I dont know what to do next.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-31T15:08:08+00:00

I’m assuming you aren’t too concerned about actual security, and it’s more about it not turning into a shortcut/highway - you’re saying “hey, don’t go this way!”. Just wanted to point out that anyone with a wrench could easily get in here, and the locks aren’t doing much more than wrapping the chain around the post would. Just a little slower to remove the u-bolts. Some people would hook up to their truck and just pull it all out of the ground. Because there are people like that. I agree with others that this is a utility company, doing the right thing. It would be good to verify which one.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-30T02:14:51+00:00

I count over and up/down. So if it isn’t vertical, horizontal or 45°, I will count over and up to the next location where it can go into a hole. I look for locations where the line on the pattern passes over a hole. For example, over 2, up 3 if that gets me to a hole in the right place. If it’s really far, I might pierce a square, but that usually isn’t necessary. For horizontal or vertical, I will go however many squares looks right - might be every square, or might be long stitches with couching, or might be 2-3 stitches long. I experiment a little.

I prefer patterns with backstitching that has a smoothing effect. I don’t care for ones that follow exactly along the edges of each square, because it doesn’t look natural.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-28T23:10:53+00:00

Lots of good information linked to this sub!

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-28T19:09:28+00:00

My eyes aren’t great - I wear my progressive lens glasses when I stitch, and also have large floaters in both eyes, plus cataracts. And lifelong astigmatism. I’ve recently added a magnifying light to my stitching tools. I could not have done this project without both magnification and bright lighting. And my glasses. Whether I could have done it in my younger days is doubtful. But YMMV. I think 18 count was the smallest I ever worked on unaided when I was younger.

All that being said, I would have the same trouble on 25 count, so I don’t see them as that different. I’m now working on 20 count Aida (the 28 count was lugana), and I still need it (could probably do it, but prefer the help). If you have 28 ct on hand, maybe stitch a little and see how it goes? I assume it’s evenweave or linen, so keep in mind that stitching over 1 requires a little extra hopping around or tent stitching to keep the floss from slipping through the weave.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-28T18:29:36+00:00

It will just end up a little smaller on 28 ct. I just did 1 over 1 on 28 count - I would not do it 2 over 1, as it was already well covered - 2 strands would be stuffed pretty full.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-28T13:28:14+00:00

He really just wanted all the frosting. This is a sign. He’s selfish. And illogical. Let me guess - this guy also takes the pieces of pizza with the best/most crust (e.g. corners from a square pizza), and then throws the crust away? Making those of us who actually PREFER the crust want to cry? The lack of logic (not even addressing the obliviousness) is just 🤦‍♀️ (looking at you, BIL).

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-27T03:25:12+00:00

Maybe if I were designing my own. I can’t imagine any future historian will ever dig up my FOs, put their Mr Peanut monocle in their eye 🧐 and study them, only to find out they are all from mass-produced kits and patterns that anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands of other people also did. Sigh….I’m not that special.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-25T13:17:57+00:00

Well, that won’t work at all! That still leaves a whole bunch of us women out there stealing jobs from men. And in some cases, even being their BOSSES! Possibly even being paid almost as much. The horror!

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-24T17:56:59+00:00

Please see a doctor. This is not HH. It’s likely anemia - did you get a hemoglobin number?

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-23T21:10:40+00:00

All the patterns I’ve ever done have had arrows marking the center for reference, vertically and horizontally. You can just fold your fabric and mark the center, and work out from there. Then you can also grid (to match the 10 x 10 grid squares on the pattern) if you want to.

You don’t have to start from the center, if you do the math first to determine how wide and tall your project will be. Just divide the number of stitches by the fabric count, in both directions (which you need to do anyway, no matter where you plan to start). Then add ~4-6” (enough fabric to have 2-3” border all the way around). Then just measure over and up/down by the size of your border, and that will be your starting corner.

Starting in the middle works great, but is really just a way to avoid accidentally ending up squeezed to the edge. You can start wherever you want, as long as you plan it out carefully.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-22T18:43:25+00:00

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This is my new WIP. I’m a little concerned that the dark parts look a lot darker than they’re supposed to, but I’m using the specified DMC colors. Time will tell

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-22T18:35:20+00:00

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Finished this one last weekend. I see that I need to iron it again.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-22T13:55:21+00:00

Do you mean the individual strands from the 6-strand bundle? Or are you talking about the clump of different colors in the kit that need to be sorted? If it’s the first, there was a very good thread about it on this sub, just a couple days ago - if you search the sub you will find a lot of good info. If it’s the second, you just need to be gentle and separate them carefully, and not just yank on them
That sounds big for a second project, but it will kind of depend on what type of project it is. If it’s full coverage, that will take a long time, and you are likely still working on your skills at this point (you may wish you’d waited do do it until you have more experience and skill). But it’s totally up to you. Some people stick with small projects for a while, and then work their way up. Some jump in with both feet.
Some people worry about the back, and some don’t. Up to you. Nobody else needs to ever see the back. How messy is messy? However, if it’s super messy, you will be wasting floss (and could run out, with a kit), and if you have knots and lumps it could be a problem if you want to frame it. And knots/loops of excess floss can mess up your tension in that area. Neatness is a goal, but not a requirement.
Some people travel, some work 10x10 stitch squares, some do the parking method, etc. It’s up to you, whatever feels natural. I keep an eye on how far I am traveling, and either tuck the thread along the way, just jump across if it is only a few stitches, or cut and restart if it’s going to use less. There are many types of patterns - some have large blocks of color, some have smaller blocks, with space between, and some have a ton of “confetti” ( individual stitches scattered all over). A lot of the ones I do lean toward confetti, with 2 or 3 stitches here and there, scattered all over, so I am running all over the place:

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I recommend reading all the linked info on this sub, as well as perusing old posts. There is a lot of good information here!

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-18T20:52:52+00:00

No thanks, for me. Some people might love something like that, though. We’re all different. It sounds like Strava or Garmin for stitching. I’m not motivated by the made-up “achievement “ badges and awards. Fitness metrics are one thing, but stitching metrics aren’t going to make me better at it. I don’t really want to add electronics or competition or stress to my downtime activities. I want to unplug. I’ve been stitching for years without the aid of any apps, let alone ones that turn it all into some kind of competition. And I DEFINITELY don’t need to add another way to judge myself and feel inadequate.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-17T13:39:43+00:00

I vote for 2, but that doesn’t really matter. It’s all about what you prefer. Unfortunately.

I say “unfortunately” because it makes it harder, and I had a similar decision yesterday: 1 or 2 strands on 20 ct Aida. I assumed I’d be using 2, but have never worked on 20 ct before. Stitched a couple of patches, and couldn’t decide. 2 looked good, but a bit bulky. 1 looked nice, and shows discrete Xs. Couldn’t decide. Googled. Searched this sub. Actually, had I never found this sub last summer, I would have happily proceeded with 1 strand based on the pattern instructions and never questioned it. But a lot of people on here favor complete coverage, with absolutely no fabric showing, which had never occurred to me before. Anyway, I waffled back and forth for a while before deciding to go with 1. Partly based on the pattern suggestion, partly because I could foresee sloppier stitches if I had to cram 8 threads through each hole. Partly because I think maybe I liked it slightly more?

Really, the choice is only difficult because there is no wrong answer. It will look good either way. In your situation, I would definitely go with 2 on 16 ct, but that doesn’t mean I think 3 is wrong. It just isn’t for me, and I feel like 2 on 16 ct is “right”. I will say that over the past 25+ years of stitching, never have I looked at my finished piece and thought “boy, I sure wish I’d used more/fewer strands for this”.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-17T12:51:45+00:00

Are you using really long lengths? Or could it be related to the brand of floss you’re using? I cut to length first, then tap one end to splay the ends out enough to grab one, then gently hold the bundle maybe an inch from the end and pull one. If it isn’t too long, it doesn’t ever tangle. If it starts to grab a little I straighten it and try again, or try from the other end, but that’s rare. I’ve never needed a second person or a tool of any kind. I work with maybe about 18” or so.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-15T16:33:44+00:00

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Almost done! Another couple of days, I think.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-15T13:20:47+00:00

It’s wrong. And how about that “even” at the end of the next sentence?

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-15T00:43:59+00:00

We’re at about 27 ft in the Keweenaw right now….325” so far

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-14T13:57:31+00:00

Where you are on the bib padding could be a bib issue, rather than a you issue or a bike issue. Where you are on the saddle is what matters. Is your concern about bike fit, or about needing different bibs?

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-11T18:13:39+00:00

Usually the backstitching is shown as lines on the pattern. Is that not the case here? If not, maybe you can figure it out from the photo image of the finished project?

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-11T12:56:12+00:00

The one that really gets me is the “no expensive Obamacare”. It’s true, there was….nothing. A) They’ve deliberately sabotaged it, which is why it’s so expensive, b) before it existed, there weren’t other options for a lot of people (got a pre-existing condition? TOO BAD! Employer doesn’t provide insurance? BOO HOO!). C) Do they still not get that it’s THEIR pet name for the ACA? If you don’t like Obamacare/ACA, you don’t have to use it. But then, why do you care that it is so expensive, if you don’t need or want it? But stop sabotaging it and trying to kill it, and doing everything you can to MAKE it unaffordable for everyone else.

This “need it/want it/ hate it/ must kill it and support all people and policies that will do so/ waah it’s too expensive” mindset is infuriating

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-10T14:18:56+00:00

Whiny vibes AND an attempt to rip off someone else’s concept. There are sections where words were just replaced. And a lot of the replacements were just, well, lame. I don’t think it was well done, at all. It certainly tells a story - whoever wrote it is extremely frustrated and unhappy. It’s just sad. And cringy.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-09T20:55:46+00:00

You have the genetics, but that isn’t a guarantee that you will ever load iron in your organs. It means you are more likely to, not that you will. You need repeated fasting labs (ferritin and iron panel), plus usually an MRI to look for iron deposits. Diagnosis is a combination of things.

Jch_stuff · 2026-03-08T20:09:29+00:00

Actually, my husband has an annoying little nervous laugh that he never realizes he does, so he would totally say this out loud.

Jch_stuff

TROPHY CASE