Basket of Memories

 On June 15th, our family had to say goodby to my "little" brother, Leonard Eugene Little after a very short battle with cancer. He left behind four daughters, two sisters, seven grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

I wanted to stitch something for his three New Zealand daughters who came to this country to be his primary caregivers. The three girls are amazing young women. 

I chose Basket of Memories by Blackbird Designs which I had stitched in the past for Barb Adams who was one half of the Blackbird Designs team. 

 I chose a piece of 14 count Vintage Oat aida by Zweigart and three different colors of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss to use for each small pillow. On the back, I will add my brother's name and his birth and death year. 

Floss: VMSS Ocean Coral

  

Floss: VMSS Santa Fe

Floss: VMSS Old World Patina

 

Sweetly Saying - Stitching

 Free Stitch Friday for April from Primrose Cottage is Sweetly Saying - Stitching.

The stitch count is 75 x 60 and the suggested fabric is 32ct Light Ash Gray using Color and Cotton and DMC floss. I had seen this one stitched in shades of blue in the Primrose Cottage Facebook group and liked it.

I chose a piece of 14ct Vintage Oat and and blues from the Color and Cotton Bluebird gradient pack.

• Dark Bluebird
• Soft Bluebird
• Pale Bluebird
• DMC3756 instead of White
•  DMC 726 (yellow)
• Anchor Black
• DMC 3347 (green) 
• Classic Colorworks Cherry Cobbler
•  Classic Colorworks Tennessee Red Clay

This one joins the pile of ones that need to be fully finished.
 

 

Dog Lovers

 I am really not sure how many years ago I purchased the chart pack Dog Lovers by Puntinipuntini. The design features a prominent house with a pooch perched on the staircase and the phrase 'Dog lovers live here" emblazoned on the rooftop. It came with two buttons and a pin. Stitch Count: 74W x 91H. The recommended fabric was 32ct Belfast Gray linen by Zweigart.

 

I chose a piece of 16ct aida in a mottled blue/tan from my stash. I started stitching it and then for some reason put it aside to stitch other things. I decided I needed to concentrate on getting some of my many WIP's finished. Not sure how I will finish this one but at least the stitching is now done.

 

 

 

Free Stitch Friday - June 2026

 Curious about Free Stitch Friday which actually shows up on Thursday? To receive the free chart you must be a Cross Stitch Newsletter subscriber. Subscribe HERE.

The free chart for Jun 2026 is Sweetly Sayin’: 4th of July. This festive little design is packed with patriotic charm featuring classic Americana motifs, waving flags, stars, stripes, and a celebration of freedom that’s perfect for your summer stitching.

The stitch count is 72x62 and the model was stitched on 32 Taupe, Lugana using Color and Cotton floss. I chose a piece of 16ct Faline aida by Color and Cotton. DMC 642 is the closest color to the fabric. I am using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss: Long May It Wave (red), Betsy Ross (blue) and Anchor white. I added Antique Gold to the mix because the white lettering did not show up well enough for me. The finished size on 16ct will be 4 5/8 x 3 7/8.

 

  

Home of the Brave

Home of the Brave was designed by Barb Adams of Blackbird Designs and published in 2002. Jean Lea of The Attic in Mesa Arizona released an alternate version as a remembrance of September 11, 2001.I chose to stitch it as originally charted by Barb.

 I chose to use a piece of 16ct Moonstone aida by Fiber on a Whim and a selection of my Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss colors that I used in stitching this one:

• Grand Old Flag (red)
• Indigo (blue)
• Frog Prince (house)
• Plantation Brown (flag pole/tree trunk)
• River Bank (leaves and grass)
• Golden Weave (alphabet)
• Weathered Barnwood (house roof)
• Dried Hay (house shutters and door)
• Anchor White 

Now I need to decide how I want to finish this one. I decided on a simple wood frame from Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Jubilee

Summer Jubilee by Blackbird Designs was first published in the July/Aug 2003 issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine. I was included in the book Souvenirs of Summer published in 2004. It had never appealed to me because it was stitched on a darker fabric (18th Century Blackbird linen by R& R Reproductions).

I decided I wanted to stitch something in celebration of the 250th birthday of our country so chose this one but decided to use a lighter fabric. I had a piece of 16ct Stone by Fabric Flair in my stash and most of the called for colors. Changes are shown in parentheses.

• GA Grecian Gold
• GA Pomegranate
• GA Butternut Squash (DMC 3822)
• GA Chamomile (DMC 372)
• WDW Hibiscus (DMC 760)
• GA Woodrose (DMC 3722)
• GA Sasparilla
• GA Old Blue Paint (DMC 926)
• GA Flax
• GA Old Brick
• GA Berry Cobbler (DMC 3736)

I changed the numbers in the original design to the dates 1776-2025. I also left off the date and one set of initials. 

 Now I just need to decide how to frame it. I bought a 14x7 inch frame from Amazon. The left side of the frame is more like the actual color. Now to decide where to hang it.

 

 

 

Free Stitch Friday - February 2025

 

What is Free Stitch Friday?

On the first Thursday of every Month Primrose Cottage Cross Stitch Newsletter Subscribers will receive a free cross stitch chart via their newsletter email!

There will be kits available to purchase about two weeks before the chart is released which will include floss, cross stitch cloth (you will be able to choose what count you would like), and some type of goodie!
The chart itself remains a mystery until the first Thursday of the Month, and then you will have everything you need to start stitching on the first Friday of the Month!

To receive the free chart you must be a Primrose Cottage Cross Stitch Newsletter subscriber. Subscribe HERE

 The chart for February 2025 was Happy St. Patrick's Day.

I liked this one so much, I stitched it twice, once (last year) as a small pillow, and this year as a totally different finish.

 

On a recent trip to Hobby Lobby to check on some framing, I found these neat little book stacks on sale for 40% off that I thought might work for finishing. I bought the two different colors that were offered.

 I used the green one first to mount the 2025 stitched piece on. I had to stitch it on 18ct so that it would fit the top of the book stack.