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

blue_eyed_girl

Just having a quick catch up with you all. Had a lovely day yesterday visiting our neice in Malton - I think I said we were off to York as we usually visit her when we are having a few days in York and we do a bit of a detour to visit her while we are in that neck of the woods. Anyway we had a lovely time and got back safely (thankfully the weather stayed good for us). Unfortunately no stitching at all yesterday or today but hey ho - see what tomorrow brings.

ocemeer - the little bib with ducks is so so cute. aaahhhh


brednall - great work on the owl. I don't think the reverse of my owl (same one) is a neat as yours. Love the xmas charts you are getting.

chicky - good luck with the sewing machine. You clever so and so getting so organised with the meals. Its a good job we all love chicken in our household - we seem to live on it at times. DS usually asks "in what form are we having the chicken tonight"?.

sweetcarer - AOY is so sweet. Butterfly aida is perfect too. I have yet to use a patterned aida. Well done with the auction (threads). Hope you get some good news this week re your little motor.

Ailsb - love that sparkly aida. Hope the one I've ordered from Cross Stitch Heaven is as sparkly - I have never really seen it before (I've led such a sheltered life ). The local indoor market is usually restricted to white or cream aida (occasionally may have odd packs of navy). Lovely progress with Charlie btw.

Louise - well done with 12 Days so far. I don't think I would bother unpicking to redo in red.

mrs.m - great work on the stocking. Hope LK will get back to you and say that there is no problem in selling the pieces for charity. (Fingers crossed).

maria - hope you are feeling better soon.

JCS1 - hugs and thoughts are with you.

pap - great progress with rose. I've only used evenweave once before and it was fine. Since then I ordered some but seem to chicken out of using it when sorting out projects. I just don't know why.

Ruth_honey - hope you're hospital appt went well today.

Still haven't decided on Project 12 yet. Was thinking of waiting until WOCS arrives as I seem to recall there was going to be a Michael Powell xmassy design and MP always seems to go down well here. I also like some of the LK freebies and they seem doable without being too challenging as things start to get busy. Will keep you posted once a decision has been made. Hope XStitch Heaven order arrives in the early part of this week so that I can get a start with the xmas card exchange project.

Take care everyone,

b_e_g

Flat_Eric

Meant to say earlier. Hugs JSC1 - big hugs being sent your way :grouphug:

Flat_Eric

So I thought I would switch off my computer and sit and stitch for an hour or so ... but I'm getting cross. The thread with the free kit I'm stitching is proving hard work. Its knotting all the time and despite starting off with two identical lengths, within a few stitches I'm ending up with one strand longer than the other :huh:

Anyhow now time to test how long you have all been stitching :rotfl: Does anyone happen to have Cross Stitcher Magazine from June 2002? This issue contained a free tigger kit. this one

I'd be interested to know what colour thread the green coloured border is as this is the thread that is driving me potty! Although I've done the green border on the left, I'm thinking of colour matching or starting again as the thread quality is so poor. Is it possible that thread quality deteriorates over time? I only have the right border to do but I think I will be ready to throw it in the bin if the thread mishaps continue. I'm also thinking of digging out my winnie the pooh tigger threads before I continue with the other stitches.

Ok so now for another question that I often think about when I'm stitching.

Firstly do any of you use the loop method? I.e. one strand of thread folded in half - so you catch the thread when you pass the needle through? I sometimes use this method but do find that it doesn't always produce the neat start you want.

Now for my question....

Lets assume I've been stitching something and have run out of thread so need to load some more thread onto my needle (be it the same colour or a different colour - doesn't really matter). I have the last few stitches made using the remnants of the thread on my needle (you know seeing just how much you can stitch before you really really must rethread the needle...) so to keep things neat - when i start with the next few stitches, I need to stitch over what I have just stitched to secure the loose strand of thread. But when I start with a new length of thread obviously that needs to be secured too - hence my question Do you (a) secure both loose ends at the same time ? or b (as I have been doing recently) secure the thread for the existing stitches first and then secure the new thread a few stitches later? (perhaps when I'm going back to complete the cross)

I just wondered... I am really really trying to be as neat as possible and any tips for this would be welcome.

On the cone front, think I will order a cone of white thread. its about £11 odd plus postage on eb%y - worth a punt. Shame they don't have black.

mrs-moneypenny

just had time to do a few stitches on what i think will be my christmas card so im not saying what it is.

night all

brednall

As the response to my Las Vegas kit search in Cross Stitch Crazy was not really what I was looking for, I am thinking of converting a photo of something like the Las Vegas sign that we took and also maybe one of our Maldivian honeymoon. Can anyone recommend a good software program or company to do this for me please?

Emma

maria_and_the_imps

hi mallow, ive just looked on photo bucket for my piccies and the only ones i have on there are rubbish and you cant really see anything so i will dig them out tommorrow and take some new pictures

Ailsb

Flat_Eric wrote: »

Anyhow now time to test how long you have all been stitching :rotfl: Does anyone happen to have Cross Stitcher Magazine from June 2002? This issue contained a free tigger kit. this one

I'd be interested to know what colour thread the green coloured border is as this is the thread that is driving me potty! Although I've done the green border on the left, I'm thinking of colour matching or starting again as the thread quality is so poor. Is it possible that thread quality deteriorates over time? I only have the right border to do but I think I will be ready to throw it in the bin if the thread mishaps continue. I'm also thinking of digging out my winnie the pooh tigger threads before I continue with the other stitches.

Ok so it was worth spending time yesterday sorting my magazines into title and date order. Having said that the magazine isn't going to help, it just says Green. Very helpful!! However there is a telephone number in case help is required, maybe worth trying it to see if anyone can help, It's0161 482 6262.

Also, in answer to your second question I start with whichever method I feel like at the time and depending on whether I'm using variable floss. The fairy and Charlie bear I'm starting using the one thread method and the slip at the back. Again with finishing it differs depending on what I'm stitching.

Ailsb

JSC1 - sorry to hear of your loss.

Brednall - I've PM'd you.

Ruth - hope today went as well as it good have.

Louise - your 12 Days is looking good. I can see what you mean byt changing the colour of the words but I wouldn't unpick all that you've already done.

Laura - I bet you were livid about your money, even more so when you found out about the phone.

MrsMP - hope you get an answer back from Lizzy Kate. There's something called Angel Copyright which lets you sell for charity but not sure if these designs fall under that banner.

MallowBrain - I wash fabric and finished designs the same way. warm water with hand wash powder or soap flakes (if I have them). Then rinse until water is clear, roll in a towel to remove excess water and iron dry. If it's a completed piece I iron dry on the reverse side on top of the towel so that the stitches don't get crushed.

Off to google chuncky chuncky knitting patterns now as Aldi have some wool in that I like but need to know how much to buy. Night all.

*Louise*

I have popped in and out but haven't had time to post (there has been so much posted just in a day!:) ) just going through it all now and reading properly


Flat Eric...I have suddenly felt faint and had to call for my smelling salts after clicking your link:eek: Hehe, just kidding - what a fun way to show that stitching isn't as geeky as some people perceive it to be

I have never thought about buying a cone of thread before, but it could be a useful purchase for black or white thread.

I like your suggestion of stitching the word 'Christmas' in red, I might just do that

Sweetcarer - I love that butterfly fabric, it's perfect, did it come as a small kit?

Maria - If you're always nearly stabbing yourself with your scissors, have you considered getting a thread cutter? I would be lost without mine now, keep it on a ribbon round my neck when I'm stitching. Faster, too.

brednall - I use a water soluble pen for marking the grid lines. Watch out for the blue pen with a white lid, some peope have had trouble with that one. I have always bought mine from sew and so and never had any problems. You could always get pre gridded aida instead.

flowerofscotland - great progress on your stocking :T

Maria - Hope you're feeling better soon :coffee: <--Toddy

Laura - I did the same in my art class, we had to copy and impressionist as well. I chose Degas and did one of his ballet pictures and another of three girls brushing their hair. I wish I knew where they were, I was really proud of them Funny how certain pictures stick with you
Ps - I would be raging at your boss, what a cheek! :mad:


JCS1 - What sad news, I'm really sorry to hear that

*Louise*

brednall wrote: »

Cross Stitch Crazy Issue 170 (out on Thursday I think)

Cover Gift - Kate Knight Xmas wreath card kit - quite nice for a quick stitch
Not something I would stitch. I like the card though, might use it for something else...

Fizzy Moon - love these but never find the time to stitch them
Cute and fluffy is nice but not too high on my list these days.

Letters - some nice finished pieces
I liked the peas in a pod design someone sent in

December fairy - wonder how it compares to the one Louise designed!

Haha - I wish I had a little Xmas pudding in mine now! :rotfl:

Celeb stitch - Gerard Butler - not for me but I've never seen one that's made me think 'I have to stitch that'
I don't think they are great quality these days? Most of them could be anyone really

50 purrfect pet gift ideas - as always some nice small ideas for cards and coasters (love the little owl especially)
Few nice designs there. I like the goldfish hanging out his bowl with his little stocking lol. The horse design will be good for a little girl I know :cool:

Humbugs - made into tree decs - nice but not for me
Nah, don't like them at all

Christmas stocking with fairies - love it but not enough time to make it but could use the inidivual fairies as an alternative to the monthly ones
All my research for fairies and this comes out a few weeks later!! That is Sods' Law at its finest :rotfl::rotfl:I like it but wouldn't stitch the stocking.

WHite Christmas ABC - would be nice as coasters for Christmas dinner
I read the caption about the editor making 100 of those for a friends wedding and thought 'good luck with that!' She calls them a quick stitch..not quick enough for me to do 100 of them :rotfl:

Crazy for Baubles - OK I suppose
Meh

Baby's First Christmas - nice idea if you have someone special to stitch this for
Sweet idea. I would probably only make the bauble though.

Lesley Teare cards - lovely but as others have mentioned before, I would hate to think they get thrown out with the rest of the cards in the New Year
There are only two of these I might stitch. I don't like the idea of them being wasted either, so might make them as a small picture or something. The angel is my favourite but I might have to redesign the position of her right arm...is it just me or does she look like she has really bad stomachache??? :rotfl::rotfl:
Crazy Kids - not for me
Hmm. Cute but nah

Challenge Lucie - nice little charts to keep for a future occasion
Never know when they might come in handy

Track it Down - my request has actually been published - was looking for Las Vegas design but don't like the ones chosen for me I'm afraid. Was looking for something more showing the skyline or the millions of lights that make up Vegas by night
I don't think much of those suggested ones either tbh

Next issue - Margaret Sherry chart and card, more cards and tree decs

Joan Elliot fairy looks lovely and oh look...12 Days of Chrstmas cards :rotfl:

My comments added in red

I should really stop lookng at magazines