Flosstube #47 - catching up and a spotlight on Summer patterns

[@theresapetrik1995]

You are a lovely, restful addition to my very hectic day...thank you for coming for a visit. It was a joy to sit awhile and relax with you. Your stitching is gorgeous as always!

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Theresa, that’s a lovely compliment.

[@susanbarnes1385]

What a wonderful outing for Charlotte. It's so nice to find interactive places for children. Your stitching is always so beautiful. Hope you have a safe trip and nice little retreat.

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Susan. I am really looking forward to some good time with my friend.

[@wendybartlett9280]

Family Patchwork looks amazing, Sarah ❤ wonderful to "visit" with you as always!

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Wendy!

[@annemarie6962]

Lovely to see you this morning Sarah. The sun is finally out after a very wet & grey week. We are away from home at a Fishing Festival. I was blessed to have been gifted a lot of DMC threads recently so my task is to finally sort out all my threads so I can see what I have to kit up some projects I'm hoping to get done over the summer. Your stitching is beautiful as always. I watched Nancy & Jenny open the parcel with a tear in my eye while shouting at the screen that I knew those pieces. My poor husband hadn't a clue what was going on 😂😂😂 Your summer patterns are all lovely but the one by Yasmin really tugged at my heart strings. I just may have to visit her store 🐦🐦🐦 Glad to hear you had such a nice Easter. Great to see Charlotte having fun with her friend. Enjoy your weekend away. Take care, best wishes from 🇮🇪

[@sewmesarah]

Hope you had a lovely weekend away Anne Marie and that you had fun sorting your threads for some summer stitches.

[@homesweethomehandmade]

Hello Sarah Real Comfort is stunning 😍 Enjoyed my time with you today, very inspirational and loved the Lizzie Kate stitching. Happy Stitching 🧵 Natalie x

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you so much Natalie.

[@vickybossom9957]

Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words: WE CAN DO HARD THINGS! I needed to hear that today because I'm struggling with ripping out one project and trying to grid 2 more fabrics. One of the projects I'm trying to grid are already started but I'm so lost I felt I needed to stop to grid. I love your videos, Sarah. And I enjoy your honest sharing. Your openness draws me in as a friend.

[@sewmesarah]

Frustrating as it is, ripping out or changing our approach to a project is all part of the journey. A slow and sometimes irritating part, but ultimately it’s worth it. When you have your gridding all sorted, you’ll find progress much easier and hopefully, more enjoyable. Hope it all gets better Vicky. Thanks for your lovely comment.

[@SarahsStitchySpot]

Real Comfort is gorgeous, Sarah. Congratulations. I always appreciate when you share the sites and history of the beautiful country you live in. Love that you kept me company this afternoon. I had some problems with my voice and throat a few years back. I was doing a play with a heavy line load. I drank a cup of herbal tea with honey and lemon just before the play started and during intermission. I found it very healing and comforting. Take care, my friend.

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Sarah. I'm avoiding heat on my throat for now to allow sores to heal but the doctor did suggest pineapple juice, of all things. Apparently, for some people, pineapple juice helps regulate mucus which breaks the cycle I've been in of dry throat, throat catches, I cough or clear it which exacerbates irritation. Glad to report the pineapple juice has been working for me and things are staring to be much less scratchy. It's been four months so I will be glad to see the back of it!

[@boosmummy2004]

Congratulations on your finishes, they're beautiful. I'm a jam first then cream person as well 🙂 lovely to see Charlotte playing in the garden 😀 glad you all enjoyed your trip at Easter, we used to take our 3 to the NT Clumber Park Easter hunt when they were younger, they loved the trails and an egg at the end. x

[@sewmesarah]

The National Trust have really great family events in the last 15 years or so. We have really enjoyed them and certainly get our money's worth out of membership.

[@bridget572]

Love all the finishes. Glad you were able to have a lovely meal out. Enjoy your time away

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Bridget.

[@sarahwebb1450]

Beautiful finishes! I always love watching your videos. So glad your throat is starting to feel better. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your friend.

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you so much Sarah.

[@caroldavies1139]

Loved the ffos. They're lovely and the Ladies must love them. Each of the wips are beautifully worked. I love your designs. Just so nice to see everything Sarah. Charlotte looked very happy. Glad you had a good Easter. God Bless you. Xxx

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you so much Carol. I enjoyed stitching the little cushions for Nancy and Jenny.

[@sandrafromsydney8192]

So lovely to see Charlotte playing with her friend, it says a lot about the success of her integration at school 😊 I am definitely a jam first person on my scones! You’ve done lots of lovely stitching, despite the demands on your time and energy in the school holidays. Real Comfort is beautiful and I know your friends were delighted with their lovely pillows. I was interested to learn about the correct name for the Union flag. Thank you for sharing that information. I have managed to find some of the stitching I have in storage and some of my WIPs among them are from the late 1990’s!!! Still more to find too. Wishing you a restful and enjoyable time seat with your friend.

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Sandra. It must be fun being reunited with your projects, remembering ones you’d forgotten and hoping to find the ones you remember leaving unfinished. Enjoy the little treasure hunt!

[@maureenw2151]

Good evening Sarah (evening to me!). I saw Jenny & Nancy's Flosstube when they shared the pillows, sooo touching! Beautiful pillows & so thoughtful of you. As always, beautiful stitching & finishes you shared! I miss the fun treks we did with our boys when they were kiddies. Glad to hear you all had a nice Easter.

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Maureen. 😘

[@Yasminsmadewithlove]

Thank you for fantastic stitchy updates. I absolutely love the MFE patterns and thread a day ready works well. I must do it for my massive projects. Thank for the chart parade, it reminded me I own quite few of them already. Happy stitching 🫶🏻

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Yas.

[@aimeeadams7163]

So lovely to see your finishes and WIPS. I am jam and then cream girl too. Hope you have wonderful break away, enjoy!

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Aimee. The jam first camp is winning on these comments!

[@rosamoulton9775]

Beautiful stitching it’s lovely to see Charlotte playing with her friend , I live in Cornwall the Eden project opened in 2001 😊 Cornish pasty is just pastry Turnip,Skirt beef ,onion and potato with salt and pepper 😊and Cornish scones are definitely jam first Proper job 😅 the Devon way is cream first x

[@sewmesarah]

We visited the Eden Project in summer 2001 when I was pregnant with my son. I remember it was an awful lot of hilly walking for my exhausted wee body ;-) We must have been there very soon after it's opening then. I am sure it would be spectacular now that everything has had time to mature. Those Devonians have strange ideas ;-)

[@sunrise49738]

Hi Sarah! So glad you had what sounds like a very pleasant Easter holiday. Your gift pillow finishes are lovely. I especially love the long one with the birdhouses. Beautiful finishes as well. Love your progress on Family Patchwork. You have made some great progress on your WIPs. Nice new starts. Hope your throat continues to improve. Have a great time on your trip. Happy stitching.

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Dawn, I hope you’re doing well

[@maryannjohnson5410]

Nice to see you Sarah! Congrats on your finish. Have a good weekend away.

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Mary Ann.

[@newfie7347]

I’m in the jam then cream camp too! That’s how we always had it growing up in Newfoundland, Canada 🙂. Love your stitching!

[@sewmesarah]

Sensible Newfoundlanders ;-) Thanks for taking time to watch and comment.

[@rebeccajourney3183]

Sarah, you are delightful! Your stitches are all lovely❣ No need to apologize for not ironing. I thought your projects might be worked in hand when I saw them rolled (which I think is a brilliant way to store.) I have only done tiny projects in hand: bookmarks, ornaments, perforated paper. We'd rather see you than have you ironing love❤ I am currently working on an old pattern, Oak Floss Box from Cross Stitch Plus November 1990. I had never seen a round needle storage case! That really appeals to me. This is done all in a blue DMC on my hand dyed cloudy blue Aida. I am enjoying but having trouble following. I finally photocopied so I could highlight where I am working. That helped greatly! And I employed some pearl headed quilting pins to mark 10 squares off to do the border!

[@sewmesarah]

Thanks for watching Rebecca. I work a lot of my projects in hand and a few in hoops or frames. I like in hand stitching a lot and roll the fabric and clip with wonder clips while I stitch a section. I generally store them folded back into the project bag. I think a project roll would be nice but it takes up a bit more space and knowing me, every time I would want to work on something it would be a the bottom of the pile in the roll! 🤣 I think I’d waste half my time reorganising the roll every time (because I’m fussy).

[@darlenedeondesigns2844]

Thanks for another great video Sarah! Beautiful projects as always! I really love the UK piece and hearing all about each icon.

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Darlene.

[@jeancairns1825]

Lovely video and beautiful stitching as always. Real Comfort looked gorgeous. What a lovely idea to stitch Saviours Praise on Easter Sunday and to add your friends initials. Jam first and then cream for me too! I believe that’s the Cornish way; Devon cream tea is the other way around - so I’m told! Ooh, making me long for summer 😀. Have a good trip away.

[@sewmesarah]

Strange Devonian customs 😉 All this talk of cream teas is putting me in the notion!

[@AlbaStitcher]

I'm in your team Sarah - jam & then the cream! Enjoy your trip to the Lakes & happy stitching 🧵

[@sewmesarah]

I had a lovely time in the Lakes thank you Amanda.

[@donnabennett5106]

Hi Sarah love your beautiful gifted pillows,your finishes and stitching projects are beautiful don’t worry about the ironing, I am ready to start Jane Austen as well,and yes I am thinking of changing the dates at the Top,have a good week Thankyou for sharing 👍🇳🇿🪡❤️

[@sewmesarah]

You will really enjoy Real Comfort. It's such a pleasure to stitch. Thanks for watching Donna.

[@lynettedavies3955]

Loved seeing all your lovely WIPs and finishes, especially the MFE pieces! As far as scones go, I am also a jam first girl!

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Lynette. Jam first always!

[@mama.pajama.stitches.617]

So good! I appreciate all that you share, both stitching & day to day things. The walkthrough of the Caterpillar Crossstitch mystery stitch was great - the scone controversy - fascinating! I laughed out loud at “ We can do hard things!” - the kit I started for the #getyourkitonsal is a beast….I too am marking my pattern with areas I’ve completed because the pattern is so dense. (What did I do to myself??) 🤦‍♀️😂. And I too….have day dreamed about” retiring “ for a few years to just stitch. Good to see you! Enjoy your visit in the Lake District with your friend - sounds lovely. 🌻 Kristin

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Kristin. I think the world should know about our scone controversy, it’s really a thing 😉 Yes, we can do hard things, but I admit some days I just don’t want to😂 Marking off my pattern is really helping. I guess this is what full coverage stitching must be like, and is probably why I don’t see much of it in my future! I hope you conquer your own pattern beast. I’m sure for both of us, the end results will be worth it.

[@bumblestitches]

Hi Sarah, really enjoyed your video, great finish on Jane Austen , I’m doing the same thing with the dates ! We have a few projects in common 🥰 Oh and ALWAYS jam before cream 😂x

[@sewmesarah]

Yay to jam before cream! We always have quite a bit in common Nicola, including our love of all things Lori Holt. It was so lovely to see you had recorded again yesterday.

[@stitchythings]

Yay, you finished A Real Comfort, congratulations! The pillows you made are so lovely. Those white stitches can be a pain but if you press them real well after finishing they might look better. I find that my stitching looks better after I've pressed it. I still remember the days when the boys had their school vacations, especially in basic school. One of them was not very good with being out of his routine, so I know how that can be. When I have whipped cream on my scone I put the jam on first, I love that the best. But when I have clotted cream I'll put that on first because if I do it the other way around it gets so messy. Don't you just love the scones at the National Trust tea rooms!? 💕 I wish you a lovely time with your friend at the Lake District, enjoy! Big hug from me Xxx Joanita 🌷

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Joanita. I am really looking forward to a few days away in the beautiful Lake District. My friend and her husband always make me so welcome. They are a blessing!

[@sallyanncole2447]

I have 5 of those dome threaders in 5 different mono projects I love them 😊❤

[@sewmesarah]

I can see the attraction!

[@lisaboban]

Ahhh. Sunday morning. Coffee. And a new Sarah video. Stitching my "Temperature Tree" for the week. Perfection! Thank you for bringing such loveliness to my home every week. Never mind the ironing!

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Lisa. So glad you find it relaxing to watch.

[@cotterillfamily7355]

Oh it’s def jam then cream, anything else is just not right! Also my father in law was from Liverpool and he perfected Cornish pasties, so so sooo good. - take care, Nic x

[@sewmesarah]

Ooh nice to have homemade Cornish pasties. Congrats on getting the jam and cream question right😉

[@barbarafoster9030]

It’s always a joy to see you, Sarah! Congratulations on completing Real Comfort. It’s lovely indeed - as are the pillows you made for the Bougie Stitchers. It was so touching to watch them open their package from you. As always, thank you for another thoroughly enjoyable video. Happy stitching, and enjoy your upcoming getaway!

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you so much Barbara. I am looking forward to a little me time with a truly lovely friend.

[@kensingtoncrossstitch]

Congrats on finishing Real Comfort! That floss color stuns every time. And I love your explanations and guesses on the Caterpillar Cross Stitch SAL. It's fun to revisit places I've been (The Land's End sign!) and hear about ones I'm unfamiliar with too. Thank you for doing that each time. ❤

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Deborah. I hope you had kind weather the day you visited Land's End. It was amazing the one time I visited and I remember thinking how sad it would be to turn up on a gloomy day.

[@aliceschultz3182]

I am so glad that you and your family had a pleasant Easter. All of your stitching is lovely. I am not on instagram, but I did start a kit. The kit is by LanArte and is a design of Marjolein Bastin's called Violets. I have decided to make it my Sunday stitch. I have to admit that I am struggling a little with following the pattern. Like you I made a working copy and am marking the stitches on the pattern. Slow going, but I am looking forward to the finish. Thanks for another enjoyable video!!! Happy Stitching!

[@sewmesarah]

I’m so pleased you are stitching along with us in the SAL Alice. I’m sure your Violets will be worth the effort but I totally understand about how difficult some charts can be. Speed doesn’t matter and remember, we can do hard things. 😉

[@aliceschultz3182]

Thank you Sarah for your kind words! 😊

[@buttonupimstitching]

Sarah, It's always great to see your videos and I enjoy your travelogues😉. Gorgeous projects, the Jane Austen piece is just beautiful. You could put all four of your immediate family members initials into the four spots, but as to the rest I will be interested to see what you settle on for Family Patchwork. And in Australia it always jam with cream in top!! 😂See you next time. Teri

[@sewmesarah]

Sensible Aussies! There are quite a few spots on the MFE sampler for adding personalisation and I've not really taken a paper overview of how many there are so I need to work that out a bit and then decide if I'm going to add just the four of us or go a little further with grandparents etc. Sometimes the wider you go, the more complicated it becomes. It doesn't help that my maiden name is a McC which adds all those extra letters to the initials of my family!!

[@susanradford9503]

Great video Sarah. Always fun and so informative. Your finish of Real Comfort is beautiful, as are the pillows. I watched the girls video when they opened them and they were so thrilled. I love the one you did for me and it lives in the lounge year round! Our sons went to secondary school at The Royal in Armagh and I never realized there was a stately home to visit! Oh and I’m definitely a jam first then cream person too! Enjoy your weekend away. Take care and thanks again.

[@sewmesarah]

Hi Sue, there are two lovely NT properties near Armagh. The Argory and another called Ardress House. They’re smaller scale than the likes of Castle Ward or Mount Stewart but I think they have a lovely charm about them. I’ve not made it inside either house but we had lovely picnics and walks at both. Some day when C is not likely to tear a NT property apart we might make it into the houses 😉

[@pathansen4368]

Beautiful pillow finishes. Love, love all your other WIPs. Many cool summer patterns. Enjoy and happy stitching!

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Pat.

[@fjellrosastrikkepodcast]

Thank you for all your inspiration!

[@sewmesarah]

So glad you enjoyed. Thank you so much for watching!

[@elliewelliestitcher]

Lovely finishes Sarah. I have just bought the rejoice chart as someone at our retreat was stitching it and it looked fabulous! You have made some great progress on your wips. I’m with you on the jam first debate. I think those islands are the Scilly isles as they are just off the Cornish coast. Take care and happy stitching 🧵🧵🪡🪡

[@sewmesarah]

I wondered about the Scilly Isles but wasn’t sure. Mind you I wasn’t sure about Jersey and Guernsey either 😉 oh Rejoice Evermore is such a gorgeous chart, I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to work on it Elaine.

[@madgrandma]

Great progress on projects. And congrats on your finishes. I'm in the jam first group for scones too! If you've not ironed a project, I'd use some binding clips to attach it to the topic your board - quick and easy to change projects and it will stop the fabric falling off! I use my Clover thread dome when I have lots of one colour especially 310!

[@sewmesarah]

The little thread dome is really nice to have! I do use the clips when I have a bigger piece but didn’t realise just how poorly the unironed fabrics would stick to the board. You’re right, next time I don’t iron, I will use them to avoid all the flopping! Thanks Sandie.

[@paulinedutton8576]

I’m with you on the Scone. In Cornwall it’s Jam then Cream on top 👍🏻 and as you know in Devon it’s Cream first then Jam. I’m with Cornwall because it must be difficult spreading the jam on top of the cream and we do either Clotted or Double Cream whipped. 😋

[@sewmesarah]

If it was served to me the “wrong” way round, I probably wouldn’t say no😉

[@paulinedutton8576]

@@sewmesarah me neither! 😂

[@tracibrookes894]

Oh just found your channel! I am so excited to find you! I have been to Northern Ireland several times to Armagh and Dungannon and The Argory! Love this area!!!

[@sewmesarah]

Hello Traci! Thank you for giving my little channel a try. It’s so nice that you caught this episode where I talk about the Argory since you have visited already. It is a stunning area of countryside for sure.

[@joanneneufeld8212]

Now I want to do stitch Real Comfort but since you are stitching I’m no Bird this summer I will join you for that when you start it. And very interesting about when your flag is called the Union Jack! I love this info you give. What more will I learn as I watch the remainder of the video. Lol

[@sewmesarah]

I think I would like to finish the Family Patchwork piece before I start I am No Bird, so that start is probably still a few months away. Maybe enough time for you to stitch Real Comfort anyway? 😉

[@ruthpelentsov8198]

Jam first Sarah, and whipped fresh cream. Sadly not included in my eating regime. Greetings from Australia.

[@sewmesarah]

😂Thanks for watching Ruth.

[@jeanmansfield1138]

That MFE project is so beautiful Sarah. You do love your large charts! Have put Rejoice away. Think I'll try a lesser count fabric if it's ever going to be stitched with my eyesight going downhill! I'm pleased you all had a good Easter. We covered our church cross in flowers and it stood outside all day. So many attended the Service that those of us on coffee duty were kept busy😊. Many are hoping that our two village church members together give Lent Lunches again next year. It's good to work together and get to know each other better socially especially at such a special time of the year and always had a short time of worship before the lunch began.

[@sewmesarah]

I think I’ve accidentally fallen into stitching quite a few large charts in the past year. My preference would be to have more small ones on the go than this many biggies! So lovely that your Easter service was well attended. Fingers crossed that circumstances will allow the Lenten Lunches again next year.

[@kathydeel4780]

Hi Sarah, what a beautiful place to visit for Easter. Thank goodness some people realize it's not always about electronics. Your 2 little pillows turned out great. 🎉🎉 You really accomplished quite a bit of stitching. Your teacups are cute. 💖☕💖 Can I ask what frame you use. You have probably mentioned it before but I don't remember. (I'm blaming it on old age) 👵👵 Happy Stitching ❤❤❤

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you Kathy. I do have a Lowry stand for my scroll frames but honestly 95% of the time I just hold the scroll frames and work in them that way. I use the Lowry when I know Im heading towards tiredness in my shoulders or neck.

[@slash4832]

I liked your “ moment of gratitude “. I like the cursive letters - was that by chance a free pattern for those letters? I also like that you keep it real- we gain a sense that family is first then stitching❤️

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you! The alphabet is from a book called Cross Stitch Calligraphy by Iva Polansky.

[@wilmahaynes7249]

Your gratitude pillows are so lovely! What a great job on the finishes. ❤

[@sewmesarah]

Thank you so much Wilma.

[@juliefowkes9796]

They could be the Isles of Scilly.

[@sewmesarah]

I wondered that too but wasn’t sure. Thanks Julie.

[@cococreates26]

As far as I know when you photocopy something with highlighter on, the highlighter doesn't show up. So if anyone wanted to stitch that teacup chart after you, they can xx

[@sewmesarah]

Good thinking!

[@wendybartlett9280]

Sarah, I just discovered Lisa from Lost In Stitches. She is Canadian, very calm presentation style like yours, and has a large array of beautiful projects that are different from what I see elsewhere. I know you like exploring flosstube, so I wanted to let you know about her channel

[@sewmesarah]

Lisa is so lovely to watch. I've been watching since she started and enjoy her channel so much. Thanks for thinking to recommend her.

[@danieladrecsan8347]

🦋🌻