And here we are again, another month down. Time, in thread on linen.
In the old Celtic calendar, the beginning of Autumn is Lammas on 1st August, signifying first harvest (grain). Second harvest (fruit) is around the autumn equinox in mid-September, and third harvest (nuts and seeds) is the end of October, at the start of winter. There is always much exasperated hilarity in our house when the Met Office refers to ‘false autumn’ on its weather reports as the leaves are starting to fall. That’s because it’s real autumn, we cry in unison. It may be still warm and sunny, but weather is not season. You only have to look at the changes in the light, in the air, in nature itself, to see and feel the signs of early autumn. This is my usual northern hemisphere bias, of course, because this is where I live. If you’re in the southern hemisphere, you’ll be enjoying the beginning of spring.
Probably enough meteorological ranting.
You can probably see the change in the colour palette. More muted golds/browns/reds/purples.
The light isn’t great this morning in my north-facing work room. The morning sun is no longer quite reaching me – another clear sign of the turning season.
I’m enjoying the occasional ovals and cross-quarters on this year’s template.
As always, it looks far more complex than it really is. It’s mostly variations on straight stitch and running stitch, with a bit of blanket stitch, chain stitch, fly stitch and herringbone stitch thrown in. The edges of each daily section are mostly couched, usually silk boucle yarn or other textured yarns. Nothing very difficult here at all.
So on we go into September. I’m currently working on a sample to road-test the new template for 2026 – so far so good, I think, and I’m already quite excited about stitching it for real next year. The template will be available (probably) from early November; more on that later. Stay tuned 🙂
I hope you’ve enjoyed your own August daily stitching, if this is your thing. Have a lovely Sunday.
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A happy Sunday to you too.
Thank you for the insight about the distinction between weather and the seasons.
Here in the southern hemisphere I am relishing the signs of spring. New growth and more light.
ha, hello again to my northern hemisphere bias…
Apologies to everyone enjoying the start of spring – always a delicious time of year, all that new life and growth.
And thanks for the reminder that not everyone has autumn approaching 🙂
I like your August month of stitching very much. It’s my month – my birth month and I feel you have changed your daily samples a bit. And like your other commenter while you are forging into Autumn I am rushing into Spring (complete with storms and lots of rain)! But the Spring bulbs are looking wonderful and can’t wait to flower. (🤞🏻)
Have a wonderful September!
Mary:))
thank you Mary, and a (slightly belated) happy birthday to you. Watching the seasons change is one of my favourite things.
Karen, thank you for inspiring me to stitch every day. I look forward to seeing your daily posts on Bluesky and Instagram.
thanks so much Pat, I enjoy seeing your work too. Carry on raging against the machine 💪🏻😄
As another Northern Hemisphere stitcher, I am loving the mornings and evenings of long shadows. I am excited for next year’s stitching project and will be eagerly awaiting its reveal later this year! Your August stitching is lovely!
thanks so much Kat, I love the long shadows too. Summer is too hot for me most of the time, so I’m looking forward to cooler days. Next year’s stitching will be fun, I think 🙂
Wow, once again Karen, you have managed to cram in so much detail in the way of colour, texture and variation of stitches to leave a beautiful record of this long and often hot & dry summer month 😊
thanks so much Mags. It’s been so dry for months now, and the garden really needs a good long soak. Hopefully autumn will bring us some much-needed rain.
I love the combinations of stitches that you use in these pieces. And your use of color is excellent. I am going to endeavor to try this for next year as I like to have different pieces to work on when I have appointments and such. I usually get a few people who stop to admire my work and they always comment that their grandmother used to sew. Some are intrigued that someone is doing something other than being on the phone (which I do not own). I am a fan of yours and love seeing all of your lovely design ideas.
thanks so much Charlotte 😊 I hope you enjoy some gentle daily stitching; so much more interesting than scrolling on a phone! it’s nice that people are intrigued to see you stitching too.
August-I love your musings too. The temperature is still warm here but the subt
thanks so much Kathy, still pretty warm here too though thankfully not another heatwave!
Beautiful work-thanks for sharing
thanks so much Kathy
Thank you Karen. You have just made my Sunday much better! 🙏
ha, thanks so much. Glad to hear it 😊
Beautiful as always! Here in the Northern Plains of the US you can tell the seasons are changing by the slight color shifts in the prairie grass . I know your Sunday is quickly ending but I hope your week is wonderful. I am hoping for rain here too.
thanks so much, Georgayne, and wishing you a lovely week ahead too. It’s so good to be able to see the different colours in the landscape as the seasons change.
Utterly gorgeous Karen.
thanks so much Erica
Hi Karen,
I live in A beautiful part of Australia where the spring blossoms are now appearing. I stitch for the love of it and intend to follow your stitch journal but starting with the bright colours of my spring.
Thank you for the inspiration you bring.
My stitched scrolls, wound on to a wooden bobbin are a joy to stitch.
Regards
Jo
Josephine le Cheminant
that sounds perfect, Jo, thanks so much for this. It’s lovely to think that in the southern hemisphere spring is just around the corner while we’re looking forward to cosy autumn evenings up here in the north. There’s always something to love 🙂
Nothing very difficult, perhaps, but charming, textured, full of interest.
thanks so much. It always amazes me how expressive very simple stitches can be. Mark-making with thread, I think.