We’ve been looking forward to this SAL for ages! Susan Ache (@yardgrl60) first came to us with the idea early last year and provided us with the charts shortly thereafter. She’s incredibly organized and always has everything planned well in advance, but we wanted to wait until just the right moment. That moment is now!! The Collecting Colors SAL kicks off today!
This month, you’ll lay down the framework for your entire stitched sampler. Susan gives you the option to work on the fill or to save that for later. She’s a woman with a plan and we’re pretty sure you’re going to love it! We’ll let her fill you in — happy stitching!!
It’s finally time to start our Collecting Colors SAL. I’m Susan Ache — or yardgrl60 on Instagram — here to kick off eight months of fun stitching and color collecting.
Some of my most loved quilts are samplers that I have made straight from my fabric stash. Why not do the same thing here with floss and stitch some fun quilt blocks to make a cross stitch sampler?
Just like sewing a sampler quilt, you’ll need blocks, sashing, and a border. For the Collecting Colors SAL, we’ll name them like a menu. The sashing is the appetizer, the blocks will be the entrée, and the border will be the dessert.
This month we are beginning with the appetizer. It is really only one color and the entire sashing itself is a repeat of the same pattern.
The extra colors that will be used for the sashing fill are not entirely necessary now unless you want to jump ahead… All of the fill colors will be introduced later in the cross stitch sampler, so if you’d prefer to wait and do them later, that is an option! I’m giving you charts for both;). (Click on the button below to download the PDF)
Last time we talked, I gave you the stitch count for your project, but here it is again– 162 x 201. Make sure to leave an extra inch in addition to what you would normally leave for your outer edges because we still will need to add the dessert at the end.
The color you need for this month is 2318. If you really want to jump ahead, the other colors used in the sashing are 6729, 2425, 1114, 2725, 5002. You will see the chart with and without the colors, so, this is totally up to you right now.
Because I love to stay ahead of the game myself, I am now going to give you the colors that will be used next month (February) for 2 “entree” blocks. Those colors are:
- 5002 (also used in the sashing fill)
- 1114 (also used in the sashing fill)
- 2715
- 2908
- 2420
- 2021
- 2535
- 2479
- 2850
- 6729 (also used in the sashing fill)
- 5015
Have a great month stitching, and I will be back next month with some entrees.
Huge Thanks to Susan — we’re so excited to see your progress as this SAL progresses!!
LINKS
- Introducing Collection Colors SAL
- Storing Colors by Susan Ache
- Stitching with Susan, Part 1
- Stitching with Susan, Part 2
- Stitching with Susan, Part 3
- Aurifil’s Aurifloss
- Susan’s FREE pattern PDFs
ABOUT SUSAN
Instagram — Susan’s Book
A love of color makes it easy for Susan to grab inspiration from her native Florida surroundings. With no grand idea other than knowing she wanted embroidery and nine patches in her first quilt, a new world opened up to this mom of now five grown children. Being self taught with many hours of reading about the makings of a quilt and quilt blocks has made this an a lifelong passion. Susan is always searching for new and fun ways to show off as many colors as she can in a quilt. Most of her quilts are a creative impulse from trips to the garden center, a photograph, or browsing through paint chip selections. “I really never see just the quilt, I seem to see the quilt in the room that it belongs in”. Working in a quilt store for years helped Susan to pursue that passion of color and the fabric inspired life she enjoys while constantly striving to make her next favorite quilt.
I have been having trouble finding a source for my Aurifil floss. My favorite vender ( also used by Susan Ache)is sold out of most of the colors. Help…i’m Already behind and I haven’t even begun🤪
Hi Jean — We’re working with Pumpkinvine to prep her for upcoming colors and I know she has a shipment coming in in the next week or so. In the meantime, you might try Fat Quarter Shop — They don’t carry the 2715, 2908, 6729, or 5015 but they do have everything else. You might also check with Donna at Follow That Thread: https://www.followthatthread.com/shop/Shop-for-Thread/Mako-Cotton/Floss.htm. I hope that this helps!! Good luck and happy stitching!
Would really like to do this, but not able to locate the floss. Suggestions?
Hi Glenda — My best suggestions are Pumpkinvine Corner, Follow That Thread, and Fat Quarter Shop.
https://www.followthatthread.com/shop/Shop-for-Thread/Mako-Cotton/Floss.htm
https://www.pumpkinvinecorner.com/aurifil-floss.htm
https://www.fatquartershop.com/aurifil-thread/aurifloss-thread
That said, if you have a local quilt shop, you might ask them to carry the floss as well — that would keep you well stocked down the road as well:).
Good luck and happy stitching!
All my best,
Erin
Also don’t know where to get the floss and what are the details. Is it the 80 weight?
Hi Lisa!
Our Aurifloss is a 6-strand embroidery floss. Susan tends to use 2 strands for her stitching, but I know that is open to personal preference.
If you have a local quilt shop, you might ask them to carry the floss — that would keep you well stocked throughout the stitch along. If you don’t have a local shop, you can try one of the following:
https://www.followthatthread.com/shop/Shop-for-Thread/Mako-Cotton/Floss.htm
https://www.pumpkinvinecorner.com/aurifil-floss.htm
https://www.fatquartershop.com/aurifil-thread/aurifloss-thread
I hope that this helps!
Good luck and happy stitching!
All my best,
Erin
Also don’t know where to get the floss and what are the details. Is it the 80 weight?
Trying this SAL on evenweave first time so want to use DMC in case I have to just toss it and start over. I am looking for the Aurifloss to DMC conversion for the 6729. Anyone have suggestions?
Google it i think i found it on the aurifil site some where.
I am using dmc 740 for my 6729. hope this helps
Thank you, I found an older 351 that is the exact match. Unfortunately DMC changed the color slightly but I’m in hopes I have plenty.
Enjoying this, checking to see when the February Entrees will be available.
Where would I find the floss in Ontario, Canada, thank you.
This looks fun! What are you stitching on? I have vision problems, and I wonder if I could do this on a bigger thread count. Let me know your thoughts.
I am also looking for larger thread count
I am going to do it on a larger thread count as well. Just remember to allow for the size increase. As for threads, I will be stitching with 12 wt. thread. Get the same look but much easier to use, especially with eye problems and arthritis.
Is there an online shop in Italy that carries your Aurifloss?
Can someone tell me what size to cut my 14 count Aida cloth since we don’t have a complete height/width count to include the blue outer border? I am in another on line stitching club and the same thing happened & I didn’t cut my fabric large enough and may have to sew fabric on the top to be able to mount it on a board in the end as I didn’t want to start over. I did the numbers and came up with 18×21, for the “Collecting Colors SAL”, but not sure. I received all my Aurufil colors through March from Pumpkinvine Corner today. Very quick service. I am new to this again after 40 years of not stitching. Thanks in advance for your response. Sandi
Is there anyone out there that answers questions that we followers ask or where I need to post questions?
This is copy and pasted from above: Last time we talked, I gave you the stitch count for your project, but here it is again– 162 x 201. Make sure to leave an extra inch in addition to what you would normally leave for your outer edges because we still will need to add the dessert at the end.
How do we download the charts? I don’t see February or March anywhere. Sorry but very confused!