ABC Swirl

I think it was the end of May when I received the latest Dropcloth alphabet sampler, ABC Swirl. So that means I stitched on it for several weeks. And honestly, it was most enjoyable, as all the ABC samplers have been. 

I thoroughly enjoyed mixing up the thread colors and stitches as I went. Then I chose a fun variegated thread to do a seed stitch 'border.'

It's been ages since I've shared the back of a project, so here you go! I honestly don't pay much attention to it as I'm stitching, so it's wild and colorful. How fun is that?

Floral Stitches Year II - The End

Sad, but true.... the final sampler in the 2025-2026 Floral Stitches Year II from Dropcloth Samplers is done. The good news is, I enjoyed stitching this final one very much! Below is a photo of the sampler before stitching....

And here it is finished.

Of course, I needed to get a photo of all 12 together. Looking back, I definitely have some favorites in this bunch - do you?

One thing I've realized in two years of stitching these little samplers every month, is that I add a lot more of my own stitching than I did at first. I used to only stitch on the lines, but now I fill in, add to, or just keep creating more texture if I'm in the mood. That's definitely been a fun part of this second year. 

Floral Stitches Year II - Blue Daisy

It's hard to believe that this blue daisy sampler is the next to last in Year II of Dropcloth's @dropcloth Floral Stitches Series. Dare I say that this was one of my favorites to stitch of this round.

Something about that big flower, the ring of greenery, and that gingham background made this one very fun to stitch.

For everything except those little red circles, I used two threads in each color - one solid and one variegated. It's more obvious in some areas than others, but that's been kind of my go-to technique lately, plus using a double strand throughout.

For the red outer ring, I stitched a wrapped chain stitch, which is also a current favorite. It gives a bit heftier look while still going really quickly. At any rate, I love this one - the design and the colors I stitched it in.

Floral Stitches Year II - Plate of Little Daisies

Hard to believe I only have two more samplers in year two of the Year of Florals subscription series.

This one was a mix of types of small flowers, and overall, I stitched similar flowers with the same threads

This time I did fill all the centers with French knots. I especially like the pink flower, where I used two colors for the knots.

I also really enjoyed all those Xs and knots around the flowers. 

So I'm waiting for the next to last sampler to arrive. I've seen a sneak peek, and I'm really anxious to stitch it up!

Cake

It's been a while since I've finished a Dropcloth @dropcloth sampler, hasn't it? I kind of took a break from the Floral Stitches series and have been working on another of the samplers from my Advent calendar. Meet Cake.

Apparently, it was inspired by a very early Dropcloth sampler - earlier than my participation. But I loved it from the minute I opened it, and I really enjoyed stitching it up.

The design itself measures 3.25" x 4.5", and I used a soft, peachy palette for the cake, variegated threads for the flowers, and bright red for the cake stand, all Wonderfil perle cotton, double-thickness. I never quite know the complete palette when I start out, so it's always nice to discover it as I stitch along.

Mushrooms

You might remember I got several little samplers in my Dropcloth Samplers 

@dropcloth Advent calendar, and recently, I've been working on a mushroom sampler. 

For its size - about 4.5" x 5" - it felt like a lot of stitching. 

Rebecca's plan from the start for this little sampler was for us to make it into a zipper pouch. So we also received, over the course of several days, a zipper, calico lining fabric, and a cute little mushroom zipper pull from Comma Craft Co @commacraftco. All that make me think,  "Why not?" 

First up, I needed to choose a backing for the pouch, and selected a brown and white dot that seemed to coordinate with the front well enough.

I referenced Svetlana Skumanicova's @sotakhandmade video, How to Shorten a Nylon Zipper, to remind myself what length to trim the zipper (1" less than the width of the pouch front) and what size to cut the zipper tabs (1.5" x 2"). It was extremely helpful, and from there I could find way.

It turned out pretty cute, don't you think? Its small size makes it seem like a coin pouch, I think. Whatever, it's always nice to make those samplers into a useable item.

Floral Stitches Year II - Dish of Daisies

Well, I managed to get caught up with my Dropcloth @dropcloth Floral Stitches subscription just in time for another sampler to arrive. 

This one was unique, in that with my first choice of a stitch for those three large flowers, I covered up the stitching design around those black rings. SO that's why there are star-shaped stitched around those. I had to come up with something the made them look more finished. 

Otherwise, the stitches were fairly routine, and I enjoyed the unusual mix of colors, inspired but not dictated by the background colors of the sampler itself.

So I think there are just four more months of floral samplers in year II, though in between, you've probably noticed that I'm fitting in the small samplers from my Advent calendar. Whatever, there's plenty to stitch around here.

Patterns to Try | Treasure Pouch || Bee

If you saw my posts with all the items in my Dropcloth Samplers @dropcloth Advent calendar, you may remember that I received five exclusive embroidery samplers. I already shared about my word of the year sampler, and next up was the little bee.

Of course it was a fun little (3") one to stitch, but I'm also super pleased with how it turned out. Sharing that I was debating what to do with it, my friend Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl suggested something honey-related, like a little bag to hold thread conditioner for my embroidery. I'm not a super consistent user of thread conditioner, but I liked the idea of a little bag very much, use TBD.

Though I'd made my share of drawstring bags in the past, I was drawn to the shape and size of the Treasure Pouch by Larisa Shurupov @stitchingnotes, so purchased the pattern. I ended up scaling the template to 110% to allow for seam allowances around the embroidery.

Using a pretty little floral fabric from Folk Song by Anna Maria Horner (now Parry) for the exterior back, lining, and casing, the tiny pouch measured just 3" wide by 4" tall, including casing. I'm thinking it will hold my thread conditioner and thimble (and needles?) in my embroidery pouch, and that's about it. 

Maybe I should have used the full size of the sampler for my pouch, but then again, it's pretty darn cute the way it is.

So that was a super satisfying little make, finished off with a bit of hand-stitched top-stitching. And it's given me the idea that I may be able to use other of my smaller samplers to make treasure bags. Time will tell.

All the Dropcloth Samplers 2025

Pretty much my favorite thing to do in the evenings is to stitch on the latest Dropcloth @dropcloth sampler. Yes, I know I've stitched a lot of them over the past few years, but they still hold appeal. Which you'll see if you dare to add up how many I stitched in 2025. I especially love those that have gotten made into a usable item.

ABC Bloom Needle Roll

All Seasons Wreath | Circle Needle Book

Christmas Candles | Pillow

Floral Stitches Year One #8

Floral Stitches Year One #9

Floral Stitches Year One #10

Floral Stitches Year One #11

Floral Stitches Year One #12

Floral Stitches Year Two - Echinacea

Floral Stitches Year Two #2

Floral Stitches Year Two - Daisies

Floral Stitches Year two - Daisies and Sea Holly

Floral Stitches Year Two - Big Daisy

Floral Stitches Year Two - Bouquet

Love Needlebook Project

Stick and Stitch | Tote Bag

Whew. I know I've shared a lot of embroidery lately, but trust me, quilt-related sewing is happening, and I should have more to share soon! I feel like I've been dabbling in a lot of projects since the new year began, and I'm anxious to finish something!

Just for fun, here are links to the samplers I've finished in 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024.