Welcome


Welcome to my blog. You can read about my adventures in different types of needlework, and I also offer some free
cross stitch patterns. Please, come back often. :)

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PLEASE NOTE:


PLEASE, NOTE: The designs on this site are copyrighted to Agnes Palko. They are for your personal use only. They may not be distributed or reproduced without permission.
If you wish to use my patterns to stitch for charity, please, let me know.

30/11/2011

Christmas tree alphabet number 2 - a smaller one

I have another, smaller alphabet this time. You can stitch a few words or a name with them, or they would make lovely minis for gift tags with your loved ones initials.

I would again recommend using variegated thread with them.

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Here is the back - I only managed to fit in Merry Christmas in Swedish, the others were too long. :) But you can use the year, or just a few small flowers.

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Here is one I stitched:

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Hope you like them and find pleasure stitching them.

27/11/2011

Christmas tree alphabet - free cross stitch pattern

I made some christmas tree patterns two years ago, and I just realised they have never been published here. Originally I only made a few of these, with initials of some friends, and now I completed the pattern to make a whole alphabet.


Here are photos (not too good ones, sorry) of two of them stitched. As you can see, I used a variegated thread to stitch, and added some beads to the seam on the first, and made a mini-bag out of an Aida-band on the second.

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I hope you will like the pattern.

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And finally, here it is without a letter if you want it that way, and the matching piece that I used for the back. Of course, you can use some patterned fabric for backing, or you can simply glue the stitching on a card.

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26/11/2011

New Life? Using old pieces of needlework

I have lots of old pieces of needlework. I have some I inherited or received from my family, and lots that I bough in Sweden. Sweden is a wonderful place, you can find tons of old embroidery and crochet pieces in the second-hand shops and flea-markets.
I have quite a few I am collecting as my personal museum, really beautiful works.

On the other hand, there are quite a lot in the collection that are not all that beautiful. They are worn or faded and I wouldn´t put them on my wall or table. Or they are in a colour that was fashionable at a time (probably the 60s and 70s) but not any more. However, I wouldn´t want to throw them out either, because I keep thinking of the unknown people who spent weeks or months making them.

I was thinking about using them for something else. For a while I was not really sure if this is a good idea, it almost feels like a kind of sacrilege. Finally, I decided it is more like giving these things another, new life. Here are a few examples.


First, although it might be too late now for making autumn-projects, I would like to show you what I made with my students in the "creative crafts" lesson a few weeks ago.


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It´s a branch of tree stuck in a jar filled with gravel. Then each student made a leaf and we hang them on the branch.

You can also see me in the reflection. :)
I took another picture at another place, perhaps you can see it better.

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I also made a few leaves myself, and this is what I want to share with you.

I had these old pieces of crochet:

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I sewed a leaf shape with zig-zag stitch, and cut it out. I made experiments, because the crochet got more than once caught in the sewing machine. So I tried sewing it with tissue paper, which was difficult to tear of the crochet, then I sewed it on a piece of fabric, I think that worked best.

The first one:

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You can see how the thread is tangled in once place where it was caught in the machine.

Then with the tissue paper:

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Finally with fabric:

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Another "new-life project:

My first patchwork, a hanging folder for bills and receipts for my boyfriend:

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Look at the inside:

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It is a piece cut from an old cross-stitched tablecloth that has really faded colours, in some places the embroidery has even come undone, but I think it works well as the lining for this little project.

I would like to hear your opinion about this question. Is it all right to make new pieces of old embroidery or crochet, or is it a disrespect to the original creator?

19/11/2011

Sorry

Dear Friends,

I am sorry for being absent for so long. I was on a short holiday, then I moved into my new apartment and I don´t have internet at home, apparently it will take some time to arrange it Not happy about it. :(

Anyway, I have a few more photos to show you and another freebie just in time before Christmas - coming soon. Please, bear with me :)

Agi