Cross stitch

agnurse look forward to seeing your finished work. Have you any you could show now? Do you work on Aida or even weave or both?

I go to a mixed craft group for 2 hours on Thursday afternoon. It's at our local library . It's free and was started by 2 friends. My local council likes to encourage different groups so the rooms are free. I am the only cross stitcher but I love seeing what others are doing. We are a wide age range 30's -80's. I had promised myself when I moved to the north west 2 years ago I wanted to join a craft group and exercise group. Which I have. Covid closed things down for over a year but it's lovely things are back.

The room at the library we are spaced out but all double vaccinated and some of us are due for our boosters plus had flu jab.

It always amazes me how those little crosses get addictive. Don't know about you but think it keeps my fingers flexible and my mind. I am 63 so anything I can do to keep mind and body active I think is important. Trying to stave off arthritis and dementia ?.

It's funny because of my neurological condition my hands tremor but they are still when I cross stitch.

Don't know about you but I love planning what I am doing next . Love winding thread on to my cardboard bobbins. And doing that first stitch and seeing my work take life. Only wish I had started 20+ years ago instead of think it's 5 years now.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

Here is the completed SAL. From the top: The Black Cat (Poe); The Nightmare Before Christmas ft. Jack Skellington; The Mothman Prophecies; Bubak (sack man/scarecrow from Polish legend); Beetlejuice; The Addams Family (Cousin Itt); The Raven (Poe); Dracula; The Haunting of Hill House; The Mask; The Woman in Black; IT; Frankenstein; The Cask of Amontillado; The Flying Dutchman; Hocus Pocus; The Goblin Market; Hansel and Gretel; The Call of Cthulhu; The Tell-Tale Heart (Poe); Slenderman; The Picture of Dorian Grey; The Exorcist; Ghostbusters; Little Red Riding Hood; Snow White; The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; De Bokkenrijders (Dutch/Belgian legend); Bluebeard; Krampus; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

agnurse that's beautiful. Love the mix of characters and colours . What are you going to with it?

I bought 3 cross stitch canvases from a closing down store. They were pictures drawn by matchstick painter Lowry.
Over 15 yrs I finished all 3 using oddments of wool left over from various places.
A friend framed them for me and even I couldn’t guess which one was washed in disinfectant after a gerbil threw up on it.
Many years later one of those superior type females no normal woman likes, tried to take over and lead a group of casual friends.
The conversation was about paintings and I happened to say I had 3 original Lowry’s.
“ I don’t think so dear “ she said in a sarcastic way. Oops. The other women had all seen my cross stitch Lowrys so she was left in no doubt that I did indeed own 3 original Lowrys. We never saw her again but didn’t want to anyway. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that we realised she hadn’t been told my original Lowrys were in fact cross stitch.

That is funny Mallin

Mallin that's hilarious. Hope you post pictures of them. I hate women like that.

Whiff

It's for my daughter. She loves Halloween.

agnurse she will treasure it.

Can cross stitch or tapestry be done without a hoop?

Yup! Depending on the type of cloth you use and the size of the project, it is possible to do "stitch in hand". I do this for smaller projects, especially projects done on aida. Aida is naturally a bit stiff so it helps in this regard.

If you find hoops awkward, there are a number of different options. You can use hoops made out of different material - I use plastic hoops where the inside hoop has a ridge so it holds the fabric better. (Wooden hoops don't usually have this, which means that they can be more prone to slipping.) You can also use a scroll frame or a Q-snap - a plastic frame with grips that hold your fabric in place.

Thank you agnurse I'm a novice with the needlework but fascinated by it. I bough a beginners one it's not that small perhaps 4" by 5"" I've got a small hoop but wondered if I could just do it in my hand. Any tips I'd be grateful. It's one of those picture ones not where you count ftom the centre as they seem more difficult. It's a field with some poppies.

Yes it can socksandsocks. But I always use a hoop. I use Aida usually 14 count. For me the best hoop is a 6" spring loaded one which I use no matter how big the work is. I did post a picture a few pages back off some silicone fabric holders I use to keep excess fabric under control. I found I couldn't tighten the screw up tight enough on a wooden one. The square plastic Q snap frame is light weight but found my fabric slipped.

If I use plastic Aida you can't use a frame same with 5 count canvas. Both are to stiff to hoop.

If I am doing a small design I usually do a multiple of them on a large piece of Aida and space them out. I am doing some holly leaves for a wreath so am doing 5 double sets on one piece of Aida.

Or if I am doing a coaster I use a 4" spring hoop.

Hope that helps.

Socks

That size you probably could do by hand, but it does depend on what type of cloth you have.

It sounds as if your project is what we call a stamped cross stitch, where the pattern is already stamped onto the fabric. IME these aren't typically done on aida, and the cloth they're done on tends to not be stiff enough for stitch in hand. But you can try.

BTW, the other type of cross stitch you've described, where you start from the middle, is called counted cross stitch. It actually isn't terribly difficult once you get used to it. For very large projects, some stitchers "grid" their fabric or purchase it pre-gridded - that is, they stitch or draw on lines to create grid squares to help them know where they are.

I favour counted cross stitch. Only printed kits I have done where cushions on 5 count canvas. I don't bother griding or mark off my charts. But that's how I have always worked. I know a lot of people in cross stitch magazines grid there fabric and mark their charts.

My daughter gave me the Santa sack I made my grandson last year to put his presents. I didn't line it as I do with Christmas stockings. Also it's a simple rectangle shape and machine sewed the Aida on the fabric before sewing up. Just put a simple channel in the top for the cord.

That's a good idea to grid them. Thank you both for your hints and tips.

Socks

No worries! You can also go on YouTube and google FlossTube. I am happy to answer questions, and I'm sure others are, too, but I admit that I am nowhere CLOSE to being an expert. (There are many things about cross stitch that I have only learned recently - and I've been stitching for years!)

agnurse it wasn't until last year I found the joy of parking threads and getting a needle minder. Why I didn't before is a mystery.

What's the saying everyday day is a school day. Meaning we learn new things all the time.

I have tremors in my hands but I don't tremor when cross stitching. I firming believe cross stitching keeps your fingers supple and your mind active.

I am no expert and don't do fractional stitches or French knots. Only full or half cross stitch. Only used metallic thread once never again. Loved the finished work but the thread drove me mad. ?.

Off to my craft group this afternoon. 2 hours of chat and stitching. I am the only cross stitcher but love seeing what other people do.

When I retire I intend to join classes for crafts.

It is so lovely to hear of others doing cross stitch. I only discovered it during lock down and now it is my most favourite thing to do.
My husband bought me a huge kit for my birthday. I have told him it will probably take me years to finish. It is in four quarters and every hole on the Aida has a stitch in it.
I have started a very colourful Christmas picture and purchased new threads, a hoop and needles this morning.
I will post a picture when it is completed.
Onwards and upwards x

Whiff

If you decide you'd like to try French knots, the trick I use is to pull the thread very tight around the needle. Works 99 times out of 100. I agree with you on the metallic thread. I do stitch projects that have it, and it's certainly beautiful, but it is a royal pain to work with.

Sar
That's sometimes referred to as a full coverage piece. I haven't ever finished one myself. They're beautiful but take a long time!

agnurse thanks for the French knot tip. I will give it a go.

My daffodil kit on page 4 was done by stitching into every hole of the design. I left a white border to frame it to make it stand out when I made it into a cushion.

I've bought a clip frame for stitching and the poppy pi ture is in fact tapestry. Hahaha I thought it was cross stitch. I'm looking forward to getting started on it. I just want to do things for me for a change. I think it will be very relaxing and I've got cross stitch kits which I think maybe too challenging at the moment

Socksandsocks I did tapestry years ago when my husband was alive. He made me a frame to put it on while I worked. I stopped when he got cancer and never started again after he died. But I do find cross stitch easier and more rewarding.

I have made my Christmas wreath. Brought the frame already with artificial branches on. Only bit of cross stitch is the Holly leaves. The snow flakes are wooden and got from The works and coloured them gold and silver. The bow is 3 bow's on top of eachother. They are usually on my tree. But put them to a better use.

Love the wreath Whiff, very Christmassy.

Apart from cross stitch and knitting, I'm making a second blanket at the moment, I am not artistic in the slightest.

I love to see what everyone else is making but I never know where to start.

Sar thank you. My cross stitching is ok. But other crafting is a bit iffy . But I have a go. Still plugging away at the green dragon got 3/4 's done. Need it finished by beginning of January and framed which I will do myself. It's part of my sister in law's 60th birthday present.

I love seeing what others do. My craft group is free . I am the only cross stitcher but love to see what the knitters and crocheters are doing. Lots of Christmas stuff at the moment. Gnomes,angels and Father Christmas. The father Christmas's hat hinges off and it's body is held with half a toilet roll tube and sweets inside. Someone does crystal art. Amazed how small the gems are but it can be done quickly.

Soon be time to put the Christmas tree up. Made over the years quite a few cross stitch decorations for it. My grandson who will be 4 in January will decorate it again for me. His little brother who is 1 next week will be pulling them off no doubt. ?.