Double-Sided Fun

Skill Level: Beginner Materials

• 10" x 10" piece (one Winter and one snowflake block) 30- count Morris blue linen 2109 from Weeks Dye Works™* • 10" x 14" piece (one Love and one heart block) 30-count confederate gray linen 1173 from Weeks Dye Works™* • One skein The Gentle Art Simply Shaker

Sampler Threads* • One skein each Weeks Dye Works™ Hand

Over Dyed Floss* • One skein Classic Colorworks Hand Dyed

Cotton Floss* • Size 24 tapestry needle *See Where to Find It on page 62.

The Gentle Art Simply Shaker Sampler Threads DMC® Alternatives Listed in Parentheses* 7054 (blanc) chalk Classic Colorworks Hand Dyed Cotton Floss DMC® Alternatives Listed in Parentheses* (605) pink posey

Weeks Dye Works™ Hand Over Dyed Floss DMC® Alternatives Listed in Parentheses* 1306 (311) navy 2264 (321) garnet 2275a (603) bubble gum 1279 (500) holly *DMC® alternatives are not one-to- one equivalents to the floss suggested by the designer. To achieve results pictured, use floss listed in the first column.

Stitch Count

Snowflake: 55H x 55W Winter: 49H x 110w Heart: 55H x 55H Love: 48H x 108W

Design Size

Snowflake: 32/ 3" x 32/ 3" Winter: 33/8" x 71/ 3" Heart: 32/ 3" x 32/ 3" Love: 31/4" x 71/4" Instructions: Cross stitch over two threads using two strands of floss.

Finishing Materials & Instructions

• 1 yard coordinating cotton fabric • Two 4"x 4" x 2" blocks plastic foam • Two 4"x 8" x 2" blocks plastic foam

• Six 4"x 4" x 4" pieces quilt batting • Six 4"x 4" x 8" pieces quilt batting • 3/4 yard coordinating cotton fabric • One sheet 1/8"-thick foam- core board • 11/4 yards 1/2"-wide white grosgrain

ribbon for heart and Love blocks • 11/4 yards 1/2-wide white sparkle ribbon

for snowflake and Winter blocks • 23/4 yards 11/2"-wide white satin ribbon • 1 yard pink pompom trim • Flat-head straight pins • White craft glue • X-Acto® knife

Press stitched pieces from reverse side, straightening as much as possible. Trim each stitched piece to 11/2" from stitching on all sides.

Using trimmed stitched pieces as templates, cut one piece each size from coordinating fabric for backing; set aside.

Using plastic foam blocks as templates and X-Acto knife, cut pieces of foamcore board to fit front, back and sides of each block. Pieces should fit together to enclose plastic foam block.

Pushing flat-head pins completely into foam, pin front and back foam-core pieces to one foam block. Pin side pieces in place in the same manner. Repeat with remaining foam-core pieces and plastic foam blocks.

From quilt batting, cut two pieces the same size as block fronts/ backs for each block. Glue one piece of batting to front and one to the back of each foam block. Repeat with remaining pieces of batting to glue to block fronts and backs.

Center a stitched piece on front of one block. Fold excess linen at top over top of block; pin to secure. Repeat on remaining sides, pinning generously and stretching fabric gently to keep it centered. In the same manner, add one piece of backing fabric on back of same block, pinning along sides. Repeat with remaining stitched pieces, backing fabric, and plastic foam blocks.

Measure perimeter around sides of one block for length and across a side for width. Add 1" to length and double the width and cut one strip of coordinating fabric to that size. Fold long edges of fabric strip to middle of strip, wrong sides facing; press flat. Fold under 1/4" at each end of strip; press. Pin end of strip in place at bottom left corner of block; wrap strip around block until beginning point is reached; pin to secure. Repeat with remaining blocks.

Measure perimeter around sides of one block. Add 1" to that measurement and cut one piece of 11/2"-wide ribbon to that length. Wrap ribbon around block, starting and pinning at bottom center. Repeat with remaining blocks.

Measure perimeter around sides of one block. Add 1" to that measurement and cut one piece of 1/2"-wide ribbon to that length. Beginning at center of bottom edge, wrap ribbon around block and pin in place, centering ribbon on 11/2"-wide ribbon. Repeat with remaining blocks.

To add pompom trim to heart and Love blocks, measure perimeter, cut trim and glue in place around edge of front.

Cut two 5" pieces of 11/2"-wide ribbon. Tie a knot in the center of each piece. Pin one piece in knot to center top of snowflake and heart blocks; trim ends of ribbon at an angle.

These blocks were inspired by the LOVE Squared blocks in the February 2016 issue of Just CrossStitch, available at AnniesCraftStore.com.