The Floss is Here!

It's always fun getting packages in the mail!  Especially when they contain a whole bag full of colorful floss that you have been waiting for.  It got here quicker than I thought it would, which is a great bonus.  So 1-2-3 Stitch! really came through.  I will be buying from them again in the future.  So here it is,  my loot.  50 skeins of floss, 2 packages of bobbins, and there is some sparkly blending filament in there as well.    

Here it is all sorted, labeled, and ready to go.  It seemed simple enough to take it from a skein, wrap it around a bobbin, write a number on it... easy right?  Sure, it was easy, but it was tedious!  This took hours!  I couldn't believe it.  Oh well,  it is done.

Pretty sure everything looks good.  I stitched the edges of the canvas so that is ready to go as well.  So now all that is left to do is actually start stitching!  Lucky for me the first page of the pattern is only 28 stitches wide,  so it should go a little quicker than the rest will.  It will give me a good start so I can see what I am working with.  Hopefully by next week I will be able to show off some real progress with the actual project!

So time to go tackle page 1 of 18! 

Canvas Prep...

While I wait for my large order of floss to arrive I need to keep myself busy.  So, Might as well prepare my canvas piece.  To do that, I simply weaved some floss in and out of counts of ten to get my size.

See?  Simple enough.  So now I can cut my fabric!  I got a little nervous as I was counting... the size kept getting more and more out of control.  But, finally, I had the length and width counted out and cut the fabric.

So, here it is.  My canvas piece!  That is a Kleenex box by its side for size comparison.  It's big... really big...   

This is going to be a massive project.  I just keep telling myself it will be worth it.  

I am going to iron it a little to get rid of the major crinkles.  Then I have to stitch the edges of course.  

So,  I am off to the sewing machine!  I will check back when my floss gets here.  

Preparation Begins

So I have decided to go for it.  Before starting a new project,  you have to prepare.  I am doing exactly that.

Things to do:

Pick which mermaid to start with



Check!

I have decided to go with Air.

Not sure why, maybe the colors resonated with me, or maybe it was simply because it happened to be the first one.  Either way, this is the project I am starting with.







Canvas

Check!

Now this was actually a tough one.  The pattern calls for 25ct evenweave.  Now that is fine,  I have worked with the smaller canvas sizes.  However, the dimensions were just not working out in my head.  The project would be so big!  I wasn't aware at first that you were meant to stitch over 1 thread and not the usual 2.

I already have a HUGE piece of 14 count Aida in my home.  So I am thinking, why not just use that?  Would it look ok?  It would be easier on my eyes.  I also prefer Aida.  I know everyone likes different fabric and some would say it isn't as "luxurious" perhaps.  But I like it.  I was worried about the size of the final product though.  So I did some research on doing these types of designs on a larger scale.

While searching I came across THIS project.  I was mesmerized by the massive scale she had taken it to.  It looks beautiful, so I figured 14ct is going to turn out just fine.  Her blog inspired me to create what you see here.  I loved looking through her progress of such a massive project. Hopefully The Nouveau Mermaid Mission will turn out so well!


Floss

Check!

I have ordered every color I need for the project from http://www.123stitch.com

I only got 1 skein of each color.  I decided on the size of my project after the order was placed.  So I may end up needing a lot more.  We will see how it goes.


Wait

Probably the hardest part.  I just need to wait for my floss to get here!  It is on the way though.  1-2-3 Stitch was really fast getting it out.  So I already have a tracking number and it is making its way to me.  Now I wait...