QUESTIONS COVERED (just click to pop to the answer):
- Is this free like last year?
- How do I join?
- Where do I start?
- Do I need to join the Peppermint Purple CLUB or buy a companion pack to participate in the SAL?
- What is the Peppermint Purple Club?
- How can I join the Members Area?
- What count material is recommended?
- How many strands should I use - 1 seems really thin?
- What size material do I need?
- Can I create my own layout and/or colours ?
- I have created my own layout/border - can I share it?
- When are the weekly releases made available?
- Are the Blackwork and Cross Stitch/Blackwork fillers all on the same file?
- I don't like this weeks provided filler - can I change it?
- I am considering joining the Facebook group, but what are the group rules?
- I missed a week, where can I find it to download it?
- The PDF is all in English, but I need another language
- Where are the Borders?
- What are the Companion Packs?
- Can I do the 2022 SAL?
- What size material will I need?
Is this free like last year?
YES!
How do I join?
You can either join the Facebook Group, or join the Members Area here on the website. Both will have access to all the weekly fillers, however anything optional eg. Borders, are only available in the Members Area
Where do I start?
Once you have joined the instructions can be viewed:
Do I need to join the Peppermint Purple CLUB or buy a Companion Pack to participate in the SAL?
No - both of those are optional.
What is the Peppermint Purple Club?
This is not related to the 2023 sal, but you will see it mentioned. It is a membership club I offer with free patterns monthly and discounted purchases; details can be found by clicking here. You DO NOT need to be a Club member to participate in the SAL.
How can I join the Members Area?
Please Click Here to request to participate - it's all free !
What count material is recommended?
If you are new to Blackwork then I recommend 14ct aida. If you are an experienced stitcher then feel free to use your normal counted material.
How many strands should I use - 1 seems really thin?
I recommend 1 strand of floss....it seems thin but just trust me.
Some people do prefer a thicker look though and if you prefer to use 2 strands then please do, this is your creation and you have to love it.
If you are doing the cross stitch/blackwork filler option then I recommend 2 strands for the cross stitches...Top tip: if you want to not keep swapping between 1 and 2 strands on your needle, then do your first / of the cross stitch, then do it again, and then do two \ with your 1 strand of floss.
What size material do I need?
The layout pack will tell you the more common count sizes on the front page. Please allow extra for a material border. If your count of material is not stated then the stitch count is also on the front page and be used in the Material Calculator.
If you are using any of the provided borders, the sizes and stitch counts are also on the front page of these pdfs.
Can I create my own layout and/or colours ?
ABSOLUTELY ! Part of the fun is seeing everyones creations
I have created my own layout/border - can I share it?
Yes - Once you have access to the Members Area you will find all of the Members Borders/Layouts in there and there is a link to submit any you design.
When are the weekly releases made available?
Every wednesday at 8:30am GMT both in the 2023 Members Area and on Facebook.
The Summary files are provided on the friday after the last wednesday of the month (the individual weekly files will then be removed the following Monday).
Are the Blackwork and Cross Stitch/Blackwork fillers all on the same file?
Yes they are, and you can do whichever you prefer, or both, or a mixture etc
I don't like this weeks provided filler - can I change it?
You can personalise fillers eg, add initals, dates etc, but if you change the actual fill itself then please obscure this in photos as I end up with lots of emails behind the scenes. People think there are alternatives, they have the wrong week etc. and they just cause confusion.
I am considering joining the Facebook group, but what are the group rules?
These can be found by Clicking Here
I missed a week, where can I find it to download it?
All of the fillers are, at the end of the month, consolidated into Summary files - these can be found in both the members area and the Files in the facebook group. These summary files are created on the friday after the last wednesday of every month, and the individual files are then removed the monday after. After that time the only way to get the individual files is by purchasing a Companion Pack as access to them all year round is one of the perks of the packs.
The PDF is all in English, but I need another language
Unfortunately I am unable to cater for all languages, however there is a little known service, provided by google, which will allow you to upload a pdf and choose the language to translate it into. Please Click Here to use this service.
Where are the Borders?
The borders are in the 2023 Members Area. These are not released to the facebook group as they are optional and facebook only contains the required files, this allows me to provide Member provided borders without cluttering up the group files.
What are the Companion Packs?
These are different SAL layouts and borders provided in addition to the free ones. They are completely optional and are not required to be purchased in order for you to participate. Click Here to view the Companion Packs
Can I do the 2022 SAL?
This sal is now over, however it is available to purchase here: View the 2022 SAL
What size material will I need?
This will depend on the layout you have chosen. The very front page of the layout pack will have the 'stitched area' dimensions on it, please then allow a working border. If needed, a calculator can be found here.