Monday, June 27, 2011

Sheepish Pincushion



Some people lose interest in knitting during the Summer months when the days are sweltering hot, humid, and sticky and the heat is oppressive.  But not me.  I knit year round regardless of the weather.  And yet.  When it's very hot outside it is nice to have other crafts to work on that do not involve handling wool.  Such as embroidery. 


Like most knitters I love sheep from whence all fleece and hence yarn comes.  So when I saw this cute sheep adorned pincushion I couldn't resist. 



It came as a kit with everything included and very clear instructions so that even someone such as myself with relatively little embroidery skills could make it quite easily.  The nice thing about following a well written pattern is that once you've made it you can then transfer that knowledge to other projects.   I can see embroidering these cute sheep onto dishcloths, children's bibs and other clothing items.


The sheep are each embroidered with a different stitch to give a different texture and, while I hadn't thought about it before, sheep do have a variety of fleece.  Maybe sheep fleece is like hair and some sheep are just lucky to have beautiful glossy locks while others are unlucky and have a frizzy mop.  Rather like a perpetual bad hair day.


Particulars: Counting Sheep Kit (sold on Etsy) designed by Lorna Bateman of Vari-Galore Embroidery. Stitches include bullion knot, couching, drizzle stitch; satin stitch, and french knot.  The Kit came with everything I needed including needles and a handy stitch glossary for future reference.  I followed the instructions exactly and couldn't be happier with my finished pincushion.  I was also impressed with the silk floss and hand dyed thread that came with the kit.  I actually ordered more of the floss which is made by Chameleon Threads of South Africa.  If you are interested in hand embroidery I follow some blogs that regularly feature embroidery including Tiny Happy Posy Gets Cozy, and Allie-Oops Sweet Happy Life.



The MisAdventures of Simcha

Investigation into the case of my missing cake flour.

Really?  It wasn't you?  Because you were the last one in the kitchen where I had my cake flour. 

While Simcha maintains that he is innocent, I'm confident that I have my man.  At 18 months Simcha is still getting into mischief but is more cuddly and forgivable all the time.  Still, he does need a job and I am delighted to report that we have found him one and it involves sheep!  But I'll tell you more about that another time.
 
Until next time, be well, love well, and this Summer try varying your knitting with another craft, such as hand embroidery!

25 comments:

subliminalrabbit said...

Absolutely adorable! Inspires me to get out the embroidery needle!

Cloudberry said...

Oh, what a cute pincushion!
I must knit during Summer too :)

SissySees said...

Giggle... I was quite taken with your pin cushion and its sheepy cuteness until that sheepISH cuteness showed up. Simcha, you might indeed be guilty, but you are adorable!

Unknown said...

Those are such cute sheep! And really? What knitter doesn't love sheep?

I love that Simcha looks kind of like, "What?" but yet has flour all over his face. Once, after a lot of rain, I was walking through the kitchen and all of a sudden there's these big mud smears and I think I said, "Who did this?" only to turn around and find Hazel with mud up to one knee.

Willow said...

Oh that innocent face! You're totally guilty!

I like the idea of varying the fiber related work. Maybe I'll pick up some crochet for July.

As we drove past San Clemente (twice) last week, I thought of you, wondered if you were there, and waved just in case.:)

Monika said...

OMG- what a lovely project! The pin cushion is to die for, so cute. It looks perfect to me, and I like the fabric in the one photo as well.

Renee said...

Elegantly adorable! Your pin cushion is wonderful, Claudia!

Oh Simcha, you are so busted... lol

Bridget said...

Oh I really like that pincushion! My embroidery skills suck, though, so I would likely tackle something easier before doing that.

Simcha! He needs to learn that you *hide* the evidence, not wear it!

t does wool said...

what a wonderful pincushion Claudia...
yes..interest fluctuates as the seasons,no?
and Simcha...not guilty as charged!

Allie said...

That's lovely!! I love how the different sheep have different textures. Beautiful. I'd love to knit....I will learn yet, Claudia. Maybe this winter. My mom surprised me a couple of weeks ago, announcing she was tired of crochet and had picked up knitting again - again? I didn't know she knitted!

Simcha, you are a very naughty boy and someone should teach you to wash your face, to hide the evidence. My kitty would be happy to show you. *G*

At Home Mommy Knits said...

Love the sheep pincushion! What a great little kit and it would be a wonderful present for someone as well.

We had a dog many moons ago who ate almost an entire bag of flour while we were at work, of course he also denied all culpability :)

kaetrn said...

they dont always know how to hide the evidence do they??? i've had many a food related item go missing, only to find an innocent looking dog covered in whatever it is i was looking for! :) i love the pincushion! you did a great job, and i added that seller to my favorites!

Tracy said...

Love all the sheep goodness today, Claudia--from your very sweet sheep pincushion, to that sheepish expression on Simcha's face... He does look like he was caught in the act...LOL! Can't wait to hear about this new job of Simcha's. Really love the embroidery--and anything wooly. It reminds me that I've not done much embroidery for some time. Must revisit. You inspire, as ever, my friend... Happy Summer Days ((HUGS))

Jules said...

Oh, I love that pincushion! And it's really not that hard? It looks like it :o)
I'm glad Simcha has a job, can't wait to hear about it. He does look very guilty!

Kate (KnitsInClass) said...

I just bought an embroidery kit yesterday! There are so many beautiful embroidered projects out there - including your sheepish pincushion (which I could really use for my sewing projects) - that I really want to get better at embroidering.
What a guilty dog you are Simcha - hard to deny it when there is cake flour on your face :)

Anonymous said...

That pincushion is really cute, and those sheep would be great to embroider on lots of things.

Are you sure that's flour around Simcha's eyes, maybe he just thought his fur was too shiny.

LornaBatemanEmbroidery.com said...

Hi Claudia
I am totally blown away! A whole article on my sheep - thank you so much.You've done an excellent job - amazing how each person's sheep look so different. Love the photos - you are obviously a dab hand with a camera too !!! I am just so pleased that you enjoyed it so much!
You have a lovely following on your blog too and of course the dog just takes the biscuit as wee say here - although in this case the flour!
At the moment I am working on new designs and as from September will take a break from my regular teaching to concentrate on new designs and also hopefully writing a book so lots in the pipeline.
Again many thanks and look forward to hearing from you again.
Lorna

raining sheep said...

Such cute sheep!! :) I love that photo of the sheep pin cushion, with the gorgeous thimble and beautiful, old fashioned scissors. Obviously Simcha wants to join you next time you make tartine bread.

gMarie said...

Oh that is adorable. I want one! I need to order and make it - thanks so much for link.

And yes, I knit all year round. g

betty said...

Cute pin cushion. I knit year-round also, but I knit with cotton, silk, and linen in the warm months. I also sew a lot more in the spring and summer.

I did not know dogs liked flour. Mine likes to eat dried pasta.

Knitting Out Loud said...

Adorable pin cushion!
Looking forward to hearing about Simcha's job...

Prairie Rose said...

Wow! I love it! Its just darling!
Oh,Simcha! you have your innocent look down,boy:)
The trouble our furry children get in to...
Have a great weekend and happy fourth,friend!

Ally Jay said...

The sheep are truly cute and would look great on a piece of clothing. I too knit year round but sometimes vary it with some embroidery.

Hilary said...

Ahhh, the little sheepies are so cute!! I can see them on a dishtowel, too...or a knitting bag, perhaps? And, oh, Simcha...the look on his face is SO guilty! Cracked me up!

Btw, your Kusha Kusha scarf is stunning! Are you wearing it all the time?

knittingdragonflies said...

This is so adorably! you are so creative!!
Great work!
Vicki