Autumnal Baby Dragon - finished!

And hello again!

I was hoping to squeeze another finish into February, and only failed by two days because of waiting for a delivery of beads. But with MM in full flow, I forgot to post this finish so here it is now!

This is Autumnal Baby Dragon (did you guess from 🍁👶🐉?!) the first of the 17 projects started for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Stitching Challenge. Here's my start from that day:

Between October and December last year, when I was stitching for only 5-10 minutes per day, this was the project I worked on every one of those days. It may have only been a few stitches but 5-10 minutes each day all added up, meaning by the end of the year I'd achieved this much:

That left just a little bit of stitching, all the backstitching and some french knots (aka beads) to add. So now they're done, here's the finished piece:

Autumnal Baby Dragon by PatternsBySAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Tea Stain over-dyed aida

Started - 23rd July 2021

Finished - 2nd March 2023

Total stitching time - 23 hours 10 minutes

I don't 'love' the beads but, to me, they are far better than suffering the pain of french knots! I do, however, love the whole design, especially as it combines two of my favourite things - dragons and autumn.

That's now eight WIPs whipped so far this year; 2023 is definitely off to a good start!

Take care,

Rachel x

Mouse Reading Scroll - finished!

Hi all!

Thanks to FFOing a Merry Mice project this month, I decided I wanted to finish one from my WIPs. I had three to choose from and Mouse Reading Scroll won, mainly because he required the least amount of stitching to finish!

I started Mouse Reading Scroll during the Tokyo Olympics:

And then worked on him a bit in May last year, finishing his body and starting the scroll (but didn't take a photo) before finishing him last week:

Mouse Reading Scroll from Merry Mice by CutePatternsbyMaria (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Glacier over-dyed aida

Started - 1st August 2021

Finished - 17th January 2023

Total Stitching Time - 9 hours 30 minutes

There was a lot of backstitching again, but so worth it; he's just so sweet! I wonder what the scroll might say? Perhaps it's a long-lost recipe for the best cheese ever!

The next WIP is already out of The Box and being worked on. It shouldn't take too long to finish as there are big blocks of colour and not too much backstitching. Just right when I feel I have very little brain (that's a hint, by the way!)

Take care,

Rachel x

Mouse Lighting Candle - finished!

Greetings one and all!

I have a finish! The first of hopefully many this year.

Mouse Lighting Candle was start number seven during the Tokyo Olympics and one of the projects on my list of 'vaguely planned finishes for 2022'.

At the beginning of January I thought I'd put in a couple of hours to get the ball rolling, but a couple of hours turned into a few more and before I knew it I'd completed the candle, then the mouse, and had only the backstitching left... and I couldn't leave it there, could I? So within a few days he'd gone from this...

...to this

Mouse Lighting Candle (my title) from Merry Mice by CutePatternsByMaria (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Glacier over-dyed aida

Stitch count 39 wide by 70 high

Started - 31st July 2021

Finished - 9th January 2022

Total stitching time - 15 hours 25 minutes

I absolutely adore him!

Maria designed Hogwarts In A Bottle (if you can remember that) so I knew what to expect from her backstitching, i.e. the more complicated the better! Some is stitched in one strand, some in two, and nearly all of it breaks the aida, meaning longstitching with couching is often a better option. I knew there was a reason I'd written (but ignored) 'evenweave' in big letters on the chart! It was a bit of a nightmare, but the result is well worth it.

I've started three more of these Merry Mice, all on the same fabric, so know I've got lots more backstitching 'fun' to look forward to!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympic New Start #17 - Witch's Hat Shelf

Hi all!

So here it is already, the final new start of my 17 day Tokyo Olympic Stitching Challenge. It's gone quickly, but I suppose that's what happens when you're a bit of an Olympic addict. I think I watched a bit of just about every sport and loved the closing ceremony which, like the opening one, was reflective of the current situation. Goodbye Tokyo, and thank you!

And now I also need to say a big thank you to Tiff for joining me on this challenge. I haven't mentioned her at all, and that's been really bad of me. Please visit her blog and admire all of her new starts. She's also written interesting information about a different sport each day, and they're definitely worth a read.

So here's my final new start:

Witch's Hat Shelf by CrossStitchAlexaKiss

Stitched on 16ct Wolf over-dyed aida

Stitch count 51 wide by 55 high

Started - 8th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

Not a bad start for one night.

Fun Olympic Fact

GB does not financially reward its athletes for collecting a medal at the Olympics, but a lot of countries do. Here's a random selection of how much an athlete can expect if they return home from the Olympics with a gold medal. All are in US$: Singapore $737,000, Indonesia $346,000, Italy $213,000, Spain $111,000, Japan $45,000, USA $37,500, Canada $16,000. France currently offers $76,000 but I wouldn't be surprised if that dramatically increases for their home games!

So now this new start binge is over and my life's gradually beginning to return to 'normal' I've got a lot of catching up to do... I'm four months behind with both A Monarch A Month and The Loneliness Of Autumn, and even further behind with blog reading and emails, so those must all take precedence.

But to show I'm still a little bit totally crazy, Tiff and I are already in discussion about what to do from 4th to 20th February during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics... and then it's only 1082 days until Paris 2024... perhaps another 17 new starts for each???!!! Or not!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #16 - United States

Hello again!

So it was the penultimate day of the Olympics yesterday and the sporting action continued with more cycling, diving and a few other bits and pieces on my screen.

My new start hopped me from the United Kingdom to the United States:

United States from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 78 wide by 72 high

Started - 7th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 55 minutes

I was all prepared for a long night of stitching but, again, it was not to be so my new start was nowhere near as much as I had planned, if you can actually see the tiny bit of building and lights against the fabric!

Fun Olympic Fact

Lots of fuss has been made about young athletes at this Olympics - a 12 year old table tennis star, a 13 year old skateboard sensations and a 14 year old near-perfect diver, but what about the oldest Olympic competitors?

The oldest male competitor was 72 year old Oscar Swahn, who competed in shooting in 1920, and the oldest female competitor was 70 year old equestrian Laura Johnston in 1972. Considering the average age at Tokyo is 27, and most athletes retire in their 30s, I expect these records are unlikely to be broken!

Fun Olympic Fact update...

Back on day 11 I wrote that Oscar Swahn, along with his brother, were the most successful Summer Olympic family with 15 medals, including 6 golds, between them.

Following this Olympics, the Swahn's have now been joined by the husband and wife cycling duo of Jason and Laura Kenny, although with 12 golds out of 15 medals I would suggest they pip the Swhan's for top place on the leader board.

It's the final day of the Olympics today which means my final new start and Fun Olympic Fact post tomorrow :(

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #15 - United Kingdom

Hello all!

So, we're into the last three days of the Olympics, with athletics, diving and cycling on my radar. I did watch a bit of the climbing but that didn't really appeal to me, although the kayak racing provided an interesting adrenaline rush!

My accompanying start was home grown:

United Kingdom from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stiched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 79 wide by 73 high

Started - 6th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 50 minutes

It felt good to make a start on one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, although I'm not sure the colour is exactly right!!

Fun Olympic Fact

We're always aware of the winning times in events, but what about the slowest?

The longest time taken to finish an Olympic marathon is 54 years, 8 months and 6 days! Kanakuri Shizo started the marathon in 1912 but stopped part way through and fell asleep, missing the remainder of the race. After going home to Japan, he was eventually tracked down and returned to Stockholm to finish the course in 1967. Nowadays events such as this have a cut-off point, so this time will remain a record.

Tomorrow I'm hopping across the Pond...

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #14 - Shell Cottage

Hello again!

Another day of great sports yesterday - track and field, diving, skateboarding, and even a bit of rock climbing which, although I didn't find very interesting, was miles better than watching golf!

My new start was the fourth of the planned Harry Potter themed snow globes. This is Shell Cottage where Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour lived after their marriage. It's also the location of Dobby's grave :(

Shell Cottage Snow Globe by MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Grey Swirl over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 91 high

Started - 5th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

For a bit of variety I thought I'd better start on a part other than the outside, so here's a little bit of the cottage itself. Without any backstitching it looks a bit like a spooky castle!

Fun Olympic Fact

In the inaugural 1896 Athens Olympics there were 241 competitors. By Rome 1960 that number topped 5,000, and by Atlanta 1996 10,000. In Tokyo 11,090 athletes were registered, slightly down on Rio 2016, but that was only to be expected. With so many athletes participating across an increasing number of sports, no wonder the Olympics has become so expensive to host!

Now to start counting down the final three days of Olympics and the final three new starts. And I'm looking forward to them all!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #13 - Russia

Hi all!

More Olympic sporting action on in the background yesterday, some of which I just let play (eg boxing) and some of which I actually stopped to watch, including athletics and the skateboarding for some reason.

My new start continued my journey around the world, this time stopping off in Russia:

Russia from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 73 wide by 71 high

Started - 4th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

I'm so grateful I managed more than 5 minutes on this one!

Fun Olympic Fact

Dimitrios Loundras holds the record as being the official youngest male competitor and official youngest male medallist in the summer Olympics. He was 10 years and 218 days old when he was part of Greece's bronze-winning gymnastics team in the 1896 Athens Olympics.

For women, the same two records are held by Luigina Giavotti who was 11 years and 301 days old when she helped the Italian gymnastic team win silver in the 1928 Los Angeles Olympics.

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #12 - Privet Drive

Hi all!

So we're into the last few days of the Olympics now, no doubt a blessing for those who are fed up with the coverage and me harping on about it every day!

My new start today was absolutely tiny, 17 half stitches to be precise, and hardly worth showing, but I had a very good excuse - I was cradling one of my feather-babies until the end, something which was very important for me to do. After that I didn't feel like stitching.  :(

This is Privet Drive, another of the Harry Potter themed snow globes. For those who don't know, Privet Drive was where Harry lived with his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin, until he went off to Hogwarts. He occasionally returned during school holidays but was never welcomed, nor wanted to return, so it was better for all if he spent his holidays elsewhere.

Privet Drive Snow Globe my MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Swirl Grey over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 82 high

Started - 3rd August 2021

Stitching time to date - 5 minutes!!

Such a small start it's hardly worth showing, and I think it's my worst new start ever! But as people have said before, a start is a start!

Fun Olympic Fact

The Tokyo Olympics is the first time that the number of events for females and mixed teams has surpassed the number for men. In the first Olympics in 1896, no events for women were held. It took until Montreal in 1976 for female and mixed events to reach 25%+, then Atlanta 1996 to reach 40%+, and now Tokyo 2020 to reach 50%+. Guess the world has finally realised women deserve equal footing on the sporting stage.

I don't know about you, but I enjoyed watching the mixed relays in swimming, running and the triathlon. Yes, men are usually going to be faster/stronger/etc. but there have been mixed events in things like badminton and tennis for a while, so why not more sports?

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #11 - Netherlands

Hello again!

I'm continuing to watch as much of the Olympics as possible, no matter what the sport. It's quite nice to have the athletics on, and even without a crowd the atmosphere seems to be doing its job of creating record after record. And is it me, or do the athletes seem to be congratulating each other more than usual? Guess they're all just pleased to be there.

I only managed a small amount on this new piece, which was a shame as I was really looking forward to making a good start on the windmill:

Netherlands from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 78 wide by 69 high

Started - 2nd August 2021

Stitching time to date - 20 minutes

Out of all my new starts so far, apart from the dragon, I think this is the one I'm most looking forward to returning to.

Fun Olympic Fact

The most successful family to compete at the Summer Olympics were father and son Oscar and Alfred Swahn. Between 1908 and 1924 they won 15 medals - 6 gold, 4 silver 5 bronze - mostly in shooting.

Two other families have each won 14 medals - Aladar Gerevich, his wife, Erna, his son, Pal, and his father-in-law, Albert, won 7 golds, 2 silvers and 5 bronzes in fencing between 1912 and 1980, and Takashi Ono and his wife, Kiyoko, won 5 golds, 4 silvers and 5 bronzes in gymnastics between 1952 and 1964 (although to be fair, Takashi won all but one bronze himself!)

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #10 - Mouse Reading Scroll

Hello again!

Day 10 already and all seems to be going well with the Olympics... unless, of course, the press have been banned from reporting anything negative! I know it was reported most Japanese did not want the Olympics to go ahead, but hopefully some of them have now changed their minds and have been enjoying the sporting events in their home nation.

For day 10 I started another Merry Mouse, not on a train this time, but from the comfort of my settee!

Mouse Reading Scroll from Merry Mice by CutePatternsByMaria (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Glacier over-dyed aida

Stitch count 55 wide by 31 high

Started - 1st August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 35 minutes

I only managed to stitch some of his head, but that's OK.

Fun Olympic Fact

There is no doubt that the USA has the largest medal haul in the history of the modern Olympics. However, that's a bit unfair when some countries have not competed as many times, and when border changes have meant some countries no longer exist and others have been born.

Therefore, a fairer way is to average out the medal haul by dividing the total by the number of times the country has participated. In which case, the USSR are/were the most successful medal-winning country in the history of the summer Olympics.

[Oh, I LOVE statistics, and could become lost studying the fascinating medal tables I have found!]

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #9 - Mouse Lighting Candle

Hi all!

Not much watching of the Olympics yesterday as I wasn't at home and couldn't really have the TV on where I was. I'm sad to have missed a day, but admit I've been extremely lucky to have caught as much as I have so far.

My new start was a mouse you might recognize. He's one of a set of 30 mice designs, two of which I started last year during the Spring Into Summer New Start Binge. This is the first of two I will be starting during the Tokyo Olympics:

Mouse Lighting Candle from Merry Mice by CutePatternsByMaria (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Glacier over-dyed aida

Stitch count 39 wide by 70 high

Started - 31st July 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 30 minutes

I started with the easy bit and didn't make a bad start considering it was stitched on early morning trains!

Another mouse to come tomorrow.  :)

Fun Olympic Fact

At the moment, Athens 2004 holds the record for being the hottest Summer Olympics with temperatures reaching an average of 27.6C and a high of 34.2C. During the Tokyo Olympics, daily temperatures are forecast to be between 30C and 35C so will easily take the record; no wonder the athletes all look so exhausted!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #8 - Korea

Hi again!

So today there was no gymnastics :( but there was a tiny bit of trampolining, so that sort of made up for it. And then I just caught snippets of whatever was on in the background; football, hockey and the start of the athletics.

I took a step backwards with my start today, starting the letter K project I skipped yesterday:

Korea from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 77 wide by 66 high

Started - 30th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 40 minutes

I love the little pagoda(?) and was really hoping to stitch more, but a tiny start is better than nothing.

The next two days will involve a little break from travelling around the world and consist of absolute cuties - what else!!!

Fun Olympic Fact

Detroit is the city with the most unsuccessful bids to host the Summer Olympics with 7 attempts between 1944 and 1972. Budapest have tried six times between 1916 and 2024, and Istanbul have tried 5 times between 2000-2020. Istanbul's continued determination to become host city must be admired, but since the Olympics for 2024, 2028 and 2032 have been agreed their next chance won't now be until at least 2036!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #7 - Mexico

Helloooo!

My Olympic watching yesterday was gymnastics from start to finish and then bits and pieces that were on in the background such as hockey, canoeing and even a bit of BMX biking! Can't say I'm a fan of the last one, but I still admire the competitors' fitness and commitment to their sport. Anyway, sometimes it's fun just listening to the commentators and how excited they get - when they crescendo, you know it's time to look at the TV screen!

To accompany the sports, I went to Mexico, which was a bit of a mistake as I'm supposed to be starting the projects alphabetically and realised too late that I missed out the one beginning with K. So now M comes before K in my alphabet! I didn't stitch for as long as I would have liked, just long enough to make a bit of a start at the top:

Mexico from A Journey Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 78 wide by 66 high

Started - 29th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 15 minutes

I thought afterwards I should have started with the lovely sombrero but it always makes more sense to me to work from the top down.

Fun Olympic Fact

With identical twins Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova winning bronze for GB in the women's artistic gymnastics team event (and there being another set of identical twins in the Italian team which came 4th) I wondered if they were the first identical twins to win an Olympic medal. The answer is, no!

In the 1980 Moscow Olympics, identical twins won both the gold and silver medals in the coxless pairs for East Germany and the Soviet Union respectively; do you think the bronze medalists, from GB, felt a little out of place on the podium?

More travelling around the world tomorrow, going backwards to the K piece I should have started today.

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #6 - Italy

Hello again!

More gymnastics, more swimming and more rugby sevens was on my schedule whilst stitching start number 6.

This involved continuing my trip around the world with Soda Stitch and landing in Italy:

Italy from All Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 76 wide by 66 high

Started - 28th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 2 hours 55 minutes

I was so enjoying stitching the Colosseum I didn't want to stop!

Fun Olympic Fact

Have you ever wondered how much it costs to host the Olympics? Estimates vary but (give or take a few hundred million) Sydney spent about US$5 billion in 2000 and London about US$15 billion in 2012. Tokyo are estimated to have spent about US$22 billion with, unlike previous hosts, no hope of recuperating costs via tickets, tourism and other financial income the Olympics usually bring. And with costs sky-rocketing as expectations and the number of events and athletes increases, no wonder fewer countries are willing to bid. At least we know we're going to Paris in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.

Take care

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #5 - Godrich's Hollow Snow Globe

Hi!

Goodness me, these days are flying past and the Olympics seem to have continued without major incident, weather excluded. Love them or loathe them, I think the world needs this inkling of normality.

So my watching of diving, and swimming continues, as does catching a bit of rugby sevens - totally not my thing but at least it's less violent than usual rugby!

My accompanying start was another Harry Potter snow globe, this time depicting Godrich's Hollow, the village where Harry was born.

Godrich's Hollow Snow Globe by MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Grey Swirl over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 92 high

Started - 27th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 2 hours

I started with the outside of the globe again but this time carried on and completed the stitching of the stand. It doesn't show up that well but will once the backstitching's been added.

Fun Olympic Fact

The women's Olympic Triathlon, consisting of a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle ride and a 10km run, was won by a Bermudan, making it Bermuda's first ever gold medal and only their second ever medal in Olympic history (the other being a boxing bronze in 1976). Not bad considering they're a tiny nation and only sent two athletes this year. Go Bermuda!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #4 - France

Hello again!

On day 4 of the Olympics I managed to catch a bit of archery, diving, gymnastics, swimming and triathlon. I really like the archery, just a shame it's over with so quickly.

During the Olympics I thought it would be nice to go 'around the world' and contemplated starting a bunch of Satsuma Street's Pretty Little Cities. But they're far too big for a starting binge. However, the idea of going around the world stuck, and I found a smaller (and sickly-cute) set by Soda Stitch.

I also found some brilliant fabric to match, although it's well out of my comfort zone. I don't think I've made a mistake as Soda Stitch designs are quite colourful and should become prominent over the busy fabric.

I only started stitching late in the evening so didn't get much done, but even without the completed picture as reference it might be obvious which icon I'm stitching:

France from All Around The World by Soda Stitch

Stitched on 18ct Around The World over-dyed aida

Stitch count 76 wide by 72 high

Started - 26th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 40 minutes

Fun Olympic Fact

Ask people how long an Olympic-sized swimming pool is and the majority will answer 50m. Well, it is... and it isn't! The length has to be 50m between the touch pads so, since the touchpads are about 1cm thick, the actual length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool where touchpads are used is 50m 2cm.

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #3 - Dragon Shelf

Hello all!

Day number three of the Olympic Stitching Challenge and my schedule included watching mainly gymnastics and swimming, although I did enjoy dipping into various other sports such as road cycling, rowing and taekwondo.

As for stitching, it was this lovely Dragon Shelf. This is one of many shelf designs which I came across by accident and fell in love with straight away. Needless to say, this is not the only one I own!

Dragon Shelf by CrossStitchAlexaKiss (etsy

Stitched on 16ct Fairy Dust Multi over-dyed aida

Stitch count 54 wide by 46 high

Started - 25th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 2 hours 15 minutes

Thought I'd work fairly logically on this one and chop and change colours as I went. Shame I didn't manage to get both books finished but that's OK.

Fun Olympic Fact

46 year-old gymnast Oksana Chusovitina has just competed in her eighth olympics! To put that in perspective, not only was she winning medals on the world stage before most of her fellow competitors had been born, but she's almost double the age that most gymnasts retire! That's sure some commitment to her sport!

As a vaulting specialist she was aiming to finish in the top eight in order to make the vault final, but she finished 14th, which was still an amazing achievement, but obviously not enough. As she left the arena in tears she was given a standing ovation by both competitors and judges. I think she deserved it!

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #2 - The Burrow Snow Globe

Me again!

Day 2 of the Olympics involved me watching mainly archery, gymnastics and swimming. To accompany my armchair participation I started this lovely piece, one of a set of eight Harry Potter themed snow globes. This is The Burrow, home to the ginger-haired and rather numerous wizarding Weasley family.

The Burrow Snow Globe by MIYAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Grey Swirl over-dyed aida

Stitch count 66 wide by 83 high

Started - 24th July 2021

Stitching time to date - 3 hours 15 minutes

For this one I stitched the outside of the globe and then started filling in from the top. I'm again really happy with the amount stitched so far.

Fun Olympic Fact

South Korean women totally rule the archery - they have won every team gold medal since 1998 and all but one individual gold medal since 1984 (compared to the men who have won only 5 and 2 respectively). I guess each year there's more and more pressure to keep up the winning streak, and they started this Olympics well, winning the inaugural mixed team event. 

Day 3 tomorrow and another dragon :)

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Olympics New Start #1 - Autumnal Baby Dragon

Helloooo!

So the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are finally here, and that means not only can I be an armchair athlete for the next 17 days (as much as life allows) but I can also start 17 new projects to accompany my 'participation'.

I love the Olympics, and always have; it's an opportunity to watch the best of the best and see how the world can forget its differences by coming together under the flag of sport. The opening ceremony, I thought, was very respectful to the current situation, and it was lovely to see and hear essential key workers being thanked for their role in tackling the pandemic. My favourite part of the opening ceremony was the live performance of the pictograms. Some choreography to get that right!

I chose my 17 Olympic projects ages ago and decided to stitch them in alphabetical order.

So here's start number one, which just happens to incorporate three of my favourite things... autumnal colours, a dragon and cuteness!

Autumnal Baby Dragon by PatternsBySAstitch (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Tea Stain over-dyed aida

Stitch count 65 wide by 45 high

Started - 23rd July 2021

Stitching time to date - 3 hours 50 minutes

I decided to stitch this one colour at a time to avoid constantly changing threads whilst being distracted by the opening ceremony. I think the bit I've done so far clearly identifies the outlines of the wings and tail.

Fun Olympic Fact

Because the number eight is lucky in China, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games in 2008 commenced at 8 o'clock on the 8th day of the 8th month (wonder why it wasn't also 8 minutes past the hour?!)

Back tomorrow with start number 2 and another Fun Olympic Fact.

Take care,

Rachel x