new to counted X-stitch

After many years of success with knitting, crocheting, tatting, quilting, and designing for each, I have decided to learn counted cross-stitch. After a small sampler kit I found I enjoy doing it! There seems to be no good source for patterns locally, although there are a few kits here and there. I can get all the DMC I want, and Aida in various gauges. I am not terribly concerned about matching needles, floss, and fabric, and am quite interested in doing some designing. However, my initial questions are very simple: first, what are the rules of thumb involved in counted cross-stitch? Second, I really dislike hoops! So what happens if I get extra thich gauge Aida and forgo hoops? I will appreciate any and all advice!

Reply to
Mary
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Forgo the Aida, find some nice evenweaves that aren't Aida...and forgo the hoops too! There's no rule that says you have to use a hoop or Aida! And you'll love some of the fabulous fabrics out there for counted work! Although DMC is wonderful, don't forget to try others - like silks, overdyes and metallics!

Welcome to the world of counted work! I'm sure others will inundate you with websites showing you fabrics and fibers of all types and sorts! Enjoy the hours of drooling on your keyboard!

Dannielle

Reply to
Dannielle

Hi Mary

I normally stitch in-hand and have not had any problems. Just be careful not to pull your stitches too tight.

Working from patterns is like coloring or paint-by-number! You're limited to what designs are available and stuck with the quality presented.

You can't beat the uniqueness of working from your own designs!

Because of the number of possibilities in artistic designs and techniques that can be done in cross-stitch, there is really no place to start mentioning methods until one knows where your interests lie.

I myself love photo-charting images in full cross-stitches with as many colors as possible to obtain all the highlights. But at times will go to the detail of using 1/4 stitches to define area boundaries of edges on objects.

By the same token, I may go through many steps to insure a certain look is achieved, thus taking photo-charting as only a starting point to a final goal.

My wife works primarily from patterns, but she does many modifications before starting her work. Sometimes she even converts the pattern into 3D to obtain depth in the finished piece.

When I finish a piece, no backing (Aida) is exposed, every grid square is cross-stitched. My wife only stitches the defined portions of a pattern including the edge stitching and back stitching. Me, I hate backstitching, makes it look like a coloring book or paint-by-number if not done just right and only where necessary to define a well defined edge.

As beautiful as some artistically designed patterns are, to me they always either seem incomplete or coloring bookish. I guess I like things that look natural, like an image in true life.

There are many methods of doing cross-stitch. Some folks start in the center and work in small sections of the same color. Others start from the center and radiate outwards. Some start in a corner and work in columns or rows using a single color. Some will stitch all of one color before switching colors.

Then there is the massochist method which I use! I start at the top left corner and work in horizontal rows, switching colors each time there is a color change. (In photo-charted work, this is almost every single stitch is a different color). And I leave in all the confetti stitches too for detail and shading. It is very tempting to want to drop down a line to complete a stitch of the same color just below the row you are working on, but I have trained myself not to do that, else I end up following color lines. I'm a stickler on how the backs of my pieces appear, they have to be almost as good as the front. When I stick to my methods, the back appears sorta like cordaroy material. To each his own, hi hi.....

TTUL Gary

"Mary" wrote:

Reply to
Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.

I have already seen one very sensible reply, saying dont use aida, go for non-aida evenweaves. If you decide to go this way, make sure you read all about the "vertical thread". Find out about loop starts. I have got dozens of different tips from reading rctn, and I wont attempt to write them all down. But if you come across a problem, or something specific you think you would like to know more about, dont hesitate to ask. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Now you may get many different answers, but remember there are no cross stitch police, and in the end, you just decide what is best for you. As to patterns, there are all sorts of places to purchase patterns on line over the internet or ebay. If you find a source that looks promising, you may want to check here about other people's experiences with that source. There are also lots of freebies around. We can start thinking about Christmas (after all one would like to *complete* a project *before* the festive season). Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum and her daughter Nora Corbett always each put out a new Christmas freebie each year. IIRC, they appear in a couple of month's time. HTH.

-- Jim Cripwell. From Canada. Land of the Key Bird. This creature of doom flies over the frozen tundra in winter, shrieking its dreaded call; "Key, Key, Key, Key rist but it's cold!!"

Reply to
F.James Cripwell

To the good advice given I would also like to add a link to Kathy Dyer's excellent site:

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I think you will find her Counted Cross Stitch Tutorial very useful!Mavia

Reply to
Mavia Beaulieu

I hate hoops as well. There are other ways to hold the fabric, such as scroll bars and q-snaps. You might like those. Judy

Reply to
Judy

There aren't many hard and fast rules, as nearly every rule you could think of, someone has broken successfully. In a very general way, common guidelines are:

- top leg of the crosses should all go the same way (unless you're choosing to do it differently to achieve a specific effect)

- generally avoid knotting threads on the back, or having long carries on the back across unworked areas (because they can show through)

Well, I don't much like working on Aida (it seems too chunky for me, and I generally do things where the background is unworked). However, I almost always work in hand, and have no problems with it. It might take you a bit to develop a technique that works for you and allows your tension to remain consistent, but you'll get there. Don't pull your stitches too tight or you'll have a really hard time getting a consistent tension while working in hand.

Best wishes, Ericka

Reply to
Ericka Kammerer

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

Hi! You have already received many good responses. As for designing, I think the biggest difference you will face is the squareness of cross-stitch (stitch width = stitch height as opposed to knitting, etc.). Designing for cross-stitch is just like designing a mosaic for square tiles. If you are converting patterns from knitting, you will need to figure the compression/expansion ratio and adjust. If you are designing from scratch, you should have no problem.

I hate ho> After many years of success with knitting, crocheting, tatting,

Reply to
Brenda Lewis

rules of thumb???

the thread goes in the needle.

cross stitch is relaxing and addictive.

others have given other good rules. try them and see what fits you best.

most important of all....enjoy!!

Lisa

Reply to
lisawhite

But what if you're doing tambour work? The crochet-hook-like object doesn't HAVE a way to put thread IN, only AROUND. :)

Ducking, Running & Hiding Behind Fred

Reply to
Karen C - California

Hi Mary,

I know people who just stitch holding the fabric in their hands without a hoop. I personally use a stainless steel stand that I inser a frame into. It steadies the frame and makes stitching much easier.

Kind regards

Clar

-- Clr_Gilbrt3

Reply to
Clr_Gilbrt3

Mary,

The only "rule" in needlework that I know of is "the thread goes through the eye of the needle". As for rules of thumb in XS, I would generally suggest that the Xs should all have the have the legs crossing the same way (bottom legs all go /// and top legs all go \\\, or vice versa). Occasionally a designer with have you do so stitches counter to what you normally do to add texture to a piece, but this doesn't happen very often.

Also, don't limit yourself to patterns/kits that you can find locally. There is a big, wide world of patterns and supplies to be found on the Internet. Shipping costs vary from site to site so do your shopping and/or ask us for suggestions.

Some stitchers always stitch "in hand" while others never do. For me it varies from piece to piece. I really like Q-Snaps to hold my fabric taut. Sometimes I use a stand to hold the Q-Snaps, sometimes I just hold it as you would a hoop.

Anne (> Mary Wrote:

Reply to
Anne Tuchscherer

Another one with a Lowery? Aren`t they great?

Pat P

Reply to
Pat P

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