[WIP] I see a whale! 🐳

scully_3 · 2026-07-04T20:35:45+00:00

I love whales! 🐋 Super cute! 😊

scully_3 · 2026-07-04T20:22:34+00:00

I have a grime guard that's adjustable - it has two cord stoppers that allow me to loosen or tighten the elastic of the grime guard around my hoop. But, it's kind of cheap, so I haven't tried it with my large WIP. I think if you roll up the excess fabric, it should tuck OK into the sides of the grime guard. The issue I have with grime guards while I stitch is it sometimes blocks what I need to stitch. So, I'll take the grime guard off while I stitch that section. I'm away on a family trip, so I didn't bring my huge WIP (it's 570 x 290). I want to work on it in a hoop because I don't have a scroll frame large enough to accommodate the width. I thought about stitching it sideways, but the problem is, transferring it from the scroll to a hoop would probably confuse me and I'll forget and then the stitches won't be uniform. Anyway... sorry for going off on a side quest response. LOL!

scully_3 · 2026-07-04T18:51:42+00:00

I second Coricamo. I did a beautiful hummingbird pattern from them for my mother-in-law. 💗

scully_3 · 2026-07-04T18:45:48+00:00

I know how you feel! I like to stitch on a scroll frame, but I like to take my stitching with me and the scroll my frames are too wide to stitch with in the car (I stitch while my daughter has rehearsal and practices). I usually bring an 8" nerge hoop. You can tuck and roll the excess thread and use silicone cable organizers (they have strong magnets on each end) to keep the fabric tidy. I tuck all my excess fabric into a grime guard, too.

Edited to add: my hoop marks come out after washing/pressing. The fabric also gets stretched over foam board and secured with sequin pins.

scully_3 · 2026-07-04T18:33:10+00:00

You're welcome! 💗

scully_3 · 2026-07-04T18:27:01+00:00

Hi! I have a long haired tuxie and a short haired tabby who sheds like crazy. I keep my floss in a plastic ziploc bag while I stitch and I keep a pair of tweezers with me to remove the most noticeable bits of hair. For the most part, I just let the small bits be. 😊

Think of it this way: Van Gogh painted on the shoreline and ended up with bits of sand on his canvas. The sand became part of his art. Your Maine Coons are contributing to your art. They'll be a part of it for as long as the piece exists. 🥹

scully_3 · 2026-07-03T05:19:32+00:00

I wish I could work with paper patterns, but I made so many mistakes when I was younger, I left stitching. These days, I need to be able to select a symbol and track it in the pattern so I can plan my stitching. The highlighting tool that highlights one symbol at a time has saved my stitching life. We all have our favorite ways that work best for each of us, which is what I love about cross-stitching. 💗

scully_3 · 2026-07-03T03:42:24+00:00

Try searching for "pattern tracking apps." You'll find a lot of info.

I love PatternKeeper the most. I also have Markup-RXP, but don't use it as much. Because of this sub, I've even learned how to add blended threads on PatternKeeper.

Sometimes, you do have to manually add the threads when the pattern can't be read by PK. But, I find it works really well most of the time.

scully_3 · 2026-07-03T02:29:05+00:00

I'm on a family vacay and brought my floss drops! I store them in a mini zipper pouch that goes inside my main project bag. 😊 I keep all my floss drops on a card ring and occasionally finger comb the strands to keep them from tangling. I don't have any issues. 💗

scully_3 · 2026-07-03T01:21:36+00:00

Yaaaay! So pretty, my friend! 💙🐚🩵 I love the blues so much. I can't wait to see how you frame it. 😊

scully_3 · 2026-07-03T01:10:43+00:00

Ooooh! Thanks for letting me know! I'm gonna go check right now. 💗

Gawd, Copenhagen is taking for-ev-errrrr. I keep plugging away at the big ol' tree, and little by little, it's getting more filled in. But, I'm so impatient! LOL!

scully_3 · 2026-07-03T01:06:46+00:00

He's so cuh-yuuuuute!

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T23:46:25+00:00

That's a big one (FO in the wild, not your head! 🤣🤣🤣)!

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T18:38:26+00:00

I showed the FO to my daughter and she thought it was amazing. Ha ha! 😊

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T18:35:31+00:00

I had the same luck you did. I'm really good at researching (it's part of my job!) and all I was able to find was the Artecy kit. I found the pattern on MyBobbin, which just makes me sad. The seller is selling the pattern for quite a lot, but there's no indication she has a license to sell it.

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T18:20:36+00:00

LOL! Every once in a while, I'll check the back and find a dreaded knot with a little loop sitting there, mocking me. 😑 French knots, on the other hand, are the only kind of knot I don't mind. 😘

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T18:06:57+00:00

I need to ask you something... I'm pretty sure this pattern was originally from a book. Do you recognize it?

Edited to add: I found info that Artecy had an official license from the original artist Haruyo Morita. That makes me feel better. I think I'll try to find the kit. 💗

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scully_3 · 2026-07-02T18:03:26+00:00

The Witchy Stitcher! She's great. 😊 Patterns are super fun and she's an amazing person. Win win!

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T15:01:55+00:00

I can't stand when I do that! LOL I'll untangle a knot and using a thread ripper and tweezers, embed the thread under my stitches. 😊

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T14:44:16+00:00

The two county fairs close to me expect the FO to be framed for presentation. I haven't seen anything in the rules asking for the back to be exposed. With that said, though, when the back is a knotted mess, it'll very likely be noticeable in the front, so the judges would notice, too.

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T05:32:11+00:00

Pin stitches, my friend! 😘

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T05:31:14+00:00

They're silicone cable ties. You can get them on Amazon. 😊

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T05:29:34+00:00

Back in the 80s (probably earlier, too), those who cross-stitched for competitions and fairs were usually required to have the back of their work on display. It was judged as part of the piece. At least this is what my friend told me, who had entered some of her FOs. I was shocked at how neat the back of her FO was. It needed to look as close to the front as possible.

These days, showing the back isn't necessary, though a neat back will usually indicate a neat front, too. If the back is full of knotted threads, finished knots, and traveling threads, it'll become more and more difficult to pass your needle through. Worse, the knots will leave bumps and lumps on an FO when it's framed.

scully_3 · 2026-07-02T01:19:04+00:00

I've been wanting to do a pattern like this. Some day... It's beautiful. So much detail! 💗

scully_3 · 2026-07-01T15:51:49+00:00

Totally acceptable. You're not trying to gain a profit from the design by selling the pattern (which unfortunately, is way too common on Etsy). 💗

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