Cross Stitch Cafe 2012

flowerofscotland

KatyLiz wrote: »

Also I seem to have lost the ability to do french knots, I've never had a problem in the past, but I just kept pulling them through and having to start again. Any tips? I'm trying to think what I'm doing differently to normal, but I'm stumped!!

Have a look at the stitch animation on The Victoria Sampler site - it may help.

Are you stitching on aida or evenweave? If aida it may help to stitch through the fabric rather than through the hole if you see what I mean (you may need a sharp needle to do this).

I love the effect of French knots but I agree they can be a pain to do. There is always the alternative of small seed beads instead

flowerofscotland

benny1981 wrote: »

march wall 7th by XS77, on Flickr

Wed update.

Finished my sampler about 5 mins ago, just to wash and frame now, could be a bit difficult as I broke my left wrist at the weekend. Thank goodness for my lapframe - I can still stitch 1 handed and dont have to hold anything!! Whoop!

Thanks to all who sent me through ballerinas, I have decided to do The Passion of the Dance as nudged by *Louise*. I wanted something quite big and this seems like it'll be just right, I am going to chart it tonight and sort the threads. Since housework and other such boredom is off the plans now I can stitch stitch stitch!!!! I'll be slowed down obv but have about 10 x more time to do it!

Right off to catch up with the thread!

Benny - sorry to hear about your wrist - hope it is not too painful and the extra stitching time is some compensation

Your Irish sampler is lovely

*Louise*

KatyLiz wrote: »

I'd never stitch anything twice though, once is enough for me, so I'm not too bothered not to have a copy.


Also I seem to have lost the ability to do french knots, I've never had a problem in the past, but I just kept pulling them through and having to start again. Any tips? I'm trying to think what I'm doing differently to normal, but I'm stumped!!

I never do anything twice either, in fact the only thing exception to that rule in the 15 years I have been stitching is this map of Scotland. I was making it for myself but ended up giving it to my Uncle who moved to America, so I had to make another for myself.




Regarding the french knots, as mentioned by flowerofscotland, it helps if you don't go back through the same hole your thread came through. It's easier on evenweave, just to move one hole away but on aida you would have to split the fabric. Even one strand is enough to hold it in place.

*Louise*

*Louise* wrote: »

On the stitching front, I am feeling slightly frustrated. A freind asked me to stitch a Royal Regiment of Scotland cap badge for him but I can't find a chart on the net ANYWHERE. (Have even emailed companies asking if they will be stocking it anytime soon)

Finally managed to upload a pic (thanks Soulie) but it's massive! I tried making it smaller but I lose all the writing. I edited what I could on a 9x7 picture and now I can't get it to print out (it didn't look all that great anyway, I was just practicing with it). Have shut the programme down in disgust lol

I'm now going to try and chart it myself freehand, see how that works out

He better flipping appreciate it!!:mad::rotfl:

Ha - who needs computer programmes! :rotfl:

Spent last night working on this, chuffed to bits I managed to chart it ('specially that crown!! :eek:) just need to stitch it now

shelly

*Louise* wrote: »

Ha - who needs computer programmes! :rotfl:

Spent last night working on this, chuffed to bits I managed to chart it ('specially that crown!! :eek:) just need to stitch it now

Nice work!! Can't wait to see the finished piece.

postingalwaysposting

Good luck with the homemade chart Louise :j

I have just done a lot of gardening out the front and I am now going to go and sit infront of the box and stitch. I would clean my car but after that gardening and taking the dog for a walk my ankle hurts again

QueenB.

Well DS1 is off school ill so I have a bit more off an excuse to sit and get some stitching in, especially as it is such a beautiful day.

Benny sorry about your wrist, i hope its not too painful:(, but yay on the extra stitching:j plus you have made me even more determined to buy that lap frame as I hadn't thought of the positive of still being able to stitch if one hand/wrist in injuried.

Louise great work on that chart, i'm looking forward to seeing it complete.

I also always use the loop method unless the doing a blending bit or using metalics, I always start in the middle, as when I started stitching I had one or two mistakes and ran out of material:o I normally try to leave the white/cream parts till last, only because finishing the darker parts keeps me more motivated. When I begin a project I put everything i need threads, charts, tools and the project itself an A4ish see through plastic box with lid that way everything is at hand and protected and easy to transport if needed.

Normally i just colour in a chart with a highlighter but if using a book then its pencil or using magnetic strips. I have stitched one or two designs more than once but they are normally small designs for cards or quick and easy ones.

I had to unpick some stitching last night but luckily it wasn't to much so didn't take to long.

Happy Thursday stitching everyone:)

Soulie

Evening all, just a quick visit!

Finished the FF bear last night. Now I remember why I hate small cover kits so much, apart from the fact there is never enough thread, the backstitch is a pain and worse than with larger pieces!

Anyways, here he is last night before I washed him. Will iron him and make in to a card tomorrow.
Hopefully you can't tell too much where I had to colour match some of the pink threads, or where I had to use the same shade of one thread twice on the body as I didn't have a matching one lol

And, I know I have posted this before, but not with the yellow border that I added. I popped this in the post to my Mum, where she laminated it for me as where she works they have big industrial laminators.
She took it up to the church today, as today would have been Steven's 24th birthday.
Will be having a few of these :beer: for him tonight!

postingalwaysposting

Souile, that FF looks very nice finsihed, I can't see the diffrences in the shades, unless you point them out...

postingalwaysposting wrote: »

I have just done a lot of gardening out the front and I am now going to go and sit infront of the box and stitch. I would clean my car but after that gardening and taking the dog for a walk my ankle hurts again

Did a little bit but not much, got a bit into some of the quiz/challenge programs :rotfl: But here is an update from me. You can't see that much of a difference but on my coloured in charts you can.

I take copys of all my charts and use he copys and colour it in with those cheap thick markers you can buy (6 for £1) I like to try and use a different colour on each sitting so I can see how much I have done. My charts are on the back of the living room door set out in order, those of you who has attempted/completed a Al's kit will know what I mean.

The problem is sometimes yesterday/today I have touched my marker onto my adia, you can see the brown dot halfway up on the right. I have tried it with vanish but it will not budge :mad: I am hoping one stitched the framers will be able to place the mount just on the edge of/butted up to the stitching to cover up the spot

Anyways...

Last time you saw it....


Today...

QueenB.

Soulie you really can't tell about the threads and it looks lovely, personally I hate doing backstitch no matter what size the design but I do love the way a design suddenly comes to life when the backstitch is added.

PAP your london design is really coming on wonderfully, is it a piece for yourself or a gift for someone?

DS1 still not getting any better but got some stitching down when he slept. Hopefully I will be finished in the next couple of weeks, I will post a progress piccie on Monday.