People who cross stitch

[TrickyBob]

I have a dimensions pattern and it will say "Black (1) back stitch" or white (4) french knots"

Does this mean I need 1 strand of floss or 4? Basically, do the numbers tell me how many strands I need? 

[LeggsBenedict]

I haven't cross stitched in YEARS but that's how I remember it, yes.

[Dusky]

Yes, the numbers indicate how many individual strands you should use.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

This is all Jermys's fault.

[Deleted]

Yep, that's the way to do it.

[TrickyBob]

Thanks.

This is hard. The only pattern I liked was 18x18, I just hope I don't screw it up.

[Deleted]

Dec 27, 2013 18:58:22 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

Thanks.

This is hard. The only pattern I liked was 18x18, I just hope I don't screw it up.

Just take your time with it and you'll be fine. PIP when you're done!

[jaycee]

Any advice on how to start? I'm interested but that sounds more complicated than I thought cross-stitch would be.

[TrickyBob]

Dec 27, 2013 19:27:18 GMT -5 jaycee said:

Any advice on how to start? I'm interested but that sounds more complicated than I thought cross-stitch would be.

My friend took me to the kits at the craft store. I picked out a kit that included a needle, floss, and pattern. Then I picked up a hoop. The whole thing cost me $20 (pattern and hoop). 

My pattern is a stamped pattern. So it has little X's and symbols right right on the fabric and you have to cover them up. Like a paint by number, but with thread. Once I finish this, I will try another kit that has the grid fabric. 

[Deleted]

Dec 27, 2013 19:27:18 GMT -5 jaycee said:

Any advice on how to start? I'm interested but that sounds more complicated than I thought cross-stitch would be.

Get a kit for beginners. I've found some great ones at Joann's. Also get a couple different sized hoops.

[moolarkey]

Does your pattern indicate which stitch to start with? I think most, but I can't say that all do, indicate which stitch to start with. It is usually the center of the design and most patterns/ intructions tell you where in your fabric to place that stitch so you do have to count the rows both ways to figure out the center (at least I've always had to and if there is a better/easier/way to do it I would love to learn that way.)

[LeggsBenedict]

Dec 27, 2013 19:27:18 GMT -5 jaycee said:

Any advice on how to start? I'm interested but that sounds more complicated than I thought cross-stitch would be.

cross stitch is really really not hard at all. I learned in elementary school. pick a kit you like that comes with the floss and start there.

you don't even need a hoop. I always hated using a hoop.

[LeggsBenedict]

Dec 27, 2013 19:46:55 GMT -5 moolarkey said:

Does your pattern indicate which stitch to start with? I think most, but I can't say that all do, indicate which stitch to start with. It is usually the center of the design and most patterns/ intructions tell you where in your fabric to place that stitch so you do have to count the rows both ways to figure out the center (at least I've always had to and if there is a better/easier/way to do it I would love to learn that way.)

I always just folded the fabric to find the center.

/lazy

[Champagne Supernova]

Dec 27, 2013 19:27:18 GMT -5 jaycee said:

Any advice on how to start? I'm interested but that sounds more complicated than I thought cross-stitch would be.

Definitely get a kit first and go from there. 

I love cross-stitching. It relaxes me. 

[moolarkey]

I'm always afraid if I do the fold to find the center method I'll miss the center. I've been making Christmas stockings and the fabric is longer than it is wide so on those I've just been worried I'd be off and then not have room for the toe of the stocking!

I always do a hoop unless I'm making something very small. These stockings are a lot of thread changes to get the patterns in them and that much handling, at least for me, they would tend to get stretch and pulled and not hold shape well.

For small items, I don't use a hoop either.

[Champagne Supernova]

I like using the hoop because it feels like I have more control of the fabric but I agree, it stretches it out.

[jaycee]

Dec 27, 2013 19:47:20 GMT -5 LeggsBenedict said:

Dec 27, 2013 19:27:18 GMT -5 jaycee said:

Any advice on how to start? I'm interested but that sounds more complicated than I thought cross-stitch would be.

cross stitch is really really not hard at all. I learned in elementary school. pick a kit you like that comes with the floss and start there.

you don't even need a hoop. I always hated using a hoop.

But how do you learn to back stitch or make french knots (or whatever the op wrote)?

[Champagne Supernova]

Dec 27, 2013 20:03:41 GMT -5 jaycee said:

Dec 27, 2013 19:47:20 GMT -5 LeggsBenedict said:

cross stitch is really really not hard at all. I learned in elementary school. pick a kit you like that comes with the floss and start there.

you don't even need a hoop. I always hated using a hoop.

But how do you learn to back stitch or make french knots (or whatever the op wrote)?

The kits I bought in the past actually have directions/pictures on how to do them. 

[LeggsBenedict]

Dec 27, 2013 20:03:41 GMT -5 jaycee said:

Dec 27, 2013 19:47:20 GMT -5 LeggsBenedict said:

cross stitch is really really not hard at all. I learned in elementary school. pick a kit you like that comes with the floss and start there.

you don't even need a hoop. I always hated using a hoop.

But how do you learn to back stitch or make french knots (or whatever the op wrote)?

sometimes the instructions have diagrams. or youtube.

[TrickyBob]

Dec 27, 2013 20:03:41 GMT -5 jaycee said:

Dec 27, 2013 19:47:20 GMT -5 LeggsBenedict said:

cross stitch is really really not hard at all. I learned in elementary school. pick a kit you like that comes with the floss and start there.

you don't even need a hoop. I always hated using a hoop.

But how do you learn to back stitch or make french knots (or whatever the op wrote)?

Mine came with instructions on how to back stitch and french knot. With pictures.  

[Velvetshady]

Dec 27, 2013 19:52:33 GMT -5 moolarkey said:

I'm always afraid if I do the fold to find the center method I'll miss the center. I've been making Christmas stockings and the fabric is longer than it is wide so on those I've just been worried I'd be off and then not have room for the toe of the stocking!

I always do a hoop unless I'm making something very small. These stockings are a lot of thread changes to get the patterns in them and that much handling, at least for me, they would tend to get stretch and pulled and not hold shape well.

For small items, I don't use a hoop either.

I used to always start in the top left corner (how I was taught as a kid). Until I did that with this one:



And discovered I only had 1/4 of an inch of fabric left on the right margin--after I had most of the top left half to the top right half done. It was a kit that came with the fabric, I assumed the fabric was large enough to have 1 inch of fabric on all sides and didn't actually measure it, I was wrong. I finished it, but still haven't attempted to get it framed. I always measure the fabric first AND start in the center now.



And my advice for beginners, don't freak out if you mess up. I've been stitching for ~35 years and still have to take stitches out and redo them...all the time. I know a couple designers and award-winning expert stitchers, they mess up all the time as well. Just take a break if it's frustrating you and go back when you are calm. Some mistakes, you can ignore--no one will notice but you. Others, you just have to rip out and do it over.


If anyone has any questions while trying to learn, PM me and I'd be happy to try to help.

[Jermys]

I've been cross stitching since I was like 7 or 8 and still can't make a French knot to save my damn life.

PIP your project when you're done, TrickyBob!!

[TrickyBob]

Dec 29, 2013 23:27:57 GMT -5 Jermys said:

I've been cross stitching since I was like 7 or 8 and still can't make a French knot to save my damn life.

PIP your project when you're done, TrickyBob!!

My french knots were more like...just going up and then down. I kept trying and trying and following the picture and I'd twist it and loop it and when I'd go to push the needle through the loop...it'd undo itself and just become a single stitch. I gave up on that since it is just a few little spots in the snow flake. 

I am doing this pattern;



I am about 1/4 of the way done with winter, I get to work on the little house next. 

I did notice that the stamped patterns are a bit of a pain in the butt because they want you to follow their Xs but don't explain how your stitches need to go into the previous stitches in order to make a uniform look. So you can absolutely tell where I started, following their directions, and then changed over to how it should actually be done. 

My friend and I sat and cross stitched our own stuff for hours the other night, it was pretty snazzy. 

I also very vaguely remember doing this as a kid. 

[Jermys]

I love it! Are you going to frame it or make it into a pillow or something?

That's exactly how my French knots go. I twirl the shit out of them, and nothing. Effers.

[Velvetshady]

Dec 29, 2013 23:33:10 GMT -5 TrickyBob said:

Dec 29, 2013 23:27:57 GMT -5 Jermys said:

I've been cross stitching since I was like 7 or 8 and still can't make a French knot to save my damn life.

PIP your project when you're done, TrickyBob!!

My french knots were more like...just going up and then down. I kept trying and trying and following the picture and I'd twist it and loop it and when I'd go to push the needle through the loop...it'd undo itself and just become a single stitch. I gave up on that since it is just a few little spots in the snow flake. 

I am doing this pattern;



I am about 1/4 of the way done with winter, I get to work on the little house next. 

I did notice that the stamped patterns are a bit of a pain in the butt because they want you to follow their Xs but don't explain how your stitches need to go into the previous stitches in order to make a uniform look. So you can absolutely tell where I started, following their directions, and then changed over to how it should actually be done. 

My friend and I sat and cross stitched our own stuff for hours the other night, it was pretty snazzy. 

I also very vaguely remember doing this as a kid. 

Ohhh, I'm a sucker for anything seasons related. I like that.

Personally, I found it easier/more relaxing to do counted vs stamped for the reason you noted.

A trick I know some french-knot-hating friends do when french knots can't just be skipped--they replace them with beads. You could also look for a tutorial online for a colonial knot--some people find those easier to do and replace french knots with them.

[Velvetshady]

Dec 29, 2013 23:33:13 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Dec 27, 2013 21:09:22 GMT -5 Velvetshady said:

I used to always start in the top left corner (how I was taught as a kid). Until I did that with this one:



And discovered I only had 1/4 of an inch of fabric left on the right margin--after I had most of the top left half to the top right half done. It was a kit that came with the fabric, I assumed the fabric was large enough to have 1 inch of fabric on all sides and didn't actually measure it, I was wrong. I finished it, but still haven't attempted to get it framed. I always measure the fabric first AND start in the center now.



And my advice for beginners, don't freak out if you mess up. I've been stitching for ~35 years and still have to take stitches out and redo them...all the time. I know a couple designers and award-winning expert stitchers, they mess up all the time as well. Just take a break if it's frustrating you and go back when you are calm. Some mistakes, you can ignore--no one will notice but you. Others, you just have to rip out and do it over.


If anyone has any questions while trying to learn, PM me and I'd be happy to try to help.

this is so beautiful! really nice work. 
I do needlepoint, and love it, it is so soothing. 

Not actually picture of my work, I didn't have a picture online so pulled it from the designers site. But mine looks like that (at that distance, not as perfect with a magnifying glass).

I've done some needlepoint but I find myself stressing when I hit spots on the canvas with more than one color on it--which color do I use --I know it usually doesn't matter or you can tell from the design, but the anal, detail obsessive part of me starts waking up. Same with embroidery.

I mostly do counted cross stitch, drawn thread, and hardanger. They relax me as well. When I'm acting stressed out, DH tells me to go stitch:)