Monday, October 6, 2014

Stitch Faster

Oh yes, now that the NCC is upstairs it's nothing but stitch, stitch, stitch!  THIS is a very good thing.

Prior to moving the NCC upstairs, the girls I had decided to create a website called NCCIH aka NERD CENTRAL COMMAND INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS. I cannot tell you more about it until we go live and we are on the very edge of doing so, but this will hopefully explain why we are stitching these NCCIH logos.  Nancy has stitched hers in autumnal colors and I stitched mine on a random piece of sparkly hand dyed fabric.

Krystal created the pattern and eventually all four of us will stitch it.  Leonore has been putting together something fun...but you have to wait for us to go live before you can find out about that bit of AWESOME.   

Stay tuned for the website and hopefully it will be something you enjoy stopping in at occasionally to see what's going on!

Skeleton Crew has had to be put aside for a brief moment.  I entered a speed stitching competition put on by JodyS of UnconventionalXstitch and if you are interested in her crazy and different patterns you can also check her out at the FB Group Page . Before you go to the website, please allow me to say that plenty of her patterns are "adult" and not intended for the eyes or stitching of a minor. Just be careful kidlets are not present when you go there. She has dark patterns, macabre patterns, tame patterns, outer limit-type patterns, gritty sci-fi fantasy. I have to say, though, you will still browse her patterns and still find some you will want to stitch! There is this cute dragon/arachnid thing I want to stitch, and she is the very same person I purchased the SKULL pattern from.

Anywho, Jody has a speed stitching competition going on that I signed up for, received the pattern, anxiously awaited Oct 1, midnight Australia time (September 30th, 8:00 am Alaska Time) and then......I went for it like a person possessed!!

It has been a few years since I have been able to compete because I am a judge for the Stitching Pirates  contests and haven't been able to do more than stitch along and submit what I have done to show support and solidarity to my fellow stitchers.  But not this time.....I even won $5 off for being "member of the week" which is a random draw Jodi does for those who are posting on her FB page every week.  This is why I'm so excited to compete.  I had forgotten  how exciting it is to chat with fellow competitors and share tips and tricks on what has been learned along the way.

Here's where I'm at currently:  20 hours, 7 minutes, 2 skeins of 939, 4,607 stitches and we have this excellent outline completed.  Did I really do 230 stitches an hour? Is that really possible?  Now I wonder if I missed some time in there somewhere? thinking I did and that makes me sad. I'm going to have to really watch my time when I start adding color.

If you click on the picture you will see the areas where I had to rip out stitches due to being one stitch off or one row off...VERY annoying when you are trying to stitch it perfectly and then get a whole bunch done and then....only then do you realize the mistake was made ages ago and then RIP, RIP, RIP!!  Thankfully I made a tool for that which works wonderfully well.

Normally I don't do 2 over on 18 ct because to me it looks clumpy, but I'm following the directions and not changing anything.  Not for the win, just so Jody can use this as a cover photo for her pattern and kit if she wants to.  This particular pattern really calls for the 2 over as far as OOMPH goes, that texture, ya know?

I feel like I'm about at the halfway mark, so another 20 hours or so (if I watch my time better) and it should be done and back to Skeleton Crew I go.


I have to admit, this is exactly what someone needs when you haven't stitched in awhile OR when you feel that stitcher's ennui!  A good competition.  The best part is, once I'm done with this I will have fast paced stitching coursing through my brain and will get my Halloween Pattern done in no time!

There you have it!  Nothing but funzies here at the old NCC.....and don't forget, our website goes live VERY soon.....

Until next time.....stitch faster!

13 comments:

  1. Wow you stitched that fast, and it looks wonderful, it's such a bold pattern.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is originally a tattoo which gives it a bolder look, and it's stitching up better than SKULL did with NO confetti ha ha!

      Delete
    2. No confetti? I barely remember what that is like.But I may soon, I found a pattern for the contest, just have to see if I have appropriate fabric, might have to drop the cabin for a bit though

      Delete
  2. You berserk stitcher!! Great and fast stitching there!

    Can't wait for our site to go online and all the fun to happen there ^_^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can't help myself! I am berserking for sure! When you get back from your trip we can go live so we are all together when it happens :D

      Delete
  3. WOW high speed stitching here we go! Now you know why I can sometimes get so much done :)

    AArrgghh... now I have even MORE reason to regret missing last time's hangout :( feel like I've been dumped from the core team now :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm thinking you are a berserker stitcher as well! And NO, you haven't been dumped! I think we have all missed you and for awhile wondered if you were going to make it through that last bit of illness! <3 Luckily you have and are stitching again which reminds me, I need to post my WIPS for you :D

      Delete
    2. Almost certainly seeing how focussed I can be when I can see a deadline/the end of a project.

      I always make it through - I'm a bit like that tomato sauce stain on a white t-shirt ;)

      Now all i need to do is actually remember to click the "notify me" box on blogs lol

      Delete
    3. Tomato stains are hard to get rid of - so am I ;)

      Delete
    4. Then that makes our girls big stains as well since you can't get rid of us either!

      Delete
    5. All the results of yummy food over good convo's :)

      Delete