Fractal

I think so, if you do it on something easier, you will always regret it, so there is no winning, just whining lol

I know someone who's doing this on black, evenweave (I think it's lugana, so probably 25 ct) over one It looks goooooooooooooooooood

However, if you don't want to work on black, you *could* work on white, and then fill in the background with black when done (just make sure it gets covered - say if' you're using 14 ct/over 1 or 28ct/over 2, use 3 or

4 strands of floss instead of 2)

Yes, you do need the black to make the design *pop*. I'm doing one of the others (Fractal # 38 - see further down on the page below yours), and it too is on black - it does make a difference. Stitching on black is a challange - I have to use a very strong light, and since it's over 1 on 25-count, I also have to use a magnifier!

If you d>I just purchased a Fractal chart (Fractal 53). Do I really need to

Helps if you are stitching on black to have a white towel or cloth on your lap and shine a light on to it. That way the holes in the black fabric are far more obvious. The reverse is also true with black cloth when using white.

That was a tip from Linda Lachance, she did a couple of courses here. She is a lover of dark backgrounds lol

I broke down an purchased black fabric - 25 count lugana. Hopefully I won't lose my mind trying to stitch it.

Janet

I know others have given different advice, but my advice for stitching on black is to have as bright a light as possible. Stitching in direct sunlight, at one point, worked for me. Jim.

It's a good tip. Some people even stitch with a subtle light under the piece. Daylight's thing that looks like a light box is actually meant for this - you put it on your lap and it has a soft light shining up. I make sure to keep a white cloth or background of some sort behind my on black pieces. For Baroque - in desperation (of not wanting to go upstairs again) I actually hung a sheet of paper towel from the top of the frame - to be behind the stitching, and could put my 2nd hand between that and the backside of the piece for my 2-handed stitching. Worked just fine!

Also - I use a magnifier - not because I need it to see, but it makes things much quicker, surer and easier.

Finally - if you really don't want to use black - be sure to pick a color that is deepish and will contrast with the outer rim, or alternatively - you could add an outline of a couple of stitches in black bordering the entire edge, and do it on whatever you want. But, at least get the black outline around it - that might be easier than stitching on black

Ellice

I've tried both the white cloth and light tricks and in the end decided against them - I stitch two-handed on a frame and my hands kept obscuring the holes. So I just settled on a bright overhead light. For white fabrics, I only use the magnifier on the lamp (see link below) when working with over-1 on 32 count. With the black fabric, I wind up using the magnifier on 25-count. Since the fabric I'm using is black hardanger (I think - I've had it a while), the holes are actually harder to see than the off-white 45-count linen I'm using for another piece. Go figure.

This is the lamp I use. The light is a standard 8" circular bulb, but the >>

Hard to say what works for all of us.

The lamp looks good. Daylight has a similar one, but I haven't needed to take the plunge. I wonder if the 22W Daylight circular bulb could be fitted into your fixture when you're due to change the bulb - if it mattered to you.

I have a K's magnifier that is actually ground optical glass as opposed to plastic like most of them. I've had it about 9 years, and that's what I use on my floor stand or Baby-Z. When I got it, it didn't come with the wooden extender bar, just with the metal bracket, screws/bolt/knob. I never use the little mag light, but the magnifier is really nice.

have the Daylight clamp-on smaller magnifier that works pretty well,it's 2.25X, with a little 4X bubble. Light enough and portable.http://tinyurl.com/qpl295 > And when I can't use the magnifier in the lamp, this is the one I use:> It, too, has very clear optics across the entire lens. I've had mine> for probably 15 years now.> I'm always astounded when people are successful with the around the neckmagnifiers. They make me totally ill because of the shifting withbreathing. Great that it does the trick for you! Ellice