Turnberry Ridge: Eyelets, Part 2

I have completed the eyelets portion of Turnberry Ridge and moved onto the four-way continental just outside the center diamond. Jean put a lot of helpful information of things to avoid when doing eyelets in her book. Did I read this information? Yes. Did I actually heed it? No. I am both blessed and cursed by the need to actually make mistakes on my own in order to learn. For some reason, I guess I sometimes unconsciously think I will beat nature when it comes to rules.

The particular problems I had were with the size of the eyelet hole. I was supposed to stop and enlarge the hole while part-way through the stitch in order to assure it stays a good size. I did not do this. By the time I really understood I needed to do this, it would have caused the piece to look lopsided (some holes small, some large). So I learned the lesson but did not really apply it to this piece. Luckily it still looks good.

The other error I made was not paying attention to the direction of the thread when carrying it across the gobelins to the next stitch. This ends up being important because if you carry the thread in the wrong direction, it can end up stretched across the eyelet hole. Fortunately, I only made this mistake one time and it is not very noticeable at all.

The four-way continental I am really enjoying. I am not sure the back of the work looks as good as it is supposed to in terms of stitch placement but I am gaining consistency. The one thing I have learned is that Fiesta! is a very slippery thread, more so than any I have worked with up until this point (perhaps not quite as slippery as Neon Rays). When burying the ends I have to really make sure I turn it a few times while weaving it in. I hope that the one I didn't bury that well hangs in there!

Turnberry Ridge

Soon after my last post (okay, it was weeks ago, I am guilty), I received a kit for Turnberry Ridge in the mail from the Needle Nook of La Jolla. I say "kit" because, although what I ordered was the booklet and threads, they actually sent me an email about it and offered to send the canvas as well. Imagine my delight when I opened the box to find not only did they send the right-sized canvas, but they bound it AND attached a needle to it. The threads were all carefully collected into a ziploc bag with a xerox of the thread inventory included, and the booklet itself was in another ziploc. I was impressed and thrilled! When I go out for another kit (which may be quite awhile) I will definitely go back to them.

So, anyway, Turnberry Ridge is a booklet by Jean Hilton that was designed/written for a cyberclass and is geared toward the very beginner. A lot of background information on threads, canvas, and laying tools is provided in addition to the pattern. Each stitch has an excellent write-up on how to do it, alternative methods, what NOT to do, etc. It is an excellent learning tool.

The Bucilla kit was carefully packed away so I can pick it up again if I want to, but I'm really focused on Turnberry Ridge. I would say I am about 33% complete. I have only had to rip out one section -- but only because I chose the wrong color thread, not because I really made a mistake.