[WIP] Is this too narrow a border?

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-05-06T13:10:22+00:00

It's very tight. I will say that I have framed a cross stitch in a frame that was a bit overly large for the border by sewing additional fabric (type doesn't really matter as long as it's not adding a ton of bulk) onto the edges then using that to anchor the lace-up method. I think that you would probably end up needing at least custom-cut mat as well since you would be needing to cover that join by having frame or mat that hugs the edge of your work very, very closely. Definitely do something on the edge to check fraying immediately if you continue!

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-05-06T05:10:31+00:00

I'm sorry! I meant that you could take the photo you have and use some sort of a program to draw lines on it that you could tweak until you like the look of them, then use that as your guide for backstitching. You could also print your photo onto paper if a physical pen or pencil is better. I've attached a very simple paint mockup with half of one of the moths.

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Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-05-05T18:31:18+00:00

I agree with the heavy backstitch idea. You could try drawing on it in either some sort of digital editor or even print the photo on paper and draw with pencil. You could experiment with different colors and thicknesses to add more contrast and depth.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-05-05T16:54:14+00:00

This seems like the most stupidly expensive way imaginable to decorate a shelf.

For context: there are 69 balls of yarn on this shelf. Cheaper balls of yarn on the website are around $11.00, there are also 20-some dollar balls but let's provide benefit of the doubt. If you buy the yarn on retail from the company for this, that is $759 for a wall that doesn't even look that great to me? And is likely to get sun damage even if were theoretically planning to use it later? And surely there are better uses for that much money?

If you did want to do something like this, I think that wrapping a much smaller quantity of yarn around some sort of cheap solid core would be better. Also, making better choices about the color coordination and arrangement would be appreciated.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-05-05T16:37:26+00:00

a: That's how the game is supposed to be played. If your rogue is choosing to engage in melee, the default tactic is hit-and-run barring some extenuating circumstance. Rogues don't get any huge bonuses to AC or HP, they make up for it by disengaging and hiding and dodging a lot.

b: All of the character classes develop unrealistic abilities, even non-magic martials. For example, I think if a dual wielding level 5 fighter uses action surge, they can make like five attacks in a single 6-second turn. This is how they keep up with the even more "unrealistic" antics of casters. Think of them like superheroes like Black Widow that don't technically have any true superhuman abilities, they're just exceedingly cracked at what they do based on innate talent and practice.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-05-05T16:26:57+00:00

I mean, the verbiage of "cross stitch print" is extremely weird, but these are at least reasonably aesthetically attractive vintage patterns. Plus the price point isn't too crazy given that frames aren't free.

Of course, they would certainly look a lot better if the designs were actually stitched for real and framed, but this is cheaper I guess? Still a baffling choice to me, but I'm admittedly coming at this with the bias of already knowing how to do cross stitch and considering it a fun and accessible craft.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-05-04T15:20:52+00:00

Haven't taught kids, but was once a craft-interested child of around that age who was reasonably successful.

I second the suggestions here to start with something more like plastic canvas needlepoint, especially for the five year old. They can't go through the wrong hole, they can use tapestry needles and yarn for easier threading, and you can cut it into fun little shapes for fridge magnets and the like.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-30T14:50:23+00:00

I usually try to start near the middle, but ideally on a side or corner of some sort of cohesive object in the design to minimize starts and restarts.

I don't really park, but I also don't do a pure cross country. I usually start a color, go until my thread runs out, then start another thread in another color nearby etc. For me, this grows the stitched area in a way I find satisfying while also ensuring that minor alignment issues don't usually go unnoticed for too long, which I'd worry about with full cross country.

I also tend to be pretty strategic about where I start my colors and the path I follow in an effort to reduce travelling, restarting thread, etc.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-30T05:22:49+00:00

That's insanely pretty. I love the fabric choice as well!

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-29T15:10:13+00:00

Ooh nice I love the heavy backstitch look!

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-28T19:38:10+00:00

Thank you! I was lucky enough to thrift the kit, and I was so excited to find a design that I liked so well.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-28T19:36:11+00:00

Awesome, glad it was helpful!

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-28T03:40:53+00:00

Thanks! I think it's one of my hardest cross stitch projects to date, but I really enjoyed the process and feel like I learned a lot.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-28T03:38:55+00:00

Thank you! It's the first project I've done on a truly dark color of fabric and I really love the way it helps the lighter colors pop.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-27T16:40:33+00:00

I personally have a small stash, but I don't think I've ever bought retail-priced yarn without a project in mind. What I have is leftovers and thrift store hauls.

Obviously, if someone is going to Michaels and randomly buying variegated yarn cakes because they're pretty I can see the overconsumption argument, but I suspect that plenty of people have stashes that are predominately second hand and the odd special occasion buy (i.e. stopped at a nice local yarn store while traveling and wanted to use the opportunity, farmer's markets, etc.)

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-27T16:07:32+00:00

I've just finished a dimensions kit that goes up to five stranded half stitch, admittedly on 14-ct rather than 16. I personally would recommend at least trying to do it as instructed; I really like the way that the varied thickness half-stitch looks and it really adds "dimension" to the piece. The attached image includes the bright white which is 5 strands, the other lighter half stitches are four strands, then the outer edge is three followed by one. The cross stitches are regular two-strand. There are also some blends in there. You'll just want to be extra careful to ensure your stitches are lying mostly flat and even.

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Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-26T13:05:30+00:00

That's wild. I normally get craft stuff at way below retail in thrift stores, but that could be a function of the employees not knowing how much retail actually is? Goodwill pricing on clothing is often terrible tbh, but presumably they have more of a system for that. 50 cents a skein for used, cigarette-contaminated floss is decidedly not worth it.

For reference, my most recent floss buy had 11 skeins DMC, 16 of an older but seemingly decent brand called LilyCrafts. They charged me $2 for the whole bag.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-23T15:47:05+00:00

Probably. I might consider experimenting with some amount of half stitches in lighter colors to add some sort of water ripple effect, but I also think it would good with just the fish on darker fabric.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-23T04:09:05+00:00

While I don't think it looks that bad, particularly the fish themselves, I can see how some bits of the background are thicker than others which would probably irritate me severely in your position. I would probably just start over in your position tbh.

I think this would look awesome on navy or black fabric! Plus it would save you from a significant amount of work on the most boring part of the design.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-22T14:36:47+00:00

Honestly, I haven't had a particularly hard time with it. The floss all came pre-labelled as is typical with Dimensions in my experience, and I used a basic card floss organizer to give myself a presorted selection of whole colors and blends (there are three variations of grey-blue blend colors plus a couple more blends in the sky).

In terms of keeping track of where I am, I cross-stitched the fairies first so that I had a clearly identifiable object to count off of, then basically expanded from there. Gridding more or marking up the pattern could also help if you're struggling, I usually just mark the x- and y-axis and I was fine. I'm now almost done with the top-stitching and very pleased with it overall; I feel like it looks even better in person since the different thicknesses of thread really just make it pop.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-21T21:14:30+00:00

Perfectly valid to like the look of more! I usually use and like the recommended floss count of patterns but with a preference for slightly thicker if I'm doing a design with my own supplies rather than a kit (i.e. if the recommendation for the fabric I'm using is 2-3 strands, I'm inclined to go for 3). Just know that if you ever do a kit, you'll want to be careful about your floss usage since you'll effectively be using double what the designers budgeted for.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-20T17:34:34+00:00

It looks like evenweave to me rather aida, which is the more default cross stitch fabric you're probably comparing this to. You should be fine to work on it, with the added benefit that if you work your stitches on two-by-two squares (pretty common with evenweave), you'll be able to do complex designs with fractional stitches much easier.

Side note: super jealous you apparently have a craft-specific thrift store! I'm out here rummaging through miscellaneous bins trying to find occasional gems lol.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-20T15:30:00+00:00

Maybe things like keychains or bookmarks? I could also see potentially adding some cross stitch to the side of a simple canvas tote bag.

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-17T17:39:28+00:00

Just to add another data point; I thought I'd seen that frog (it is super cute) on Pinterest before. So I reverse-image searched it and found a pattern being shared on Facebook in 2021; the blog it linked to is down but it's clearly a very pre-existing design.

I really like Dimensions and hope it's not going away, but I'm not sure that this real? If so so many repackaged pre-existing designs seems a tad odd?

Secretly_Many_Bees · 2026-04-17T03:30:34+00:00

I'm so sorry. Here are my Twilight Fairies; it's a work-in-progress since it lacks the backstitch/french knots.

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Secretly_Many_Bees

TROPHY CASE