Do you cross stitch? Need advice

[kimblebee]

I have MS so sometimes I can't work on my project because I don't have the ability to hold the needle. I miss it on those days.

You are way braver than me if you throw your finished pieces in the washing machine. I personally would never do that. I always get mine professionally framed and I think she does wash it a special way.

What project is everyone working on? Mine is a Noahs Ark piece that I have been working on for a few years. It is really colorful and even uses sparkly thread. When it is completed it will be 27"x23" of mostly solid stitches.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

aww, you guys are making me miss cross stitching so much!

Me too! I adore cross stitching, but I just can't seem to find the time anymore. I'm going to have to find my stuff. I'm dying to start up again.

OP, the loop start is the best. You won't believe how much cleaner your "backside" (lol) is.

 

[NAB]

I love doing The Gold Collection ones by Dimensions.

Currently doing on called Cabin Fever. It has a log cabin with a dock by water and in the water you see the reflection of the cabin, trees and deer. I saw the finished product at the store I bought it at. Have a lot of winter scenes that I love of Victorian houses and horse and carriage type things.

Used to do them for Wedding presents with the bride and Grooms name but it got to expensive to frame and mat.

I have never ever washed any of my projects. I take it to Michael's they stretch it and it is good to go.

Another tip would be , if it is a big project...photo copy it in colour in smaller sections so you don't have to fold you orginal one. Folding that one too many times wears off the pattern on the paper where the folds.

And the first thing I do to my cloth is put masking tape all around. I think it says sew it so it doesn't fay this works and it is faster.

 

[Denine]

I have been doing counted cross stitch for around 30 years. I have never washed a project and never separated the strands. I always make a minor mistake somewhere and I think there is cat hair woven into each project. LOL!

It is tiresome when you get a thread that just wants to knot up no matter what you do.

I am currently working on Cinderella's Castle on the dark blue Aida. It has Tink at the top and fireworks. It will be really nice when it is done. Just hard to find the time to do it.

I do get my projects professionally framed.

 

[lovesmurfs]

aww, you guys are making me miss cross stitching so much! I used do it all the time but now if I even look at a needle my carpal tunnel starts to act up.

I miss it, too, for the same reason!

When I was first learning, my grandmother would come over and look at the back of my work -- she said that how neat the back was shows how good the needleworker was at cross-stitching. I would go out of my way to make sure only straight up and down stitches appeared on the back.

 

[pixiewings71]

Awwww cross stitch, how I love it. I had tendonitis in my wrist for a while (went to PT and everything) and was told to quit for a while, just last night I picked up the project I was working on, for my DGD who turned 1 in Feb....it's a birth sampler...LOL I would like to have it finished this weekend when I see them so I can give it to her finally. It's almost done, I just need to finish up the outlining and add her name to it so I should have it done, if not I'll take it and work on it over the weekend.

I do knot but ONLY when I'm doing outlining or straight stitches, for the cross stitches I always hold a bit under and stitch over it. It looks better on the back. I've done loads of cross stitches, they all have something "wrong" with them but it's not really wrong, it just makes them mine. I also sign them, with my initials and the date of completion.

 

[NAB]

Back stitching is my least favourite part. But I know that is what makes it pop.

 

[scrapquitler]

So I decided to try cross-stitching. I did needlepoint way back when but I've been eyeballing a cross stitch pattern for years and decided to give it a go.

It's so maddening! How do you prevent the floss from knotting up. I have the aida cloth on a stand up scroll frame. It's great when it goes smooth but then boom, knots on the backside.

Help!

your thread is probably too long. 12-18" max works for me. Every now and then pick up the piece, let the needle and thread dangle down and untwist itself, this helps prevent knots.

 

[scrapquitler]

about the colors...if you are using DMC and your local store only carries Anchor Threads or vice versa, and you need to buy more, look online for a color conversion chart, and you can figure out what DMC# corresponds with a particular Anchor#....not every single color has a match, but most do.

 

[phorsenuf]

A trick that I was taught for securing the thread is to take one long piece of thread ( 10-15") and match the ends up making a loop at the other end. Thread the needle with the 2 ends and pull the needle to the top of the fabric as usual. When you go back down, pull the needle through the loop of the thread on the backside of the thread. When you go back up again the thread will catch itself and will hold secure. Does that make sense? It makes the back of the fabric look a lot neater and it's easier than always having to make sure that you are catching the tail end of the thread in the first few new stitches.

Thank you so much for this tip! I finally got a chance to pick up my piece again and tried this. It has been flawless and I'm moving right along now with no swearing!

Thanks so much for all the tips and hints. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[snykymom]

All the pieces I have done have one or two very minor mistakes. I always think it makes the piece my own lol

The Amish, while quilting, would call these "humility squares" (they would also add an incorrect square or stitch intentionally), to remind themselves that only God can create perfection.