Christmas Stitching

Christmas time is upon us and everyone rushes to finish their Christmas pressies and decorations. I have been there. Getting gift tags done and Christmas cards. Thinking about doing a table cloth or runner or even a tree mat. Then Christmas comes and I don't feel I've done enough :/

So this year I am going to miss Christmas stitching. I know. A big taboo. The main reason is that I am just back into stitching after my moving in break so I don't want to throw myself into rushing to get deadlines finished. I am enjoying working at my own pace and relaxing as I stitch. I may do the odd gift tag (as I get them free with my magazine subscription) but that'll be about it. 

So that's it for me for Christmas stitching this year. Let me know if you are doing Christmas stitches and what you're doing. 

I'll have a WIP update soon and a review of the ever popular thread magic. 

Until next time stay stitchy :)

Pako Floss Organiser

So I recently purchased the pano flop organiser and thought I would give you a run-down. 

I bought this as I thought it would be great for projects where the floss all comes bundled together. So I used it on my current WIP (Beauty and the Beast) as this came with four lumps of thread. 

This is a picture when all my floss is on. It is a great tool and very simple to use. You simply pop the floss over the hook and place it between the little rubber stoppers. Then write the corresponding number or symbol on the paper provided. 

This is a great tool when you have projects without a floss card included. I have to say, though, that I would never use it when the floss card is included. I wouldn't go to the trouble of taking out the floss and putting it on this. 

My main issue is the number of threads it can hold. Each side has 25 hooks - enough for 50 floss colours. This may seem a lot but if you are doing a HEAD or something big, you are going to have to split up the colours and decide what colours to do first. Even on my Beauty and the Beast design it wasn't big enough and I had thread left over. 

All in all the product is ok. I just wish it was a little bigger and could hold more. If anyone knows of any other thread organisers (that are bigger), let me know and I'll give it a go :)

Thanks for reading and stay stitchy x x

Mystery Box Review

Hi guys,

I have not updated here in a while for the simple fact that I have moved.  I probably mentioned this before but it has been a nightmare getting everything ready (we've still got boxes to unpack!!)  So this is me just getting back to my cross stitch! 

I have made a few purchases over the last few weeks and I am going to go over them and review them.  Mainly because I want you to get an idea of what exactly you are looking at before you buy.  There will be WIP updates and the likes as well but I thought i'd throw some reviews in here as well :)

So the first review will be for the Hobby Warehouse I Love Cross Stitch mystery box.  The box itself is £14.99 but you are guarenteed at least two kits worth £30.  Hobby Warehouse have a range of mystery boxes but, as a cross stitcher, that's what I went with.

Now I was a bit disapointed with the packaging.  When something says 'mystery box' you expect a box!  It just came inside a pouch which was inside another pouch.  It was, in fairness, well packaged for what it was - the package was bubble wrapped and would have been well protected from any shipping mishaps.

When I opened the package I found two kits;

Embroidered Morning Counted Cross Stitch Kit and
Pink Floral Cat Counted Cross Sitch Kit

I immediately fell in love with the first kit I got but I wasn't too enamoured with the second.  Of course this is personal preference and others may love it.  It just wasn't me or something I'd normally stitch.  The Morning kit is not something I would have chosen either but I just loved the design and I will stitch it.  The cat I may give away at some point!

The total value for the kits I got was £24.08, which is slightly less than the value quoted but it is still £10 off.  So for the price of the morning kit I loved, I got a feww kit, is how I'm looking at it!

The kits are pretty good value and give you a chance to be sent some kits that you would not necessarily choose for yourself.  This can be a gamble as you may hate what you get or you may fall in love with something you would never have chosen for yourself.  Even if you dislike it, you may be able to find someone to gift it to or even cross stitch it for a friend you know will love it.

All in all it was a pretty good deal and I would do it again if I had the inclination.  I hope you found this review useful and hope you come back to read more and get more inspiration.

If you would like to see the other mystery boxes or get the cross stitched one youself, go here. 

See you next time and stay stitchy :)