Darlene O'Steen Spanish Sampler Project Notes

This is an original sampler from Darlene OSteen of The Needle's Prayse.  I'm using 34 Count Cream Devonshire and AVS silk. Since Darlene doesn't give the amount of silk needed and since this is mostly a statin stitched sampler, I started with a hank of each color.

• In the first progress picture, I didn't do the backstitching and the weaving.  I just didn't like the look of it.  So, since I'm a BIG fan of the Smyrna Cross and feel that NO sampler is complete without them, I put Smyrna Crosses in instead.  They took a while to stitch, but I really like the way they look.
• In the second progress picture, I did queen stitches instead of the backstitched diamonds Darlene suggested.  I can't help, whenever I see a diamond over four threads, I think queen stitches.  I also like how they look. :-)
• In the third progress picture, you can really start to see the body of the sampler.  The satin stitching on the right hand side is supposed to outlined with chain stitching in the dark blue color.  Right now, I like just how it is.  I've never been a big fan of backstitching around satin stitching.
• The rectangular space is the first section of lacis which I'm leaving till the end and the empty space to the left is where my name and date will go later.  The blue diamonds you see on the left hand side are diamond Smyrna Crosses.  There goes that diamond shape again, but that many queen stitches on 34 count fabric would have been too tight and I really wasn't thirlled with the look of the suggested backstitched diamond and weaving.  I really like the texture the Smyrna Crosses gives this section.
• In the fourth progress picture you can see that the center is done, the signature line is stitched and all of the bands have been carried down.  Next comes a horizontal dividing band.
• Once again, I didn't backstitch around the satin stitching as Darlene suggested.  The little yellow and white flowers in the center are supposed to be backstitched in green.  I've just never been a fan of backstitching around satin stitching. I have about ten more days, give or take to work on this sampler until part four of Darlene's Berlin sampler arrives.
• In the fifth progress picture all of the stitching is done.  Now, I'm just waiting for my thread to arrive so I can head on to the lacis sections.  In the second to last band, once again I didn't do the needleweaving as suggested.  Since most of the Spanish samplers I've seen are satin stitched, that's how I did those flowers.
• So, I've changed the needleweaving and not back stitching around the satin stitching, other than those two things, the sampler is as Darlene charted.  I'm very pleased with how it's turning out.
• In the sixth progress picture, both sections of the Lacis work is complete and you can also see that I did add the green backstitching around the yellow and white flowers.  I'm glad I did, they really pop out at you now.
• In the seventh picture you see the finished sampler.  I plan to get it framed right away. I need to thank my VERY dear friend Lois of Elegant Stitch who has been my photo editor for this project.  The pictures are really lovely Lois, THANKS!

Spanish Sampler Progress Pic 1	Spanish Sampler Progress Pic 2
Spanish Sampler Progress Pic 3	Spanish Sampler Progress Pic 4
Spanish Sampler Progress Pic 5	Spanish Sampler Progress Pic 6
Spanish Sampler Finished