Floral Stitches Year III - No. 3

I can't even believe I'm telling you this, but after being convinced that the last Dropcloth floral sampler was the final one I would receive, another showed up in July. What can I say!?

Even as I was stitching it up, I was second-guessing myself for not planning on Year III all along.

So we'll see.... but for now, this one was a treat.

Floral Stitches Year III - The Unexpected Second

The day after I posted that I was only stitching the first floral stitches sampler of Year III, I received a note from Dropcloth saying I actually was paid up through June, IE. the second floral of the series. I was surprised, but of course, I stitched it up when it arrived.

I enjoyed stitching that sunshine very much, with those wonderfully warm colors. 

Though I double-outlined the flowers around the outer edge, I couldn't seem to come up with a way to fill them in that I liked. After trying several different stitches, I decided to let them be for now. Maybe I'll revisit them at a later date; maybe not. It happens sometimes, so meanwhile, I'm calling this one complete for now.

Floral Stitches Year III - The One

Though I decided not to continue with the Dropcloth @dropcloth Floral Stitches Series into a third full year, I did receive the first one, so of course, I stitched it up!

Knowing this would be my last flower sampler for a while at least, I tried to really enjoy the stitching, adding extra layers of stitches wherever I fancied.

Gotta say, I enjoyed stitching this farewell flower very much.

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 - Bouquet

Stitching this Dropcloth @dropcloth Floral Stitches sampler began on a little road trip a few weeks ago. It was the perfect size to travel with!

It was the first of this series where I used two kinds of threads - mostly a double-strand of Wonderfil perle cotton #8; but those green leaves circling the flowers felt a little more fine, so I used a double-strand of Aurifil 12wt thread, and that worked a little better. One strand may have shown off more detail but what's done is done.



There were a lot of French knots in this one! Good thing I enjoy them, or at least don't mind them. It's  time to move on to some holiday stitching now....

Floral Stitches Year II - Big Daisy

The minute I saw this flower in the Dropcloth Sampler @dropcloth Floral Stitches series, I was excited to stitch it up!

I chose some really bold Wonderfil perle cotton threads for the main flower, and I questioned my choice the entire time I was stitching. That said, I kinda love it.

It felt like I used a smaller variety of stitches than usual, but not too bad. I see couching, French knots, seed stitches, and lots of chain stitch. Whatever, it was another fun one.

Floral Stitches Year II - Daisies and Sea Holly

When I finished up the previous Floral Stitches sampler, a new one was already waiting for me, so I jumped right to it.

This one seemed unique with those long stems, but I was definitely game, and enjoyed picking out threads for it - once again, Wonderfil perle cotton #8. I wasn't quite sure what those blue flowers were supposed to be, but I imagined them to be Sea Holly, as I really like that flowering plant every time I see one.

Though this one was started at home, I actually took it with me on a recent getaway, and stitched on it twice(!) - just enough to finish it! I used quite a few different stitches in this one... running stitch, wrapped running stitch, French knots, single and regular chain stitch, back stitch, and couching. I love choosing the stitches as I go.

Floral Stitches Year II - Daisies

With all the stitching I was doing for the Ode to Joy quilt back, I got a late start on July's Floral Stitches sampler. Here's what it looked like before any stitching was done, courtesy of Rebecca of Dropcloth Embroidery Samplers @dropcloth.

Used by permission.

But I've been working on it pretty steady the last couple of weeks, and now it's done!

Without realizing the stitches I made for the blue, lavender, and green circles had a name, I later found out they did - the Smyrna stitch. Basically it's a "cross on a plus," and is considered an embellished version of the cross stitch. Good to know! Otherwise, I did a lot of straight stitch on this one, as well as chain stitch and seed stitch. Kept it pretty simple, and I'm happy with the finish, number three of the series. On to number four.

Floral Stitches Year II - Flower #2

Where the first flower in the new Floral Stitches Year II series was definitely an Echinacea, the second one that I just finished is definitely more abstract. At least I don't know how to identify it - do you?

At any rate, I enjoyed stitching up the latest Dropcloth Embroidery @dropcloth sampler. I really wanted to stitch those blue circles, and I actually tried a few different things. But I was never happy. So I took the stitching out and am leaving them for now. Maybe I'll be inspired another day to stitch them in some way. Meanwhile calling this little one done for now.

ETA P.S. I totally forgot until after I posted, but I wanted to include Rebecca Ringquist's photo of the pre-stitched sampler, just so you can see what it looked like before I stitched it up!

Used by permission.

Floral Stitches XII

Can't say I'm super happy about it, but the final sampler in the 2024-2025 Floral Stitches series from  Dropcloth is done. I've enjoyed stitching the series very much, and this mum is definitely on my list of favorites.

Throughout the entire series of 12 small (4") samplers, I've used Wonderfil size 8 perle cotton, choosing colors and stitches as I went. 

Something about the small size and the freedom of choice has made these especially enjoyable, and I've looked forward to them every month.

And now, I have 12 lovely little samplers stitched, and I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them. I can imagine them together, matted and framed, if that is even possible. I can also see using them one by one in individual projects. So that all remains to be seen. For now, I'll just bask in this stage of completion.

Floral Stitches XI

I know I posted a floral stitches sampler just a couple of weeks ago, but I've finished the next one in the series. And oh boy, was this a fun one! #11 of 12 small embroidery samplers in Dropcloth's Floral Stitches subscription series, I enjoyed every stitch. Something about the design, and the colors I chose, just made me happy as I stitched along.'

Surprisingly, I used no chain stitch in this one, usually one of my go-to stitches. But a lot of back stitch, some straight and brick stitches, quite a few French knots, and some couching to finish off the border.

A fun little sidenote - not even related to this particular flower - but Rebecca @dropcloth borrowed two of my floral samplers to photograph for some kits she's offering. See here and here for the florals that get to be in the limelight. Kinda fun. Meanwhile, just one more little sampler left in this series. Kinda makes me sad.

Floral Stitches X

Believe it or not, I've now completed 10 of the 12 flower samplers in Dropcloth's Floral Stitches subscription series.

Each little flower is 4" in diameter, and you use the colors and stitches of your own choosing. For this entire series, I've used Wonderfil perle cotton #8, most often with a double-strand. More and more, I'm using a trio or more of threads in each flower color. IE. for the yellows in this one, I used three solid threads and two variegated, using them pretty randomly as I stitched along. I did purposefully use a lighter variegated one for the outside edge of the flower, and I really like that accent.

It may be hard to tell, but I used seven different stitches in this little sampler - chain, straight, running, lazy daisy, woven chain, couching, and brick. I really enjoy deciding what to use as I go along.

So just two little samplers to go! It'll be great to see them all together in a few months.

P.S. If you follow Dropcloth on IG, you may have just seen one of my little samplers in Rebecca's recent post!

Floral Stitches IX

Lately, when I'm finishing up the latest Floral Stitches sampler, I don't want the stitching to end. So I've taken to keeping it going with my own stitches where there aren't lines to follow. 

For this one, I filled in the petals of the flower, and outlined all the leaves with a double row of stitches. 

I'm continuing to stitch this series with Wonderfil perle cotton #8, just working through the stash of thread colors I have on hand. Nine done, and just three to go!

Floral Stitches VIII

Once I finished my Oh Christmas Tree sampler, I was eager to get stitching on the latest Floral Stitches sampler that had arrived mid-month. 

I actually finished all the printed lines within several days, but I couldn't resist stitching my own marks with seed stitches.

Luckily, there are still four little samplers in the series, as I am really enjoying these. I also have another Dropcloth sampler in the wings + a new year-long sampler from Stitchdoodles + a line drawing I might consider embroidering. I doubt I'll be lost for something new to stitch anytime soon!

Floral Stitches VII

This month's floral stitches sampler arrived the night before we were to fly out of town for a long weekend. I immediately deemed it the perfect handwork project to take with me, and I actually spent most of the first leg of our trip stitching on it.

Once I was home, obviously I might as well finish it up before getting back to my larger Windows project. It took just a few evenings before it was done. I think this dandelion was one of the quicker of the floral samples, less detailed, and due to my choice of palette, more subtle than most. But it was the perfect project for this moment in time.

Floral Stitches VI

It's hard to believe this is the SIXTH floral stitches sampler I've done. You may remember at the start, that I signed up for just six of the 12 months offered. Well, I extended that, so I'll be stitching the entire collection. I've just enjoyed them too much to stop now!

Besides echo stitching inside the flower petals, I really enjoyed doing some wrapped backstitch in some of the 'rainbows.' Finally, I added a definite ringed border to the design with a backstitch and chain stitch combo. For each of the three main colors - red, green, and blue - I again used Rebecca's tip of rotating through three shades of each color. I think that's been my go-to method ever since I heard her mention it.

And just for fun, here's a pic of the backside... could be neater, could be worse. It's not something I think about much!

Floral Stitches V

It was pretty perfect timing that a new floral stitches sampler arrived in the mail the day after I got back from vacation. I was definitely in the mood.

It felt like this one - a poppy?? - was one of the quicker samplers in the series. In fact, I had a really hard time stopping. So I took the time to add echo stitching inside the flower petals, and a combination 'border' - first a twisted chain stitch, followed outside by a back stitch. At that point, I called it done!

Linking up with Favorite Finish {September} with Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl!