Back to "Master"

So the last time I worked on "Master" (around March 23 of this year, apparently) I had just finished doing one color across ten pages (two full rows) of the chart.

I changed my mind about having that much going at once for a couple of reasons.  I was worried about getting "lost" on the chart, especially if the faint blue lines I have separating my fabric into "pages" gets covered by stitching.  I am also working on keeping track of what has already been done.  As I was finishing page 3 of "Migrant Mother", I felt like I was getting very good at tracking.  I'm using one page; I color one symbol with a highlighter, and color it in with a Sharpie when those stitches are done.  I have found I prefer orange and pink highlighter colors (makes it easier for me to see where I need to stitch next) and I'm using a fine-point purple Sharpie to color them in when done.

Last night I pulled this project out again and spent some time figuring out where I was, finding the floss (which has a Tyvek tag with the project name on it) and the chart print-outs (all in a large tote bag with some other stuff).  I finished the symbol that was already colored in to be done next, filled those in on the chart when done, and colored in the next symbol to be worked.  I am going to proceed by finishing one page at a time.

This is page 1 right now, with the light blue I finished last night - top left corner, framed in by faint blue lines.  The project is being done on 20-ct "Easy Count" Aida, purchased from Heaven & Earth Designs.  I love this fabric!  I may have to order more of this for future projects.  (Migrant Mother is being done on 18 ct Aida that I marked my self, with blue wash-out fabric marker.)

A Little Cross Stitch

I was working on Stillwell Bookmark #2, with spiders, and the spiders were not behaving so the lace is in a time-out for now.  I am going to Pennsylvania the week of July 17 anyway, to visit an old friend, get her started with bobbin lace, and visit the IOLI Convention.  I'm sure that will prove enough enticement to get back to the bobbin lace.

In the meantime I picked up a cross stitch piece again.  This is Migrant Mother.  The chart is from Artecy Cross Stitch, based on a Depression-era photo by Dorothea Lange.

The first two photos are from the last time I worked on this in early May.  I had done all of the black and one or two other colors all the way across the top row first, then decided to finish each page individually.  I was worried about getting lost otherwise.

Page one was done, and page two was about half done.

Working on the mother's face.  The gray at the top indicates the edges of page 2.

After I picked it up again for this round.  Finished the mom's face, working on filling in the rest of page 2.

Page 2 done!  Embarking on finishing page 3.

Down to two colors on page 3.  One is the block at the top that needed to be filled in; the rest is the scattered stitches in the hair, which will be all one color.  I no longer need the charts at this point; all I have to do is fill in with the correct color of DMC.

Down to one color!  Just need to fill in the rest of the boy's hair.  After that I think I will be going back to the other cross stitch I have in progress.

This is the other piece I have in progress.  According to the date on the photo, I last worked on this around Dec 30 of last year.  The chart is "Master", from Tilton Crafts Cross Stitch.  It is based on a piece of artwork by Tsuneo Sanda, but I believe the chart is retired.