Oh my gosh. I just stumbled across your channel and you're an advanced stitcher that has a lot of variety. Hoping you are still going to upload in the future.
i ABSOLUTELY love YOUR VIDEOS...NOT SO LONG OF A WAIT NEXT TIME. Mirabilia FEVER you have...and they are all beautiful!! I am starting Sept. 2nd my BD...VILLA. I have been putting off Mira's because of the beads, but now I think I am ready. I saw the Moonlight Fairie and the Daylight Fairie and went immediately and found them for $14. I don't care too much for fairies, but those two....ahhh!! All of Maria Diaz's ladies are beautiful; although i have not taken a notion to stitch one. HAPPY STITCHING TODAY AND EVERY DAY!!
Thank you, Karen! I'll do my best to get in a more regular filming schedule :) My name is Hannah and I'm a Mirabilia-holic! Some Mirabilias have little to no beads, particularly the early ones, but some are a bit bead-intense. Glad to hear you think you're ready though! Let me know if you'd like any advice, maybe a video on beading might be helpful? Which design is it you're starting? Is that the fairies by Maria van Scharrenburg? They are gorgeous, aren't they? Out of production now though I think so you got them for a steal! I forgot to show another of hers that I started, so that'll be next video :D Isn't that a great thing about flosstube, that we get to enjoy vicariously projects that we'd not choose to stitch ourselves? I get a thrill out of introducing stitchers to new designs and designers. Thanks again for watching and commenting!
Thanks Liana! I enjoy stitching things that are a bit different to the mainstream, as well as the favourites like Mirabilia. And thanks to flosstube and IG I can enjoy projects I'd never stitch myself too, it's wonderful!
Thanks! I love that about flosstube, that we find stitchers with similar tastes but also can enjoy vicariously others stitching pieces that wouldn't appeal to us. What kinds of projects are your favourites to stitch?
You have so pretty projects that I need to watch your video several times. You also stitch so fast. May I ask how you stitch? Do you stitch one color at a time or one area at a time? Do you mark your chart? I think you said you don't usually grid your fabric but I'm keen to hear how you do it. And where do you buy those Russian kits? Thank you so much for making these videos. You are an inspiration!
Thanks! Feel free to watch as many times as you like ;) Also most of the projects appear on my instagram, which you don't need an account to look at - just go to instagram.com/hanmayde. I spend more time than I ought stitching, but I also have honed my technique so that I get maximum productivity. I'll try and describe what I do for you here, but I also have plans to make some videos explaining my approach. I stitch with a frame and lowery stand, two handed. I park threads and stitch top to bottom (usually starting at the top right, but it can vary), lightest colour to darkest colour. My chart is usually on my phone which gets propped up on the bottom scroll rod of the frame so it's right next to where I'm stitching. I designed and made my own wearable laying tool so all my strands lay neatly side by side but I'm not slowed down by having to railroad. I start stitches using a waste knot and sometimes a pin stitch, and finish with a pin stitch. I hate turning over my project to secure threads on the back so will do pretty much anything to avoid that, including parking lots of thread ends to secure on the back later in one batch. If the design has blocks of colour, like most Mirabilias do, I will start with the lightest colour block and work down until either I get bored, finish the block of colour or go far enough that I want to check my counting by filling in the next colour. If there are more stitches to do in that colour I will park the thread in the bottom left of the next stitch. If I have finished with that colour I will usually do a pin stitch to secure it, then park the thread it the bottom centre of the completed stitch, unless it's a blend that I might mix up with other parked threads or that colour won't be used again for some time, in which case I will cut it off and put the remnant on a thread card. If the design has more confetti style, I will work in blocks of 10x10 stitches in rows across the width of the page. I will again start with the lightest colour, fill in all those stitches for that 10x10 block and park usually in the row below, or fasten off if the colour won't be used again nearby. Repeat the process for the next lightest colour and so on until the 10x10 block is complete. Then move to the next 10x10 block in the row (I prefer to work across the page than down). Working lightest to darkest colour is a compromise for neatness. Strict parking, like Blitstitch's diagonal parking method, is the best way to get really neat stitches but I lose patience with changing colours every other stitch. Working lightest to darkest means messy stitches are less likely to stand out and you don't have to worry about creating shadows from passing darker threads behind areas that will be filled with a lighter colour - the lighter area will already have been filled in. I very rarely grid, basically never. I also generally don't mark my chart. In order to keep my place I will concentrate on stitch areas adjacent to what I've already stitched. If I have to count too far and "jump" to the next stitching, I'm likely to park the thread and fill in other colours in between so that I have reference points to double check my counting against. Hopefully that all made at least some sense and I remembered the important points, but just shout if anything was unclear. I hope to figure out a stitch-with-me style setup soon and demonstrate what I mean. As for the Russian kits, ebay is your friend! If you're looking for the Afremov Romantic walk, search for "Golden Fleece Romantic Walking" under international sellers and you'll find a couple of Russian stores, I've ordered from several of them with great success before but you're also covered by the PayPal protection incase things go missing.
Hi Cathy, thanks for reaching out! It's so cool to hear you're re-watching my videos, especially as I haven't made any in forever. I've not made any decision to quit making videos, in fact I have notes ready for at least 3 new ones! I've just suffered from logistical issues (time and space and equipment), and the longer it goes the harder it is to get back into it. But it still is my intention to record more, sometime! If you'd like more frequent updates of my stitching, check out my Instagram under @hanmayde. Which reminds me, I need to make a post there!
The Mirabilia Summer Queen? It has been a while since I posted the video, but the fabric information should be in the video description. If not, let me know and I'll look it up in my notes.
@@hanmayde464 it said zweigart ice blue but when I looked it to order it's too blue yours is showing more off white I wanted to start my lady for sometime now. Thanks
@@thelmaelkjar2475 thank you. No, they are always two-over-two unless charted one-over-one. I tried one-over-one with my first Mirabilia and didn't enjoy the process or the results, despite how lovely it looks when others do it, and almost lost all enthusiasm for stitching entirely. So I've decided it's not for me. I often rechart the faces, sometimes small details like just the eyebrows, other times the whole face or head. I post more detail of those conversions on my Instagram (also hanmayde)
Your starts are stunning. Thanks so much for mentioning Hawkins Hobbies. I have been after Christmas Flourishes for a while and they still have it. Also, you’ve enabled me on Shakespeare’s Fairies. That one is stunning on the navy blue. Thanks for sharing your beautiful stitching.
Thanks, Lorna! I'm glad you found her, she's beautiful. I've actually seen her come up quite a bit on ebay since I bought her, but Hawkins Hobbies were great so happy to share. I *love* to hear when I've enabled people, and I have a feeling you're not the only one I got with Shakespeare's Fairies :D They are super fun to stitch too. Keep an eye out for my next video to see them finished!
Hi just to say I really hope you make another video soon and that you are ok. Hope you join us at a retreat sometime so that we can meet you and drool over your projects in person! Loved all the binge watched videos. Take good care of yourself. 😊💕🌷
Thanks, Sara! I'm struggling to find time for stitching let alone filming at the moment 🙁 was hoping to film on Sunday but I've come down with a lurgy so will have to see how that goes. I'd love to do a retreat but have no idea where to find out about them! I keep hearing about the one in MK which isn't too far from me. Is that the one you go to? Is it a Facebook group? Someone did tell me last year but I never got around to looking it up and have forgotten it now, I'm not a big FB user
hanmayde Hi yes I go to the Milton Keynes retreat run by Sarah Marley. If you look up Facebook groups and themadstitchers Retreat and message Sarah she will get back to you. She runs a great retreat and good online friendships are consolidated there. I’ve just been to my third and I’m looking forward to the next one in April. Hope your lurgy is better. I’ve had a tummy bug and a cold that seem to be everywhere around here at the moment. But everything’s good 😊
Lots of lovely starts. I keep my Christmas Flourishes up all year round. I think it only looks particularly Christmassy when it has tinsel round it in December. 😉
Well, I have now binged watched all your videos. You do such amazing stitching. And don't worry about not always making videos, it's a lot of work to make them. I love all your new starts, you stitch so fast. Well bye for now and I hope to see you and your stitching soon.
Hello Hannah!! So much beauty in this video!!! I bought Feather Fairy two days ago and I plan on stitching her without the wings as well. Thanks for sharing your amazing stitching with us. I hope you are doing well.
Thanks, Andrea! Will you be starting Feather Fairy soon? You like to keep your wip count down, if I recall. I forget, do you still have Raven Queen on the go? I know you were just working on Damask Roses.
@@hanmayde464 - No, I don't plan starting Feather Fairy soon. Yes, I'm still working on Raven Queen and she will be a focus for me soon since I want to finish her before my niece graduates high school in May. I'm undecided about Damask Roses and whether she is finished or not. I've talked about it in my latest video. Still thinking about that one. If I had the fabric and floss for all of my Mirabilia's, I would start them right away, so I would say that I don't mind how many projects I have. 💜
Thanks to you I was brave enough to change the recommended fabric of my Mirabilia 'Royal Holiday'. Instead of 32 count, I bought a beautiful 28 count evenweave piece with gold sparkles on it. I actually love stitching on it and because of its colour, it's ideal as a Christmas fabric.
Desiree, that sounds absolutely beautiful! I've not tried opalescent fabric myself, so you've got one over on me :D I'm so happy to have been able to give you that confidence by sharing my journey of building my own confidence with swapping fabrics, adjusting charts and converting colours. Now there'll be no stopping you!
Your videos are always full of eye candy. :) When I look back on the last 7 months of my own stitching, it pales in comparison to these two videos you've put together for us here. What is your trick to being able to produce this amount of stitching? And I'm curious to know what subject you teach, since you mentioned that you have a student? Welcome to the 30's club! Lots of people freak out about turning 30, but in my opinion it's way better than being in your 20's!
I always have had a sweet tooth - explains why I've got so many projects started :D This is a question I often get that's hard to give a satisfactory answer to. The short answer is that I spend more time than is probably healthy stitching! That is of course true, but there's a bit more to it. I am the type of person that hates to do the same task twice or waste time on anything, I'm always looking for more efficient ways to do things. And that's exactly what I've done with stitching. Everything from what frames I use (in fact I buy cheap frames and alter them to my liking), which fabrics I prefer to work on, how I organise my projects, what order I stitch in, where I put my scissors and so on has been through a "how could I make this more efficient?" test. I even ended up designing and making my own wearable laying tool when railroading was so slow. Not that speed is the be all and end all - I still need to enjoy the process and be happy with the quality of my stitching! I do have plans to figure out a video setup where I can explain and demonstrate some of this, but I don't want to promise videos only to go silent for months again like I have done. If I can expand on anything for you though, do let me know and I'll see what I can do! I think I briefly mentioned in a previous video that this past year I started private tutoring and teach maths and physics to mainly 15-18 year olds. I tried teaching in a school setting but was on a fast track to a nervous breakdown, one-on-one is much more my speed! Thanks, to be honest I couldn't care less really, about birthdays in general let alone "big" ones - excepting of course the excuse to acquire more stash! The worst part is seeing how short you've fallen of societal expectations for that age, but I realised a long time ago that I don't fit into societal norms and have had practice ignoring them :)
I'm fascinated by your process of efficiency. How short/long do you keep your threads? I prefer a longer 18" length so that I don't have to bury my tail as many times, but I often wonder if that actually makes the process longer by having to spend so much time pulling it through. You mentioned that you use the pin stitch - does that work when using 2 threads? I'm the same about not fitting into societal norms and not caring! I've found more people similar to my personality here through flosstube than I ever have or could in person.
I pre-cut all my threads to 1m lengths (unwind the skein and fold it in half several times). I usually use the loop start and it works out a good length for me - works out to about 19.5". You're right, there definitely is such a thing as too long - it takes multiple motions to pull the thread through, you're more likely to get knots and the threads will show wear, all of which will slow things down in the long run. Yup, pin stitch for everything :D It works wonderfully for two strands. One strand also works, but it shows through the sparser stitch a bit more. I don't think I've tried three strands yet, but there's no reason why it wouldn't work. It isn't so useful for fractional stitches, but usually there are some whole stitches close by that will hide it nicely.
I precut all of my DMC as well - I thank myself every time I need a new length! Glad to hear I'm not alone there. I'm going to have to find some videos to teach me the pin stitch.
Hannah, your projects are absolutely gorgeous. Wow, you have alot of whips going on. You do wonderful stitching. I love to watch all of your videos. Your conversions of some of them are just stunning. You do have a stitching talent. You inspire me to do so many more projects. Don't know if i can do that many, but you inspire me to keep going. Thank you for taking the time to show us all of your things. Keep up the great work, can't wait to see your next video. Take care.
Thank you, Sharon! It's so lovely to hear you've been inspired by my videos! You're smart though - I wouldn't suggest starting as many as I have, it's insanity and oftentimes feels a bit overwhelming! Do what feels good to you, never mind what anyone else is up to :)
I just bing watched all of your videos and I love it! The DMC Fantasia is my absolut favorite. Hope to see more videos soon, I really enjoy watching while stitching.
I so enjoyed this video and your stitching is just gorgeous. I was enthralled by Shakespeare’s Fairies and can’t wait to see it finished. You’re so lovely...keep the videos coming!
Thank you, Karrie! Each video is like putting a little piece of yourself out there and can leave you feeling quite vulnerable, so it's amazing to receive such kind comments! Keep your eyes peeled for the next video, your wait will then be over ;)
I absolutely loved and enjoyed your video! Your projects are beautiful. I went a bit mad on Mirabilia starts this year also! I enjoy hearing your thought process to all your WIPS, I don’t feel alone in my thinking. I must go and kit up my Shakespeare Mirabilla and stitch on blue fabric! Your is a stunner!! Hope you have a good week! Look forward to your next video- Karen
Thank you, Karen! There must be something in the air this year, and after all it is Mirabilia's 25th anniversary this year so what better excuse?! It's so interesting that that's part of what you enjoy. I don't plan what I'm about to say in my videos and so often it's whatever pops into my head a the time. Let me know if there's certain things in particular you like to hear about, maybe I can expand on that or be a bit more coherent. I have never felt more satisfied with a fabric choice for a project than with that navy for Shakespeare's Fairies! If you're on instagram you may have seen I finished the beading and it's fabulous in real life. Would love to see yours when you get it started!
Hi... love everything your doing and I was so happy when you mentioned the range in your last video as I was thinking where can I go to get frames as my smaller projects I’ve just gone to good old Wilkes lol. I have the pin stitch mermaid, I saw it on Reddit and fell in love straight away (I have a thing for fairies and mermaids) I’d not long had my daughter so hunted it down, you’ve just made me want to pull it and start it xx
I've found some good frames at Wilko's too, but was blown away by the Range. Literally took one look at the shop and started planning which finishes I would need to bring back to find a frame for :D It is lovely, let me know if you start it - it might make me pick it back up again. I've got so many on the go and so many more I want to start that it's hard to chose what to work on!
Your stitching is gorgeous! I instantly fell in love with How Does Your Garden Grow. I've looked on Papillon's site, but no luck yet. By any chance, do you know off-hand how to get it? I've requested access to the FB group as well.
Love this video. I feel less bad about starting seven new things in one day. ;-) I'm a bit like you in dithering about what to do about a project when it's not coming out like I expected, mostly because the picture often looks different from the actual stitching. Sometime I just have to make myself get on with it, and am usually happier when I make the change I'm thinking of, even if it takes me five time to get it right. I fell in love with the Artecy pieces too. I'm working on Paris Abstract, but if I ever get that done, London is the next one. Happy stitching.
Wow, seven starts in one day?!?! And I thought I was crazy :D That's awesome. Oh my gosh you totally get it! I know I just need to suck it up and rip it all out, but I can't make myself and until I do I'm going to agonise over it. Silly really, but what can you do? ;) It's the worst when doing conversions and the like - I'll make a change, think somethings not right so change it, then realise I liked it better the first way, and so on. Oh well, at least we learn something each time :) Oh the Paris abstract is lovely, I've already got an Afremov Eiffel tower kit though and given the closest I've been to Paris is driving past on the motorway I can't justify it to myself! I'd love to see your progress, are you on IG? I really like the new york one too, the yellow cabs really pop.
It's like I had a little start factory going. Since I had to pull out the fabrics and the ironing board anyway... :-) I'll tag you on IG tomorrow with a pic. I think I have a bit more done than you do, but not much. Oh, and one of my starts was Winter Queen. I'm leaving her as is. For some reason, her snooty expression makes me laugh. I saw your post on IG and it looks like her profile is the mirror image of your Summer Queen.
I love your videos! Your stitching is so beautiful. As you know from my other comments I love Mirabilia designs, so that is eye candy to me when you show your pieces. Summer Queen is looking beautiful already. I love all your new starts and can’t wait to see more of your progress in your next video. The design with the girl coming out of the waves will look beautiful when finished, what a lovely design..I do love the mermaid 🧜♀️ design with the mermaid baby but that’s probably because I have three girls and one of them is a baby. I think it’s gorgeous 😍 happy stitching xx
Let's start a mutual appreciation society :D I have to keep restraining myself from starting several more Miras, I wish I had even the same amount of artistic talent as Nora has in her little finger! I've actually got Summer Queen on my scroll frame right now, and am having a hair dilemma. I must have a bias against stitching blondes! The mermaid is lovely, and she'll have extra special meaning for you with your little girls. Are you tempted to stitch her? I guess I just don't have that connection to it, and I have weird hang-ups about certain things, just like with angels and Angel of the New Dawn. I can't figure out why fairy wings are absolutely fine but angel wings give me issues - strange!
hanmayde Haha I feel the same! I love Mira’s so much...I recently ordered Florentina so can’t wait for her to arrive. She’s an older pattern but I just love her and her face. There’s something about her expression and look in her eyes. Does that sound weird? Haha... I love the mermaid with the baby but won’t be tempted to stitch her unless I see yours finished and absolutely fall in love with it. I have so many to stitch already, I really shouldn’t order another. I maybe would have bought her if I had just had my baby daughter and turned it into a baby sampler but I do love the baby sampler I stitched for her. I had my eye on it when I was pregnant and didn’t know what I was having as it is very girlie. It’s a bothy threads kit called the dreamer if you are interested in looking at it. I don’t think I’ve ever stitched an angel just lots of fairies..the lavender and lace angels are stunning but I don’t think I’d ever stitch one.
Florentina's the one with the cat, right? Very nice. I already have Damask Roses which is a lady sitting on a pedastal, so have ummed and ahhed over getting any others until I stitch her. Peony Garden really tempts me too, and she's basically the same as Damask Roses also, but the colours! And I totally get you about the face, I have such massive hang-ups with the faces! It makes or breaks a project for me, so if you find one that speaks to you, I say stitch it already! I've just spent all afternoon when I should have been working figuring out a conversion for Summer Queen's face because it's like a brain worm and won't leave me alone. Oops. I'm keeping going with the hair until I have more of it done, with faith in Nora's genius that it will all come together in the end! Haha challenge accepted - I WILL finish it and make you fall in love with it ;) It would have been so cute as a birth sampler, but your Gorjuss girl on a unicorn was just adorbs! I haven't stitched a Gorjuss Girl but have been tempted so many times. I'm all for the fairies, keep 'em coming! Fairies and mermaids and beautiful ladies and dragons (I need to stitch more dragons) all the way! Speaking of, I actually bought a couple of lavender and lace, suffering from complete FOMO, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to put them on eBay because 1) angel wings and 2) I don't know, it's just not quite my aesthetic. Maybe because of the angel wings lol
hanmayde Yes Florentina is the one with the cat,the cat reminds me of my cat Jerry so I think I have to stitch it. I have blonde hair so I can be Florentina and Jerry can be the cat haha 😀I love all the beautiful ladies and mermaids but I am yet to stitch a dragon..I am not really into dragons so not sure that will happen, but you just never know! I just want everything mermaid now! I can’t wait to see your mermaid with the baby stitched up! I saw your post about redesigning Summer Queens face and it looks really pretty. She doesn’t look as snobby now...you are so talented to be able to do that. I can’t draw in the slightest. I look forward to seeing how she stitches up! I will have to look up damask rose, can’t remember that pattern. I really look forward to your videos, one of my favourite flosstubers xx
Thanks, Ana! I'm not sure about pristine though, there's a lot of "specialty" fibres (read cat hair) that ends up all over the place :D I get fabric from sewandso.co.uk and usually go for 32ct for Mirabilias, although sometimes 28ct. I also buy quite a lot of 27ct Linda, but haven't used that for a Mirabilia as yet. Often the same colour fabric can't be found in both counts so it depends on what colour I'm after. And I'm prone to just buying a range of fabrics in say greys or blues to see what they are like, knowing I'll eventually find a mermaid or pretty lady or whatever to stitch on it.
No need to apologise, I was just teasing :) thank you for the compliment! Thanks for the suggestions, I do have plans to demonstrate the techniques I use once I figure out a camera set up. Not sure my organisation approach is one to copy, it's a bit chaotic, but sure I'll share
Oh my gosh. I just stumbled across your channel and you're an advanced stitcher that has a lot of variety. Hoping you are still going to upload in the future.
I hope you are doing good and every body on your family is safe. Miss your pretty stitching
i love love all your projects! they are the most similar to my taste in cross stitch patterns! please do more videos! good luck!
you are an evil temptress!!! keep up the good work :) xx
mwahahahahahahaha :D Thanks Ingeborg!
The fairies look stunning on the dark blue fabric. Great choice.
i ABSOLUTELY love YOUR VIDEOS...NOT SO LONG OF A WAIT NEXT TIME. Mirabilia FEVER you have...and they are all beautiful!! I am starting Sept. 2nd my BD...VILLA. I have been putting off Mira's because of the beads, but now I think I am ready. I saw the Moonlight Fairie and the Daylight Fairie and went immediately and found them for $14. I don't care too much for fairies, but those two....ahhh!! All of Maria Diaz's ladies are beautiful; although i have not taken a notion to stitch one. HAPPY STITCHING TODAY AND EVERY DAY!!
Thank you, Karen! I'll do my best to get in a more regular filming schedule :)
My name is Hannah and I'm a Mirabilia-holic! Some Mirabilias have little to no beads, particularly the early ones, but some are a bit bead-intense. Glad to hear you think you're ready though! Let me know if you'd like any advice, maybe a video on beading might be helpful? Which design is it you're starting?
Is that the fairies by Maria van Scharrenburg? They are gorgeous, aren't they? Out of production now though I think so you got them for a steal! I forgot to show another of hers that I started, so that'll be next video :D
Isn't that a great thing about flosstube, that we get to enjoy vicariously projects that we'd not choose to stitch ourselves? I get a thrill out of introducing stitchers to new designs and designers.
Thanks again for watching and commenting!
Wonderful projects!
I love all your projects! You do beautiful cross stitch. I particularly like the butterfly fairies that you showed; simply stunning!
love your stitching! amazing
Thank you, Diyana!
Very beautiful stitching
Thank you, Rachel!
You are just amazing 😉 you stitch so fast y so pretty just beautiful...
Thank you, Lorena! That's so sweet. I do spend more time stitching than is probably good for me though :D
Your projects are so beautiful and unique!
Thanks Liana! I enjoy stitching things that are a bit different to the mainstream, as well as the favourites like Mirabilia. And thanks to flosstube and IG I can enjoy projects I'd never stitch myself too, it's wonderful!
I love your videos. We like to stitch similar things.
Thanks! I love that about flosstube, that we find stitchers with similar tastes but also can enjoy vicariously others stitching pieces that wouldn't appeal to us. What kinds of projects are your favourites to stitch?
Ladies! Everywhere! lol My favorites that I've done are the 3 of Joan Elliotts geishas. Someday I'll do a Mira, but I can't decide which one to do!
You have so pretty projects that I need to watch your video several times. You also stitch so fast. May I ask how you stitch? Do you stitch one color at a time or one area at a time? Do you mark your chart? I think you said you don't usually grid your fabric but I'm keen to hear how you do it. And where do you buy those Russian kits? Thank you so much for making these videos. You are an inspiration!
Thanks! Feel free to watch as many times as you like ;) Also most of the projects appear on my instagram, which you don't need an account to look at - just go to instagram.com/hanmayde.
I spend more time than I ought stitching, but I also have honed my technique so that I get maximum productivity. I'll try and describe what I do for you here, but I also have plans to make some videos explaining my approach.
I stitch with a frame and lowery stand, two handed. I park threads and stitch top to bottom (usually starting at the top right, but it can vary), lightest colour to darkest colour. My chart is usually on my phone which gets propped up on the bottom scroll rod of the frame so it's right next to where I'm stitching. I designed and made my own wearable laying tool so all my strands lay neatly side by side but I'm not slowed down by having to railroad.
I start stitches using a waste knot and sometimes a pin stitch, and finish with a pin stitch. I hate turning over my project to secure threads on the back so will do pretty much anything to avoid that, including parking lots of thread ends to secure on the back later in one batch.
If the design has blocks of colour, like most Mirabilias do, I will start with the lightest colour block and work down until either I get bored, finish the block of colour or go far enough that I want to check my counting by filling in the next colour. If there are more stitches to do in that colour I will park the thread in the bottom left of the next stitch. If I have finished with that colour I will usually do a pin stitch to secure it, then park the thread it the bottom centre of the completed stitch, unless it's a blend that I might mix up with other parked threads or that colour won't be used again for some time, in which case I will cut it off and put the remnant on a thread card.
If the design has more confetti style, I will work in blocks of 10x10 stitches in rows across the width of the page. I will again start with the lightest colour, fill in all those stitches for that 10x10 block and park usually in the row below, or fasten off if the colour won't be used again nearby. Repeat the process for the next lightest colour and so on until the 10x10 block is complete. Then move to the next 10x10 block in the row (I prefer to work across the page than down).
Working lightest to darkest colour is a compromise for neatness. Strict parking, like Blitstitch's diagonal parking method, is the best way to get really neat stitches but I lose patience with changing colours every other stitch. Working lightest to darkest means messy stitches are less likely to stand out and you don't have to worry about creating shadows from passing darker threads behind areas that will be filled with a lighter colour - the lighter area will already have been filled in.
I very rarely grid, basically never. I also generally don't mark my chart. In order to keep my place I will concentrate on stitch areas adjacent to what I've already stitched. If I have to count too far and "jump" to the next stitching, I'm likely to park the thread and fill in other colours in between so that I have reference points to double check my counting against.
Hopefully that all made at least some sense and I remembered the important points, but just shout if anything was unclear. I hope to figure out a stitch-with-me style setup soon and demonstrate what I mean.
As for the Russian kits, ebay is your friend! If you're looking for the Afremov Romantic walk, search for "Golden Fleece Romantic Walking" under international sellers and you'll find a couple of Russian stores, I've ordered from several of them with great success before but you're also covered by the PayPal protection incase things go missing.
Hi hi. Watched some of your videos again. Are you still doing flosstube, I see the last one was a year ago? Loved your projects and stitching :)
Hi Cathy, thanks for reaching out! It's so cool to hear you're re-watching my videos, especially as I haven't made any in forever.
I've not made any decision to quit making videos, in fact I have notes ready for at least 3 new ones! I've just suffered from logistical issues (time and space and equipment), and the longer it goes the harder it is to get back into it.
But it still is my intention to record more, sometime! If you'd like more frequent updates of my stitching, check out my Instagram under @hanmayde. Which reminds me, I need to make a post there!
Hello beautiful I have been following your video love your fabric choices please write down your fabric you use on your queen it's show cream. Thanks.
The Mirabilia Summer Queen? It has been a while since I posted the video, but the fabric information should be in the video description. If not, let me know and I'll look it up in my notes.
@@hanmayde464 it said zweigart ice blue but when I looked it to order it's too blue yours is showing more off white I wanted to start my lady for sometime now. Thanks
Are the faces of your ladies 1over 1 they are beautiful.
@@thelmaelkjar2475 thank you. No, they are always two-over-two unless charted one-over-one. I tried one-over-one with my first Mirabilia and didn't enjoy the process or the results, despite how lovely it looks when others do it, and almost lost all enthusiasm for stitching entirely. So I've decided it's not for me. I often rechart the faces, sometimes small details like just the eyebrows, other times the whole face or head. I post more detail of those conversions on my Instagram (also hanmayde)
I love your choices of patterns. You are quite ambitious.
Thanks, Terri! As I said in my first video, I tend to go big or go home :D
Your videos provide so much eye candy!!! Everything is stunning and so full of color! Thanks for sharing with us!
Thanks Sarah :)
Your starts are stunning. Thanks so much for mentioning Hawkins Hobbies. I have been after Christmas Flourishes for a while and they still have it. Also, you’ve enabled me on Shakespeare’s Fairies. That one is stunning on the navy blue. Thanks for sharing your beautiful stitching.
Thanks, Lorna! I'm glad you found her, she's beautiful. I've actually seen her come up quite a bit on ebay since I bought her, but Hawkins Hobbies were great so happy to share.
I *love* to hear when I've enabled people, and I have a feeling you're not the only one I got with Shakespeare's Fairies :D They are super fun to stitch too. Keep an eye out for my next video to see them finished!
Really enjoy your videos its great to see you back.
Thanks, Carol! It's lovely to be back :)
Hi just to say I really hope you make another video soon and that you are ok. Hope you join us at a retreat sometime so that we can meet you and drool over your projects in person! Loved all the binge watched videos. Take good care of yourself. 😊💕🌷
Thanks, Sara! I'm struggling to find time for stitching let alone filming at the moment 🙁 was hoping to film on Sunday but I've come down with a lurgy so will have to see how that goes. I'd love to do a retreat but have no idea where to find out about them! I keep hearing about the one in MK which isn't too far from me. Is that the one you go to? Is it a Facebook group? Someone did tell me last year but I never got around to looking it up and have forgotten it now, I'm not a big FB user
hanmayde Hi yes I go to the Milton Keynes retreat run by Sarah Marley. If you look up Facebook groups and themadstitchers Retreat and message Sarah she will get back to you. She runs a great retreat and good online friendships are consolidated there. I’ve just been to my third and I’m looking forward to the next one in April. Hope your lurgy is better. I’ve had a tummy bug and a cold that seem to be everywhere around here at the moment. But everything’s good 😊
Lots of lovely starts. I keep my Christmas Flourishes up all year round. I think it only looks particularly Christmassy when it has tinsel round it in December. 😉
Hi Hannah, really love your videos, your projects are amazing, when are you going to give us another instalment?
So many wips...now I don't feel so bad myself for starting couple of things now and then)) always a pleasure to watch you! 😘
Thanks Anastasia! I have zero restraint so I'm happy to be your consolation :D
Well, I have now binged watched all your videos. You do such amazing stitching. And don't worry about not always making videos, it's a lot of work to make them. I love all your new starts, you stitch so fast. Well bye for now and I hope to see you and your stitching soon.
Hello Hannah!! So much beauty in this video!!! I bought Feather Fairy two days ago and I plan on stitching her without the wings as well. Thanks for sharing your amazing stitching with us. I hope you are doing well.
Thanks, Andrea! Will you be starting Feather Fairy soon? You like to keep your wip count down, if I recall. I forget, do you still have Raven Queen on the go? I know you were just working on Damask Roses.
@@hanmayde464 - No, I don't plan starting Feather Fairy soon. Yes, I'm still working on Raven Queen and she will be a focus for me soon since I want to finish her before my niece graduates high school in May. I'm undecided about Damask Roses and whether she is finished or not. I've talked about it in my latest video. Still thinking about that one. If I had the fabric and floss for all of my Mirabilia's, I would start them right away, so I would say that I don't mind how many projects I have. 💜
With your speed, I'm sure you will soon have finish half of them, hahaha. Your WIPs are gorgeous 😍
I think that might be a tad ambitious, given that I keep starting more projects, but I would be so happy if that came true!
What beautiful stitching ... and what horrendous enabling. x
:D #sorrynotsorry Which ones are you tempted by?
I can't lie, all of them ...but Emily is my favourite of all.
Yeah she's gorgeous, and a lovely stitch too :)
Thanks to you I was brave enough to change the recommended fabric of my Mirabilia 'Royal Holiday'. Instead of 32 count, I bought a beautiful 28 count evenweave piece with gold sparkles on it. I actually love stitching on it and because of its colour, it's ideal as a Christmas fabric.
Desiree, that sounds absolutely beautiful! I've not tried opalescent fabric myself, so you've got one over on me :D I'm so happy to have been able to give you that confidence by sharing my journey of building my own confidence with swapping fabrics, adjusting charts and converting colours. Now there'll be no stopping you!
Your videos are always full of eye candy. :) When I look back on the last 7 months of my own stitching, it pales in comparison to these two videos you've put together for us here. What is your trick to being able to produce this amount of stitching? And I'm curious to know what subject you teach, since you mentioned that you have a student? Welcome to the 30's club! Lots of people freak out about turning 30, but in my opinion it's way better than being in your 20's!
I always have had a sweet tooth - explains why I've got so many projects started :D
This is a question I often get that's hard to give a satisfactory answer to. The short answer is that I spend more time than is probably healthy stitching!
That is of course true, but there's a bit more to it. I am the type of person that hates to do the same task twice or waste time on anything, I'm always looking for more efficient ways to do things. And that's exactly what I've done with stitching. Everything from what frames I use (in fact I buy cheap frames and alter them to my liking), which fabrics I prefer to work on, how I organise my projects, what order I stitch in, where I put my scissors and so on has been through a "how could I make this more efficient?" test. I even ended up designing and making my own wearable laying tool when railroading was so slow. Not that speed is the be all and end all - I still need to enjoy the process and be happy with the quality of my stitching!
I do have plans to figure out a video setup where I can explain and demonstrate some of this, but I don't want to promise videos only to go silent for months again like I have done. If I can expand on anything for you though, do let me know and I'll see what I can do!
I think I briefly mentioned in a previous video that this past year I started private tutoring and teach maths and physics to mainly 15-18 year olds. I tried teaching in a school setting but was on a fast track to a nervous breakdown, one-on-one is much more my speed!
Thanks, to be honest I couldn't care less really, about birthdays in general let alone "big" ones - excepting of course the excuse to acquire more stash! The worst part is seeing how short you've fallen of societal expectations for that age, but I realised a long time ago that I don't fit into societal norms and have had practice ignoring them :)
I'm fascinated by your process of efficiency. How short/long do you keep your threads? I prefer a longer 18" length so that I don't have to bury my tail as many times, but I often wonder if that actually makes the process longer by having to spend so much time pulling it through. You mentioned that you use the pin stitch - does that work when using 2 threads? I'm the same about not fitting into societal norms and not caring! I've found more people similar to my personality here through flosstube than I ever have or could in person.
I pre-cut all my threads to 1m lengths (unwind the skein and fold it in half several times). I usually use the loop start and it works out a good length for me - works out to about 19.5". You're right, there definitely is such a thing as too long - it takes multiple motions to pull the thread through, you're more likely to get knots and the threads will show wear, all of which will slow things down in the long run.
Yup, pin stitch for everything :D It works wonderfully for two strands. One strand also works, but it shows through the sparser stitch a bit more. I don't think I've tried three strands yet, but there's no reason why it wouldn't work. It isn't so useful for fractional stitches, but usually there are some whole stitches close by that will hide it nicely.
I precut all of my DMC as well - I thank myself every time I need a new length! Glad to hear I'm not alone there. I'm going to have to find some videos to teach me the pin stitch.
Hannah, your projects are absolutely gorgeous. Wow, you have alot of whips going on. You do wonderful stitching. I love to watch all of your videos. Your conversions of some of them are just stunning. You do have a stitching talent. You inspire me to do so many more projects. Don't know if i can do that many, but you inspire me to keep going. Thank you for taking the time to show us all of your things. Keep up the great work, can't wait to see your next video. Take care.
Thank you, Sharon!
It's so lovely to hear you've been inspired by my videos! You're smart though - I wouldn't suggest starting as many as I have, it's insanity and oftentimes feels a bit overwhelming! Do what feels good to you, never mind what anyone else is up to :)
I just bing watched all of your videos and I love it! The DMC Fantasia is my absolut favorite. Hope to see more videos soon, I really enjoy watching while stitching.
Thanks! I worry they are a bit long but I guess that's good for you if you're stitching along to them!
I so enjoyed this video and your stitching is just gorgeous. I was enthralled by Shakespeare’s Fairies and can’t wait to see it finished. You’re so lovely...keep the videos coming!
Thank you, Karrie! Each video is like putting a little piece of yourself out there and can leave you feeling quite vulnerable, so it's amazing to receive such kind comments! Keep your eyes peeled for the next video, your wait will then be over ;)
I absolutely loved and enjoyed your video! Your projects are beautiful. I went a bit mad on Mirabilia starts this year also!
I enjoy hearing your thought process to all your WIPS, I don’t feel alone in my thinking.
I must go and kit up my Shakespeare Mirabilla and stitch on blue fabric! Your is a stunner!! Hope you have a good week! Look forward to your next video- Karen
Thank you, Karen! There must be something in the air this year, and after all it is Mirabilia's 25th anniversary this year so what better excuse?!
It's so interesting that that's part of what you enjoy. I don't plan what I'm about to say in my videos and so often it's whatever pops into my head a the time. Let me know if there's certain things in particular you like to hear about, maybe I can expand on that or be a bit more coherent.
I have never felt more satisfied with a fabric choice for a project than with that navy for Shakespeare's Fairies! If you're on instagram you may have seen I finished the beading and it's fabulous in real life. Would love to see yours when you get it started!
Beautiful starts 💕 many thanks for link to Maria's website too...you have enabled me to do the one with the world/mermaids etc💕😊x
Thanks, Teresa. I'm always happy to be a bad influence!
Hi... love everything your doing and I was so happy when you mentioned the range in your last video as I was thinking where can I go to get frames as my smaller projects I’ve just gone to good old Wilkes lol. I have the pin stitch mermaid, I saw it on Reddit and fell in love straight away (I have a thing for fairies and mermaids) I’d not long had my daughter so hunted it down, you’ve just made me want to pull it and start it xx
I've found some good frames at Wilko's too, but was blown away by the Range. Literally took one look at the shop and started planning which finishes I would need to bring back to find a frame for :D
It is lovely, let me know if you start it - it might make me pick it back up again. I've got so many on the go and so many more I want to start that it's hard to chose what to work on!
Your stitching is gorgeous! I instantly fell in love with How Does Your Garden Grow. I've looked on Papillon's site, but no luck yet. By any chance, do you know off-hand how to get it? I've requested access to the FB group as well.
Thank you. Oops, sorry, I think HDYGG is no longer available. But they have lots of other wonderful designs and some lovely freebies!
Oh, what a bummer :( oh well.
¡ Hermosos trabajos !😍
Felicidades👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤗
Thank you!
everything is so beautiful. I am a big fan from your projects.
Thanks, Christel! Glad you enjoy my starting-madness :D
Love this video. I feel less bad about starting seven new things in one day. ;-) I'm a bit like you in dithering about what to do about a project when it's not coming out like I expected, mostly because the picture often looks different from the actual stitching. Sometime I just have to make myself get on with it, and am usually happier when I make the change I'm thinking of, even if it takes me five time to get it right. I fell in love with the Artecy pieces too. I'm working on Paris Abstract, but if I ever get that done, London is the next one. Happy stitching.
Wow, seven starts in one day?!?! And I thought I was crazy :D That's awesome.
Oh my gosh you totally get it! I know I just need to suck it up and rip it all out, but I can't make myself and until I do I'm going to agonise over it. Silly really, but what can you do? ;) It's the worst when doing conversions and the like - I'll make a change, think somethings not right so change it, then realise I liked it better the first way, and so on. Oh well, at least we learn something each time :)
Oh the Paris abstract is lovely, I've already got an Afremov Eiffel tower kit though and given the closest I've been to Paris is driving past on the motorway I can't justify it to myself! I'd love to see your progress, are you on IG? I really like the new york one too, the yellow cabs really pop.
It's like I had a little start factory going. Since I had to pull out the fabrics and the ironing board anyway... :-)
I'll tag you on IG tomorrow with a pic. I think I have a bit more done than you do, but not much. Oh, and one of my starts was Winter Queen. I'm leaving her as is. For some reason, her snooty expression makes me laugh. I saw your post on IG and it looks like her profile is the mirror image of your Summer Queen.
I love your videos! Your stitching is so beautiful. As you know from my other comments I love Mirabilia designs, so that is eye candy to me when you show your pieces. Summer Queen is looking beautiful already. I love all your new starts and can’t wait to see more of your progress in your next video. The design with the girl coming out of the waves will look beautiful when finished, what a lovely design..I do love the mermaid 🧜♀️ design with the mermaid baby but that’s probably because I have three girls and one of them is a baby. I think it’s gorgeous 😍 happy stitching xx
Let's start a mutual appreciation society :D I have to keep restraining myself from starting several more Miras, I wish I had even the same amount of artistic talent as Nora has in her little finger!
I've actually got Summer Queen on my scroll frame right now, and am having a hair dilemma. I must have a bias against stitching blondes!
The mermaid is lovely, and she'll have extra special meaning for you with your little girls. Are you tempted to stitch her? I guess I just don't have that connection to it, and I have weird hang-ups about certain things, just like with angels and Angel of the New Dawn. I can't figure out why fairy wings are absolutely fine but angel wings give me issues - strange!
hanmayde Haha I feel the same! I love Mira’s so much...I recently ordered Florentina so can’t wait for her to arrive. She’s an older pattern but I just love her and her face. There’s something about her expression and look in her eyes. Does that sound weird? Haha...
I love the mermaid with the baby but won’t be tempted to stitch her unless I see yours finished and absolutely fall in love with it. I have so many to stitch already, I really shouldn’t order another. I maybe would have bought her if I had just had my baby daughter and turned it into a baby sampler but I do love the baby sampler I stitched for her. I had my eye on it when I was pregnant and didn’t know what I was having as it is very girlie. It’s a bothy threads kit called the dreamer if you are interested in looking at it.
I don’t think I’ve ever stitched an angel just lots of fairies..the lavender and lace angels are stunning but I don’t think I’d ever stitch one.
Florentina's the one with the cat, right? Very nice. I already have Damask Roses which is a lady sitting on a pedastal, so have ummed and ahhed over getting any others until I stitch her. Peony Garden really tempts me too, and she's basically the same as Damask Roses also, but the colours!
And I totally get you about the face, I have such massive hang-ups with the faces! It makes or breaks a project for me, so if you find one that speaks to you, I say stitch it already! I've just spent all afternoon when I should have been working figuring out a conversion for Summer Queen's face because it's like a brain worm and won't leave me alone. Oops. I'm keeping going with the hair until I have more of it done, with faith in Nora's genius that it will all come together in the end!
Haha challenge accepted - I WILL finish it and make you fall in love with it ;) It would have been so cute as a birth sampler, but your Gorjuss girl on a unicorn was just adorbs! I haven't stitched a Gorjuss Girl but have been tempted so many times.
I'm all for the fairies, keep 'em coming! Fairies and mermaids and beautiful ladies and dragons (I need to stitch more dragons) all the way!
Speaking of, I actually bought a couple of lavender and lace, suffering from complete FOMO, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to put them on eBay because 1) angel wings and 2) I don't know, it's just not quite my aesthetic. Maybe because of the angel wings lol
hanmayde Yes Florentina is the one with the cat,the cat reminds me of my cat Jerry so I think I have to stitch it. I have blonde hair so I can be Florentina and Jerry can be the cat haha 😀I love all the beautiful ladies and mermaids but I am yet to stitch a dragon..I am not really into
dragons so not sure that will happen, but you just never know! I just want everything mermaid now! I can’t wait to see your mermaid with the baby stitched up!
I saw your post about redesigning Summer Queens face and it looks really pretty. She doesn’t look as snobby now...you are so talented to be able to do that. I can’t draw in the slightest. I look forward to seeing how she stitches up! I will have to look up damask rose, can’t remember that pattern.
I really look forward to your videos, one of my favourite flosstubers xx
Wonderful projects!!!
Thanks, Leslie. Now to get them finished.... might take some little time! :D
Crikey you have been busy! Fab video as ever
In my defense, it was 7 months worth :D but yes, I stitch more than is probably healthy! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Wonderful work looks so pristine; where do you get fabric for your stash ? What size do you use for the mirabilias ?
Thanks, Ana! I'm not sure about pristine though, there's a lot of "specialty" fibres (read cat hair) that ends up all over the place :D I get fabric from sewandso.co.uk and usually go for 32ct for Mirabilias, although sometimes 28ct. I also buy quite a lot of 27ct Linda, but haven't used that for a Mirabilia as yet. Often the same colour fabric can't be found in both counts so it depends on what colour I'm after. And I'm prone to just buying a range of fabrics in say greys or blues to see what they are like, knowing I'll eventually find a mermaid or pretty lady or whatever to stitch on it.
hanmayde I meant to say prestine pure beautiful in its originality sorry
hanmayde thank you for the reference
I enjoyed very much your videos and the way you display them just beautiful
Thank you
hanmayde perhaps you can tell us if you use a frame for stitching ? Or how more details into your process ? Storage of the kits or stash thank you
No need to apologise, I was just teasing :) thank you for the compliment!
Thanks for the suggestions, I do have plans to demonstrate the techniques I use once I figure out a camera set up. Not sure my organisation approach is one to copy, it's a bit chaotic, but sure I'll share
oh my goodness! your projects are amazing ...
Thank you! I'm very spoilt, I've so many beautiful things to stitch it's difficult to choose which to work on!
I have buying so many patterns after watching your videos... :-)