Cross Stitch Cafe 2012

flowerofscotland

*Louise* wrote: »

He is great - we are going to Edinburgh Zoo (£50+ for a family) and going to visit Royal Yacht Britannia. It's one of those attractions which is almost on the doorstep but we never get round to seeing, DS2 will love it...I'm just going for a nosey lol, see how the other half live :rotfl:






Done - good luck with the likes!



That is gorgeous!!! :happyhear

Would look great just with some random tropical fish dotted about

Hmm...I'm sure there was a tropical fish design library type thing in a magazine not so long ago?

Have a great day out.

I was thinking that the sealife fabric would be fabulous for a mermaid design (Mirabilia or Joan Elliott)

flowerofscotland

lancs-lady wrote: »

Morning all

Just a quick question, does anyone use one of those magnetic boards, and if so are they any good?

I was just looking at this one on the Sew and Sew site:-

http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/7-x-10-Magnetic-Board__DMC-M230.aspx

I used to use one of these before I got a lamp with a chart holder arm I found it useful for keeping track of where I was on a chart

subtle_minx

I think that is the one I have. I find it useful for smaller charts. Think I need to get a bigger one to be honest, especially for mag charts. In the end I seem to mainly lean the mag on the side of the sofa and mark off with an erasable highlighter. (all the pilot frixion pens rub out and are fab in a range of colours and nibs).

flowerofscotland

shelly wrote: »

Hi ladies.

Here's CC slide all done, well it's as finished as it's ever going to be. In the end I only left out the backstitching on the hogs jumper. It looked too harsh, looks much better without it. Haven't ironed it yet, will do so when the iron is out next.

This has really turned out well - you must be delighted

lancs-lady_2

subtle_minx wrote: »

I think that is the one I have. I find it useful for smaller charts. Think I need to get a bigger one to be honest, especially for mag charts. In the end I seem to mainly lean the mag on the side of the sofa and mark off with an erasable highlighter. (all the pilot frixion pens rub out and are fab in a range of colours and nibs).

Thats what I do at the minute, just lean my chart on the side. Thought one of those holders might be easier though as it always falls off the side!

Might be a nice idea for a new topic - your favourite place to stitch.

We have a 3 and 2 seater settee and I always sit on the 2 seater. I used to have a bookcase in the corner next to it, where I would put my coffee/wine (depending on what time of day it is!), my scissors, pin cushion and all other stitching paraphernalia. I've moved my bookcase now somewhere else and am missing it. Think I need a little side table now. If I sit on the 3 seater, then partner and DD will just get in my way bless them.

Shelly - love the CC design. It takes me back to when I first started stitching. I watched someone at work doing it in her lunch hour and thought I really want to do that. A CC kit was the first kit I picked up, and not having the slightest idea of what to do with it, I started stitching the chart to the fabric! I've no idea what I was thinking of or how I thought it would work out, but thats what I thought you did! How you live and learn lol.

Might be another nice idea for a topic - how did you start this lovely hobby and why? Maybe what was your first kit/design you did.

flowerofscotland

lancs-lady wrote: »

Thats what I do at the minute, just lean my chart on the side. Thought one of those holders might be easier though as it always falls off the side!

Might be a nice idea for a new topic - your favourite place to stitch.

We have a 3 and 2 seater settee and I always sit on the 2 seater. I used to have a bookcase in the corner next to it, where I would put my coffee/wine (depending on what time of day it is!), my scissors, pin cushion and all other stitching paraphernalia. I've moved my bookcase now somewhere else and am missing it. Think I need a little side table now. If I sit on the 3 seater, then partner and DD will just get in my way bless them.

Shelly - love the CC design. It takes me back to when I first started stitching. I watched someone at work doing it in her lunch hour and thought I really want to do that. A CC kit was the first kit I picked up, and not having the slightest idea of what to do with it, I started stitching the chart to the fabric! I've no idea what I was thinking of or how I thought it would work out, but thats what I thought you did! How you live and learn lol.

Might be another nice idea for a topic - how did you start this lovely hobby and why? Maybe what was your first kit/design you did.

Great question

I have created a stitching nook for myself at one end of the 3 seater sofa - nearest the window so that I can get natural light where possible. I have a stitching lamp with halogen bulbs - there is an up-lighter for maximum light and a small directional lamp plus a magnifier (essential these days!) and a chart holder all o n the same stand. I have various pairs of scissors on stitched scissor fobs hanging over the arms of the lamp and then next to the arm of the sofa are 2 wicker baskets (one on top of the other) which contain various bits of stitching stash. The top is the site of various stitching essentials including pincushions, pencils, needles etc plus a (stitched) coaster for the essential refreshments. With a bin for the bits of thread and a rack which holds magazines and remotes near my feet I could spend hours there.
I have various cushions on the couch I use but opposite me on the 2 seater couch is an assortment of stitched cushions which I can enjoy as I stitch - these are always removed when we have visitors as they are definitely not for use
Can you tell I would rather be there now?

maria_and_the_imps

Favourite place to stitch

on the 2 seater sofa with the tele on, i have a little table for my tea and stuff and a little basket with my current project in, i also cant have anyone sitting with me as i like to spread out, but my all time favourite place is in bed with a film on

How i started cross stitiching

Mum taught me when i was very young but i never fell in love with it and didnt keep it up and just did occasional bits and bobs, and then 4 years ago i was having a very tough time (many of you know why) and i needed something to keep my mind occupied so i went off to hobby craft at my mums suggestion and brought a flower fairies kit, which drove me mad and nearly got thrown out the window a few time and i vow never to do one again (unless its really pretty!) but i finished it in the end and that was it i had the bug.

shelly

Thanks for all the nice comments ladies re the slide

Ruth_honey wrote: »

That looks great, Shelly. I customised a CC kit when I stitched a football themed one for my Dad's 50th. Changed the shirt colours to green as he's a Plymouth Argyle fan. It makes you feel very creative making the design 'yours' doesn't it?

Yes, even though it was quite a small change I made it felt huge IYKWIM. Usually I change charts all the time, it's rare for me to follow charts exactly but it's usually 1 stitch here or 2 stitches there.

lancs-lady wrote: »

Morning all

Just a quick question, does anyone use one of those magnetic boards, and if so are they any good?

I was just looking at this one on the Sew and Sew site:-

http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/7-x-10-Magnetic-Board__DMC-M230.aspx

I was thinking of getting a magnetic board a while ago but in the end I bought 2 clip boards instead. This is the type as I prefer the large clip at the top (though I use it with the clip at the side) http://www.staples.co.uk/office-supplies/filing/clip-boards/hardboard-clipboards/hardboard-clipboard-a4?r=se
I bought an A4 size for smaller charts and a bigger one for bigger charts.
This then leans on the arm of my 2 seater and hubbys 3 seater, spanning the gap between the 2.

subtle_minx wrote: »

I think that is the one I have. I find it useful for smaller charts. Think I need to get a bigger one to be honest, especially for mag charts. In the end I seem to mainly lean the mag on the side of the sofa and mark off with an erasable highlighter. (all the pilot frixion pens rub out and are fab in a range of colours and nibs).

Thanks for mentioning the erasable highlighters. Something else I didn't know I needed until someone mentioned them :rotfl:
I usually mark off my photocopied chart with pencil purely because I can rub it out when I colour in the wrong section but it's messy. These will be much better. So now I'm off to google for erasable pens and highlighters

shelly

I forgot to answer the 2 questions so here goes.

Favourite place to stitch

I only stitch in one place in the house and that's on my 2 seater sofa next to the french doors. It lets in lots of lovely natural light on a good day but when it goes cloudy I have a spot light in the ceiling directly above me which is brilliant. My frame stands in front of me with my clipboard on the arm of the sofa to my right. All my threads and bits and pieces that are essential to a good stitching session are spread out beside me to my left.
I'm very conscious of keeping my stitching clean so at the end of the day it's all tidied away and put in the footstool which also houses spare stitchy stuff.


How I started

If memory serves me correctly I got started by buying a couple of kits when I was a teenager because I liked the look of them. They were Forever Friends bears, a boy bear in pj's and a girl bride bear. Then I think I forgot about stitching for years. Meeting hubby and getting to know him was more exciting and took all my spare time
Once we moved in together and settled into life I remembered I liked stitching so done it now and then. Didn't get back into it properly/regularly until moving to this house and finding myself without employment.
Now I can't imagine not having stitching in my life daily.

chickywiggle

lancs-lady wrote: »

Morning all

Just a quick question, does anyone use one of those magnetic boards, and if so are they any good?

I was just looking at this one on the Sew and Sew site:-

http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/7-x-10-Magnetic-Board__DMC-M230.aspx

I used to........until i put it in a safe place...... if only i could remember where that is.

tho mine was a small one and not that great for a4+ projects.


Favourite place to stitch

in bed.

cause i can get comfy, spread my stuff out and watch the telly.
(i don't use a frame just a hoop).

How I started

my mum and sister had taken it up and i went home one weekend and they shew me how. I looked tho my mums mags and thought "ohhhh I'd like to stitch that...and that..... and that".
For christmas (a month or so later) so bought me a magnetic board (mentioned above), fabric measuring ruler and a large care bears kit. Which I c0c*ed up - ended up ripping all the fabric cause i didn't know stitch unpickers existed and tried to use scissors. + coloured in the original chart!! obviously i know better now!!

hmm sooo conflicting priorities tonight. I MUST get my finance form updated so I know what is coming in and out our accounts. yet I want to stitch :-(

might stitch then do finance sheet with kids running around in the morning.



ohhhhh did someone mention erasable highlighter??? off to gooogle.