Who ordered Alicia’s adorable new cross stitch sampler kit the day it was released? I did! I did! My friend Grace ordered one too, and we thought it would be fun to do another Stitch Along! (Remember Winterwoods? It’s been awhile, but that one was so fun!)
Here’s the plan:
First you need to buy the kit, if you haven’t already. You can purchase it here, on Alicia Paulson’s website. The kit comes with the pattern and instructions, linen, and floss. If you need supplies such as a hoop or needles, those are available in her shop too. She’s pretty quick to ship orders, so if you order now you will probably have your kit in a week or less.
The plan is to stitch two letters, (starting with ‘a’ and ‘b’) along with their corresponding motifs each week. Some weeks will have more work than others, and you may need to adjust accordingly. The point isn’t so much to exactly meet the goals each week, but more so to actually complete the sampler by the finish date (July 17). Having weekly goals is motivating, and will help us all to keep stitching!
We will share progress photos every Friday on either Instagram or Flickr. If you want to share on Flickr, there is a group set up there. You can simply add yourself to the group and start posting photos. If you post on Instagram, you will want to use the hashtag #mysweetiepieabcsstitchalong so we can all find each others’ photos. I realize that is crazy long (sorry!) (btw-I’m ginnysheller on Instagram and since peeps keep asking, no I didn’t buy a smartphone, I’m using an Ipad mini to post there. 🙂 )
Just like last time, nothing fancy, no blogging necessary. Just throw your photo up on IG or into the Flickr pool in the same sort of way that you would mark something off your to-do list and get that warm, fuzzy feeling of accomplishment.
We will share our first progress photos on Friday, April 24th and then every Friday until we finish. If you stay on track, you should finish your sampler by July 17th.
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If you want to learn more about the My Sweetiepie ABCs Sampler and get lots of tips and advice on getting started, check out this post on Alicia’s blog.
Alicia wrote a great tutorial on counted cross stitch which can be found here. She tells you pretty much everything you need to know to get started and complete this piece.
Happy Stitching! This is going to be fun!
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This sounds like fun! I just got my threads all sorted, so I’ll probably be starting a bit behind!
I ordered my kit a few days before your post and the group motivation is just what I need. I’ve been itching to knit something lately but just haven’t had time with a 3 year old and 9 month old baby going through a very clingy, fussy stage. Like you say, each letter will be like a mini project completed and will be so satisfying! I can definitely manage 2 letters a week (Well, I hope I can!). Plus keeping up with everyone will help. This is great, Ginny! Thank you!!
Wait for me! I am on it and just ordered today!
Oh I’m so excited about this! I bought my kit when it came out and I am so glad to join a community to work on this wonderful sampler with!
This is adorable..I haven’t cross stitched in years but I am very tempted to dive in since this is the cutest one I have seen!
How lovely Ginny, a stitch a long 🙂 My kit won’t arrive for another week I think (I’m in Australia) but I guess I’ll have to catch up eventually. Looking forward to everyone’s progress.
Ginny, thank you — you are just seriously amazing. You truly made my day and I really can’t tell you how forward I am looking to watching everyone make progress on this. I honestly had more fun designing this than almost anything else I’ve made, and I’m terribly flattered that you would want to host a stitch along, so thank you very, very much.
(And Gwendolyn, I’m glad everything got worked out! 😉
Please, anyone, feel free to contact me any time with questions or concerns or progress reports!!!
xoxo, a
how funny i just checked it out the other day and almost bought it–but another stitch-a-long is just what i need! perfect!
This is so adorable, and such a great idea doing a stitch along! I’ve been wanting to learn how to cross stitch for ages, and this looks like it might be the perfect motivation to begin. I think it might have to be my “just-submitted-my-taxes-in-the-nick-of-time” present to myself.
I’m in……just jumped over and bought my kit!!! So excited!
Totally want to do this!!
I remember when you did the winter woods one, and wanted to do it then. I never did, but I just ordered this kit. A kit is right up my ally, seeing as I haven’t cross stitched since I was 10!! 🙂 I won’t be using flicker or ig, but I’ll try to keep up! 🙂
My kit just arrived yesterday! A stitch along sounds like such fun, and is just the motivation I need to try instagram 🙂 See you there Ginny!
I haven’t cross stitched in so long. I feel like a beginner still. Is this good for someone like me?
I used to cross stitch all the time, but I haven’t been able to since the kids were born. I would love to join you on this (especially since I lack the knowledge and skills to try any knitting projects)!
Oh! You know I never did finish up my winterwoods sampler so if it’s okay I think I’ll join in but work on that one!
I’m with you Nicole, I really want to start this new one but need to finish Winterwoods.
This is so exciting! I bought my kit the day it was released too. I’d been looking everywhere for something to cross stitch for my baby girl’s room and I couldn’t find anything that spoke to me until I saw this sampler! She already has samplers hanging in her room that my grandmother made and that were made for me as a baby so clearly she needs something made by mommy too. I mean, can a little girl really have too many cross stitched pieces hanging up in her room? Don’t answer that 🙂
What a darling cross stitch. Have put it on my to-do list for sure. Many thanks!
that is so cute! i might order it, but honestly i won’t be able to keep up. i think i am the slowest stitcher on earth. LOL
I’ll stitch along, but I am stitching the Winterwoods sampler. It has taken me soooo long to assemble the supplies as I was too late for the kit. It will be nice to finish it, thanks for the motivation!
I love Alicia’s work! This is so adorable. I wish I knew how to crossstitch – I’d join you on this 🙂
You don’t need to know how! It’s really easy, and she has a great tutorial on her blog. I linked to it at the bottom of my post. 🙂
Oh goodness – you are a bad (or maybe good??!!) influence! I just might have to give it a shot…never mind I’ve never used Flickr in this fashion, am not on Instagram, have never done crosstitch, and can’t seem to get all the knitting and sewing done that I want! It just might be the perfect thing to keep me motivated to try something out I’ve been wanting to do…and actually finish it!! Thanks for the encouragement!
I don’t have time for anything either! This is totally nuts! But, once you get started on this, it will make you feel really good. I remember that from doing the Winterwoods stitch along. It doesn’t really take that long to stitch a couple of letters each week and each time you finish one it’s like finishing a project. And they all add up to one big cute project!
Thanks Ginny! This is just what I need right now…between projects I can’t seem to complete, a house that I feel is never clean and homeschool that I wonder about constantly, I really need something I can see progress on. And the motivation from a group sounds perfect 😉 Whether I’ll be able to finish on time or not, who knows….but it will be fun trying! Thanks!
so cute! I love the windmill and the kettle!
I ordered mine on Saturday. I may be joining you, it sounds like fun!
Thanks for the stitch along information. I’m waiting for an e-mail back from Alicia as my PayPal isn’t working correctly. I’m glad you are doing this. It will motivate me to actually get it completed.