WIP Update #6

Recorded April 15, 2020.
I hope you're all doing well! Thank you to everyone who's still going out and working 💛

FO:

Hitchhiker by Martina Behm in Rita Mae Yarns "Galaxy"

WIPs:

When Thou Art Rich // Change of Seasons II // Cardinal Points // Mexicanita //
NeedleArt // Linus Shawl

Cravin' It:

The Queen That Was by Ink Circles on black aida or evenweave
Quaker d'Halloween by Jardin Prive on 32 ct Light Mocha linen

Retail Therapy (from the Katrina Boyd retreat I went to in January):

- mystery black and natural evenweave
- H.L.'s Moth by Kathy Barrick
- Under the Sea Fabrics in "Anubis"
- Kay Kirn project bags (not sure of any online presence)
- Brenda's Minders and More (Facebook group)
- Wander by Heart in Hand
- Queen Bee by The Blackberry Rabbit
- I Shall Be Mistress of Myself by My Buddy Grace Designs

People Mentioned:

Jessie Marie, Jessie Marie Does Stuff
WIPGO 2020 Facebook group
Fibre Friends Friday Night Knit In FB group
That's So Kelly Co. for Bitzy Bobs

~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

WIP Update #5

How is it April already??? So many things I'd like to get done this month, and so far I'll have lots of time.

WIPs:

Cardinal Points // Change of Seasons II // Letters from Hogwarts //
When Thou Art Rich

Retail Therapy:

Lolo Did It Quotable Dumbledore Club - March yarn
Colour & Cotton 32 ct Belfast linen in "Graphite"

Other Things Mentioned:

Caroline, Off the Grid Needlearts
Jessie Marie, Jessie Marie Does Stuff
Friday Off the Grid Facebook group
Stitch n Binge FB group
WIPGO 2020 FB group

~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

WIP Update #4

Recorded on March 25, 2020.
Another video to hopefully keep you company! Stay safe, and happy stitching! 💛

If you missed it, Alma & I recorded a Craft With Me video together this week! Perfect for filling some time :)

FOs:

Let God // The BOFA Sampler

WIPs:

Fade Into Advent Wrap // Hogwarts Castle // Letters from Hogwarts

Cravin' It (Plans):

- Hitchhiker KAL (knitalong) with Fibre Friends FB group
- Changes of Seaons II while watching Once Upon a Time along with the Stitch n Binge group
- #BeWellandStitch patterns from Link Is My Homeboy & Satsuma Street

Check out Michelle Bendy's BWAS story highlight on her IG profile for lots more awesome freebies from designers!
~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

FO: The BOFA Sampler

Pattern: The BOFA Sampler

Designer: Armada Designs 

Fabric: 32 ct "River Rock" linen from Colour & Cotton 

Floss: called for DMC (except 922--> Colour & Cotton "Terracotta", & 3022--> 413/645 blend)

Started on October 9, 2019. Finished on March 25, 2020.

I knew I needed this pattern as soon as I saw it. My sense of humour will always be immature LOL. This was a fun pattern to stitch up, and the checkboard grass was honestly the best part. Also, yet another project to remind me why I need to use my fancy flosses!

Craft With Me #5

Recorded March 23, 2020.
Happy Ravenclaw Pride Day!! As always, I hope everyone is safe and sound, wherever you are! <3

We have our first guest, Alma from Alma's Little Wonders! I hope you're in for a good chat, because it's basically a movie LOL.

Today's project: Letters from Hogwarts

Today's topics:
- What flosstubers (new-to-you, brand-new, or favorites) do you watch?
- Have you ever stitched a Mirabilia pattern on 18 ct aida? Did it have beads or fractional stitches? Tell us how your experience went!

Leave your answers in the comments here on the blog or on YouTube.

Find Alma elsewhere: YouTube, Instagram

People Mentioned:

- Jessie Marie, Jessie Marie Does Stuff
- Kim, Spartan Stitcher
- Amy, Creativity by Gidge
- Tess, Tess Stitches
- Erin, 2Martini Stitcher (not said in recording, but Alma also watches & enjoys her channel!)
- Belinda, Aussie Stitcher
- Candice, slubloverstitches
- Anne: Fiber, Floss, and Fiction
- Derek & Christian, Married with Stitches
- Jamie, Crafty Gaming Jamie

Groups Mentioned:

- School of Magical Stitches & Literature
- The Stitchy Quest to Destroy One Ring
- WIPGO 2020
- Friday Off the Grid
- Semi Sane Stitchers

~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

FO: Let God

Pattern: Let God

Designer: The Nebby Needle 

Fabric: 28 ct white linen (sample from Lakeside Needlecrafts), stitched 2/2

Floss: DMC 3346, 31, 156, & 3046

Started and finished on March 22, 2020.

With all the Coronavirus talk happening over the last few weeks, everyone's been feeling quite stressed. The #BeWellAndStitch movement that's been occurring on Instagram has been truly wonderful to watch -- lots of awesome designers offering free patterns to help us fill the time we have now at home. 

This is only the first of these designs I've stitched, and it's for my mom. I know I've got a couple more that I love and want for me, and I'm sure you do as well! Check out Michelle's IG profile for a BWAS highlight with a lot of the freebie patterns being released.

I hope everyone is staying safe, sane, and occupied! 💛💛💛

WIP Update #3

Recorded March 19, 2020.
I hope everyone is safe, healthy, and maybe enjoying a little downtime as you watch <3

FO:

3x1 ribbed socks in Lolo Did It "Hippo for Mardi Gras 2018"

WIPs:

Knitting WIPs // Quotes to Live By // Change of Seasons II

Plans:

 

I'll be working on Harry Potter-themed projects on March 20-23, 2020, to celebrate House Pride Days! Projects up for grabs are Hogwarts Castle, Hogwarts Crest, Letters from Hogwarts, and my Fade into Advent Wrap.

Use the #HousePrideSAL tag on Instagram to join in and show what HP projects you're celebrating with :)

People/Shops Mentioned:

- Michelle, Bendy Stitchy
- Caroline, Off the Grid Needlearts
- Amy, Creativity by Gidge
- Sarah & Katie, Imagined Landscapes
- Amy, Stranded Podcast
- Adrian, Louise, & Caroline: Fibre Friends Podcast
- Louise, Wildflower Wool
- Area 51 Fibres (Instagram, Shop is now open!)

~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

WIP Update #2

Recorded March 14, 2020. Happy Pi Day!

FO:

Pattern: Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder
Yarn: Dragon Hoard Yarn "Antici...pation" sock set

WIPs:

Knitting WIPs // Change of Seasons II // Arjesh // Quilting Bee //
Quotes to Live By

Cravin' It:

Plain vanilla socks out of London House Yarns "Hermione's Jumper"

Retail Therapy:

Market purchases, all preordered through Abby @ TopKnot Stitcher Shop

-- Bendy Stitchy Designs: Literary Alice, Friendship Sampler (collab with The Blue Flower), Roladex Mourning Sampler
-- Ink Circles: The Queen That Was
-- The Blackberry Rabbit: The Monarch
-- Lucy Beam: I Will Cut You
-- October House Fiber Arts: Woolly Fobs, A Spinner's Sampler
-- Lindy Stitches: Mary Mary Needleworker

People/Shops Mentioned:

- Jessie Marie, Jessie Marie Does Stuff
- Crochetoneknit2 Etsy shop, who is now @area51fibres on Instagram
- All accessories and shops mentioned should be linked on the WIP pages. (Let me know if you can't find something, though!)

~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

Craft With Me #4

Recorded March 10, 2020.

Happy birthday, Michelle Bendy!!

Today's project: Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder (Erica's Instagram)
Today's topic question: Do you have crafty friends near you, or online groups, for crafty meetups?

Things I Mentioned:

- ChiaoGoo TWIST Mini needles
- Clover Takumi wooden needles
- @super_green_witch, host of The Social Knitting Sock Challenge
- International Virtual Knit Nights (**Please be aware that this is a subscription-based community. There is a fee to join, but all are welcome!)

Facebook groups:

- Semi Sane Stitchers
- Full Coverage Fanatics
- WIPGO 2020

Shops:

Crochetoneknit2

~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

WIP Update #1

Recorded on February 26, 2020.
Let's get caught up, shall we?

FOs:

2019 Christmas Ornaments // Happy Santas

WIPs:

H.L.'s Moth // Egyptian Elephant // Hogwarts Castle // Thanksgiving //
Dead Man's Chess // Arjesh // Knitting WIPs

Retail Therapy (Haul):

25 ct Antique White Lugana (ordered on 123stitch)
"Angela" flossbuddy from BagzPlus
Shadows by 1884 Stitchery
Lolo Did It Quoteable Dumbledore Club yarns

Cravin' It (Plans):

Change of Seasons II by Mystic Stitch as a Leap Day start!

People/Shops Mentioned:

Katrina, The Pajama Stitcher (flosstube) & Cross Stitch Retreats
Alma, Alma's Little Wonders
Michelle, Bendy Stitchy
Jessie Marie, Jessie Marie Does Stuff
Brenda's Minders & More
Handmade Hobby Store
BagzPlus
Silver Moon Sewing
Fat Girl Sewing
1884 Stitchery
My Beloved Adoria
Crochetoneknit2

~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

Shownotes: Craft With Me #3

Recorded February 23, 2020.
Today's project: Shusui Shrug by Susanne Sommer [links go to Ravelry]

There's quite a lot of rambling today because I haven't filmed in forever, but bare with me! I'll be back to tangents that flow better in no time 😂

Other Projects Mentioned:

Arjesh by Landmark Tapestries & Charts [bought at Celtic Craft Shop]
Thanksgiving

Shops/People Mentioned:

Caroline, Off the Grid Needlearts (Instagram, Flosstube)
ManaKori Creations (Instagram, Shop)

~
Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

2019 FO Parade

Hello, hello!

I mentioned in the 2020 WIP Parade that I would list out all of my finishes from 2019. I figured they should have their own post, so here ya go! The links below will take you to each project's FO post here on the blog.

You Are My Density
Pumpkin Hollow Farms
September Cottage
Arranging Tools
October Cottage
Eat Sleep Craft Repeat
Arranging for Orchestra
Moon Phases
Well Suited (never did an FO post, so here's the FFO post)
Unicorn in Captivity
Age Improves With Wine
12 Days of Stitchmas
Coexist
My To Do List
Alice's Mad Plant
Painted Wings
Spring Beauty
Wine a Bit
Christmas ornaments

And that's all of them! Thanks so much for any perusing you do :)

Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

FOs: Happy Santas

Pattern: Fluffy Santa

Designer: Lucie Heaton Cross Stitch Designs

Magazine: Just Cross Stitch 2019 Holiday Ornaments issue

Fabric: 16 ct "Dusk" aida from Picture This Plus, stitched 2/1

Floss: DMC stash dive (see below)

Started on December 15, 2019. Finished on February 7, 2020.

I started these Santas with the intention of sending one to each of my best friends as Christmas presents. That clearly didn't happen, but now I'm way ahead for Christmas 2020! And no, these won't be FFO'd until December 😂

Colour conversion:

wool thread --> Blanc

S321 --> 321 or 817 (Each Santa is a different red.)

3799 --> 317

754 --> 3778

948 --> 938

3846 --> 517

Shownotes: 2020 WIP Parade

Recorded January 14, 2020.
*Finally* this is out in the world! Now the year can really get going 🏃🏾‍♀️

2019 Recap:

Started year with 18 WIPs

Ended year with 24 WIPs

Started 34 projects

Finished 23 projects

13 full coverage pages

UFO'd 2 projects (Butterfly Effect & MMM SAL)

FFO'd 2 projects (Well Suited & Eat Sleep Craft Repeat)

2019 Finishes: I'll be making a separate post for this, so be on the lookout for that soon! ETA: 2019 FO Parade

WIPs as of January 1st, 2020:

Click through the WIP pages linked in the blog's header to see them! H.L.'s Moth is the only WIP that wasn't started yet. There's also 1 secret WIP that doesn't have a page.

2020 Plans:

Letters from Hogwarts SAL from Cunning Cross Stitch
Full Coverage Fanatics Facebook group: National Parks challenge, 20 in 20 challenge
WIPGO FB group
School of Magical Stitches & Literature FB group (Contrary to what I said, I've now started doing some of the build-the-parks challenges.)

Shops Mentioned:

Pretty Southern
BagzPlus
Love You More Studio
Stitching the High Notes
Punky Pins

Instagram/Ravelry: @ladywingdesigns
Goodreads: Zakiya Ladywings
Email: ladywingdesigns@gmail.com

FOs: 2019 Christmas Ornaments

Original chart:

Pattern: Holly Jolly Peppermint Wreath

Designer: Luhu Stitches
Magazine: Just Cross Stitch 2019 Christmas Ornaments issue

Fabric: 32 ct Pearl Gray Belfast linen

Floss: DMC B5200, 911, 700, 321, 986, 415, 729, 676, 310

Started on December 11, 2019. Finished on December 15, 2019.

My mom decided we were definitely celebrating Christmas this year: gifts to each other, the tree, all of it. We haven't done that in a really long time, and not yet since my brother and I have moved out, so it kind of felt like a big deal. I figured to remember it I should stitch up a family ornament to hang on the tree (spoiler alert: it never hung there haha). I changed the colours a bit to reflect the red/gold/silver theme my mom decorated with.

Enjoy this picture of our tree set up :)

I also decided that I could stitch personal ornaments for each of the people in my immediate family. I stitched them all 2/1 on white 16 ct aida with DMC. They were stitched between December 20th to 25th, 2019, and also never made it to the tree LOL. So here are those:

This is my ornament, a butterfly motif from Mexicanita by YanyStitcher. (Contact her to buy one of her designs.)

This is my brother's, a poro, which is a League of Legends video game reference. The designer is FreeBeadsPatterns.

This is my mom's, both the University of Alabama symbol and her initial. I took this from the Alabama pattern I stitched in 2018, which was from a stitcher from a Facebook group.

Last but not least, my dad's ornament is one that I charted myself. I looked at some other charts, but didn't see one that was the size I wanted. 

FFO: Eat Sleep Craft Repeat

Pattern: Eat Sleep Craft Repeat

Designer: Stitchrovia / Emma Congdon

FO post 

Fabric: 32 ct Antique White Belfast linen

Floss: called for DMC

Hoop: 10" wooden from one of the big box stores

Finished on February 20, 2019. Framed on December 25, 2019.

My second-ever FFO, this time a Christmas present for my mom! It was interesting to finish in a hoop after having just tried framing. I think the process would've done a bit smoother if the hoop hadn't been so big. I really would have liked to put this in a 9" hoop, but the only one I had was broken, and I really wanted to gift it on Christmas Day. 

Here's a link to the video I used to learn how to finish things in a hoop. I got the cardstock from my mom's stash, and I really enjoyed the blanket stitching. I think next time I will just glue the craft paper on the back instead, especially on a large circumference.

FFO: Well Suited

Pattern: Well Suited

Designer: Ink Circles

Fabric: 32 ct Cream Belfast linen

Floss: DMC 310, 817, & 680

Frame: 11x11 inch from Michael's

Started on February 12, 2019. Finished on June 8, 2019. Framed on December 24, 2019.

This was my first-ever FFO! I stitched this project for my boyfriend's birthday, and finally got around to washing and framing it right before the holidays (#oops). I also just realized that I never made an FO post about this one, so back story: he and his friends love (are obsessed with) playing spades. I thought of him when I saw this pattern, and he confirmed he thought it was pretty awesome. It was meant to be a June birthday present, and while I finished the stitching weeks before that... I didn't even buy a frame until November. Double oops hahaha.

I used the matboard that came in the frame to wrap the stitching around. Nothing fancy here: I just taped the fabric into the position I wanted it in. I also think it's great when stitchers talk about adding information to the back of the piece, so I did that too! Now it hangs in its forever home, and I couldn't be happier! He also loves it :)