Humbugs!

When you think of humbugs, what comes to mind?  Sweets I should imagine!

Recently, I came across a different kind of humbug...a cross-stitch version!

I have become hooked on biscornus and whilst I was browsing one of my favourite stitchy sites, I came across humbugs.  They're worked in exactly the same was as a biscornu, but if stitched up correctly, they look like humbug sweets!

Always keen to learn new stitchy skills, I was keen to have a go at making one, and I found guide that showed how to make them up. 

In a month or so, I will need to start planning my festive stitching and I think biscornu's and humbugs would make nice festive ornaments and gifts, but thinking up patterns that work well was a little fiddly to start with.  With the humbug, I tried to make a 3D model out of paper, but the design didn't work, so I made up a working model using some scrap aida and thread.

This is the end result:

I think I may have slightly overstuffed it, but you get the idea of what it will look like.

With that done, I could see how it was going to look, so I started experimenting with patterns from my exiting library, and this is what I settled for:

The design is only 40 stitches by 20 stitches and when it was stitched up, each side is no more than an inch and a half wide:

It's small size meant that it was quite fiddly to stitch up!

In terms of Christmas ornaments, this may be a bit on the small side, but it's a great working model for future projects.  That said, the finished size of this design would make a great keyring or mobile charm!

If you want to have a go yourself, here is the pattern:

All the cross-stitch (*) is worked using 2 strands of DMC colour variations 4130.  The backstitch border (-----) is worked in two strands of white thread.  The humbug is put together using "whip-stitch" in the same way as a biscornu -- use the same colour as for the backstitching.  Remember when whip-stitching that the needle must go under the backstitches only!  DO NOT go through the fabric!!!

You can download the "how-to" guides for both biscornu's and humbugs from Creative Poppy -- just click on the "Stitcher Resources" tab!

Well that's all for today!

Till next time ... keep Kalm and cross-stitch!!