This diagram is by far the hardest piece to cut. Cut a square 24 holes wide by 12 holes high. Be sure to count the last hole as full and cut outside this hole!
You will be tempted to start with the left side of the diagram, but I advise starting with the right side. The right side will be taller than the left side.
First count 5 holes over from the side and cut a notch at that point. Then cut the rest of the fabric away leaving the five holes. Alternatively you can cut down two rows and then cut the fabric away. You can do this for the first three rows, but then it becomes trickier.
As you can see I cut away the first three rows at the top according to the diagram. From that point I had to remember that the other side of the diagram needs to be left alone.
I notched my way down the fabric and carefully cut away row by vertical row. Once I reached the bottom three holes I was home free and simply counted my way; cutting carefully, to the top of the rows.
This is what the finished piece will look like and what the rest of the holder pieces will look like as well.
You will need to cut two pieces of canvas 9 holes wide by 9 holes high for the sides of the holder, and two pieces 24 holes wide by 9 holes high for the bottom and back of the holder.
Fill each of the pieces of the holder with the scarlet yarn in the continental stitch.
Normally it is fine to drag the tail of the yarn over the back of the fabric because you can tack it down when you cover the edges but for the front holder piece do not draw the scarlet yarn tails of the yarn across the openings on the front piece as they will be visible on the finished piece if you do.
When all of the holder pieces are worked in scarlet set aside the side pieces, back and bottom piece.
Work the holly motif by following the pattern on the diagram above and instead of knotting your yarn simply work over the tail as before. Work the holly berries in the wine colored yarn as full cross stitches over the scarlet half cross stitch.
This is what the front piece should look like after you outline the holly in the running back stitch.
To assemble the holder place the pieces so that the back side of each piece will face the inside of the holder. Whip stitch through both pieces of the canvas according to the diagram below.
Outline in scarlet the edges of the holder and the edges of the holly leaves in green to finish the holder.
The right side of the holder front piece will be taller than the side when the holder is complete.
Set the holder aside after manipulating it until it stands properly on its own.
I was going to do padded pouches. I never thought of using plastic canvas.
I love them because they stack easily and even my glass toys are protected. That and when you look under my bed there is just a plastic tub with a whole bunch of pretty boxes.
I love them because they stack easily and even my glass toys are protected. That and when you look under my bed there is just a plastic tub with a whole bunch of pretty boxes.
It sounds like under your bed is certainly prettier than mine!
Whew! That's the holder assembled. It is the hardest part of the whole thing. If you really get frustrated simply make the front piece straight across and follow the diagram to work the holly and berries. It looks a bit chunkier but it stands a bit easier. All in all it won't look bad at all.
If you do make it just a straight piece count up from the bottom of the fabric to sew the holly.
That's great! I've always wanted to learn crochet but I never had the chance. I can do the chain stitch but that's it.
I learned when I was at a babysitters house. She would sit and crochet all day and I was curious so she taught me. I love doing it when my hands will let me...I tend to death grip the crochet hook. LOL
I learned when I was at a babysitters house. She would sit and crochet all day and I was curious so she taught me. I love doing it when my hands will let me...I tend to death grip the crochet hook. LOL
I purchased some hooks from Amazon a while back that weren't the most popular, the hook was more curved on them and they seem to help with me holding them. I bought lots of supplies and then never finished teaching myself, lol..
Incidentally if you want to create your own diagram of the piece simply use a piece of large size grid paper. Make a mark in the corresponding "holes" of the grid and voila! That way you can make it whatever size your poor eyes will do best with.
Each of the four coasters starts off as a rectangle 21 holes wide and 24 holes high.
Following the diagram cut the candle wick by notching ten holes into the side and cutting away the excess fabric. Do the same for the other side. Be careful not to cut through this top piece as you work your way down to cut out the rest of the wick.
To work the coasters begin by using the continental stitch in scarlet in the left bottom corner of the piece.
Work up rows 1- 15 completely covering the rows.
At this point leave the tail of scarlet yarn to the side of the piece and take up a length of the dark red yarn. Join the red to the plastic canvas according to the pattern diagram and work 10 stitches.
Follow the diagram to add the rest of the stitches running the yarn behind the piece to skip where the yellow for the candle flame will go.
You will work the yellow stitches over the dark red yarn in a moment. When you have completed the dark red stitches over cast the edges of the piece in the dark red according to my picture below:
