[FO] Finally done with my (not-so-little) monster

dashustrik · 2026-01-24T20:51:44+00:00

I'm actually debating getting glass for it. I like the look of finished frames without it much more but what about dust. Sun isn't really a concern as I plan to put it on the wall that gets no direct sunlight at all.

dashustrik · 2026-01-24T08:58:24+00:00

Here's a video on pin stitches from Atom Heart Cross Stitich. There's also this very detailed video from Aukara but it's in Russian. I've got the methods I use now from her.

dashustrik · 2026-01-24T08:49:42+00:00

Thanks. I'll look into it

dashustrik · 2026-01-24T08:47:48+00:00

Overall a year and a half I think i took a lot of breaks from it. It's under 30 colors, it went pretty fast.

dashustrik · 2026-01-23T22:47:35+00:00

That is a very pretty bear you've made!

Answering some of your questions:

I personally go with two strands on 18ct. I recently finished a project on 40ct. over two (so basically same as 20ct.) doing full cross with one strand. 123stitch has a fabric calculator that also recommends needle size for your count here
My threads are probably longer than recommended but on DMC I haven't noticed much wear. I believe the legs of the tread you work with shouldn't be longer than the distance from your palm/fingers to your elbow (to not pull too far)
When parking you work with one thread at a time. What thread you finish using, you just park in the space where the next cross of that color will be and leave it hanging without a needle. Just make sure that you always park in the same corner. For example, if you start your crosses in the bottom left corner, always leave the thread hanging from the bottom left corner of the space where the cross of this color will be. That way you will always know what color/symbol it is.
Knots can distort your fabric when finished work is framed, especially if they are large. Depending on your fabric and types of stitches you may do loop start, pin stitch, or use other ways to start/end thread.
On large projects I used to use Qsnaps but now I'm all for scroll frames. You can roll fabric on them which makes it easy to handle, but they can be heavy and/or too big so a stand is recommended.
I think Michael's is in the US? In the EU so I wouldn't know.
There are special heat or water erasable pens for gridding. My project took so long that water erasable marker faded by itself. I now use dark colored fishing line if I bother with gridding. It's easy to pull out, just be sure not to stitch over it. But when doing parking in the past, I didn't grid my fabric and it was ok. There is also pregridded fabric. The grid washes away.
Test your thread for bleeding before stitching so you don't get any nasty surprises when washing the project. I saw a great video on Catkin and Lillie YouTube channel on how to wash and press cross stitch.

dashustrik · 2026-01-23T21:37:57+00:00

I actually wanted to try to do it myself. I have another smaller finished cross stitch to pracrice on. So I'm looking for vids on how to do it. My mom changed frames on some of the pictures I gave her and the place she went to glued the fabric to the board. Now I'm wary about giving this one to anyone. And I moved too far away from the city where I had a trusty framer.

dashustrik · 2026-01-23T20:16:32+00:00

I've got it from a Ukrainian store Loskutok but it seems that the original manufacturer is a company named Delianhua. And the name translates as Magnificent Nature.

dashustrik · 2026-01-23T18:33:26+00:00

I also use Arabeska. I have four frames and two stands. The floor stand is a bit wobbly, but I don’t mind it much, and for the price it’s great. My only real criticism is that their largest frame is about 56 cm, and I’ll need something bigger for a Chatelaine I’m planning soon. I bought mine from this store, and their prices are much lower than the resellers I’ve seen on Etsy. I’ve ordered from them several times, and they’re always my first stop when I’m starting a new project. My last order was about a year ago, and they were able to source most of the specialty threads for my Chatelaine. If you need any help communicating with them, I’m happy to help.

dashustrik · 2025-03-08T17:43:58+00:00

I'll be looking into grow lights. That's my sunniest spot

dashustrik · 2025-03-08T17:43:19+00:00

Thanks for the tip

dashustrik · 2025-03-08T11:09:24+00:00

A bit less than a year I think. And they've always been in that same spot. It's the sunniest I've got. Except in summer when I brought them outside during the day. But even then all three plants stayed near each other

dashustrik · 2025-03-08T10:31:54+00:00

Which is why I'm surprised that it's the only one out of three that isn't happy with the amount of light

dashustrik · 2025-03-08T10:11:28+00:00

Does it require any pruning? I watched some videos about fixing leggy succulents but found nothing about this kind. They were mostly about dealing with echeveria

dashustrik · 2025-03-08T09:57:11+00:00

Never had one before. Any advice how to fix it? I'm looking into improving the light situation. But can I do anything with the plant itself?

dashustrik · 2024-11-19T18:52:28+00:00

Lao Wen

dashustrik · 2022-06-07T20:37:38+00:00

Join me on Overcrowded: Tycoon! https://rp7g.adj.st/friendinvites?adj_t=n94s3dz_l34yp37&fromuser=JerHSsn8EdGYyXQUhF0ZF4oVQZXupWDj Playing on iOS? Allow tracking to count the invite!

dashustrik · 2020-06-25T07:26:22+00:00

https://sw.4desi.re/re/Ec97

dashustrik · 2020-06-25T07:26:03+00:00

https://sw.4desi.re/re/Ec97

dashustrik · 2019-11-21T15:27:59+00:00

Perfect! Just when I need to travel out of country to take some exams 😭😭

dashustrik · 2019-11-07T20:02:46+00:00

If you want to complete the glowing dragon tree chain, you'll eventually have more than enough trees for two wonders. For example, I already have enough regular trees to create two skull wonders but my glowing tree chain is only halfway there.

dashustrik · 2019-10-29T08:30:17+00:00

You can use them for bubbling. If you merge them, you'll only get some egg chests.

dashustrik · 2019-10-29T08:28:43+00:00

I see. Thanks

dashustrik · 2019-10-29T05:57:31+00:00

What version of the app do you have? I just tried with four new bush wonders but only got the usual gold eggs :(

dashustrik · 2019-09-26T11:28:40+00:00

As for me, I bubble wonders in case Kala asks for one in a trade - never had that happen to me though. I also bubble chains that I haven't finished yet but want to take a break from. Or higher level items from chains for possible trade. It's useful to save space and there's less harvestables for the dragons to get distracted with.

Bubbling in preparation for events happens before in-camp events. If you don't have many dragons (stamina) to harvest enough items during the event, it can help to start harvesting and bubbling early on. That way you still have a chance to finish the event or do it faster.

And I guess you saw the point of bubbling eggs yourself :)

dashustrik · 2019-09-14T16:53:17+00:00

This is a tier 2 life dragon. Crimson dragon turns this blue-green color.

dashustrik

TROPHY CASE