Common Ground Needlebook...Done!

Friends, I'm on a roll!  Sunday I put the last stitch in the needlebook and Tuesday I completed the finishing.

This one has special significance for me since I've had it in the stash since 2007.  I fell in love with the needlebook the minute I saw it in an advertisement two years before I seriously took up stitching again.  I ordered the chart from the LNS and the finishing kit from Silver Needle.

When I actually looked at the chart I felt overwhelmed.  Keep in mind this was before I got comfortable stitching on linen.  So I carefully tucked both the chart and the finishing kit away in a box.  That's where they stayed until I gained some confidence with linen and honed my finishing skills. I'm so glad it's done and now I can enjoy it!

Design: Common Ground - Needlebook

Designer: Just Nan

Fabric: 28 ct. Tattersall

Floss: DMC as charted

Started:  1/3/15

Finished: 3/15/15

Completed: 3/17/15

This was the first time I'd used Tattersall and I have to say, I really enjoyed working with it.  I found I could count my starting points really easily off the white threads that were woven into the fabric.  It was also fun to work on lower count fabric after stitching on 40 ct. samplers lately.

Here's a look at the whole thing before the finishing commenced.  I added my initials and date. That spot seemed to be the best place to put them.  It looked bare to me without something there.  I always try be diligent about signing my work.  It's the historian in me, I can't help myself.

 Here's a look at the outside.

And the inside.

 

The back.

I like how the closure is on the back instead of the front.  The corded tassel is a fun touch too.  It's conveniently hiding the spine stitching that keeps the two pieces of padded mat board in their separate sides.  Clever!  I'll definitely do this type of finish again.  It was a lot easier than I'd anticipated.

For those who might be wondering, this is one of a set of smalls that came with the "Common Ground" sampler chart.  The chart is an oldie from back in 2002.  I'm thinking at some point I may stitch the other pieces in the set and maybe even the sampler itself.  We'll see.

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I hope you enjoyed seeing this finish.  Who knows what I'll pull out of my Mary Poppins bag next.  I may even dig in and do some finishing.  Tomorrow is TUSAL day and I think it will be a good report this time around.  Hope your day is good.  Thanks for visiting.

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher