Tokyo Paralympics New Start #7 - Dragon no. 12

Helloooo!

Dragon number 7 represents the halfway mark of the Paralympics and the latest bunch of new starts by Tiff and myself. Check out Tiff's blog for her versions of the same dragons, also stitched in variegated threads.

For this dragon I chose a bold combination and made another good start whilst watching some archery, swimming and athletics:

Dragon no. 12 by StitchItPicasso (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Pixie Pink overdyed aida

Stitched with ThreadworX 1005 Cherries

Started - 30th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 2 hours 25 minutes

I love this colour - it's mouth-watering, just like its name suggests!

Top Paralympic Moment

There are still so many good moments each day; personal achievements, Paralympic and world records tumbling and great celebrations between the competitors, but for today's moment I'm going to choose the Men's 50m backstroke final in the S5 category (can use hands and arms but have limited or no use of trunk and legs) where China came in 1-2-3. It's not very often a country takes over the whole podium, but this was one race where one country dominated.

Back tomorrow.

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Paralympics New Start #6 - Dragon no. 10

Hi again!

If you're managing to catch some of the Paralympics, I hope you're enjoying it. It's amazing how many Paralympic and world records are falling, despite empty stadia. On the surface, the lack of a crowd doesn't seem to be affecting the athletes but I'm sure it must be.

The dragons continue and this was the design chosen for start number six:

Dragon no. 10 by StitchItPicasso (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Sunshine overdyed aida

Stitched with ThreadworX 11051 Golden Leaves

Started - 29th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 2 hours 55 minutes

I absolutely love this fabric/thread combination, but then yellow is by far and away my favourite colour, so I would!!

Top Paralympic Moment

There were two track races yesterday where the gold and silver medallists were separated by 1/100th of a second. They were the Men's 400m T54 (wheelchair athletes with normal hands/arm use, some trunk use, no leg use) and Men's 100m T13 (minimal vision impairment). It seemed surreal watching such close races in almost silence; we can only imagine the roar of the crowd had there been one.

[I can't find any specific links for them but will update if I do.]

Back again tomorrow morning for the halfway mark.

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Paralympics New Start #5 - Dragon no. 4

Hi all!

So the new starts continue, with day five and dragon number four, a lovely curly-wurly dragon today:

Dragon no. 4 by StitchItPicasso (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Peach Cobbler overdyed aida

Stitched with ThreadworX 1077 Pottery

Started - 28th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 3 hours 20 minutes

I'm really really happy with this start so far.

Top Paralympic Moment

When world records are broken on the track or in the pool it's usually by a few one-hundredths or maybe a tenth of a second. In the women's 100m backstroke final in the S11 category (low visual/light acuity) the winner shaved 3 seconds off the world record! The silver medallist finished only a fraction behind, so must have been gutted to know that she had also broken the world record by a massive amount, but that her achievement wouldn't be recognised.

Back with another dragon tomorrow.

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Paralympics New Start #4 - Dragon no. 5

Hi all!

Day number 4 already and another new start! I'm so glad I decided not to use black for all of the dragons, as I'm getting to use some gorgeous variegated threads.

Here's the latest start:

Dragon no. 5 by StitchItPicasso (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Stormy Sea overdyed aida

Stitched with ThreadworX 1020 Cloudy Skies

Started - 27th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 1 hour 45 minutes

I thought the bottom of the dragon looked like waves so am really happy with the name of the fabric I chose!

Top Paralympic Moment

Unsurprisingly, Paralympic TV coverage in the UK is focusing on the success of TeamGB athletes, but it's doing so to such an extent that we seem to be getting little else than repeat after repeat after repeat of TeamGB medal-winning performances and not seeing the events in which we are not medal contenders. Looking at the medal table, an amazing 57 different countries have won medals so far and it really is a shame we're not getting to see and congratulating them all.

So my top Paralympic moment today is the fantastic camaraderie between the athletes themselves. I saw the end of one of the triathlons, and the competitors were all heartily congratulating each other, irrespective of country. That's true sportsmanship, and that's what our TV coverage should be doing too.

Whinge over!

Start number 5 tomorrow.

Take care,

Rachel x

Smalls SAL - August 2021

Hello all!

It's the last Friday of the month so time for the Smalls SAL. Thank you, Mary, for continuing to host this fun little SAL. Pop over to Mary's Blog to see what other participants have been stitching in the way of Smalls this month.

Each month I stitch a small project specifically for this SAL which doesn't appear elsewhere on my blog.

My small this month is another cutie, I'm afraid. He's been sitting in my Smalls pile for ages so I'm really glad it was eventually his turn:

Dragon With Chick by PovitrulyaHandmade (etsy)

Stitch Count 44 wide by 50 high

Stitched on 16ct Cloud Lemon over-dyed aida by sewitall.com

Started - 9th August 2021

Finished - 15th August 2021

Total stitching time - 8 hours 40 minutes

I changed a couple of the colours - there wasn't much of a contrast between the two greens and two yellows charted so I swapped in a darker green and lighter yellow. It was only after I'd finished him that I thought I should have used some Etoile on his scales. and wings, but nevermind.

Next month, well, September is always Hootie month!

Take care,
Rachel x

Tokyo Paralympics New Start #3 - Dragon no. 11

Hi all!

The Paralympics are proving to be just as interesting as the Olympics, although perhaps a little more subdued with the number of participants and support staff being smaller. I've been enjoying the swimming, of course, along with the wheelchair rugby and basketball, and can't wait to see more sports once the athletics gets underway.

Here's yesterday's dragon, stitched whilst watching various events:

Dragon no. 11 by StitchItPicasso (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Cloud Lilac overdyed aida

Stitched with ThreadworX 1158 Grape Shades

Started - 26th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 3 hours 5 minutes

This is my favourite dragon so far, both for the design and colour. Plenty more to go though!

Top Paralympic Moment

If you get the opportunity, check out the Haka from the New Zealand wheelchair rugby team. If the Haka from the All Blacks is intimidating, this is even more so. I must say, their USA opponents looked unimpressed, but I'm guessing that was their mental game.

And don't forget to check out Tiff's lovely monthly-themed dragons. Her Paralympic sporting facts are great too.

Another dragon tomorrow.

Take care,

Rachel x

Tokyo Paralympics New Start #2 - Dragon no. 2

Hi all!

Day 2 of the Paralympic Stitching Challenge and another random dragon started. I ought to feel guilty about starting these, but they all should be fairly quick and easy to finish... when the time comes!

Check out Tiff's blog too. She's stitching the same dragons but in different colours and in a different order. 

Dragon no. 2 by StitchItPicasso (etsy)

Stitched on 16ct Puddle overdyed aida

Stitched with ThreadworX 10551 Indian Turquoise

Started - 25th August 2021

Stitching time to date - 2 hours 35 minutes

A nice and subtle combination of fabric and threads today, although I do think the bit I chose to stitch looks like a Dalek holding some bunting!

Top Paralympic Moment

Obviously the swimming and cycling were phenomenal, but the wheelchair rugby stands out as being absolutely brutal! I love how the team incorporates a range of disabilities, with each disability given a points tariff and a maximum points tariff allowed at any one time. That makes their teamwork even more impressive.

See you tomorrow with start number 3.

Take care,

Rachel x