For the Birds series by Blackbird Designs Stitch-A-Long

For the Birds is the newest in the Loose Feathers Series for 2017 offered by the Blackbird Design ladies, Barb Adams and Alma Allen. The first in the series of nine is called It's Spring Fever. They will be releasing one a month for the next nine months. Each chart will be 91w x 91h and will be stitched in various colors of linen. As the information becomes available, I will add it. If you are wanting to stitch this series as all one piece, scroll down to see the one Carla Coburn is stitching on one piece of 32ct PTP Legacy linen. For the most part, she is using the DMC colors.

Corrections to All the Hills Echoed

BBD For the Birds series SAL - Facebook Group

Stitch Count: 91h 91w

Design Size:

14/28ct - 6 1/2 x 6 1/2
16/32ct - 5 3/4 x 5 3/4
18/36ct - 5 x 5

If you are stitching these as individual pieces make sure and add 3 inches to each side for the framing. If you plan to stitch these on all one piece, use the design size and the layout you select to figure your fabric need.

It's Spring Fever

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Wren by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works

Colors Needed for ALL of the charts

Beige (DMC 739)
Blue Jeans (DMC 931)
Caper (DMC 935)
Charcoal (DMC 3021)
Chesapeake (DMC 924)
Cinnabar (DMC 3859)
Collards (DMC937)
Cocoa (DMC 869)
Confederate Gray (DMC 647)
Deep Sea (DMC 930)
Dirt Road (DMC 420)
Fathom (DMC 939)
Flat Fish (DMC 3790)
Jay Bird (DMC 932)
Loden (DMC 830)
Oscar (DMC 3011)
Pamlico (DMC 645)
Pelican Gray (DMC 926
Sandcastle (DMC 422)
Sanguine ((DMC407)
Schneckley (DMC 831)
Terrapin (DMC 535)
Cadet (DMC 502)
Taupe (DMC 3023)

The Light Upon the Lawn

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Ale by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works (same as above)

She Sights a Bird

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Oaken by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works (same as above)

All the Hills Echoed

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Oaken by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works (same as above)

Sing a Song of Seasons

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Wren by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works (same as above)

Pleasure of the Fleeting Year

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Ale by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works (same as above)

Hear the Crickets Sing

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Ale by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works (same as above)

The Summer Beaming Forth

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Oaken by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works

The Last Ripe Berries

Recommended Fabric: 36ct Wren by Picture This Plus
Recommended Threads: Weeks Dye Works (same as above)

For the Birds series stitched on one piece of fabric.
Photo Courtesy of Lori Bryant Bylsma

And for a completely different way of finishing this series, see Sewing Basket.

Stitching For the Birds on one piece of fabric

Stitch Count for 3 across and 3 down would be 273 x 273 PLUS the number of stitches you want to leave between each row/column. Draw it out on a piece of paper with the number of stitches between rows and columns and figure out your final count. To that you will have to add how much you want all around for framing and extra space. I usually leave 3" on each side.

If you leave 4 stitches between each row/column that makes the design area 281 x 281. On 14ct AIda, that makes the design size 20 1/8 x 20 1/8. Adding 3"to all sides give you a piece of fabric 26 1/8 x 26 1/8. DOUBLECHECK. There are some stores that will cut the exact size you need especially if you have a LNS.

Thank you Cristina de Negueruela for providing this table on the amount of floss used to stitch this design. These are the threads she used for 3 ct, 2 over 2. If you were to stitch it with 1 over 1 you would need half the number of threads

Amount of floss needed for stitching For the Birds series.