Cross Stitch & Scrapbooking Updates

First of all, I added Mini Wings in Repose to the progress bars at the right.

Next, I've got an update on PTP Floral Arrangement.

I've got 10 pages done now!

I do have to say I thought the orange/white flowers at the bottom were going to be the death of me.  While I do make mistakes in my stitching, usually it's just a stitch or two that are easily dealt with.  Not on these flowers though!  I made some sort of mistake near the top of the cluster that I just couldn't identify properly so that I could fix it.  I ended up doing some over-stitching (literally stitching over incorrect stitches) and some "This color is close enough" stitches.  They look fine now so that's the ultimate result.

Now I am truly back to my rotation so I'm back working on La Belle Dame...

As you may have read in a previous blog post.  I've discovered digital scrapbooking!  OK, I'll admit it, I'm addicted to it!  As my family's genealogist, I've certainly got enough photographs to work with - 1,001 just from one set of grandparents!

I've just completed my first book but saving my pennies to get it printed.  It's really quite a bit less money versus using real papers and an album but a bigger lump sum.  With "traditional" scrapbooking, I've purchased bits & pieces at a time so I've usually spent $20 or less per purchase.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a couple of the pages that I've put together.  I'm still a novice at this but I can only get better!  Just to be clear, I'm the child in all of these photos (I'm currently in my 40's).

Here is a list, with links, of some of the designers whose wonderful talent made these pages possible:

• Correen Silke
• Sheila Reed
• Scraps by Jessica art-design
• Jeanine Baechtold

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

More Progress and...a Page Finish!

In the last couple of days I've made progress on my challenge piece for the HAED FB page challenge.  Here is the last non-blurry progress photo:

...and here is the finished page:

I finished last night around 11.  That's a bit later than I normally stitch, but just had to finish the page.

Project details:

• HAED Mini Wings in Repose (retired)
• 32ct. white evenweave
• 1 strand over 1 fabric thread
• half stitches

Now I'll go back to my rotation which means I need to finish my page on PTP Floral Arrangement.  Mini Wings in Repose will now get a slot in my rotation.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Some more colors!

Here are some progress pictures on my Mini Wings in Repose (retired).  This is from what I did this weekend.  These aren't after a single color this time.  Some of those photos came out blurry, plus there have been two colors that only had 1 and 2 stitches on the entire page..

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Two colors done - updated

Well, it's not much to see but it should be easier to see.  Here is my Mini Wings in Repose with 2 colors done:

This is 168 and 415 done.  Next color is 318.  Hmm, more gray...well at least it's not my hair that's gray!

Oh, some more details on this piece:

• 32 count white evenweave
• 1 strand over 1 thread
• true half cross stitches (not needlepoint tent stitches)

UPDATE:



Keebles asked:

How is the coverage going on that?


After I finished the first color, I had the thought that I should really look at the coverage.  I pulled out my magnifier and took a gander.  I can't say definitively at this point, but I think it's going to be fine.  Until I get into really dark colors, I won't really be able to tell how good the coverage actually is.

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Answer #10 - Half Stitch vs. Tent Stitch

Diane asked:

The only difference I see is where you came up and down with the needle, therefore I don't see why there is a difference between half stitch and tent stitch?

You are correct that the only difference between half and tent stitch is where you come up and down.  The differences are noticeable though.

Tent stitch is used primarily in needlepoint.  Since needlepoint is usually done on canvas, adequate coverage is important.  Also for something that may be used to be handled, say a pillow or chair cover, the more thread used the better it will last.

In cross stitch, the material is a closer weave and good coverage is not as difficult to achieve.  If it's something that is going to be framed (or otherwise not handled), there is no need for the extra thread for durability.

Here's an example showing both stitches from the front and the back.  The amount of thread used doing tent stitch is over double what you would use in half stitch.

I hope this helps!

Happy Stitching!

Stacy

Answer #7 - Doing a project in half stitch

This is a two-part question/answer.

Cinzia asked:

...I read somewhere that it [half stitch] kind of distort the fabric in one direction, is it true? 

Well, I can only tell you what I know from my experience.  Hopefully, it will be enough information.

First of all, I am stitching this in half stitch.  I am not doing a tent/continental or basketweave stitch.  It wasn't until the last couple of years, that half cross stitch has been lumped in as a "tent" stitch.  Tent stitching used to refer strictly to needlepoint stitches.  In my opinion, that should still be the case.  Here's an illustration of the differences:

The stitches in black are half stitches; the red is basketweave; the blue is tent or continental.  I am using the first (black) stitch.

Secondly, how you hold your fabric when you stitch can make a difference.  I use scroll frames.  The frames that I have are excellent!  I got mine from Artisan Design.  The fabric is held very taut and doesn't shift.  If you were stitching in hand, I could see how you would have to be extremely careful with your tension to prevent distortion.

I have not seen any distortion in my stitching while using half stitches with my fabric in a scroll frame.

Cinzia also asked,

I was going to use an evenweave other than Aida, any suggestion?

That depends on what you are comfortable with stitching on.  Personally, I have great vision (thanks to lasik) so I am comfortable stitching on any count.

If you have primarily stitched on Aida in the past, I would suggest a gradual change.  Maybe Hardanger fabric which is 22 count.  If you want to make the "big leap", you could stitch on 28 count Lugana or Jobelan evenweave.  Once I'd switched to evenweaves other than Aida, I was hooked!  I only use Aida on the rare occasions where I purchase a kit that includes it.  The kits that I tend to purchase are ornaments, so I don't use Aida for anything but smalls.

Only if you want a real challenge would I suggest trying linen.  While you can get linen in 28 or 32 count, it is not an evenweave!  Linen has slubs (variations) in thickness of the individual threads used in the weaving.  This can cause the stitch count to vary slightly across the fabric in either or both directions. 

Currently, I have two projects that I'm doing on linen.  The PTP Floral Arrangement over 1 on 40 count and the Sistine Chapel over 1 on 34 count.  There haven't been any issues with using linen for either project.

I hope this helps!

Happy Stitching!

Stacy