I really missed having my circles in a square project from last year. I was so glad that a friend clued me in to this daily stitching project. You can read all about it here. Karen Turner, an embroiderer in the UK is the inspiration. She also set up a group Facebook page where members can post their progress. You have to be a member to view it, but it's oh, so easy to join.
She has a very nice template that you can download to keep your days in order and that one month tessellates into the next. I am way behind because it started on the first of January and I didn't start until the 12th. I am trying hard to catch up so that I can just do one day at at a time.
I am also behind because I had so many false starts. I first started on a piece of an antique linen sheet, given to me by a dear friend, but found that it was difficult to stitch thru. Then I switched to washed unbleached muslin. I drew and did a running stitch to outline the blocks and found that it was not laying flat. I then spray basted it to a piece of washed flannel.
Then to start stitching. After doing two or three blocks in different colors I decided that I wanted each month to be in its own color. So unstitch three blocks and start with a blue and gray theme, appropriate for January. The turquoise stars and spray of leaves are wash-out marker.
This strip is 11 inches wide by 195 inches long. A LOT of stitching. I'm finding it challenging because the blocks are so small. I loved working on my three inch circles last year, but having some trouble with these. Hopefully I will improve. I also learned that a finer thread works best on these small blocks. I used size 8 Perle cotton almost exclusively on my circles, but it is too heavy on this. I am now using mostly two or three strands of floss.
If you like to embroider I would suggest your joining us. I will try to post every week's progress.
I will be linking up with Off the Wall Friday.
