Happy Holidays, all! Here is a little snapshot of the action at In Stitches today. We are having a wonderful sale, and some of these ladies took advantage of the 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. "little extra" (today only) by wearing their pajamas.

There were lots of new enticing things in the shop, including this book, "Lovely Letters." What a great idea for gussying up beautiful hand towels, pillow cases (I'm thinking June weddings) or just framing a gorgeous initial.

From inside the book:

Another beautiful example.

A small, very colorful Williamsburg sampler from Giulia Punti Antichi:

And look at the wonderful buttons that come in the package! Everyone who sees them remarks on their large size. You don't need to stitch the couple.

From Barbara Ana Designs, "Elizabeth Wise." A nice antidote to Christmas red and green.

Although Barbara Ana has designed a cute ornament to start for next year.

From Cherished Stitches, "Thy Needle and Thy Book."

I may have shown you this before. Maybe Christmasy. Or not.

Here's what comes in the kit--everything you need except time. You have to make that yourself.

Do you like bright band samplers? This will do it! By Sampler Cove.

"Winter Fun" for your tree.

Delicate and lovely "Alpine Garden" by Drawn Thread.

This is a shop model--not sure which designer. If you call the shop (703-360-4600), they can tell you how to get your hands on one.

We have lots of new Scarlet Letter charts in the shop. Here, "The Four Angels Mourning Sampler."

Last, but not least, by Alessandra Adelaide.

Our address is 8800 F Pear Tree Village, in the Mount Vernon section of Alexandria, VA. Our phone number is 703-360-4600. Our normal hours are 10 to 5, Monday through Saturday, and 12:30-4:30 on the first Sunday of the month. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 6 to 9 p.m. (Our first stitch night in January will be on the 7th). We are closed Sunday, December 28. The sale continues December 29 to 30 (normal 10-5 hours). Open 10-2 on New Year's Eve. Closed New Year's Day. Open from 10-5 on January 2 and 3. January 4 (first Sunday of the month), open 12:30-4:30.

Happy stitching!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

[Hours Updated at the Bottom of this Post]
Greetings, all! It's nearly time for Santa Claus to land on your roof, eat your cookies and leave you a nice large counted cross stitch, needlepoint or knitting project, and if you maybe haven't been so good, or if Santa Claus' GPS isn't working right, why not get yourself a little something, in case he's lost or dropping off underwear and not that needlework you've been craving. I have a few inspirational photos for you (and psst--GIFT CERTIFICATES!--call us at 703-360-4600 and we can arrange something for you.)

This photo is from last year. These three are shop models. I have no idea who the artist(s) is/are, but if you want to get this/these chart(s), please give the shop a call. I just thought it was a nice warm-up of what's possible even in a short amount of time.

This is a brand new chart in the shop, by Heaven and Earth Designs. It is not a quick stitch--nope. It takes 88 colors of DMC and it is 725 W by 543 H. But so glorious... I bought one. And have started to kit it up. Hah--my stitching pals are rolling their eyes.

I bought this last year. It is great fun to stitch. I'm a top-left to bottom-right stitcher, so I'm working on the sky. Lots and lots of blue. I take it out when I'm anxious about things, and it calms me down. It is smaller than the previous photo, at 400 by 527. In case you're curious, there are a variety of ways to stitch HAED designs, but I stitch them the same way I stitch every project: no threads at 10 space intervals, no parking of multiple needles. Those techniques are recommended and many stitchers use them successfully. But I like doing it the regular way, as if it were any other project and not a big honking design that barely fits on a yard of fabric. Maybe I'll make it to the moon this year... (Yeah, just as likely I'll make it to the real moon, but I don't care--it's a process, a journey. There are other projects I'll finish faster, but I love working on these.)

Lookie here! I got this one too. 450x562, 90 colors. Tiny! Picture the three of these hanging together, presiding over the dining room at Christmas dinner. My goal.

Aren't these guys cute? "Christmas Magic" by Amy Bruecken Designs.

O Christmas Tree by Samplers Not Forgotten--lovely.

A little shop show-and-tell. This stocking is a Shepherd's Bush design, stitched by our own talented Diane.

A new shop model waiting to be finished: "Santa's Magic Key" by Needle Bling Designs.

While we are not a quilt shop, many of our shop ladies are multi-talented. Here are some of Mary's wonderful quilt projects, brought for show-and-tell. You can't tell, but Mary is standing behind this quilt, holding it up. Photos don't do it justice. The piecing and stitching are exquisite. I love the reindeer border.

I so wish I had stitched these for the holiday. Aren't they wonderful? The pillows are needlepoint, and go so beautifully with the quilt.

Another shop model. Mystery project to me, but if you call the shop, they can tell you who it's by.

These knock my socks off. We sell all kinds and colors of sock yarn.

Last but not least.

Our hours during the holiday season: We will be open Christmas Eve from 10-2. We are closed Christmas and the day after. On December 27, Saturday, we are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. there's a little something extra for you if you wear your pajamas to the shop. We are closed Sunday, December 28. The sale continues December 29 to 30 (normal 10-5 hours). Open 10-2 on New Year's Eve. Closed New Year's Day. Open from 10-5 on January 2 and 3. January 4 (first Sunday of the month), open 12:30-4:30. For questions, call us at 703-360-4600. Our address is 8800 F Pear Tree Village, Alexandria, VA. We're next to a McDonalds, if you'd like breakfast. And if I can tear myself away from my own stitching, I might even make coffee cake and bring it in. We are looking forward to seeing you!!!!

Happiest of holidays, and happy stitching!

Cooper Oaks Needlepoint Trunk Show and Giving Thanks

Happy Sunday-almost-Monday, Everyone! We have had the Cooper Oaks Needlepoint Trunk Show in the shop, and whether you are an experienced needlepointer, or you are a needle craftsperson of another stripe, we have a project to engage you:

If you would like to order one of these canvases, please call us at 703-360-4600, and we can arrange it! We have some lovely finished models:

And lots and lots of canvases. This is a very small canvas, which I snapped up, although I am not a very experienced needlepointer. But I couldn't resist. And since it's stitched on 18-count canvas, I can use floss from my abundant stash of DMC, although I did buy a skein of sparkly fiber for the star.

Lots more:

This one cracks me up. A note about these: if you are not sure what fibers to pull--thread, cotton, wool, sparkly, thick, thin, and everything in between--along with the best shades and hues, you can leave it to us. We can advise, collaborate, do the whole thing for you or stay out of the way and just cheer you on.

We have lots of Thanksgiving-themed cross stitch as well. By the Drawn Thread:

And Plum Street Samplers:

Threadwork Primitives:

And Stacy Nash. We give thanks for all our many designers and their brilliant designs!

And one last shot of a completed project from Stitch Night by Carol M. This is an old Prairie Schooler Design (out of print, sadly) stitched on 7 count fabric and finished as a stand-up by our wonderful finishing service. We all wanted to take Santa home with us! What a wonderful way to display a precious piece of Christmas stitching.

We are located at 8800 F Pear Tree Court in the Mount Vernon section of Alexandria. Our phone # is 703-360-4600. Our hours are 10-5:00 Monday through Saturday, and the first Sunday of every month from 12:30-4:30. Stitch Nights are the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. We'd love to have you join us!
Happy stitching!

The Victoria Sampler Trunk Show and More

Greetings, all! I wandered into the shop yesterday, and what did I see? The Victoria Sampler Trunk Show! Such lovely, elaborate, creative, wonderful things!

First off, the blog banner photo is a box top (turned on its side so you can see it clearly) called "Sturbridge Village."

Here's "Santa's Village Sampler."

With a close-up.

"A Time for Thanks."

One of the many, precious "Button Up Birdies."

I am not sure of the names of these.

"Christmas Crackers."

"Victorian Purse."

Back to the Victoria Sampler in a moment, but here are a few more things for you to takea look at: Lois is needlepointing this very adorable Halloween skeleton/coffin project (we are out of this right now but can order this for you--Shelly H43). We were discussing that it could be finished in a tiny coffin (we have a finisher who can do such things for you):

Candie was stitching little sleds for shop models. So many little sleds!

A shop model and vignette: the main framed design is by Shepherd's Bush.

Something quick and Halloweeny for you to stitch: Lizzie Kate's "Spooky Eyes." Which my mind has set to the tune of "Betty Davis Eyes." I drive myself crazy.

I so want to stitch this and then put it together in a display of all of the 3-d stitched village buildings.

The Needle's Notion has a cutie for us to stitch up--"Spook Hill."

This designer is new to me. I love stitching buildings of all kinds!

Look at the design that Radonda stitched! Framed by the shop, of course. This photo doesn't do it justice.

A few more items from The Victoria Sampler Trunk Show:

A biscornu (not sure of the name, but call the shop and the ladies can help you get the pattern).

"Valentine Heart."

"French Linen Pocket"

Last but not least, I love the Mystic Christmas Sampler, so I purchased it, the blue linen (32 count) you see to the left of the chart, and the thread pack. I love that you can get a Victoria Sampler thread pack at a much more reasonable price than if you were to purchase each speciality skein, spool and pack of beads separately. Off I go to stitch on it!

The address of the shop is 8800 F Pear Tree Village, Alexandria, VA 703-360-4600. Our hours are 10-5, Monday through Saturday adn the first Sunday of each month from 12:30-4:30. Stitch Nights are the first and third Wednesdays of each month, from 6-9 p.m. Come join us--new faces most welcome!

Happy Stitching!