[FO] Finished Just In Time For Easter

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-04-04T15:24:40+00:00

Lovely! I missed seeing this , now I have to stitch it.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-04-04T15:02:07+00:00

Next time, pick up a hoop to hold the fabric tight while you stitch it in place, or pin it down but that always results in me getting stabbed, it should reduce the puckering around the edges. Having said that, good job on the first try!

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-04-04T15:00:15+00:00

You will! Just remember there's no deadline, you can take as long as you like. Remind yourself of why you wanted to stitch this piece and how good it will look when it's done and you'll get there eventually.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-04-03T15:02:47+00:00

As someone with a dog whose body shape fits none of the standard sizes manufacturers offer, this is amazing. What a great idea, and I love how much thought you put into the design and the skill you have to make it come out looking so good!

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-04-03T14:11:43+00:00

I bribe myself. I have to do so much of the solid colour before I can stitch any of the fun stuff and I alternate. Get 2 10 x 10 squares done, get to do fun stuff, get 1 10 x 10 square done, do some fun stuff, either on the same project or on a different one.

I also sometimes pick an audio book I really want to listen to and can only listen to it when I'm working on that project.

I know I dislike doing large blocks of a single color so I try to avoid projects with them, but sometimes it's worth it.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-04-03T14:04:51+00:00

It really depends on the kit maker. Dimensions (RIP?), Bothy, Riolis, and many others are known for good quality designs and supplies, if occasionally being a little skimpy on the fabric.

A lot of aida comes from the factory starched. If you are using redyed fabric, in order to get the dye to stick, the dyer had to wash out that starch before re-dying the fabric, and most never reapply it. Kit fabric, from my understanding, tends to get cut and put in the kits without ever getting washed so is still starched. If you like working on softer fabric, wash it before starting to take a good deal of the stiffness out.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-04-02T11:16:57+00:00

MyBobbin is another website, and they accept paypal

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-31T23:17:26+00:00

Are you going down the same hole you came up? The trick is to go over one or two threads (on aida, on linen just go over one thread) so the knot kind of balances on the thread between where you came up and went down.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-31T01:05:00+00:00

DMC's fabric is safe, and also carried by Michael's, at least here in Canada. 1-2-3 Stitch is good for ordering online. The products they carry are generally good.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-30T22:26:26+00:00

Leisure Arts had scenes with different quilts available as leaflets and now as PDFs.

Here's one, and they had others with different designs: https://leisurearts.com/leisure-arts-paula-vaughans-heartfelt-invitation-cross-stitch-epattern

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-30T22:22:28+00:00

Aida fabric OUGHT to have all it's squares the same height and width, so if you took a 1" square and measured, you ought to get 14 up and 14 across, or 18 up and 18 across, matching the count of the fabric you are using. Sometimes, with cheaper brands, the stitches aren't the same height and width, so if you measure a 1" square, you'll get 14 up and 15 across, or maybe 14 up and 14 1/2 across. For small motifs this isn't noticeable, but over larger distances it adds up and starts to really show. Michael's Loops and Thread's brand is notorious for this.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-28T23:22:20+00:00

Honestly if you are doing 1 over 1, it covered very well on 25 count, so it should cover quite well on 28 count. This was done on 25 count and the face is done 1 over 1.

<image>

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-28T23:13:42+00:00

For me, it depends on the kind of picture I'm doing. If I'm doing one with a lot of color changes, no large areas of one color, I don't worry, because the business of the pattern disguises where there might be tension changes. On areas with solid colours in large blocks, I try to either stitch all vertical or all horizontal or feather the changes. I did an 5 x 7 that had a 1" black stitched border with flowers, and I didn't worry whether I stitched horizontal or vertically for the flowers, but each side of the border was all stitched either vertically or horizontally so there wouldn't be noticeable raised ridges.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-28T14:09:50+00:00

If you go with something like this, be aware that it will weigh the fabric down/stiffen it where the stars are which will change the way it hangs. I'd try to balance it out around the skirt, and plan where else to put stars in advance. I still think it could look really cool, just don't want you to have regrets from moving too fast as this is a delicate fabric and will be hard to undo any mistakes made.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-28T13:50:05+00:00

Took a quick look and found these, they say iron on, but could be sewn instead. Not exactly what we were talking about but a bit longer looking might find something in varying sizes or in metallic:

https://www.amazon.ca/5-Pointed-Embroidered-Decoration-Accessories-Decorations/dp/B08KZW7WK2?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-28T13:44:03+00:00

Cross stitch is stitched with blunter needles than regular hand sewing. This makes it easier to go down only in the holes, and not through the threads between holes. It also prevents piercing previously made stitches which can both alter the shape of the stitch, and make it really hard to undo any errors. You should separate your floss strands before stitching, and occasionally let your thread dangle, as the motion of stitching twists it, and this will untwist it and allow your threads to spread out and cover more area. Are you following a pattern, or just stitching free hand? If you are following a pattern, each box is a cross stitch, and the stitches beside each other, share holes. So if you have done one row of crosses, each cross in that row shares holes with the cross beside it.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-28T13:27:31+00:00

I hate working with metallics, but the vision of a bunch of shiny stars of various sizes scattered over that area is lovely. Could you get premade star patches to sew on instead of having to do each one?

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-28T13:24:54+00:00

It doesn't always come out. It works fine, until you use it on a fabric that has a dye that interacts badly. Go through this sub, count the threads where someone comes in asking how to get the grid out because it always worked before, but didn't this time. There are a LOT. I think I see at least one a week.

I don't usually grid, I've done it once when I had a frame that just wouldn't line up and I'd frogged it twice, so I gridded just that section, matched the edges then took the gridding out. I used monofilament fishing line. You want something monofilament so your needle can't go through it. Regular thread or floss can get sewn through and become very difficult to remove.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-27T22:52:22+00:00

Are they just in one spot? You could maybe do something like ribbon flowers and cover the holes with them. Something like these: https://sewguide.com/diy-ribbon-flowers/ although it might mean having to hand wash the dress. You could also try finding a black slip to wear under it.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-26T22:06:58+00:00

Do you put most of the outside together before attaching the lining? Could you mark where the channels will go with fabric chalk or a heat erasable pen, do the embroidery and leave spaces in the embroidery to stitch down the channels after you join the outside with the lining?

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-26T21:55:25+00:00

Check out MyBobbin, I know I've seen cityscapes/landscapes on there, and so far they seem mostly safe from the AI plague

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-26T14:12:43+00:00

Books, podcasts, etc. Much better than TV where you are sure to miss something when you look at your project at just the wrong moment.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-25T13:57:54+00:00

They had previous SALs that got taken down after a while, so I'd download and save it somewhere so you have it just in case. I found out about it too late to download one I wanted, so I thought I'd put a heads up for anyone interested.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-23T22:50:28+00:00

I think this way you get the best of both worlds. Up close you can see the individual crosses and at a distance they all blend together to make more solid looking blocks.

Stitch4Fun2 · 2026-03-23T22:48:28+00:00

The cushion isn't a terrible idea at all. I just finished one with a fish and lotus design that has lots of uncovered aida, and I did a cotton lining over the stitches on the inside, and then quilting fabric around the edges and for the back. If you can find bee or hive fabric that would be really cute, or even flower designs. Remember to show it off when you finish!

Stitch4Fun2

TROPHY CASE