Here is my final version of Petites Lettres Rouges! Not only did I finish stitching this delightful sampler, I also managed to hem-stitch it (not easy on such a high count fabric). Ethel Susan Richards is my maternal grand-mother who was born in Aberdare, South Wales in 1893 and was a dressmaker/embroideress. There is a picture of her with my grand-father here. This tiny sampler measures slightly less than 5" x 3" (including the hem-stitching) and is stitched on 48/50ct French Gander linen with a deep red Soie Surfine thread. I am going to mount it on a raw linen and frame it once I find a suitable frame. I would like thank Alma and Barb of Blackbird Designs for supplying this free design (here) and holding such a great competition. I wonder what Alice would think if she knew that 91 years after stitching her own sampler that stitchers from all over the world would be stitching her Petites Lettres Rouges!

Although still rather tender, my hand is coming along great. The scab has now fallen off to leave a deep pink scar which will, of course, eventually fade into the crease of my palm. I am now doing the exercises that I was shown by the physio when I had the same surgery to my left hand in 2007 so hopefully by the time I have my follow-up appointment with the consultant on May 7, I will be discharged. Thank you to everyone who took time to leave comments and sent emails, cards and gifts to me during this stressful time and yes it was stressful - can you imagine not being able to stitch for a week let alone four weeks!

No thoughts of stitching in the garden today as it's raining!  

Thanks for visiting

Take care 

As you can see I have stitched a little more on Petites Lettres Rouges. It's slow going but I am enjoying it! I had thought that the Gander fabric was 40ct but, by my calculations, with a stitch count of 110 x 62, 1*2, the design would measure 5.5" x 3.1". As you can see the side measurement is 2.5" so the fabric must be 48/50ct - no wonder I had to use my magnifier! Did anyone notice that the W was missing from the pattern and that the X and Y are round the wrong way? I am undecided as whether to put this right or stitch as charted but, as I have already corrected the border and have decided to stitched the numbers in line with the letters, I probably will put it in if the space is big enough. I made a mistake in that I stitched the 9 one stitch too close to the 8 so I had to unpick - I think you can just see this? Let me tell you that unpicking on such a high count fabric is not an easy task? 

Valerie is celebrating her 4th year blogoversary  with a giveaway so go (here) to enter and wish her a Happy Blogoversary!

It was a lovely sunny day yesterday so I was able to sit outside with my book - Karin Slaughter's 'Triptych' - I have been wanting to read this for ages and it was another of my 'finds' at the library last weekend. 

Thanks for visiting

Take care