Okay, so I haven't done an exhaustive search of the island yet but the only cross stitch fabric I've been able to find so far has all been of the Aida type and in very limited colors. White, cream, a shade of tan and black is all I've seen. I have yet to find a place that carries *any* other kind of evenweave fabric. Am I looking in the wrong places? Is the linen used sold in the fabric departments instead of the craft areas?
And, since I haven't found any here yet, I've been looking at the offerings on eBay but really have no clue what a 'normal' price for this stuff is. What would a piece of, say, Zweigart or Charles Craft linen run that was about 15X18?
Then that'd really be isle, wouldn't it? *chortle*
Anyway, to answer your questions: probably the quickest and easiest way to get an idea as to what's out there would be to order the Nordic Needle
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catalog. Good overall selection of fabrics of all types, including aidas, linens, and the so-called evenweaves, which is actually a generic term understood by essentially all here and on other stitchers' message boards to mean any non-linen or linen/other blend that's a plainly woven fabric with the same number of threads per unit of measure in both weft and warp. Good selection of fibers, too.
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is another reasonably good source, but avoid the message board (especially if you're not a Christian and/or a Republican). We can further enable you with suggestions of
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fabrics (I'll take my business there long before I'll take it to "HeavenLee Creations" or Silkweavers) and Vicky Clayton's silks
Elizabeth, there is no reason to hesitate stitching on 40ct. gauze. It has a very open weave and I find it much easier to see than 28 or 32 count linen. Using one thread, in a continental stitch, gives good coverage and takes half the time cross stitching does. You can also cross stitch over two using one thread and the continental method.
To clarify, I didn't mean "add a couple" as in they were BAD, but that I really like Enchanted Fabrics and don't know about Criss Cross Row, but they are on my droozle (aka drool to the over-3-year-old crowd) list.
I have never bought from either of the other two and I have seen their color swatches which look so very pretty, so that's why I was curious.
We really need to kidnap you the next time my local stitching buddy and I make a roadtrip out to Junction City! It is so much fun to actually be able to fondle all the pretty fabrics! Tegan
I'll second this. The threads in the fabric of 40 ct. silk gauze are so fine the holes are larger and more distinct than on lower count linen. Since it is ordinarily attached to a mat board before stitching (except for the little bits of jewelry I've done), it is also very easy to handle.
Yes, you do! I was actually going to ping you about that.
In short, I'm unhappy with Old Mill Stitchery and I'm working toward opening my own LNS in Liberty, but it's a long goal--10 years.
I'm talking to people and finding out that a good part of the reason brick-and-mortar LNSs are going out of business is 1) their crappy banker's hours and 2) their service. So I wanna fix that. And one reason I asked about the fabrics is this:
If you went in an LNS and they had the two fabric brands mentioned (sorry, can't remember and I'm typing fast), would you buy them even though you don't care for the company who dyes them?
One of the big challenges for an LNS is having a wide range of service hours when the store is staffed by only one or two people. More hours usually means hiring more employees. If sales are still low, this is a losing proposition.
Regarding your hypothetical: If my problem with the dyer is customer service, I would certainly be happy to buy their product from someone else unless the markup was ridiculous. If my problem with the dyer is product quality, then of course I would not buy it in any case. As I recall, the companies in question do have high-quality products.
Well, to be honest, I'm sorta avoiding going out there until after July. I'm taking Mom to San Antonio for a family reunion and since I'm paying for the trip, I'm trying my best to avoid temptations until after that! But once I get back, let's see what we can arrange!
I understand that. It's not my favorite shop, but that's mostly due to the basic style that they carry in the way of charts. And now that so much space is devoted to yarn, I'm even less interested. PTP is really my favorite shop of all the ones available in the area. And not just for the fabrics..LOL
Service is the biggest thing. And I guess maybe it's not even service per se, to me. It's attitude. That shop out in Overland Park (don't wanna use names) has a wonderful selection of fibers. Silks, overdyes and fabrics, too, but oh.. the snooty, high-toned attitude! As if, simply because you don't needlepoint, you are a lesser being and not worthy of attention. (Or maybe it's the Missouri tags on the truck that gets it.. LOL)
I guess it would depend on whether I'd found something I just loved. I am rather bad about holding grudges and if I've recieved bad service from someone I tend to boycott the product entirely. I'm also bad about avoiding a product or store if they've treated someone I know badly over service or product either one.
Really, let's try and plan lunch or something and we can chat then. Since I know you have a critter, pick a place in Liberty and I'll be happy to join you there! Tegan
But staggering the hours is possible without hiring more people. For example: M/W/F open at 10 and close at 6, T/Th open at noon and close at
(or vice versa) Same total number of hours as 10-6 every day, but you better serve the working people who cannot get there by 6.
I'm sure I'm not the only person who refuses to use up all my vacation days to shop at stores that are open when it is convenient for the owner and not when it is most convenient for the customers.
If you insist on being home to have dinner with the kids every night, there are better jobs for you than running a store that should be open when the customers are available. If you won't put the customers' needs and convenience first, then don't blame the chain stores when the customers shop somewhere that doesn't require them to take a day off work.
Ohhhh, you took the words right out of my mouth! And it's the needlepoint thing. They've always been plenty happy enough to see me until it becomes apparent I have ZERO interest in needlepoint.
The first time I had to go there was to get Medici wool for one of the Marbek angels.
The bead store downstairs from my LNS doesn't carry Delicas and I'm in the process of changing bead loyalties from Mill Hill--if you can really call it a loyalty, I guess.
I have 2 now! (By "critter," you DID mean children, right? No matter! I have two cats, too, so it applies either way.) Well, if it's not an actual critter allergy, I'll whip you up some lunch if you like. If it is, Hardware Cafe is nearly my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world.
Is it possible I could rope you into model stitching?
This topic has come up more than once in the ten plus years I've been on the Internet and reading Usenet. But it's been awhile, so I'll add my two cents.
By doing what you are suggesting, you are completely forgetting those who rise early, want to get shopping out of the way so they can fix a nice dinner, and want to relax in the evening.
A 12:00 opening means busy lunch traffic - not just people in the shop, but also on the road. A 2:00 opening means you're getting close to rush-hour traffic, or at the least, school "let-out" traffic, which can be considerable depending upon where you live.
I really miss going shopping in the early morning. I have more energy, and it leaves me the rest of the day to unwind. I used to work and commute 10-hour days and believe me, I didn't want to shop after work. Too darned tired and had a family to feed. Saturday was my day for shopping (which wasn't often, I'm not a shopper), and I *did* do grocery shopping once or twice a month (except for perishables) on my way home from work.
Thanks, Dianne. I did think of it, but truth be told, I haven't seen the backside of 8 a.m. since I started having kids and working from home (though I've seen the front side of it a time or two).
How early is early to you? My LNS is open from 10 to 5 Monday through Saturday and I remember when I was working (2 jobs, no less), I just couldn't get there. Ever. Is 10 early enough or do you mean like 6 or 8?
It's not off the table, that's for sure. I would just have to find a viable way to do it.
Whatever it turns out to be in the long run, I feel it's of the utmost importance to be consistent.
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