The Magic Carpet Ride

The Magic Carpet Ride's vibrant palette is drawn from those delicious colours which make up a Peacock feather... turquoise, electric blue, teal green, gently variegated golds and irridescent metallics. Although it looks very ornate, a combination of full and half cross-stitches, stem and straight stitches makes this a quick and easy project.

DESIGN DETAILS

The main focus of this piece is the cross-stitched centre rhyme "Twists and Turns. Loops and Curls. Can you find the Treasures which are buried in these Swirls?" From there, a viewer's attention is drawn to the 4 corners, which are linked by 4 border panels, sewn primarly in running and straight stitches, which create a number of little images.

As with many of the pieces I've designed with babies or children in mind, the The Magic Carpet Ride leads an animated life beyond stitching. Sit your little ones down comfortably to explore your exotically-toned needlework and, together, you can discover these little images which are 'hidden' in the borders... 2 houses; 2 trucks; 2 keys; 2 keyholes; 2 teddy bears; 2 fish; 2 teapcups; 2 happy faces; 2 umbrellas and 2 swans... there are also 4 flowers and a multitude of hearts and hearts within hearts

AREAS OF EMBELLISHMENT

4 CORNERS... Mill Hill beads #00221 (Bronze), 02089 (Brilliant Sea Blue), 42011 (Victorian Gold Petite) and 42029 (Tapestry Teal Petite); Kreinik #4 Braid 5011 Elfin Green CENTRE QUOTE... Vicky Clayton (Hand-Dyed Fibers) Moon-Called Sea silk thread LINKING BORDERS (including the 4 heart-shapes which point to the quote)... Mill Hill beads 00221 (Bronze), 02089 (Brilliant Sea Blue), 42010 (Ice Petite), 42011 (Victorian Gold Petite) 42029 (Tapestry Teal Petite); Vicky Clayton (Hand-Dyed Fibers) BeSmurfed and Lily Tutters; Kreinik #4 Braid 5011 Elfin Green.

FABRIC FOR MODEL

32-count White Jobelan from Wichelt (#8620)... 14" x 14"

STITCH COUNT

117 wide x 117 high

FINISHED DESIGN SIZE

Approximately 7 1/4" wide x 7 1/4" high

MATERIALS LIST

DMC 322/796/807/927/3846; VICKY CLAYTON SILKS (Hand-Dyed Fibers) BeSmurfed*/Lily Tutters** and Moon-Called Sea***; KREINIK #4 Braid 5011 Elfin Green; Mill Hill 00221 and 02089 Glass Seed beads and 42011, 42029 and 42010 Petite Seed beads

DMC substitutes for silks ... DMC 3768 (for *BeSmurfed); DMC 977 (for **Lily Tutters) and DMC 936 (for ***Moon-Called Sea)

To see the entire collection, please click here.