Monday, January 5, 2015

First Christmas Finish and Rug Punching!


I finally finished my candle mat and it is my first finish for the new year and my first piece for my Christmas box. The design can be found on Q is for Quilter along with a second holly design.

I used Finca #8 on the leaves and it really is a nice floss, stitches nicely and smoothly. When I finished I used walnut spray and it seems to have made it's own design in the middle.



I also started a rug, which a friend sent me for Christmas. It is a fun pattern and I thought it would be fun to try punching with it. I am not so sure about the punching, it is way too packed, especially on the cat. The wool is thick and a dark brown with specks of white and black in it, so it is a fun yarn, but maybe I need to take some rows out and see if that helps. I was thinking of doing the design in punch and the background in wool hooking, but not sure? My frame is not big enough to do punching all around, so it is either that or pull it all out and start over with wool and regular punching, which I am leaning towards.

The design is by American Pie Designs. I also think it would be easier with a smaller rug punch, mine are size 10 and I find it hard to punch and tiring after a while.


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13 comments:

  1. gracieJanuary 5, 2015 at 9:40 PM

    One day I will try the walnut spray

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  2. acorn hollowJanuary 5, 2015 at 9:58 PM

    I love your pieces do you mean you are making things for next Christmas?
    Cathy

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  3. KateJanuary 6, 2015 at 7:32 AM

    I love your candle mat! I wasn't able to locate the design on broderie d'antan - I likely missed it since there were so many to look at. I love her country designs and have stitched a few.
    Good luck with your cat.

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  4. Missie of Traditional Primitives January 6, 2015 at 8:53 AM

    Love that staining affect! So perfect! I brought some walnuts home from Ohio but they are soft and now frozen. Do you ever make your own spray? When I have sprayed in the past I really see the spray drops. Yours is so perfect! For your punching, it looks like you are using yarn? Perhaps it is too thick for the punch tool? I use a #10 punch with #7 cut wool strips and it was very easy flowing, yet 8 as recommended was too thick and hard to pull through. Perhaps try a smaller yarn? Good luck!

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  5. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2015 at 8:57 AM

    You are working on next Christmas already?

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  6. AnnaJanuary 6, 2015 at 11:44 AM

    I now own a bottle of walnut spray...yet to be brave enough to use it, LOL

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  7. pauletteJanuary 6, 2015 at 1:09 PM

    Love both your projects!! Your cat will be so worth the hard work!! Do a little every day and before you know it, it will be done!!

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  8. SaundraJanuary 6, 2015 at 5:54 PM

    One day I want to do the larger needle punch with wool strips not yarn. Perhaps one day I'll venture there. Like the way your CAT piece is going.

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  9. Rugs and PugsJanuary 6, 2015 at 7:18 PM

    Great finish and you are off to a great start on the rug. I've not yet (after probably 10 years) tried my Oxford punch needle.
    Hugs :)
    Lauren

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  10. moosecraftJanuary 7, 2015 at 7:11 AM

    Both pieces are very nice! I should follow your lead and make at least one Christmas item a month... it sure would make December a lot easier! ;-)

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  11. KarenJanuary 7, 2015 at 9:06 AM

    The first thing I noticed was the design the walnut stain made in the middle. Keep going and your Christmas box will be full before the end of the year.

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  12. MiccosukeeJanuary 7, 2015 at 12:29 PM

    Glad to see your first project of the new year. I haven't yet mastered the art of punch needle. Just simply rug hooking is a challenge for me. Am glad to see you doing a hooked item. You do such wonderful work.

    Stay warm. Here our high for tomorrow will be 42 degrees. At least no snow!!
    trisha

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  13. CaroleJanuary 11, 2015 at 5:32 PM

    Lovely projects! Thank you for sharing! Cheers!

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