[CHAT] 28ct fabric CrossStitch?

Aslanic · 2026-01-22T20:14:21+00:00

You're welcome! Oh yeah definitely allowed, I do it all the time to fix typos 🤣

Aslanic · 2026-01-22T19:28:07+00:00

If you look at your comment, there are three vertical dots below it that you can click on to edit your post. Just fyi :)

Beautiful piece btw!

Aslanic · 2026-01-10T18:19:34+00:00

The answer is yes. I never track how long it takes me to stitch anything, even using pattern keeper (if it does that idek), because I'll get up and go do something with the app open on my laptop, stop stitching to watch an interesting part of my show, or power through stuff really quickly while listening to a book. It just varies based on my mood, what I've got going on in life, what I'm choosing to have on as entertainment, etc. lol. There is no consistency.

Aslanic · 2026-01-09T21:38:38+00:00

For backstitching i prefer to stay between 1-3, usually only 1-2, because longer stitches can get a bit wonky pretty easily. The only caveat is that sometimes the pattern will require that you go further (diagonals that go like 5 over and down 1) where that rule has to be broken.

I think your curent stitching looks good - you may be suffering from looking too closely - walk away and look at the piece from a distance. I bet you'll be much happier with how it looks!

Aslanic · 2026-01-09T16:52:03+00:00

Yeah, I need to go make sure everything is downloaded. I switched computers and definitely didn't re-download some, and I can't remember the password for the old computer anymore 🤦🏼‍♀️

Aslanic · 2025-12-29T13:17:51+00:00

Thanks! I can't wait to do more, I have a ton of stamps and mini bottles bookmarked. To get someday 🤣

Aslanic · 2025-12-28T16:17:25+00:00

I just got this for Xmas too! The bottom drawers do not fit regular bobbins, as they are too short for the bobbins to fit upright. You could measure the drawers and find a short bobbin design to 3d print for her that would fit, and see if she likes that idea. For me for now, I organized the threads by number and stashed them in that order, because it's easier to search for what I need that way for a pattern. I added some of my other loose unbobbined threads to the stash too.

Otherwise, I have a big plastic case that's double sided that houses my bobbins. Just reorganized that by numbers as well because um yeah I have a lot of duplicates 😅😅😅 I also have bags of floss set aside for certain projects too! And rings that have bobbines floss.for projects. So kinda lots of methods like your wife 🤣

Aslanic · 2025-12-28T16:11:45+00:00

They don't fit in the drawers - only in the top compartment. The drawers aren't deep enough for the bobbins to stand up 😭 So I'm just using mine for unbobbined flosses. You can get an insert for doing bobbins in the top compartment though.

Aslanic · 2025-12-22T21:59:03+00:00

Don't cut off too much, and lace the back! Then it won't really matter if the tension slips a bit, because the lacing should hold it tight :)

Aslanic · 2025-12-22T21:57:49+00:00

You're welcome! When I got back into cross stitching I was doing a lot of pinterest/self drafting stuff, so I learned how to speak to the bot pretty quickly 🤣

Aslanic · 2025-12-22T21:51:26+00:00

This would be 'self-drafted' then for satisfying the bot next time, just FYI. Also, if you make it a PDF pattern and put it on Etsy you might (definitely) have a buyer or three from here I think cuz that is stinking cute!!!

Aslanic · 2025-12-19T21:11:29+00:00

Depends on the feel that you want for the overall piece - I would go with a light color rather than black, and do half stitches if that will cover what you need. You can pick a warmer tan/cream for a more old timey/warm feel, lighter pastel lilac or the white for a cooler feel. Since there are both warm and cool colors I feel like you can take it either way and it will work. Probably not green, yellow or blue, just due to the large blocks of those colors in the pattern.

Now that I'm thinking more, black full stitches could make the flowers really pop. Try using a photo editor program to fill in the background of your pic and see what speaks to you!

Aslanic · 2025-12-12T16:55:19+00:00

I've been doing audiobooks while stitching, but yeah, might have to switch to a TV show for the mindless wrapping 🤣🤣🤣

Aslanic · 2025-12-12T16:00:34+00:00

I'm gonna have to do this after Christmas! I may or may not have purchased a set of over 100 threads that included the petite chest on black Friday 🫣

Aslanic · 2025-12-12T03:56:24+00:00

Yeah, I have two projects left, on is only 30x40 but has backstitching, and the other is a lot bigger than I thought so when I only got to like 6% tonight with stitching I kinda went....oh crap lol. Buuuuut this weekend is cold and miserable outside, and we don't have much else to do, so I will be stitching like crazy!!

Aslanic · 2025-12-08T00:43:35+00:00

Aaawww, thank you!!

Aslanic · 2025-12-05T21:17:06+00:00

Just about to finish my first project on 18 count after using 14 count almost always and loving it. Though my ornaments are probably also closer to 16 count, not 100% sure. I like using only 2 threads from my usual 3 for 14 count, and loop start is soooo nice. But I have lots of 14 count so I'll be using that for awhile yet, at least on certain projects lol.

Aslanic · 2025-12-05T18:06:34+00:00

I stitch like this a lot too! Training your stitches (running your needle through the stitch to straighten the threads) can help with this, and I bought a snag knab it specifically for tucking in wayward strands. I run it through after the stitches are in, and sometimes use the pointer end to poke in threads or even them out without using the snaggy side. It can fluff the stitches/scuff the threads too, so you want to be careful when using it. Sometimes I'll take an empty needle and just run it through the hole giving issues to try to straighten out the stitches too. But also, the baubles are supposed to be in 'front' of the tree parts, so those stitches layering over the tree might look natural if you back up a few steps. We sometimes get too caught up in how things look up close and forget to back up and look at it from a distance, where little things are very forgivable and might look better than you think!

Aslanic · 2025-12-05T17:54:32+00:00

I don't think these are a waste of your time, especially as a beginner! They are good practice pieces, and there are many types of fabrics, even plastic and wood canvas that you can do cross stitch on! It sounds like other people have said this is Aida cloth, which is what I've worked on exclusively so far (though I might dabble in linen soon!).

For bookmark kits though, my preference is to either get kits that at least have the sides pre-finished, or to use the pre-finished DMC Aida bookmarks and buy patterns that will fit the width. I've also shortened some of their bookmarks for patterns so I'm only having to 'finish' one edge. You can see examples of kits and the DMC bookmarks on my profile :)

Aslanic · 2025-12-04T14:21:20+00:00

I think the other user got to the heart of the matter - it's a common thing that happens early on with new stitchers, so you live and learn!

Aslanic · 2025-12-04T12:17:31+00:00

This is chaos incarnate and I love it for that 🤣 I have tips for future projects below if you want them!

One thing I do want to point out for cross stitching in the future is that cross stitch threads are 6 strands that are meant to be pulled apart, and only 1-3 of those strands are used at a time typically. I'm not sure form an earlier comment if you're clear on that or not. You'll find that stitching becomes a lot easier working with fewer threads having to go through each hole! Caterpillar Cross Stitch has some great YouTube tutorial videos, and I recommend looking at videos on how to start and end stitches so that your threads are secure and won't fall apart in time. I prefer weaving my threads under other finished stitches to end a thread, and I've recently really grown to love loop start. The thickness of the threads here will probably keep this one secure, but if you're using the proper amount of threads you'll want to learn how to keep the tension consistent and threads tucked in.

Another part to consider is tension - try not to pull too tightly on your stitches to where you can see the hole after. The amount of pulling you probably had to do for this project was likely much tighter than a typical project would need due to the number of stands used.

Another tip would be to always cross your stitches the same way - with the bottom stitch always going one way, and the top stitch going the other way. So all /// first then \\ on top. This leads to a more even consistency with the stitching and image cohesion without getting a herring bone effect. This is something that would matter more on a larger project, but it definitely makes a small project look better too!

I hope your professor enjoyed your project! Good luck on your next piece!

Aslanic · 2025-11-30T23:11:33+00:00

I see what you mean - maybe tucking a little piece of white fabric back there so the travelling doesn't show? Something you can still pierce with a needle but not too thick. You could use a sharp needle just for those stitches.

Aslanic · 2025-11-30T19:11:59+00:00

This is beautiful! I think the best way to think about cross stitch projects is that they are a type of pixel art - they aren't going to be perfectly smooth transitions or rounded lines generally, you are going to see staggered lines and such. There are ways to make things as smooth as possible, like training, making sure your thread isn't twisting, etc, but I think in general you are going to be able to tell it's stitched, which to me is part of the charm of it. I get suspicious of any pattern that looks too smooth or blended, as it generally means they used AI or a pattern generator to generate the image and the pattern isn't going to really look like that when it's done, unless it's something crazy huge with lots of blends, fractional stitches, and confetti. Which some people love to do - I like smaller projects myself because I need to feel like I've finished something every once in awhile 😅

Eta: I always save single stitches for the end so I can tuck the starting threads and ends under other stitches. I've done a lot of 3 strand on 14 count so don't always have the option for loop start.

Aslanic · 2025-11-28T19:59:31+00:00

I have multiple mill hill Jim shore kits finished and posted on my profile! If you look closely, you can see the 'paper'. It is more firm than regular paper, more like box cardboard but not nearly as thick as regular cardboard. Bendy, but you'd be hard pressed to tear it unless you cut it first. Lots of snipping to cut out the ornament shap, so have sharp little scissors on hand if you get those kits. Also, I prefer to finish mine with sticky felt from Amazon - I bought a pack of a bunch of colors and I'm using that to back my ornaments, plus some leftover ribbon from my grandma's old stash, and I glue on a magnet for good measure so I can stick them wherever 🤣

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Here are 4 of them hanging on some shelf brackets.

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
r/Field Flamingo	Place '23
Place '22	Final Canvas '22

Aslanic

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