Late Monday night I stitched my last backstitch on Mirabelle and breathed a sigh of relief. She was done! Not quite, actually as I still had some beading to do and per instruction I wash and press her in between.
After the last back stitch. She looks a little funny because of the camera’s flash. Hubby was asleep, so I couldn’t light the house up like a Christmas tree.
She immediately took a warm soak in some quilt soap while I watched tv. After that I rinsed her off, hung her up and went to bed.
The next day I ironed her. I don’t know if it’s because I have a cheap iron (I do), no ironing board (I use a cookie sheet covered with dish towels), or just bad technique, but I’m never really happy with how they look after being pressed. There’s a horizontal crease going through the fabric that will not come out. It was there to begin with, and it will be there till the end of time I’m sure. Part of me really wants to invest in one of those clothes steamers to see if that will help alleviate some of the crease marks.
After ironing I carefully sewed pink beads onto her dress trying not to add fresh creases. I’ve read that the glass beads are heat resistant and you can iron them, but I stick to what I’ve learned. After that she really, really was done.
Ta da! She’s finished!
The beads going up her bodice lend so much depth.
The french knots weren’t too bad, but I had trouble determining how many twists to do.
The pattern across the top.
Close Up of her pouty little face.
And this is the kit from bothy threads. I love their kits so much. They’re expensive for us in the US (it’s a British company) but high quality.
And now I’m taking a break. Really. I swear. It took all of my willpower not to pick up one of the kits I have waiting (two more Mirabelle, one Gorjuss) it helps that I can’t decide which I want to do and just keep going. But Xenoblade X released yesterday and I downloaded it for my much neglected Japanese Wii U. I’m going to enjoy exploring that world for a while before I pick up one of my kits. I love cross stitch, but it takes so so much time. I think I’m just really slow at it.
So, I hope to be back with some more works in progress in 3-4 weeks if I can hold out that long. Until then, happy stitching!