Over Christmas, my routine for stitching got a bit disrupted, not surprisingly.
However, I pressed on with my Celtic Autumn when I could, and it’s now FINISHED!!!
In total, the cross stitching took me 72 hours, and the beading another 11 hours, so 83 hours altogether. I’d expected the beading to take a lot longer than it did, as people on various forums have complained about that part ‘taking years’, ‘putting them off finishing the design’, etc. But I got it all done in one concerted effort during a weekend where not much else got done!
Various threads had been suggested for attaching the beads, on the forums. I chose to use Anchor stranded cotton (one strand), in as close a shade as I could find, from the shades I’d already used for the cross stitch. I avoided the temptation to use ‘invisible thread’, as some had suggested on forums, as a wary stitcher had also posted that when you get to ironing your work when it’s all done, invisible thread might melt, as it did with her stitching, and all the beads will fall off! Incredibly disheartening, I should think, as there’s 1250 beads to stitch on in total.
I managed to find a lovely ‘walnut effect’ picture frame in a local shop, for only £8, so I got on with it and framed the piece quickly (see my previous post for how long I can sometimes take to get things framed).
I’m really pleased with how this has come out. It was a big design to tackle, but after taking a short break to make a couple of ‘sewing smalls’, I’m already eyeing up the other Celtic Lady designs, to see which one to make next.
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Janet Granger's Blog 
Gorgeous!
So very pretty!
I do not understand why any one doing the needle work that we love has to have a time limit on it, or count the hours to take to complete. I have several projects going at once, becasue I get tired of just doing one till it is finished.
I bead little creatures and everyone wants to know how long it takes me. I can bead one in two days with a lot of interuptions during the day, so I prefer to do my embroideries in the eves, while I mostly just listening to the TV, I love this project of yours, it came out beautifull.
I don’t have a ‘time limit’ as such. I counted how long it took me out of interest, as other people have counted how long it took them, and it piqued my interest to find out if I’m a ‘quick stitcher’ or a ‘slow stitcher’ or whatever, compared with others. If it doesn’t interest you to read this information, you can always ignore it! I don’t like having more than one project on the go at once, as I get irritated by getting nothing finished. I’d rather keep going at one thing till it’s done. We’re all different, I suppose.
I have a number of projects going, but I’ve been keeping a “time sheet” on each since you first brought it up on this project. Mostly it’s for curiosity. But If I know it will take me 60 hours to stitch a certain number of stitches I can plan completion times if the items are gifts or pilot projects for fellow designers who may be under a deadline. Sometimes I forget to fill in the time sheet, but it’s not like I’m getting paid for my time! And it is nice to know where all the time goes!
BTW…I’ve said it before but I don’t think it can be said enough, this piece is incredible. Don’t know if you heard this tip, but dental floss can be great for beading…very durable.
I think the ‘curiosity value’ is what kept me counting the hours, too. I’ve never counted hours on a project for pleasure before. But I realise now that my ‘estimates’ in the past could have been way off. And to say, ‘well, it took me three months’ isn’t that helpful, is it, when people ask, as it’s obviously not taken three SOLID months…..I do like the chart method of counting, so I’ll be using it again, too. Glad it was helpful to you.
Thanks also for the compliment about the piece. I love it, too!
Eventually the cotton thread you used for the beading will disintegrate and the beads will fall off. I use poly filament used for fishing1.8 Kg, 100 meters, Clear and 0.20mm. I purchase it at Walmart’s sports dept.
‘Eventually’ meaning how many years?! I’ve got embroideries with beading on that I did using the same method thirty years ago, and it’s still perfectly fine. Anchor thread lasts years – as long as it lasts longer than my lifetime, I’m happy. I wouldn’t like to stitch with a thread that isn’t made for embroidery, really, and I’m in the UK, where we don’t have Walmart’s. It all comes down to personal choices for our hobbies, in the end.
The poly (i.e., fishing line or Nymo) is wonderfully durable, but I like the Japanese product SoNo best. It looks and works like beautiful cotton thread but is infinitely stronger, doesn’t knot up either. It does come in 5 colors so you can usually find something that will work.
Here’s what a product promo says: SoNo Beading Thread is a cross between Nymo and Silamide. It was designed for beadworkers by master beader Sonoko Nozue. This nylon thread is strong enough that it does not require doubling, and is difficult to pierce because it does not shread. Tangling is minimized because it does not cling. Manufactured in Japan, it is available in 5 colors on 110 yard spools.
Oh wow – she’s beautiful! Congrats on your finish!
Your site is very much appreciated & your experiments & studies helpful. Thanks for taking the time
I think she’s beautiful! I love the leaves.
For me, it’s interesting to hear how long someone takes to stitch something like this. I’ve sometimes timed how long it takes me to do a part of a project ( eg one leaf in a pattern with lots of leaves), but never the whole project. I can see the appeal of doing it though.
Wonderful well done I’ve just started on celtic spring only a few days in though colours are brilliant