Cross Stitch Cafe - stitching out of 2012 and into 2013...

Stitcher

There have been lots of beautiful stitching (and Christmas decorations!) pictures put on here. You are all a really talented bunch :j

Thank you FlowersofScotland - thats a good idea for a girl sampler....will spend a nice hour or so looking for some motifs in magazines to make one!

Couldsavemore - a hello to you! I only recently found this forum and like looking at the beautiful pictures on here. I'm waiting until I've posted enough and then I can start putting some up. I think I might know the penguin you are going to do and its gorgous!

Ailsb - thats a beautiful tree. I really like the way the different stitches all come together to make one tree. Haven't seen anything like that before.:)

Could I ask your advice - when you do a large piece, do you stitch around the edges to stop it from fraying? Would a blanket stitch be okay?

couldsavemore_2

have spent the evening stitching, very relaxing.

i could do with using some sort of frame or loop etc. what do you all use, i havent done a lot of xstitch over the last few years and im not sure what to use for the best. any advice would be appreciated.

i will take a picture when i have a little more time to work out how to do it

have a good evening
xx

couldsavemore_2

stitcher its in the xstitch crazy, i havent done ant xstitch for sometime and thought it seemed an easy one to start with. and i love this forum too

Stitcher

I use a large hoop when I'm stitching and make sure that I remove it after each time I finish stitching. Thats meant to help a different part of the fabric touch the hoop...but I'm quite slow so I don't think this works out. However, it keeps the tension on the fabric so my stitches look neat.

I hope this is some help to you.

Ruth_honey

The_Dragon wrote: »

Huggles Ruth_honey, your "friend" sounds like my late sister and an ex-friend, if the world didn't revolve around them then the world was wrong!! I am just hoping that once the better weather comes around you will come over for a pub lunch again and we can chat about crafts (and maybe even "do" some!)

I'd love to come & visit again. I fully intended to come & visit this year, but it's not been the best year & it's gone by so fast. But knowing us it'll be all chat & no actual crafting. Lol!

tricksie wrote: »

They are lovely Maria, as is the train. Might venture to HC at weekend as would like one of these for next year!

London Sampler is pretty much finished, just a tiny bit of backstitch to finish. Got a perfect frame in 99p store so dead chuffed.

I've been working on my David Bowie picture the last week or so and am hoping to complete it by end of next week.

That leaves my Greek scene as my only UFO :eek: Just the backstitch to complete, but it's all between the holes on 16ct Aida so I need really good light to finish it. Best place is the conservatory but need to put the heater on to sit out there and that seems a tad extravagant

Christmas tree is going up tomorrow :xmastree: Shopping is all done, presents are wrapped, just cards to write, but there are only about a dozen so doesn't take long. Still getting over the shock of paying £6.00 for 12 second class stamps!!

I'm looking forward to see the David Bowie picture. Only one UFO left? How do you mange that? Wish I could get my to-do pile down that low.

Bought stamps for my Xmas cards today. Tesco had no 2nd class left, but there's no way I can afford 1st class for all my cards, so thought I'd try the petrol kiosk at tesco. They had loads left. But £12 for 24 stamps...:mad: Royal Mail are taking the !!!!!! aren't they? Am delivering as many of mine by hand if I can.

Mags_cat wrote: »

I'm packed. I'm ready. I'm off on holiday:T

After having to cancel my last lot of leave (work...grrrr) I am so ready for a break.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the lovely cards you've sent when I get back.

Have a great holiday!

chickywiggle

i've never stitched the edges of my aida - just make sure there is plenty incase of fraying.

I always use a hoop (unless its a small motif) but never remove it unless I'm changing the area.

So here's the update on Dinosaur ABC. Page 1 finished (apart from dino's eye).
The cream on the bones/ letters is glow in the dark thread but it doesn't glow enough to take a pic. Once the whole thing is done and been left in a good light for 24h+ I will try and post one.

chickywiggle

re: stamps - you probably know this but:

superdrug and whsmith have 5% off books of stamps (woop you save about 20p a book).

if you are on certain benefits you can get them for 46p a stamp (save 14p) 1st class and 36p (save 14p) for 2nd class.

Ruth_honey

First of all, I want to say a HUGE thank you for all the comments, advice and support you all gave me last week with my so-called 'friend'. I've not heard from her since (although I've blocked her, her emails would show up in my spam folder) except a brief email having a go at me about giving out her phone number. It was to my DH, so her could arrange to collect HIS iPod. Anyway, it was posted through our letterbox, so we're all done with her now. Didn't bother to reply to that email, by the way.

Sweetcarer-Thank you. You know what for...
I love your colour work seasons. Very pretty. How's your purplework coming along? You must be finished or due to finish it any day now.

Dragon-thanks for the pot of gold poem. I used it on my labels. I am really looking forward to giving these out at Christmas.

Chicky-I must've missed some pages when I was away in Gloucester as I have only just seen your framed pictures. They look lovely! :T I must finish my Princess Palace.
I was going to suggest googling for your sewing machine manual online, but you've already done that. I'm sure it'll turn up when you're looking for something else.

Thanks also for the comments on my framed A Good Marriage. Might have a swap around with some other stitching so I can have it hanging in the living room. Running out of space!

DH has just run me a bath, so I'm off to have a soak. Not had the best day. I don't know why exactly, but feel a bit down. Called my best friend this afternoon as I needed to hear her voice. Just made me miss her more, though. I wish we lived closer to each other.

maria_and_the_imps

evening all and welcome to our newbie, everyone is lovley here, not posted much recently been busy with xmas stuff, all the pressie shopping is done now and i have made a start on my wrapping tonight. just a few bits of food to get and im done. off to hobby craft tommorrow to spend the last of my birthday money and i have a £5 of when you spend £20 so will be uaing that to. dont know what i want just know that i want to spend!

decorated babies grave sunday and im really pleased with it, everything on it is homemade except his xmas tree and im quite proud of myself, sunday was also the 6th anniversary of my dads death so went to visit his grave to.

not done any proper sewing for what seems like ages!

Ruth, hope your bath helped you to feel a bit better, i always find i get cross at myself if i cant work out why im feeling down

Mags, have a nice holiday

re hoops i always use a frame or hoop unless like chicky said its to small as i like my aida to be really tight and have snapped many a wooden hoop by tightening it too much, i like to use a wide hoop as i find it easier to hold and i think it holds the fabric tighter, louise suggested a frame to us and all who have used it love it link is below

http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/Plastic-TableLap-Frame---Small__RAR-Small-spc-Table-fslsh-Lap.aspx

and if you sign up to there newsletter you get 5% of your order hth

JCS1

Took advantage of the Royal Variety Show (only really wanted to watch Pudsey) to finally get around to framing some smaller items. I've also picked out 2 larger ones that I need to wash and get taken in to be framed.










Bath and then bed for me, night everyone