Cross Stitch #12 - 2014 Finishes

[@quigleymp]

Wow, can't imagine going through what you did but you show such grace and strength Carolyn. I am also a mother if 3 and grandmother of 3, soon to be four this month! Your insight into ideas for making cross stitch easier and better are amazing! So helpful leaning about metallics and parking. Thanks so much Carolyn.

[@loricarroll3662]

Love you dragon, sorry for the pain that came with it.....Your strength you found when stitching has inspired me to keep going on an angel..tho my reason is much different.....June of last year my father was diagnosed with colon cancer...started an angel for him in Oct life got crazy he got worse,,,,, the Lord took him home in February. Has been so hard to finish the angel for him now but looking at my stitching as strength and therapy......i may just be able to pick her up and finish her with diligence....Thank you for your inspiration. ....

[@tracycagliero129]

Wow - I am sorry to hear of your troubles. Cross stitch really helps to calm us and ease our troubles. Take care!

[@beverleygardam151]

That dragon is amazing.

[@Stitchingdiva328]

The dragon is gorgeous. Congrats on all your finishes!!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you! Happy New Year :) x

[@90raisin]

The dragon is beautiful! To have the piece symbolize strength will make it so much more special :) Love you videos I've learned so much!!

[@renafurman1890]

Only the best to you and your family in 2015 and beyond. The Blue Dragon is phenomenal... And with what he represents to you and your son which is power and strength. I wish for both of you continued healing in the New Year. 🎉

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Rena - that means a lot to me :) Happy New Year to you too :) x

[@KaitlinKersh]

Your blue dragon is EPIC. I can't wait to see him framed, he's so cool! Can't wait to see what you stitch next.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Kaitlin - he was a lot of fun :) My new projects feature in my 2015 Stitching Plans video.... uploading today. Happy New Year :) x

[@littlesomethings1328]

That dragon is beautiful, your family will get so many years of enjoyment and strength from him :) im glad you met the 2014 deadline for him xx

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you! I'm glad I did too..... just need to organise the washing & framing now. Thanks for watching and happy stitching :) x

[@michelletabb5010]

Love this video. So fun hearing your firsts, sharing in your finishes, and so moved by your inspiration for Blue Dragon. Wishing you joy in the coming year❤️❤️❤️

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thanks so much Michelle! Happy New Year to you too :) x

[@kraziejacko]

thank you for sharing your story with us all, I am glad Mr Dragon was therapeutic for you, bless you. I just wanted to say how much I love your videos, I'm an obsessive knitter who has recently gotten into cross stitch, I too am a sucker for gadgets and love seeing your hauls. happy stitching, look forward to more wip's finishes and hauls!!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Michelle! Gadgets make my life easier - If only I could find where I put them lol! Happy stitching :) x

[@PalettePC]

Wonderful year of stitching. Happy stitching in 2015.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you! Next year I hope to have as many finishes as you. Happy New Year :) x

[@Redonna]

A lot of nice finishes for you. You do amazing work. Thank you for being an inspiration. Because of you I started my first HAED with the Dec 1 SAL. And because of you I will be parking it - when I get to more variety n the thread ( so far the majority of page 1 has been primarily 2 shades of blue and the threads either finished as I reached he bottom of a column or the thread was close enough and thread-worn enough for me to tunnel it off). So sorry to hear there was an assault issue that you and your son have had, and are still having to deal with. I'm glad the stitching has helped. I can't imagine the details of the issue, but I will certainly pray for continued peace and strength for both of you. Thanks for sharing your awesomeness!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Redonna - you have no idea how much your kind words mean to me. It has definitely been a trying time, and I'm guessing my son and I still have more to go through, but at least now we'll have a symbol to look to for strength and guidance. So glad I've helped inspire you to not only start a HAED but to Park as well..... GOOD ON YOU!! I hope you continue to enjoy the process, especially once the confetti stitching begins (which is a test to us all hehe). More videos are in the planning. I hope you continue to watch and enjoy. Happy new year :) x

[@kerryemmiebet]

Congratulations on all your beautiful finishes. I often say that cross stitching is therapeutic and I am glad that stitching your magnificent dragon has been such good therapy for you. I hope you and your son draw strength from him in the years to come. Happy New Year. xxx

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you Kerry, I appreciate that! Happy stitching :) x

[@Winning923]

Thank you, Carolyn, for all you have shared. You are such an inspiration & you have helped to renew my passion for stitching! I was thrilled when I stumbled across your videos (looking for parking instruction) Sometimes it seems like fellow stitchers are few and far between. I'm looking forward to being part of your online community. Loved seeing all of your finishes- the dragon is so beautiful & even more so with such strength it represents. Also loved the Clouds Factory pattern- super cute! I've already purchased a couple of their charts I'm looking forward to finishing them pretty quickly. Best Wishes & Happy Stitching from way down in south Texas!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Everytime someone mentions I have renewed their enthusiasm for stitching, I get a warm feeling inside..... it makes me so happy to hear this. It's like having a best friend to nudge you in the right direction and encourage you to do what you really enjoy doing. This community is the absolute best. Everyone is so welcoming and caring - they love to share not only their projects and dreams for the future, but also their advice. I have learnt so much, which still amazes me, because I didn't think there was any more that I needed to learn..... how wrong I was! The only bad thing is my wish list has now grown to the point where I can honestly say I'll never get around to stitching them all, and that makes me a little sad. Still I would never have stitched my dragon if it wasn't for hearing about HAEDs, so I'm eternally grateful for that. Clouds Factory designs are cute... I've also purchased a few and hope to somehow slot them into my rotation this year, because they're really quick and easy to stitch up. Thanks again for your kind words, and for your support. Happy stitching :) x

[@JessieMarieDoesStuff]

Wow. Just wow. Your 2014 finishes are just phenomenal. I so love the Magical Creatures SAL and of course, Blue Dragon. I had no idea of the magnitude of the meaning of that piece for you, and for your son but I commend you. Stunning finish and I hope that strength proves long lasting. I know it's not easy to talk about things like that, especially to a world of strangers but I know it can be comforting to put a voice to it. All the hugs and best wishes to you and your family in the coming year. Cannot wait to see what you do next. :) Hugs, Jessie

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Jessie Marie Does Stuff Thanks so much! There was more I wanted to say, but I just couldn't get the words out. Now at least everyone understands why I looked like a mad woman on a mission stitching this piece up so fast! Thanks for your support :) x

[@crossstitchbutton]

Congrats on a beautiful finish the Dragon is Wow! Cant wait to see him framed well done Carolyn, he will watch over you both in the years to come best wishes to you sweetie xxx

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much for your kind words. He will always be my favourite project ;) Happy stitching :) x

[@misssweetstory]

Lovely finishes. You've been a joy to watch. Looking forward to seeing more of you in the new year!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Ann. Many more videos in the planning :) Happy New Year :) x

[@mybookboundlife29]

Your work is amazing and so are you. Keep smiling and stay strong 💜

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you Katie, I appreciate your kind words :) Happy New Year :) x

[@tracycagliero129]

Love the dragon!

[@TheCraftyCurator]

Carolyn, thank you so much for sharing your testimonial with us. We are strangers, but we are bonded by the love of our craft and the mutual understanding of it's therapeutic rewards. I felt your pain when you spoke, but I was so thankful to hear that you found a way to channel that energy creatively. You just expressed why we love this craft so deeply...it's not all about the pretty patterns is it? ;-) That being said....your Blue Dragon. Oh. My. Goodness. I'm not into stitching fantasy creatures but you made me want to buy the pattern and stitch it!! Stunning stunning stunning. I am so happy you are here. Thank you for sharing your work and yourself. I pray this New Year brings peace to your heart and mind, as well as to your son.

[@kristinanne6534]

I was a victim of an assault as well so I will be praying for you. My assault was about 15 years ago and I rarely think about it anymore and no longer have any of the anxiety I used to have. So there is hope that you will be able to put it behind you and move on with your life. I love all of your projects. I just started my first HAED so you are an inspiration for me! Mine will definitely take me more than a year though!!!!! Thanks again for your parking tutorial. It has been immensely helpful to me. Have a blessed 2015!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Kristin! I refuse to remain a victim of the event and my determination will help me get over it. I think the fact that my son still doesn't have closure is holding me back from a full recovery. It all takes time, I understand that. I'm so happy to hear you've ventured into the world of HAEDs... how are you liking it? Happy New Year to you too :) x

[@kristinanne6534]

I can't seem to put my HAED down! They are so fun to do! I hope I can persevere like you did. There are so many unfinished HAED's out there! I want to see mine on my wall some day. Time does heal. Time and forgiveness really in my case. I didn't have closure in the court system so forgiveness was my closure. I think it would actually be harder if my child was also involved. Somehow it is harder to let something go when it has hurt your child. You are an inspiration to all of us both with your cross stitching and your demeanor! I love watching your videos. I'm looking forward to seeing what you stitch in 2015!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you Kristin :) I'm hoping 2015 will be a better year with loads of new starts and finishes. I appreciate your kind words very much :)

[@gillmae5223]

I'm glad your stitching has broight you comfort after your ordeal. It has been prooved that stitching is a form of meditation, and therefore very soothing. I wish you and your family all the best for 2015, and hope your daughter continues to enjoy her stitching. Hope to see more of your videos in the coming year.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thankyou, and yes I had read that too. It's definitely done wonders compared to how I was. I will be encouraging her, don't worry :) Happy New Year to you too ;) x

[@kelleyjogirl]

So many wonderful finishes! Your blue dragon is just stunning.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you! Happy stitching :) x

[@collbn]

Beautiful finishes. I hope your wonderful dragon brings you and your son some peace and comfort. Happy New Year

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you, I'm certain he will :) Happy New Year :) x

[@debbiealb2647]

Happy New Year to you as well. the dragon is so beautiful. I wish you best for you and your family. I have been stitching for over 20 yrs, I came across your channel and I Loved it, thank you for showing the needle thru the hole to start the project, I loved it, no matter how long you stitch you learn every time. I will conte to look forward to your channel for 2015. Thank you for sharing. Debbie

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Debbie! Because I've been stitching for so long I forget that not everyone does it the same way as me. It's great to share stitching tips with others and it brings me great joy when I've made someone's stitching day easier. More videos are on the way! Happy New Year :) x

[@chelseaolesh9679]

Everything is gorgeous! Hard work and dedication shows! Hugs!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you Chelsea :) Happy New Year :) x

[@annabelleschwartz5150]

Thank You for your wonderful videos . You are an inspiration to me....

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you Annabelle - that is so lovely of you to say :) Happy New Year :) x

[@melhoskins7756]

Happy new year to you and your family, thank you for sharing and I'm glad stitching the blue dragon has been a source of strength for you, it's a beautiful piece of work x

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you Melanie. Happy New Year :) x

[@reigna963]

Gorgeous Dragon! Glad to see the silver lining!

[@siluna2654]

Wish you and the family the very best this year...and all the years to come.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Maria. Happy New Year :) x

[@siluna2654]

Happy New Year Lovely Lady 😄

[@ssaah59ify]

Beautiful work! And, I love, love, love the statue sitting on the cabinet, behind you!

[@bluenosebabyshow]

Lovely finishes Carolyn, I'm amazed that you were able to get a BAP done so quickly. I am so glad that it gave you strength through that tough time and I hope that once your son's court case is over, that your family will be able to bring some closure to this. Happy New Year Love Sarah x

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Sarah. I was amazed too, but I think I got slightly obsessed with finishing it. I thought I had closure, but sharing it with you all made it obvious that I clearly don't. I guess it all takes time. The dragon will definitely be watching over and protecting us, I'm sure. Happy New Year :) x

[@daisymae9163]

loved seeing all your work

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you! Happy stitching :) x

[@Khristine4558]

I am very sorry for what you and your son went through, but that was a very beautiful story of how that dragon helped you heal some, I hope he helps your son too. I love the LizzieKates, they are one of my favorite designers. Everything you stitched is beautiful, can't wait to see what you are up to this year!!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Khristine, I appreciate your kind words. I believe sometimes having a visual source can help us overcome things quicker. I love reading inspirational quotes... they always make me feel better... so why not a cross stitch dragon? ;) Yes Lizzie Kate designs are amazing - I think I have just about all of them on my wish list at 123stitch.com. This year I really hope to start one that I've already started kitting up. Thanks so much for watching and happy stitching :) x

[@Khristine4558]

Carolyn Mazzeo I too love quotes, LizzieKate had a contest last year and you could submit a quote for their boxer series and I won. This is the quote I submitted www.lizziekate.com/lizzie-B48-dontcrybecause-boxer.html I am always writing quotes I like in a little book I have and I enjoy reading them over and over. Which pattern have you started kitting up?

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Khristine Doiron Wow that's amazing! I was only just telling my daughter about that quote the other day. She'd broken up with her boyfriend and was feeling sad. I didn't know Lizzie Kate had charted it. Another one to add to the wish list :/ What did you win? I'm hoping to do Less = More. I've got all the charts and the fabric, just need the thread and the time!! I'm going to do it as one whole design with a border.

[@Khristine4558]

Carolyn Mazzeo That one is so nice!!! Great choice!! They were so generous with the prize! I got to pick $50 worth of charts so I got Christmas ABC's and the full set of Halloween Rules. Then as each of the winning quotes were being released I got one of each and a flip-it or two in each package. They have a contest coming up to submit a 3 word saying, I think, and the winning one will be offered as a freebie on their website.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Khristine Doiron You really can't go wrong with any of her designs - I love them all! That's an awesome prize..... I would love to have a collection of her charts. They're so quick and easy to stitch up. I stitched Cat Lessons for People and was amazed at how quick it was. Haven't done anything with it yet - still deciding whether to frame it or turn it into a pillow. A new contest?.... Oooh I might have a go at that one ;) Where would I go to get more info on that? Thanks so much for letting me know. Look forward to seeing your Quote stitched up in the SAL (which starts here today in Aus). Not sure we're you're from?

[@clairetcl8455]

I find cross stitch to be calming and a good 'therapy' from switching of from every day things, big and small. I hope in years to come both you and your son can draw strength from your Blue Dragon piece and that it serves as a reminder that good can come out of bad for you have truly created something special. I hope your hands recover quickly so you can continue stitching (maybe at a slightly slower pace!) into 2015. Happy New Year

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you Claire. It has definitely been great therapy, and much cheaper than a professional lol! I wanted to say a lot more, but I just couldn't get the words out. Oh well, it all takes time. Thank you for your kind words. Happy New Year :) x

[@StitchingJoanne]

I'm sorry to hear your story, but was touched to hear your project gave you strength, that's really lovely. In other news, I have the seashells kit too, the chart scared me as it is blue and pink which I've never seen before. Well done for completing it so quickly.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

***** Thank you! Don't let the chart scare you - it's a fun stitch, and surprisingly quick! happy stitching :) x

[@thespringfieldstitcher6009]

Oh my goodness, beautiful finishes!!!!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

+The Springfield Stitcher Thank you very much! :) x

[@tillysatch]

Happy new year to you and your family. Thank you for sharing your story behind the blue dragon, i hope you and your son continue to draw strength from him. He certainly is impressive! As are you for getting him stitched so quickly :-) All of your finishes are wonderful and i look forward to seeing more of your videos. All the best for 2015 x

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Sally :) It wasn't easy, and there was more I wanted to say... but I just couldn't get the words out. He will be watching over and protecting us, I'm sure. Happy New Year :) x

[@theresafeeney2756]

As always such beautiful work! So sorry to hear about what you and your son went through and I wish the both of you the very best in the year to come. I also find a lot of therapy with stitching and the pieces I have finished also have some sort of feeling for me so I know what the blue dragon means to you. I look forward to seeing what you do this year and your Mirabilia that you're going to stitch. I am going to be doing my first, Lady Alexandra and At the Met and looking forward to doing them both. Happy New Year to you and your family xx

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thanks again for your lovely comments Theresa, and your continued support - it really is appreciated :) Stitching is great therapy and so much cheaper than the so-called experts, as I keep reminding my husband! I love that we can have a special connection to certain pieces that the average onlooker has no idea of. Some pieces have a way of just "speaking" to us :) I wish you the best of luck with your Mira's. I'm absolutely loving mine, and I wish I hadn't started my rotation just yet because I don't want to put her away for 3 weeks.... but I must! Time flies, so I'm sure I'll be back to her in no time at all. I hope to do update videos on my WIPs every 2 weeks as I'll have new things to show in each video. My Mira progress will appear in the next video :))) Happy New Year to you and your family also :) x

[@melanieday4029]

Thank you for sharing your story behind your blue dragon piece (amazing work, by the way!). I'm so sorry to hear you and your son were involved in such a terrible situation. On another note--1700 stitches per day?! Goodness gracious. No wonder your fingers were feeling sore! And now, off to continue catching up with all your lovely videos :).

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Melanie Day Thank you Melanie for your very kind comments. It's definitely something that will take time to get over, but I'm hopeful that the dragon will be a source of comfort for us both :) Yes it's a lot of stitches, and I'm embarrassed to say he still hasn't been framed yet! I've been putting it off because I know it will cost a lot, but I hope to do it very soon. Thanks for watching and happy stitching :) xx

[@Serukis]

I'm sorry about what happened to you and your son. I was attacked by a man when walking home from university four years ago, and I wish I had had something to draw strength from throughout the court case and stuff (especially as he was found not guilty). Your son is very lucky to have you for a mum and to have something with so much love poured into it for him to draw strength from in the years to come. Thanks for sharing your story - it was very brave of you. I know how hard it is to talk about these things.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you too Emily :( It's sad that we can't be safe doing what we want to do without worrying about all these crazy people with their personal vendettas. I'm glad I was there and he didn't have to go through it alone. Although I copped the brunt of it, I would do the same thing again to protect him. The hardest thing for me is I constantly think about the event and how I would react differently, and what I should have done..... is it the same for you? The trouble is when you know an attack is coming, you can take measures to protect yourself, but when it's unprovoked and totally random, what can you do..... It was such a surprise to both of us. Talking about it helps, although I didn't mean to get emotional. I have my good and bad days still. Thanks so much. I'm looking forward to your progress this year too - you've got some great projects :) x

[@Serukis]

Oh, I always think about what I could have done differently. But you can drive yourself crazy thinking about all that, because it won't change anything, so I try not to. It gets easier with time, but I don't think it'll ever truly go away. Thank you! :) We can cheer each other on with our projects! Big hugs xx

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Emily Chadwick Yes I totally agree with that! You're such a sweetie.... thank you :) x

[@Serukis]

[@Craftymum66]

Thank you for sharing and that I hope for the best for you and your son. As for your stitching, WOW. I think that just sums it up. I love your blue dragon the most and I'm hoping to start my first heaven and earth design myself this year. Thank you for doing your videos. I hope you and your family had a good new year and that the rest of the year is a happy and healthy one. *hugs* :)

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Debbie - your kind words are really appreciated ;) I'm so glad you've decided to start a HAED - they really are the most amazing designs and definitely something to treasure for a lifetime. It's a shame they take so long to stitch, but then I guess that's what adds to the specialty of it. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year also :) x

[@Craftymum66]

Thanks to the HAED sale I was able to buy 2 of the patterns I love. I got Treasure Hunt and I've ordered the fabric and threads too. Just waiting for them to be delivered. Thank you for you wishes too :) xx

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Debbie Scanlan I've put myself on a temporary ban from the HAED site ;) I have way too many HAED charts, and I know I'll never get them all done. Each new one I find goes to the top of the list, and the one's I said I'd do next end up missing out. So I'm going to try and stay strong and stay away :) x p.s. I have the Treasure Hunt bookshelf too

[@Craftymum66]

Carolyn Mazzeo I'm not surprised I've got a list of at least 20 of their patterns I would love to do. But at this stage I'm going to try and be strong and not buy any more until I've at least completed one of the patterns I've just got. We will have to try and stay strong together. :) x

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Debbie Scanlan Sounds like a good plan! I have 75 patterns in my HAED wish list lol! :) x

[@MargaretAnne27]

God bless you and your son. I am a mother of three and could not imagine.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Luna Marigold Thank you so much Luna, I really appreciate that :) Happy stitching :) x

[@EkaterinaKadyrova]

Hi! Your dragon is absolutely amazing!!!! Great job!!!

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Ekaterina Kadyrova Thankyou very much! :) x

[@Beenediktee09]

I absolutely love your work! :) But where did you purchase the DMC floss to your blue dragon? I'm thinking about purchasing the red dragon from HAED, but I have problems of knowing which chart format to order, how much floss I have to get and where.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you! I purchased the floss from my local Spotlight store here in Australia because I didn't know about the online stores at the time. It cost me a small fortune :( Now I purchase pretty much all my cross stitch supplies from 123stitch.com Their prices are unbeatable... especially for floss (in my opinion) With the chart form, did you mean regular or large? If so, that just refers to the size of the symbols on the page. Regular is normal size and large is for those that need larger text for struggling eyes. As such, the larger text will contain more pages because they can't fit as many symbols on the 1 page. The floss they recommend allows for the recommended count of fabric (in their case, they recommend 25 count) and you can find this by clicking on Floss Usage Chart via the link under the picture. If you then go to page 4 of the chart and look over to the column on the far right titled "Skein Est." this is where they list how many skeins you need to purchase. This continues until page 6. Remember this amount is for 25 count fabric. I stitched Blue Dragon on 18 count, and I originally only purchased the amount of floss they recommended. I did NOT have enough. I didn't keep a record but I estimate I used probably double what they said (I used the Parking Technique, which also uses more floss). Hope this helps! Happy stitching :) x

[@Beenediktee09]

Carolyn Mazzeo Thank you so much! This was very helpfull to me, more than I was hoping for! :D Can't wait to see all your new videos for 2015 :)

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Benedikte Ødegård Thank you, and you're welcome :) Happy stitching :) x

[@samjones3289]

Hi, love ur work! I'm now about to start the magical creatures calendar on 28 count evenweave linen, did u use 2 strands of floss or 1 strand for the dmc colours and also the weeks dye works how many strands of floss did you use? If I'm reading it right the blue outlines around each month it's telling me to use 4 strands x

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Sam Jones Hi Sam, I actually stitched my calendar on 32 count linen and used 2 strands of DMC floss. 28 count is slightly larger, so it's totally up to you how many strands you use, but I find 2 strands gives a nice even coverage on 28 count fabric. I didn't use the Weeks Dye Works floss because I wanted to keep the price down..... if I had, I would have used the same amount of strands as the DMC. My advice is to use the same amount of each, I think you may be confusing skeins with strands.... I'll see if I can clarify it for you. A SKEIN is the name given to a bunch of DMC floss when you purchase it from the shop. So instead of a REEL of cotton for sewing, you would have a SKEIN of floss. A STRAND is a single length of floss. Each DMC SKEIN is made up of 6 STRANDS of floss. You cut your floss from the full skein to a comfortable stitching length, and then you remove the amount of STRANDS you need to stitch with. The instructions that you are referring to are actually stating how many SKEINS of full floss you will need to purchase to complete the entire stitched design. i.e. #2337 Periwinkle.... you will need to buy 4 SKEINS to have enough for the entire design. Same goes for the other colours mentioned.... they are talking about how many full SKEINS you need to purchase, and NOT the amount of strands to stitch with. I'm pretty certain it doesn't say anywhere on the instructions how many strands you need to use..... it's personal preference depending on the fabric count you've chosen and what type of finished look you are hoping to achieve. I hope I've helped clear that up for you. If you have any further questions, please let me know :) x

[@samjones3289]

That's excellent thank you so much x

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Sam Jones You're very welcome :)

[@pattysmith9266]

Huge Hugs and Happy New Year Your dragon turned out to be absolutely gorgeous Congratulation on that impressive finish. Checking out Cloud Factory as well. HUGS from Patty in BC Canada

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Patty :) Clouds Factory is a great site - hope you like it. Happy New Year to you :) x

[@sharonboshky2191]

hi carolyn! i would love to stitch a heaven and earth design. really nervous to stitch on their recommened 25 count. i only have stitched on 14 or 16 count aida fabrics. can you tell me count fabric you stitched your dragon on. thankyou. sharon b.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

sharon boshky Hi Sharon, my dragon was stitched on 18 count and I absolutely loved it. There are 2 important things to consider when doing a HAED. 1. That you're completely happy with the fabric count and the coverage as you'll be stitching it for a very long time. There's nothing worse than getting a long way in then deciding you want to restart it because you don't like how the stitches look. 2. You need to consider the finished size of the project. To be honest I think they recommend 25 count because the finished size won't be too massive and therefore within most people's budget to get it framed. The best advice I can give you is to do some test stitching on various fabric counts with various strands to see what you like the best. I also recommend joining the HAED Bulletin Board - the link is on their home page. The bulletin board is a forum where you will find answers to any HAED questions you can think of, as well as loads of progress pictures from stitchers who all use a variety of fabric types, counts and strands used. I based my decision after viewing this forum. I hope this information has helped you somewhat, and I would love to hear what you've decided on, when you do. Take care & happy stitching :) x

[@sharonboshky2191]

Thankyou! your response is very helpful. i love your videos too. i am learning alot from you. will let you know in the future which Head design i choose and fabric count. Also i have watched your parking technique. I am going to attempt to see if i like parking.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

sharon boshky You never know if you never try..... Please do let me know. Happy stitching :) x

[@Dobbyak]

You are an amazing stitcher and a beautiful person. I've been following you on IG for a long time, but only now I started binge watching your videos (even being a subscriber for a long time). You are an inspiration to me and I learnt so much from you. Thank you. @dobbyak

[@TheCraftyCurator]

Carolyn, thank you so much for sharing your testimonial with us. We are strangers, but we are bonded by the love of our craft and the mutual understanding of it's therapeutic rewards. I felt your pain when you spoke, but I was so thankful to hear that you found a way to channel that energy creatively. You just expressed why we love this craft so deeply...it's not all about the pretty patterns is it? ;-) That being said....your Blue Dragon. Oh. My. Goodness. I'm not into stitching fantasy creatures but you made me want to buy the pattern and stitch it!! Stunning stunning stunning. I am so happy you are here. Thank you for sharing your work and yourself. I pray this New Year brings peace to your heart and mind, as well as to your son.

[@TheFlosstubeStitcher]

Thank you so much Latisha for your beautiful words. We all put so much love into our pieces - whether it's from a place of sorrow, or happiness, it's there for the world to see but only we know the true meaning and the devotion it takes to complete it. I now have 2 special pieces in my life that mean the world to me..... the other is a design I stitched after my father passed away. When I look at it, it touches that special place inside of me. And you're right, it's not all about the pretty patterns, it's about understanding why a particular design can just reach that special place in your heart, for whatever reason. I think I have inadvertently inspired a few stitchers to purchase this piece, or one of the other dragons. I'm seeing dragons everywhere now lol! I feel extremely humbled by it. Thank you again, it's wonderful people like you that make me enjoy this community so much. So caring, thoughtful and genuine! :) Happy New Year to you and your family :) x

[@TheCraftyCurator]

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[@TheCraftyCurator]

Carolyn, thank you so much for sharing your testimonial with us. We are strangers, but we are bonded by the love of our craft and the mutual understanding of it's therapeutic rewards. I felt your pain when you spoke, but I was so thankful to hear that you found a way to channel that energy creatively. You just expressed why we love this craft so deeply...it's not all about the pretty patterns is it? ;-) That being said....your Blue Dragon. Oh. My. Goodness. I'm not into stitching fantasy creatures but you made me want to buy the pattern and stitch it!! Stunning stunning stunning. I am so happy you are here. Thank you for sharing your work and yourself. I pray this New Year brings peace to your heart and mind, as well as to your son.