Cross Stitch Cafe 2011

Flat_Eric

well I have pondered for ages today what is going to be my commute to work project. It has to be something simple - few colour changes, chart easy to follow etc. The bookmark kit I got from a friend for xmas - well that was one of the contenders except I can't fathom the colours - It doesn't look like I have been supplied with enough thread to stitch eeyore unless they have changed the colour for him ??its a royal paris design and I couldn't work out where I was meant to start on the plastic canvas either so thats going to be a "do at home project".

Then it was going to be a card for a friend's special birthday but again too many colours and too much referring to chart needed. :mad:

so was getting very frustrated and about to hunt out the card kits I have got free with cross stitch mags when I had a :idea:

I have a simple bookworm bookmark design that was in a Cross Stitch Card Shop/Gift Shop Mag many moons ago. I've stitched the design twice so far and on both occasions, I have not followed the colours the kit specifies, I have instead used the variegated thread which means the bookmark turns out really unique :j

so planning to stitch on plastic canvas for a change (must keep back very neat) and will start this before bed tonight so that its all ready to carry on with when I get on the bus tomorrow.

As an aside project, I've this design here http://www.sewandso.co.uk/cgi-bin/find/db.cgi?db=zoom&uid=&Prod_Code=47726&ww=on&do=search_results so I've gone round the material to prevent fraying and may start this tonight also. Helpfully I have lost the colour chart but from the picture, I can work out whats what. Interestingly, sewandso are charging £2.69 for this kit, I paid £4.50 in the needlecraft shop I got it from :mad:

Finally, can I ask what fellow stitchers do when the piece of aida that has been supplied with your kit has been cut from the edge ? (so instead of having four edges to stitch up - you only have three because one is the edge of the material thus will not fray.) I guess I still have been given enough to stitch the design ? but it always worries me....

niamhirl

Originally Posted by caroline78
Quick wonder: How do you all stitch...do you do rows at a time, blocks of colour or what...

I start in the middle of the project then do the big blocks of the darkest colours first and work my way through that way. If there is any back stitch I do it as I go along. If there are any french knots to do I wait until the very end as I find the thread can get caught on them if I try to do them as I go along.

Now just have to figure out where to put my friends son's name on my Winnie the pooh pic. She is half nagaland so he has a long name to incoperate her nagalang heritage it's Joshua James Lhuviniu Paulam" I'll take a pic of it once I get new batteries for the camera and and ask all you lovely people for advice then.

23rdspiral

Apocasaver wrote: »

23rdspiral - what are the prices like in the shop in Rushden, is it cheaper than hobbycraft? I don't live too far away and I have no good stitching shops here, so might pop in if it's worth it.

"Knit or Sew" is small and local and the lady is nice and knows her stuff, she sells wool, printed 'patchwork' cushion panels (v.cheap), cross stitch kits, DMC thread and cheap but fine thread under the counter! you DO have to have a rummage though - often boxes of one thing are pilled upon boxes of another thing, all labelled, but be prepared to spend a little while making sure you've seen everything!

i've bought mini DMC varigated thread kits from there - but they were 1.50 not the 1.99 i saw online. i got my airplane safe thread cutter there and it was cheaper than online if i took into account postage.
i find the shop fine on prices, but i hardly ever go to hobby craft in Northampton as i'm usualy disapointed there.
She's not open every day, i think shut wednesday. it's been a few months since work has taken me to Rushden though. i dont think they've got a website, but the shop is at the 'asda' end of the high street, off a side street to the left - it has a board out front to help spot it.
3 Victoria Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 0AH
01933 413133

OH and if you're heading to Rushden on the weekend and like paper crafts and stationary, then you'd be wise to look up Colemans Warehouse... but consider yourself warned! :eek: :rotfl:do check their website as they havent always been open each weekend http://www.colemangroup.co.uk/Craft_home.htm

Flat_Eric wrote: »

We took our tree down today (well the OH did). Its nice to have everything back to normal but I do feel a little bit sad especially as I have to go back to work tomorrow

oh i cant bear to take down the tree untill After i've gone back to work - it's all just too depressing otherwise!

caroline78 wrote: »

Quick wonder: How do you all stitch...do you do rows at a time, blocks of colour or what...

usually from the centre, in blocks of colour usually outlining an obvious feature first.

caroline78

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Finally, can I ask what fellow stitchers do when the piece of aida that has been supplied with your kit has been cut from the edge ? (so instead of having four edges to stitch up - you only have three because one is the edge of the material thus will not fray.) I guess I still have been given enough to stitch the design ? but it always worries me....

I have always found that when this happens I actually have lots more material to work with...think they make the piece bigger than needed rather than cut away that finished edge.

Instead of tacking the edges of aida to stop it fraying I use pinking shears and cut round the material...seems to help and is a lot quicker.

*Louise*

vickietm wrote: »

Could I please have a as my daughter loves Tinkerbell and has started to point out the letter G (her name is Grace) everywhere so this would be ideal.

Just pm me your email addy

caroline78 wrote: »

Enjoying looking at all your designs..

Quick wonder: How do you all stitch...do you do rows at a time, blocks of colour or what...

I start in the centre and work towards the upper left, then work round clockwise usually, page by page if it's a big design.

Iggy1313 wrote: »

I never knew anyone hated backstitch! I LOVE IT!!! For me its when the picture really comes to life.

I do as well I lvoe seeing the colours just suddenly form the picture

vickietm

Flat_Eric wrote: »

This is a nice design - what is it called ? and how do you find stitching on black aida :eek:
y

Its a DMC Born Free design called Tiger and Cub. I don't find stitching on black all that bad to be honest as long as the light is right.

I'm a weird stitcher I think after seeing the ways most of you stitch. I 'have' to use all of the length in one go as far as I possibly can, this usually means that I have stitches all over the place in random places. It also means that it takes a while before a picture starts to form.

Mags_cat

*Louise* wrote: »

I do as well I lvoe seeing the colours just suddenly form the picture

Despite thinking that both you and Caroline are a bit odd for liking backstitch....:rotfl:

Thanks for the - I'll post a picture once it's done!

Flat_Eric

I've started both small projects....


Bookmark "Bookworm" I am stitching this on plastic canvas and using 3 stands of variegated thread. I am trying to keep the back as neat as possible ! I don't know if I will have room for the back stitch yet, I hope so !

and

Snaps Happy Birthday Card by Flat Eric on Flickr, on Flickr

This is the small dog design that I posted the sewandso link for above.

wallaby214

I have finished my black faced ram. I bought the kit whilst on holiday in Scotland and have finally got round to finishing it. I cannot post the picure on here yet as I have not had enough postings but I have put it on Flickr. I am now going to start a Noah's Ark birth sampler for my grandchild due in June. I think someone else on here has already completed it.

Ruth_honey

I quite like backstitch too.
Haven't got round to sorting out baby charts today. Something came up (yet more family dramas) so she'll have to have it after the baby is born. I doubt she'll mind. Gotta finish packing then off to Gloucester tomorrow for a few days, then a nice relaxing (I hope!) few days in a hotel in Swindon. Planning on making full use of the pool there, and off to watch an ice hockey game on Saturday. Will check in as often as I can.