Counted Cross Stitch: Afternoon Nap

I am finally going to get to work on something that is just for fun!

I have done many counted cross stitch projects over the years but it has been several years since I have sat down to work on one.

I decided to choose a small one ...

this one is a 5 x 7 size ...

to work on to get me back into the groove.

Here's the project ...

a sweet little kitty cat taking an afternoon nap in the garden ...

aptly titled ...

Afternoon Nap.

The first thing I had to do was to eat this tin full of cookies!

Well ... yes of course ...

I am serious ...

I had to have something to keep the project in as I'm working on it!

Next ...

I will have to separate the thread that came in the bag.

There is "cross stitch" and there is "counted cross stitch" ...

and they are two different things.

Cross Stitch is a printed pattern on fabric that you follow in the colors of your choice or in the colors that are provided.

Counted Cross Stitch ... as the name implies ... involves lots and lots of counting.

And there is no printed pattern on your fabric to follow.

Here is my hoop and there is the plain white fabric I'm going to be working on.

In counted cross stitch you actually count the spaces to know where to place your colors and you count all of the stitches you make in order to keep track of where you are and what is supposed to be next.

Here is half of the color chart that I will be working from.

Each space has a symbol in it and each symbol stands for the color that is supposed to go into that space.

You can see the little kitty and a couple of flowers here in the diagram or chart.

Here is the symbol key ...

as you are working you start to remember what the colors are ...

but until then ...

you refer to this chart which tells you what the color is and what ply (how many strings to use at once) it is.

Here is the picture on the package of what it is supposed to look like when you are finished.

I refer to this often for encouragement!

You know ...

just to see how pretty it is going to be when it is all done.

Although it may sound a bit tedious ...

I promise you that it is worthwhile and very satisfying to what your project come to life on a blank piece of fabric.

This one will be for sale when I am all finished with it.

I will keep you posted on my progress. 

As always, you are invited to visit my Facebook page ...

Ava Potterfield's Crafting Corner ...

https://www.facebook.com/AvaPotterfieldsCraftingCorner/?fref=nf&pnref=story

And you are welcome to post your projects that you are working on for us to see.

Happy Crafting To You!

Ava Potterfield