Cross-stitch cafe 2010

shelly

Dorastar wrote: »

Still lopsided - and walking like Mrs Overall in Acorn antiques! Am doing 15 minutes of housework moving around followed by 15 minutes of school work or stitching which involve sitting still, hope fully will be on the mend soon

I hope you feel better soon Dora.

*Louise* wrote: »

LOVING this design!!!!:j:j:j

I am not surprised! I love it, the colours are just my cup of tea.

frugalfreda wrote: »

Hi, I am new to this thread but have been following *stalking* this thread for a few weeks now

I have started a birth sampler and am using a hoop to hold it taut but it is annoying me - it is not taut and I keep getting the thread caught underneath. I see from some of your pictures that some of you have holders. Assume they come from Hobbycraft or similar but how much are they approximately please?

I use one of these frames http://www.sewandso.co.uk/ran997-0.html



Mupette. Love the shed, coming along nicely.


AFM....job offer fell through When I heard the news yesterday I had to put my stitching away because I was so disappointed I couldn't concentrate. I took it out on the ironing instead....got it all done :rotfl:

*Louise*

Aw shelly, sorry to hear that (((hugs)))

Charliec45

*Louise* wrote: »

It comes apart easily and can be stored flat, I find it useful cos I can stick it in a bag and take it to my mums to get some extra work done while I chat

And the fast stitching I put down to two things:

1- The frame - I can use two hands now which is not only faster but stops me getting a clicky wrist

2- Water erasable pen to mark off the 10x10 squares, it's so much quicker to count little sections, plus if I do make a mistake I will spot it faster.

Stitching time varies, but if I am really into a design I can easily do a full 3 hours in the evenings while watching the tv.

Ah right ok that makes sense - especially as the squirrel that I am working on is getting complicated already and I am losing track of where I am! Where can I get such a marvellous pen from?! I spend a similar amount of time in the evenings sewing but don't seem to make as much progress as you do! I'll keep plodding on! I don't think I can wait until Christmas for the frame - may have to treat myself!

I haven't tried that method with the hoop - although I know what you mean about tightening it because it just doesn't seem to get the fabric as tight as it used to!

shelly

Charliec45 wrote: »

Ah right ok that makes sense - especially as the squirrel that I am working on is getting complicated already and I am losing track of where I am! Where can I get such a marvellous pen from?!

If like me you don't want to wash/rinse your completed design you can also get disappearing ink pens. I have found the time they take disappear varies depending on the temperature. For instance, in the hot weather we had the ink was gone in less than 1 hour, in cold weather like it is now the ink will last for a few days.

I use mine for plotting the course of stitches if they are a bit here, there and everywhere on the design.
I got mine from a local fabric shop but they can be bought online too.

niamhirl

I'm almost finished a height chart for my nephew/niece that is due in January, I found the new baby samplers or kits were either too twee for my tastes or very expensive for what they included. Well, I only have the french knots left to do, which I'm nervous about as they always go a bit skew wiff with me. The plan is to add name and date once the wee one is born, although I hope I haven't tempted fate by having it nearly done already.
I'm looking for something sutiable for my Dad's 60th birthday in April and a ruby wedding anniversary sampler for my parents for next August. The ones I've found so far are all very twee - which doesn't really fit them. I half thought of something to do with, horse riding, skiing or sailing all passions of theres. The other plan was to see if I could get one of those photo kits. I took a lovely photo of their farm house in the snow last Christmas and then I could maybe add their names and date on the door in white. I'll figure out a way of including pics and post them a.s.a.p. and then you can advise and tell me what you think.

P.S. I haven't looked at across town for kits yet like some of you suggested as the site wasn't working. I've now figured out that it works with internet explorer but not if you use Mozilla Firefox, which is weird.

Charliec45

Right thanks for all of the advice I have now purchased a 'wipe off' fabric marker that dissolves in cold water http://cuddlybuddly.com/shop/v775-hemline-wipe-off-fabric-marking-pen/ so hopefully it works - I will try it on a sample first just in case! So hopefully this will speed things along a bit I am just worrying cos of Christmas fast approaching! I am sure it will all be fine! Can't afford the frame at the moment really so will have to wait and see what Santa gets me!

Keiss_21

niamhirl wrote: »

P.S. I haven't looked at across town for kits yet like some of you suggested as the site wasn't working. I've now figured out that it works with internet explorer but not if you use Mozilla Firefox, which is weird.

I found that too...annoying isn't it!

frugalfreda

Hi Ladies

Thanks for your replies. It is nice to meet you all.

I like the look of the frame in Keiss21's post but that would have to be one for the Christmas list - the one in Shelly's post looks good as well and would definitely be better than my hoop. The bolt on my hoop is so stiff that I struggle to tighten it. The birth sampler is quite fiddly - with lots of quarter stitches (I think that's what they are called!) and I am still a bit of a novice with a 2 year break in between my last project!

Dorastar

Feeling a bit more like myself - thanks for all the good wishes on here - and have go a whole day stitching to look forward to tomorrow. Dh has got the kids and I can stitch with a lot of other ladies and sit in calm and peace and be brought cups of tea - absolute bliss

Mupette

Those marker pens that wipe off fabric,

I read the post and on Thursday afternoon had a look, popped on ebay and saw one there for just over £2 bought it and got it yesterday morning

Although not a fan of ebay i am finding lots of cross stitch bargains there