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Ice Scream for Summer Ch 8
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 24th August 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 8
Can you believe that it has already come to the end of the Ice Scream for Summer SAL? The eight weeks have gone super, duper fast. Now I will have to start prepping my next SAL and future pattern releases.
The last ice cream of the pattern is the Knickerbocker Glory!!
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 7
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 17th August 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 7
Can you believe, that we only have this week and one more for this stitchalong?? The summer to me, has seemed to go so quickly! We are now down to two last ice creams...
We have had more 35C degree days here in UK. Days where, I hide indoors and stitch because being pale and ginger, I get heat stroke really bad.
This weeks pattern has some lovely colours and I used to have them loads as a child. I present to you the 'Screwball'
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 6
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 10th August 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 6
It has been another extremely hot week here in the UK... 35 degrees! Looking forward to some cooler days and thunder storms.
I went to an ice cream parlour and had Biscoff ice cream. Also went shopping and stocked the fridge up with Magnum Cookies & Cream, Haagen Dazs Mango and Rasperry, Calipo, Mini Milks and Twisters! Not sure how long they will last me!So this weeks pattern uses just four colours - tan, cream, green and red...This ice cream is also the name of a game, dance and movie. It is the Twister!
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 5
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 3rd August 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 5
Hope you are all well? I'm not sure what the weather is like elsewhere but I can tell you here in Kent, we have had some nice 33C days! That's hot for England!
I didn't post a teaser for this week yesterday, but here are some facts -
1) One of the most popular ice cream by far in UK.
2) You can have this treat with 'bunny ears' or 'monkey blood'.
3) Coined in 1922.
At a boot sale on Saturday I brought five of these babies for work colleagues. They are creamy and so refreshing on a hot day.
So it is none other than the famous '99'
The name comes from the guard of the Italian King, which consisted of 99 men and thus 'anything really special or first class was known as 99.'
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 4
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 27th July 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 4
Today has been an absolute dismal of a day here in Kent, UK. It started with the most horrendous thunder and lightening I've ever heard that I truly thought it was the end of the world!
I have not managed to enjoy any ice creams today, but this week I have enjoyed a Haagen Dazs Mango and Raspberry Lolly and also a Salted Caramel one. The mango and raspberry is quickly becoming one of my favourites. I may enjoy one tonight after Dinner.
So onto this weeks release of Ice Scream for Summer.
Last night I gave a teaser of colours. Some of you guessed, alas none of you guessed right. I love being a big kid and sometimes when I go to my local ice cream parlour, I just have to go for the brightest ice cream they have.
Today I present to you, Bubblegum Funfetti. This will permanently turn your tongue blue, and reminds me of summer days as a kid.
Enjoy Stitching!!
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 3
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 20th July 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 3
It's Monday 20th July. It's an absolute beaut of a day here in Kent. This week I have had a Kinder Bueno Cornetto, a Cookies and Cream Magnum and a Nuii Forest Fruits. My freezer drawer is running low and I need to go to Tesco to get some more.
Tomorrow I shall be returning to work and I'm so excited! Yesterday I sneak teased you with the colours on the group and a few of you had some guesses.
This weeks Ice Cream/Lolly is (as most of you guessed) - Fab!
Some interesting facts about Fab. Fab was brought out in order to take advantage of popular TV series 'Thunderbirds'. It was introduced in 1967 and interestingly enough the original packaging had an image of Lady Penelope.
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 2
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 13th July 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 2
Afternoon! Wowzers… that week went so quickly! Is it really time for the next instalment? This week I have been lucky enough to enjoy an Oreo cone, a mini milk and a whole tub of Ben & Jerry's Sofa Good (it was a bad day!)
This week we are looking at Ice Lollies. There are tons to choose from but this weeks pattern is one of my favourite choices because there are so many flavours! YUM. You can have Lemon, Blakcurrant, Strawberry, Lime and Orange.
So of course this weeks lolly is non other then the divine, suckalicious but sticky - Fruit Pastille!
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 1
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 6th July 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Ch 1
It has finally come to the time to release my first chapter of this SAL. It has already been so exciting, to see you all stitching the Title part and I'm ever more excited, to see your finished pieces of the first chapter.
So without further a do, here are some facts about the first pattern -
1) This Ice Cream is best served in a cone.
2) It is originally from Prussia.
3) It is perfect if you can't decide what taste you fancy!
Do I want refreshing vanilla?..... or maybe I fancy tangy strawberry?...… or I could be in the mood for sickly chocolate.
Fear not, for you could have all three! I present to you the first Ice Cream for the SAL - Neapolitan!
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Cream for Summer Chapter 1 Pattern PDF
(please note the backstitch we are using for this release is DMC 400.
Pubs are OPEN!
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 4th July 2020
Pubs are OPEN!
999, This is an emergency! Yes you read that right! From today in the UK, pubs and restaurants are allowed to reopen. While our fellow American friends are celebrating Independence Day, our fellow British Counterparts are celebrating the fact we can once again, go to the pub.
Go to the pub, while keeping 1 metre + away from each other... having to prebook a table, not move from it all night and order drinks from an app... while following a one way system, if we want to go to the toilet, have a fag break or leave. Sounds fun!
In celebration of this momentous occasion for some (and absolute hell for others). I present to you another freebie pattern!
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Happy 4th July
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 3rd July 2020
Happy 4th July!
Howdy Friends! I just wanted to pop on here and wish all my American friends and followers, a FANTASTIC 4th July for tomorrow!
It's also exciting news here in the UK because from Saturday pubs and restaurants are allowed to reopen. Although I won't be going back to one for a while, as I can imagine it's going to be chaotic.
I know that you probably won't be able to celebrate, as you normally do. So I've popped together a little celebratory cupcake pattern for you all!
Hope you like it.
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF link here to download and stitch -
Cupcake PDF Pattern
The Sun Has Got It's Hat On
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 29th June 2020
The Sun Has Got It's Hat On
Hip, Hip, Hip, Hooray!
We have had a beautiful week of sunshine. I have been able to get out into my garden with a paddling pool in tow. I have enjoyed relaxing in a camping chair, cross stitching in hand and my feet in the pool!
Lets hope the sun continues into the official summer holidays. I will be returning to work for two days and then full time again in September.
It's not long now until Part 1 of the 'Ice Scream for Summer' release but I wanted to give you a little treat now.
Here is a free Sun Emblem Pattern using Classic Colourworks, which you can swap out for DMC variegated.
As always this pattern is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Creativity Overflow
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 19th June 2020
Creativity Overflow
Its now Day 85 in 'lockdown'. The UK are starting to lift its restrictions, which means shopping centres are opening, the town is once again starting to buzz. We have started the phase back to school, that means I shall be returning to work shortly. I am happy to go back to work and really need to get back into things! Don't worry Fanstitchtic isn't going anywhere, I will have to work it around actual work.
Looking back on the year so far, there is so much I have missed :
- Work
- Dance Competitions
- National Championships in Sign Language Choirs
- Watching my cousins perform in Annie
- Eurovision
- Be You Festival
- DJ Luck & MC Neat Concert
- Dance Exams
- Friends Annual BBQ
- National Championships in Ballroom and Latin Dancing
- Friends Wedding
- Holiday to Peru
- Seeing my best friend from Arizona when she was coming to the UK
I am sure there are many more cancellations to come, of things I had planned. Plus we're all in the same boat aren't we. We've all missed out on so much this year.
Yet in the midst of the madness, I know that we've also grown so much this year, in ways we could not before fathom could happen. We have grown within ourselves, we have grown within a community, we have grown as a Nation. We have grown so much. A great person once said to me, 'To truly grow and understand yourself, you need to have walked through hell itself.' I didn't quite understand what she meant at the time and I won't be able to tell her that I understand now.
So lets look at the silver linings. Even though I have missed out of so much, I have become so much more in return.
I have taken the time to look at myself, understand where I want to be in the years to come. I have been able to take time to assess my life. Something which everyone needs from time to time. I am so happy with where I am and what I have achieved!
I have also been able to be so creative. Starting new projects, turning WIPs into FFOs, designing patterns. Really immersing myself into this cross stitching world, I love so much. I've started a flosstube, which has kept me sane over these weeks.
I have lots of exciting ideas and projects to share with you on our journey together; Cross Stitch Designs, SALs, New Needle Minders, Project Bags, Floss Keepers and blogs.
Although none of this could have been possible without your continued support and encouragement, which I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.
Ice Scream for Summer Title Page Release
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 15th June 2020
Ice Scream for Summer Title Page Release
I am so excited that it has come to this day already! The day that I will release the title page of 'Ice Scream for Summer'!
Over in the group - FanSTITCHtic Patterns and SAL, we have been choosing our favourite ice cream and lollies. It's been so fun. I've seen some lovely fabric choices and cannot wait to see your progress.
So without further ado....
As always 'Ice Scream for Summer' SAL is completely free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Ice Scream for Summer Title Release PDF
On a side note please ignore the second to last page re backstitching. There is no backstitch on this release. X
Quarantine Specials
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 8th June 2020
Quarantine Specials
Here in the UK, we have now been in quarantine for 12 weeks..... yep 12 weeks. That also means I haven't gone into work for that many weeks either. I miss work so much and can't wait to go back. Luckily I have seen a few of my friends at a social distance to keep me sane. Of course doing my blog and flosstube has also kept me sane and I thank you all so much for supporting me.
Today I present to you two patterns to do with quarantine. I really hope you enjoy stitching them. If you do stitch them, please consider tagging me in them on Instagram so I can see them.
These Quarantine specials will be available for free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Many Thank and Happy Stitching!
May I present to you my Quarantine Specials...
Please click on the PDF file link here to download and stitch -
Don't Touch Yo Face Pattern PDF
Social Distance Club Pattern PDFAnd if you like these, you may like the ones in my Etsy shop
My Cross Stitch Set Up
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 5th June 2020
My Cross Stitch Set Up
Hello fellow Stitchareenos!
In this blog post I will be taking you through my Cross Stitch Set Up that I have when I'm doing a project. This will be everything I use and how I use them.
Lets start off with what I use to hold my fabric. I'm lucky to have a R&R lap frame from Lakeside Needlecraft. I love my lap frame and it sits on my desk easily. I have the larger size and I find it perfect for holding my big projects and it can hold two 'work in progresses' or WIPs for short. Which is amazing!
Currently I have my Disney afghan blanket project on one side and nothing on the other as my cats, Poppy and Luna, love to curl up behind my sewing and make my stitching all hairy... oops!
You also need to decide which fabric you are going to start your project on. I nearly always stitch with 18 count aida. There is such a choice of fabrics from evenweave to hand-dyed. I'm won't be going into any detail about different fabrics here. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to have some hand-dyed aida but usually for me its plain white.
I then cut my aida to the size I need, for the project I'm about to do. For example lets say I'm stitching a piece that is 5" x 5". This would equate to (on 18 count aida) 90 squares x 90 squares. The size of the fabric will always depend on the count of the fabric. Confusing huh?!?
I would not cut my fabric exactly the same size as the finished piece as I will need room for a border and to be able to frame my piece nicely. I always cut my fabric with a 3" border all the way around. That leaves enough room to adjust later and to be able to frame nicely in a frame or on canvas.
Once my fabric is cut I then grid it up using soluble pen (a pen that washes away), attach it into my lap frame and I'm ready to go...
Hang on... what about threads!
To be able to keep track of what threads I'm using and which symbol they link to, I use a thread organiser. I don't use a fancy one. Just some old card will do with hole punched hole all around.
I attach an arm length of each thread on there, corresponding to the symbol and number. The bobbins of colours go in a travel tray, so when I run out they are in easy reach to cut some more.
I also have a small tray that has a magnet on to rest my needle when I'm not using it and a glass for all my thread offcuts (ORT jar) that I like to keep!
I like to work on paper, so I will print off the pattern in colour and I usually either work block by block or colour by colour, depending on what takes my fancy for that day!
So I have my fabric on frame, gridded and ready, threads organised on card, scissors and needles in my tray, pattern printed and set to one side.
The last thing I need is my lamp switched on and a pint of Dr Pepper on my coaster.
And that my sweet dears is everything I have to have ready before I start to stitch!
Ice Scream for Summer SAL
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 1st June 2020
Ice Scream For Summer SAL
I've never done anything like this before but I really wanted to do a Stitch A Long (SAL) for summer...
So without further ado I present to you Fanstitchtic's first SAL! This is going to be an 8 week mystery SAL during summer.
The title for this SAL is 'Ice Scream for Summer.' In this first blog about it, I shall outline what supplies you shall need and the timeline of pattern drops.
Supplies -
Fabric (18ct) - 10.89” x 12.39” (with 3" border) or if you work by stitch count - 88 width x 114 height (without a 3" border)
Colours (DMC) - 307, 400, 437, 666, 704, 712, 741, 816, 976, 3046, 3078, 3326, 3844, 3846, 3855.
Here is a schedule of when the patterns will drop -
Monday 15th June - Title Pattern Drop
Monday 6th July - Pattern 1
Monday 13th July - Pattern 2
Monday 20th July - Pattern 3
Monday 27th July - Pattern 4
Monday 3rd August - Pattern 5
Monday 10th August - Pattern 6
Monday 17th August - Pattern 7
Monday 24th August - Pattern 8
This SAL will be released on those dates through this blog and onto a Facebook Group Page - FanSTITCHtic Patterns and SAL
This SAL is completely free! I'd love to have you join in and stitch with me. I shall be sharing the picture of the title page on June 15th.
Ice Scream for Summer will be available for free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
Hope you enjoy it!
Be Well and Stitch
Author: Sarah Paige | Date: 29th May 2020
Be Well and Stitch
Its Day 67 in lockdown. I live in the UK and Mr Johnson has just lifted some of the lockdown restrictions. Nevertheless we are still advised to stay inside as much as possible. When browsing through my Instagram (@Fanstitchtic) I noticed that pattern designers were taking part in a movement called Be Well and Stitch. Now I don't class myself as a designer but I do have a program and have been having a little play around.
Happiness is Spread by By Needle and Thread is available below for free but if you'd like to support or thank me for putting it together, then please consider getting me a coffee
So I present to you my free pattern -'Happiness is Spread by Needle and Thread'
Please click on this PDF file link here to see the pattern -
Happiness is Spread by Needle and Thread PDF chart
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