Hvar jacket and revised cross stitching rotation plan, helpful thread planner

I made the Hvar jacket from Itch to Stitch

I had some wool fabric in my stash that I had bought from a Hospice shop for just $3.  However after I had cut it all out I realised that the collar needed to have 2 pieces cut on the fold, I only had enough fabric for 1.  I was very disappointed thinking I couldn't make the jacket, so went and bought some more fabric to make another jacket.  Once I cut out the pieces for the other jacket I had enough left over for another collar piece.  Hey presto, my wool jacket with contrasting collar.

This is a really smart jacket and is incredibly quick to sew, it just took me around 3 1/2 hours.  The front pieces come to a point which is perfect for concealing my rounded tummy.

On to cross stitch.  After further pondering, I decided I'd rather pick my rotations more randomly.  So I downloaded a roulette spinning wheel app, loaded up the patterns I have kitted up, and almost kitted up.  I still want to concentrate on doing Old Friends so the plan is:

• Do a 10 day rotation, minimum of 2000 stitches, from 1 - 10th of month, 11th - 20th, and 21st to end of month.
• Spin the wheel for each rotation.  Old Friends is on the wheel twice to increase the chances of its being picked.  If however it picks 2 rotations of the same project and I haven't done Old Friends since I last did that other project, then I will substitute with Old Friends.

So October starts next week.  Here is my first spin.

So the first spin in my rotation goes to At the Steps.


This is a Heaven and Earth Design, and the artist is Leonid Afremov.  Design size is 450 x 544, which gives a total of 244,800 stitches.  This will be my largest piece ever.   There are 89 colours.

I have the threads sorted, but still need fabric.  I've been experimenting with different count fabrics.  I used to like stitching on 22ct Hardanger, but my eyes aren't as good now.  I tried 1 over 1 on 25 count and I can see OK if I wear magnifying lenses but find I'm just not enjoying the experience.  So I am going to stick with 18ct Aida that I am using in Ornament Witching Hour.  For the record, I am using 16 ct on Old Friends.

As Haed give thread requirements for 25 ct fabric, someone posted this helpful conversion on facebook