

Lovely pattern...I understand about your hesitation....but I'm sure you can handle it. And what a treasure when you're done!
xxx

Angela said...

Great new stash!

Leonore Winterer said...

What a lovely new pattern! And while I would love to see you work on it and I do agree with some of the other commenters who say that you would surely be able to work out the speciality stitches (it would be a shamre to leave those out!) I wouldn't mind seeing you work on a few others JDD-patterns first ^_^

Irene said...

Some stick tutorials sites that might help (in case you don't already know about them).

Pintangle just put up a new stitch dictionary, which is very nice.
http://pintangle.com/stitch-dictionary/

Mary has some great videos on different stitches.
http://www.needlenthread.com/videos

Stitchinowl said...

What a pretty pattern! I still vote for you to start Once in A Tree from JCS magazine first. I remember that pattern and love it.
Carolyn