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Posted by SMark on May 25, 2007, 7:54 pm
I'm attempting to stitch again.
I'm not too sure about my stitches, though. I'm working on one of those
free graphs from Told in a Garden, the angel dressed in red holding a
bouquet of roses. I've got to get the hang of stitching again. I'm also
working on the Bird Tree from Goode Huswife.
I'm really enjoying it again, just don't know about my stitches, I don't
think I'm holding my thread tight enough.
Anyway, going through my stash, I found this piece of linen that I bought at
my LNS (which is still there BTW), it's a piece of tea-dyed linen for the
There's no place like Home graph by the Drawn Thread. It's 28 count and
STIFF AS A BOARD. I mean stiff. I don't have any linens that feel that way
nor have I ever used a piece that was that stiff. Am I being silly or this
just the way it is sometimes?
Thank you.
Sandi in Lville, GA
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Posted by Bertha on May 25, 2007, 8:44 pm
defied the laws of time and space to say:
show/hide quoted text
> Anyway, going through my stash, I found this piece of linen that I bought at
> my LNS (which is still there BTW), it's a piece of tea-dyed linen for the
> There's no place like Home graph by the Drawn Thread. It's 28 count and
> STIFF AS A BOARD. I mean stiff. I don't have any linens that feel that way
> nor have I ever used a piece that was that stiff. Am I being silly or this
> just the way it is sometimes?
You're not being silly--aida is a little stiffer than linen because of the
way it's woven, but it's not THAT much stiffer (especially a high count
like 28). It's probably the sizing in the fabric making it stiff; if you
wash it that should get the sizing out. (The sizing is also what gives
some fabric that funny smell that makes your eyes water if you're
sensitive to perfumes.)
Wash it in something neutral that doesn't have bleach or anything, like
Orvus paste (you can get it in places like Michael's or A.C. Moore; I got
a gallon jug of it from a feed & tack store). Kathy Dyer's got a helpful
FAQ about all things cross stitch that has info on cleaning:
show/hide quoted text
<http://home.comcast.net/~kathydyer/nf_xstitch_tut.html#cleaning>
-Bertha
--
He who laughs last probably made a backup.
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Posted by SMark on May 27, 2007, 1:17 pm
I don't remember if the piece is colorfast or not. I guess I should ask my
shop that I bought it from. It just doesn't seem that the piece is big
enough, maybe it is. It's just that I have never seen or felt a piece of
linen that stiff.
As far as stitching on linen, I did remember where to start. It's just my
eyes are having a hard time adjusting to the fabric, even though I am
wearing reading glasses, now. LOL. I start a stitch and tell myself, I'm
in the wrong hole, but I keep rechecking and I'm in the right place after
all, but it is taking a while.
When I'm stitching on linen, I do not use a hoop. I have used a frame on
some of my later pieces. I never mastered the running stitch, however, and
still stab-stick my linen.
I once asked my shop if my stitching was good enough to hang in their shop.
I thought that would be the best way to answer the question of my stitches.
I was afraid that if I asked: how's my stitching, they would just say
"great", just to keep me as a customer. But if I asked, if my stitching is
good enough to hang in your shop. Their answer: You're hired! And then
there I was: I had to tell them I didn't want another job, just wanted to
know if my stitches were good enough! The lady before me had asked if she
could stitch for their shop and they had told her that they didn't need any
stitchers right then, they had enough. So, I think they were being honest
with me.
Thanks for all your help! You guys have been so sweet and helpful!
Sandi
show/hide quoted text
> defied the laws of time and space to say:
>> Anyway, going through my stash, I found this piece of linen that I bought
>> at
>> my LNS (which is still there BTW), it's a piece of tea-dyed linen for the
>> There's no place like Home graph by the Drawn Thread. It's 28 count and
>> STIFF AS A BOARD. I mean stiff. I don't have any linens that feel that
>> way
>> nor have I ever used a piece that was that stiff. Am I being silly or
>> this
>> just the way it is sometimes?
> You're not being silly--aida is a little stiffer than linen because of the
> way it's woven, but it's not THAT much stiffer (especially a high count
> like 28). It's probably the sizing in the fabric making it stiff; if you
> wash it that should get the sizing out. (The sizing is also what gives
> some fabric that funny smell that makes your eyes water if you're
> sensitive to perfumes.)
> Wash it in something neutral that doesn't have bleach or anything, like
> Orvus paste (you can get it in places like Michael's or A.C. Moore; I got
> a gallon jug of it from a feed & tack store). Kathy Dyer's got a helpful
> FAQ about all things cross stitch that has info on cleaning:
> -Bertha
> --
> He who laughs last probably made a backup.
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Posted by Karen C - California on May 25, 2007, 9:39 pm
SMark wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> STIFF AS A BOARD. I mean stiff.
>
Play with it. Sit on it. Smoosh it around. The sizing will break up
and it'll be much easier to handle.
--
Karen C - California
MAY IS CFS/FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS MONTH
Please print and send this to your elected officials
http://www.co-cure.org/Congressional_Action07.htm
www.CFSfacts.org where we give you the facts and dispel the myths
Myths, with research cites: http://www.aacfs.org/images/pdfs/myths.pdf
Finished 5/2/07 -- Forget Love, I'd rather fall into CHOCOLATE!
WIP: housewarming gift, Dance of the Roses,
Marbek's Bethany Angel
Retrieved from UFO pile: Marbek's Snow Angel
LTR: Farmers Market, Flowers of Hawaii (Jeanette Crews) for ME!!!
Editor/Proofreader www.KarenMCampbell.com
Design page http://www.KarenMCampbell.com/designs.html
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Posted by ellice on May 26, 2007, 8:34 am
show/hide quoted text
> SMark wrote:
>> STIFF AS A BOARD. I mean stiff.
>>
>
> Play with it. Sit on it. Smoosh it around. The sizing will break up
> and it'll be much easier to handle.
Since it's a hand-dye, some of those are a bit tighter in the weave, as the
fabric has accepted the dye. You could swish it gently in some cool water,
and then roll it in a towel to soak up most of the excess, then iron it dry,
with a towel underneath. That should soften it a bit. Some hand-dyed linen
will actually feel different on the two sides. I am stitchin on some 32
count that clearly had a softer, smoother side, and a slightly rougher side.
Also, don't pull your stitches tooo tight. You shouldn't be distorting the
linen threads when you stitch. You just want your stitches to lay gently
flat and even - assuming they're XS. Hopefully, you've remembered about
stitching on linen, looking to start from that lower left hand corner of the
tic-tac-toe box, where the thread to the right of your needle is the one
running vertically, and should be crossing on the top of the one just above
and running horizontally. Does 2 things for you - gives the stitch nice
support, and often due to the weaving method, those holes are slightly
larger, and it gives you a consistent reference for counting.
This page on Carol's site (another RCTN'er) has some lovely diagroms:
http://tinyurl.com/2v7ska
Enjoy your stitching.
Don't pull too tight. If you're having some questions about your
consistency, you could show someone at your local LNS - if you have one.
Also, if you're not using a frame (Q-snap, hoop, scroll bars) then maybe try
one - but again, don't pull the fabric drum tight - just even, not stretched
to distortion. If your stitches are consistent, and not floppy, then the
framer who does your needlework will have them looking nice and even when
it's stretched. If you overpull and distort the ground fabric when you're
stitching, then the stretching during framing can't fix that.
Hope this helps - just keep at it!
Ellice
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> my LNS (which is still there BTW), it's a piece of tea-dyed linen for the
> There's no place like Home graph by the Drawn Thread. It's 28 count and
> STIFF AS A BOARD. I mean stiff. I don't have any linens that feel that way
> nor have I ever used a piece that was that stiff. Am I being silly or this
> just the way it is sometimes?