The Countdown

Greetings all, and welcome to the Christmas coundown! We have some new things to show you, and as promised, some older Christmas designs.

First off, the official logo of In Stitches is the pineapple, which is the colonial symbol of both luxury and hospitality. This adorable little project was designed by our very own Sharon C. Lovely, Sharon! (The number on it refers to the model number in the shop so that we can find model charts and kits quickly for you when you come in.)

New in the shop, by Heart's Ease Sampler Workes, is "Cottage by the Sea."

And Vickery Collection's "Peacock Paradise."

We have several new Notforgotten Farm small projects. I love this one.

A new Ink Circles design.

Two new charts by Summer House Stitche Workes.

New and just in time for Thanksgiving, Blackbird Designs' "Give Thanks."

"Merry Christmas" by Cherry Hill Stitchery.

Sweet French-inspired ornaments by Hands On Design.

Some new magazines that are winners, with lots of great projects inside: Cross Stitch and Needlework, with these mittens (and inside there is an ice skates project as well:

These reindeer:

And some adorable pet treat bags:

Antique Sampler and Needlework quarterly has some wonderful projects and articles:

Including "Ann Hull," which I plan to stitch. What a pretty Adam & Eve sampler. Worth the price of the issue just for this, in my opinion.

As promised, some gold oldies (although not that old) in the Christmas design category: By Prairie Schooler, "Winter Wind."

"Christmas Village" by Victoria Sampler Designs.

The lovely and very elaborate "Christmas Cottage" by Dyan Allaire. A project to really sink your needle into.

Val's Stuff: "I'll Keep you Warm."

Plum Street's "Farmstead Christmas." A must-stitch for me.

And a couple of projects from the talented hands of our needleworkers on Stitch Night. Jan's "Red" by Mirabilia. Such a gorgeous project, and at the end...BEADS!

And Helen's gingerbread ornament from the 2012 Christmas Issue of Just Cross Stitch.

Our address is 8800 F Pear Tree Court, and our phone number is 703-360-4600. We are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and the first Sunday of each month, from 12:30-4:30. Stitch Nights are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

Happy Stitching!

New in the Shop and Dreaming of Christmas

Note: this was current as of last Wednesday. It's later than you think!

We have lots of new things in the shop that I adore. Big things! Christmasy things! Big Christmasy things! Let's start with some needlepoint, for a change. Look at this--the perfect gift for a friend. A gift you needn't wrap! (It's a needlebook.) The finished version is in front; the canvas is in the rear.

Speaking of needlepoint. This gorgeous French-country frame is from the hands of Shop Lady Needlepointer Extraordinaire Mary. She stitched the frame and then had it finished by our professional finisher. I think this frame would look great on my dresser with a picture of my nearest and dearest in it, don't you?

Socks! Deborah was working on these socks (she finds it relaxing) on Stitch Night. Aren't they wonderful!? Did you know we sell all kinds of yarn, including sock yarn?

Jan was stitching this lovely lady, by Mirabilia. (Don't you love Jan's Zombie needleminder?)

We sell the chart, the floss, the fabric and the beads:

We sell this too! New, by GigiR: "L'ane et le Chien" (the Donkey and the Dog and a whole boatload of gorgeous alphabet).

Here's a close-up of the back of the package.

"Black Cat Sampler 1861" by Samplers Not Forgotten. I'm stitching this!

By Barbara Ana, "Two Snooty Parrots." Hysterical, not historical, exactly. But close enough. Quirky, fun, elaborate!

Oh, lookie! A shop model. Don't you love the frame? We framed it here. With Thy Needle and Thread's "Forget Me Not Sampler." Lovely.

NOW! On to Christmas! We have some new things, and I'm going to show you, post by post, some older goodies you may have forgotten about. Particularly if you don't have an LNS nearby, don't you wish you could go through the spinners and look back at the things you might have missed? One of my favorite parts of visiting the shop is discovering old friends.

So, new Christmas: Barbara Ana's "Merry Christmas."

Also by Barbara Ana, "Christmas Joy." I love her designs--so weird, so colorful, so compelling, so full of joy. She has several that I intend to stitch, including this one.

JBW Designs "Vintage Ornaments."

Elizabeth's Garden ("Let it Snow")

Just Nan's "Cardinal Tweet."

And a close-up of one of the little cardinals:

Also by Just Nan: "Winter in the Forest" which comes with the beads.

An older design by Country Cottage Needleworks: "Vintage Christmas."

From Glendon Place: "Snowmen a la Round."

You could stitch the whole design, or stitch the snowmen individually, as ornaments.

One last oldie--by Crossed Wing Design: "Mitten Games."

To order or for questions, please call us at 703-360-4600. We are located at 8800 F Pear Tree Court, Alexandria, Virginia. And our hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and the first Sunday of each month. Stitch nights are the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

Happy Stitching!

Giving Thanks and Back on Track

Greetings, all! I've missed you, but I've been a little under the weather and haven't been able to post. But I'm back with some lovely designs from my last photo session at the shop, and I promise not to take so long between posts next time. I'm itching to get back to the shop to take pictures of the new arrivals. I'm getting most excited about the new Christmas designs coming in.

For now, let's think "fall" and "Thanksgiving." I adore this little turkey. Stitch him up, turn him into a little ornament and let him hang around your Thanksgiving table. I have a boring chandelier that he could enhance.

Here's a gorgeous fall design by Glendon Place. We carry lots of Picture This Plus fabrics (which this is stitched on)--come in and see which shade you like best, or let us choose if you can't make it in.

"Jumpin Jack Frost" by Tempting Tangles Designs for a big splash of fall. From last year, but worth repeating.

Even older, but I adore this chart by The Prairie Schooler.

Also a classic, by Shepherd's Bush. "Happy Thanksgiving." Pilgrims, the Mayflower, Native Americans, autumn leaves, buttons!

"Harvest Huswife" by Blue Ribbon Designs. I want to stitch the autumn fob!

By Amaryllis Artworks, "Quaker Pears." I'm envisioning these in a bowl for a Thanksgiving centerpiece.

This guy makes you go "awwwwwwwww." "Daydreaming" by Mosey & Me. See the little sheep-shaped cloud that he's gazing at? Awwwwwwww.


By Priscilla's Pocket, this simple little sampler, perfect for that small bare spot near your stitching chair. "Harriet Hawley -1831."

"Good Friends Inspirational Boxer" chart by Lizzie Kate. I'll bet you have a good friend who would appreciate this stitched up for Christmas. You could finish it as a pillow. Do we tell our friends how much we love and appreciate them nearly enough?

Or stitch them a fun Lizzie Kate stocking (stitch one for yourself, too)--"Flora McSample's Christmas Stocking 2013." Note the beads and button included with the chart:

My pet bunnies think this is a terrific little ornament or framed picture. Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater. Adorable, say the fluffy-tailed ones.

I completely forgot to get the name of this chart's designer, but I have to include it anyway because I so love the composition. If you want to order it, tell the ladies it's on the Thanksgiving or Halloween spinner.

"Happy Harvest" by Country Cottage Needleworks. Fabulous little pumpkins.

Last but not least, I have to show you this little finished pin pillow by Shepherd's Bush: "Hocus Pocus." Too cute.

If you have questions or to order any of these lovely items, please call us at 703-360-4600. We are located at 8800-F Pear Tree Village, Alexandria, VA. Our hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12:30-4:30 the first Sunday of the month (that's tomorrow, Sunday, November 3!) (Also, be sure to set your clocks back tonight, Saturday, November 2! Yeah, we get an extra hour of stitching this weekend!) Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month (this coming Wednesday is a stitch night too!) We hope to see you here!

Happy stitching!