Cross-stitch cafe 2010

maria_and_the_imps

ha ha glad you didnt do yourself any damage nmm

Keiss_21

Wow Ruth, glad to hear your Grandma is on the mend, quite a shock for you finding here there, but a godsend too!

Ruth_honey wrote: »

Back onto the subject of stitching, my Dad took me out to Evesham country park, which has a needlework shop.

I took my friend to Evesham Country Park last Tuesday!! We went into the needlework shop too...didn't buy anything as I have ordered lots online lately. The lady in there was very helpful though.

Well folks I am off to order all my threads from AcrossTownStitching, I may be some time...120 different colours to order :eek:. Also, might order a lap frame from Sew and So, as recommended by Louise.

Preparing to even get started on my Astronomer is going to take some time I expect, but I can't wait! :j

Have a good night stitching

*Louise*

Awwww.....I just got in not long ago(I work with a youth group a couple of nights a week) and found my cross stitch, my laptop and a big mug of tea all sitting waiting for me next to my sofa space

I knew I married that man for a reason :T

Just catching up on posts then going to settle down with my Lake pic to watch Glee at 10pm

Happy Days :j

Keiss_21

I have ordered my threads from AcrossTown! I made my total up to 150, to make use of the great bulk-buy deal. (£44 for 150 threads, works out as just just over 29p a skein....fantastic value!!) The extra threads I will use to make up a birthday card for DS2 next month...good planning eh!

Louise at AcrossTown was really helpful, being on-line this evening meant she could answer my questions immediately...so I didn't have to wait until tomorrow to order! One thing, which I let her know about: I find I can't use the website very well using Firefox, but using Internet Explorer, it works fine.

While typing all the threads I needed into a spreadsheet tonight, I copied all the chart pages, talk about multi-tasking! Now I have copies that are not double-sided, so I can place them in order...and find the blooming middle!! The picture seems to be 9 chart pages by 5 so I have plenty to keep me occupied until the threads arrive! I think I will mark out where the edges are of each chart page, that will make my life a bit easier. I was going to get some pens to do the marking, but I will just use coloured sewing thread...time-consuming, but I prefer it.

Oh and Louise, I have ordered the lap-frame from Sew and So..my plastic friend has taken quite a battering tonight!!

DH came in and found my chart copies tonight, so I had to tell him about the Astronomer...he thinks it is great and is really touched that I want to do such a big project for him!! I have warned him that it may not be ready for this Christmas though!!

Right, I have had an exciting evening and I really must get to bed....though I am still bouncing about with the anticipation of getting started.

I am really pleased to have found this thread...and blame you all entirely (well, some more than others!) for setting me up on this long project. I will have to get new batteries for my camera so I can keep you up-to-date with my progress - ooooh, I will never get to sleep tonight...it's just like Christmas! :rotfl:

Night, night

*Louise*

Omg Keiss you have been SOOO organised tonight!!!:j

Glad accrosstown could help you - I praise the day MRSM first posted about them lol, they should be paying her a commission :rotfl:

You will be glad you got the lap frame - little tip for you, when the fabric becomes less stiff, put a small sheet of paper under each of the clips and it will keep them really securely in place, rather than it loosening off too much.

I really don't think you could have hidden the piece you are making from your hubby. In a way it's better he knows, so he can see the progress you make with it and can appreciate how much work is going into it. Plus it saves having to hide it!

Your poor piece of plastic - it will need plenty of time to recover from the battering you have given it today!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

MRSMCAWBER

Morning all

Another catch up with a cuppa before I make a start on my sewing...

hmmmmmmm I have been so tempted to get a couple of those clip frames .... I can't use a lap stand though as it makes the sewing far to low down for me -am I the only one who has to have my sewing at boob level ?:p
I will have a little more of a ponder about the frames as Im fed up with keep breaking hoops from having to have them sooo tight (the one Im on at the moment has started to crack -so its only a matter of time before it pings:rotfl:)
Keiss -well done on getting sorted :T-I don't know if you do it yet -but can I suggest that you put each thread into a bank bag with the number and symbol on (so much easier than thread sorters) and with the HAE chart having so many colours I have split my bags into groups according to the kind of symbol-so all the :-
a, b,c etc are clipped together
1, 2, 3 etc " "
those that are coloured in are together
circles, triangles, squares etc all together
so that when you are looking for a colour you don't have to go through the whole lot -just the little bundle it belongs to;)
There is no wonder it takes me a full day to put all the threads back from the project I have just finished and to get the new stuff out and organised :rotfl:-mind -it speeds things up once you get going.... plus it keeps the threads clean -and you can just stand them all up in a big ice-cream tub etc -and pop the lid back on when folk interrupt

nmm -I have done that a couple of times before too -and forgot I had my scissors in my hand and gone to scratch my head ...glad you didn't hurt your eye.

*louise* -now THATS a hubby :T- I have one the same... making me cuppas when he is at home so I don't have to "disturb my stuff"

purple115 Sorry I could only see that chart on ebay yesterday... never seen that chart before -hope you can find it

chickywiggle -thats some great work you have done -no wonder your mum was so pleased :T

Right -enough waffle -off to get some sewing done..have a great day everyone...

elliep_2

Mrs M - I have my sewing at boob level too, and I use a symphony frame. It's essentially a scroll frame but the fabric clamps in really securely and easily. The only downside is that you can't really use it on a project where the fabric is less than about 30 cm tall. I love my frane though, the bottom bar protects the work from my grubby clothes and the frame is so quick and simple to load up with a new project, and packs up long and thin really easily for transport. (I promise I don't work for symphony, and I'll try to get some pictures after work.)

harley1

Ah, Ellie. I appear to have a Symphony frame, with the little dowel thingy. But I can't see how to put it together. I've had a quick search online but can't see anything.

If you have time could you direct me to some instructions.

(You'd never believe I'm an engineer - I'm blaming Baby brain)

xxxxx

sweetcarer

[QUOTE=chickywiggle;29209137]Hi all,


Bit of a question tho...... the magnets, coaster and keyrings are too thin - I have had to use sellotape to keep the 2 sides together - are there special ones you need to buy that are deeper???[/QUOTE]


What about laminating them?


Hope your gran gets better soon Ruth Honey

Mrs Mac - I have my sewing at boob level too. More comfy I feel - less neck strain

Elliep - why not try "in the well" (see my pics of floral alphabet) it keeps pattern clean only back gets dirty and you will be washing it anyway.

sweetcarer

Keiss_21

*Louise* wrote: »

I praise the day MRSM first posted about them lol, they should be paying her a commission. I agree on that one!

*Louise* wrote: »

:rotfl:
You will be glad you got the lap frame - little tip for you, when the fabric becomes less stiff, put a small sheet of paper under each of the clips and it will keep them really securely in place, rather than it loosening off too much. Thanks for that, a good tip.
I really don't think you could have hidden the piece you are making from your hubby. In a way it's better he knows, so he can see the progress you make with it and can appreciate how much work is going into it. Plus it saves having to hide it! I could then have got him to do the photocopying...I went through an inkcartridge last night :eek: (got it less than 1/3 full price, so not so bad!) - didn't do economy setting as I needed a clear print.
Your poor piece of plastic - it will need plenty of time to recover from the battering you have given it today!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:..I also did a Lakeland order.;;.so no spending for at least the next 4 weeks!!

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

mm I have been so tempted to get a couple of those clip frames I'll let you know how I get on with it!
Keiss -well done on getting sorted :T-I don't know if you do it yet -but can I suggest that you put each thread into a bank bag with the number and symbol on (so much easier than thread sorters)

MRSMCAWBER wrote: »

....so that when you are looking for a colour you don't have to go through the whole lot - just the little bundle it belongs to. A great tip, I was going to make my own thread sorters, by printing enlarged thread guides and laminating them. Then all I would need to do is punch holes to take the threads. I like your idea...I think we have a collection of bank bags...otherwise I will get some when I am out today. I always have kept my work in plastic bags, using zip-lock bags in recent years. That's why when I found some of my UFOs they were nice and clean.

Thanks for the great tips Mrs M and Louise, you are my guiding lights in all things cross-stitch!

I woke up this morning still in a bouncy mood, been pottering about getting various things done and looking forward to doing some fabric preparation this afternoon.

Have the Murray vs Nadal match playing on the computer at the mo - Murray is serving for the first set, really exciting already! Will have to switch to the radio if I want to get more tidying up done this morning though!

I have the physio at 10.30 this morning, so will get a wriggle on so I can have this afternoon free.

Thanks guys for all your help and advice so far....I expect I will need you lots when I actually get started!

Oh, oh, Andy Murray has won the first set! :T:T