So...my questions

Jim said in another thread:

***IF*** people like
yourself are prepared to start and keep on talking about the things you
want to discuss. Dont forget, these sort of newsgroups are what the
participants want them to be. If you want something, you need to *do*
something about it. If there are lots of others who feel the same way,
all the rest of us will benefit from the discussions.

I never kept up with the "shop talk" magazines. I never took any
classes. I don't know any other stitchers but you, and I only recently
came back to RCTN anyway. The last project I did was something I
designed myself and though it turned out very nicely, it was 5 years ago
and then life intervened and I haven't touched a needle much since.

So I've started learning recently and collecting questions, and though I
feel I'm an "advanced" stitcher (gee, I know how to railroad and use a
laying tool, I use a loop start--although I only recently realized
that's controversial--and my backs look almost as pretty as the front),
you folks do/discuss things here I've never heard of or need better
instruction for.

1. Silks. I've never worked with silks, and I have a boatload of
Eternas awaiting me. I've heard: A) You can't wash a piece done in
silk; B) Can't use a hoop (oh my gosh I can't stand stitching "in hand")
because you can't wash a piece done in silk. For those of you
experienced in using silks, would you mind sharing your working and
finishing habits with the poor feeble newbie here?

2. Gridding. I have never seen nor heard of this until I saw the
picture of the Firehouse Angel just recently (beautiful BTW). I still
just fold my fabric and half, then half again, and start in the middle.
Would someone please explain why/how this is done and if it is worth
the investment of time?

3. Pretty backs. I had heard, once upon a time, that doing each cross
stitch individually makes a sturdier, more time-friendly piece than
running a row of half crosses across the line, then coming back to
finish them. What do most of you do, and why?

I believe I'll have more questions, but at the moment, I'm putting off
the project that uses the silks because I'm very, very intimidated by
the though of "no hoop." The other questions are out of sheer curiosity.

Lizard-Gumbo

lizard-gumbo wrote:

1. Silks. I've never worked with silks, and I have a boatload of
Eternas awaiting me. I've heard: A) You can't wash a piece done in
silk; B) Can't use a hoop (oh my gosh I can't stand stitching "in hand")
because you can't wash a piece done in silk. For those of you
experienced in using silks, would you mind sharing your working and
finishing habits with the poor feeble newbie here?

I wouldn't suggest putting a hoop *on* the silk thread (most silk
snags somewhat easier than cotton, especially on long stitches), but
I've never had a problem washing pieces stitched with silk thread.
Eterna is very colorfast, although I wouldn't wash it in hot water
with Tide.

If you *can't* stitch in hand, use a frame or qsnaps. Don't put the
qsnaps over a stitched area.

And not being able to wash silks would really mean that you can't work
in hand either. A piece worked in hand gets much more skin oil/grime
on it than a piece worked in a hoop.

2. Gridding. I have never seen nor heard of this until I saw the
picture of the Firehouse Angel just recently (beautiful BTW). I still
just fold my fabric and half, then half again, and start in the middle.
Would someone please explain why/how this is done and if it is worth
the investment of time?

If you're working a complex piece, it makes it easier to keep track of
where you are, since you've got a marker every 10 stitches. It's
fairly easy to do. Using sewing thread (or glazed quilting thread),
stitch a line across the center of the fabric. Most people use longer
stitches. Stitch a line every ten stitches across the fabric, bot
horizontal and vertical. (I don't find it necessary or helpful, but
some people do.) It's a personal thing.


3. Pretty backs. I had heard, once upon a time, that doing each cross
stitch individually makes a sturdier, more time-friendly piece than
running a row of half crosses across the line, then coming back to
finish them. What do most of you do, and why?

If the piece is going to be used (rather than just put on display) a
piece stitched one at a time is going to be sturdier than one stitched
in rows. Personally, I do whatever will make the front of the piece
look best. If a piece is stretched and laced correctly before being
framed, I don't think that it will make much difference in the short
(100 years) range. After that, who knows?


--
Jenn Ridley :
WIP: Water Lilies, Rose Trio, Be Mine, Emperor's Coat II, Carousel
Most recently Finished: Romance, Halloween Circle, Always be a Wildflower
Stitching log: http://www.livejournal.com/users/jenn_stitch/

lizard-gumbo wrote:


1. Silks. I've never worked with silks, and I have a boatload of
Eternas awaiting me. I've heard: A) You can't wash a piece done in
silk; B) Can't use a hoop (oh my gosh I can't stand stitching "in hand")
because you can't wash a piece done in silk. For those of you
experienced in using silks, would you mind sharing your working and
finishing habits with the poor feeble newbie here?

I've had no problem washing silk, nor would I imagine there's
a big problem using a hoop (though I usually work in hand). If you
are really worried about the hoop, you could use a scroll frame.
If it really worries you, just do a small piece in your hoop and
wash it and see how it comes out.

2. Gridding. I have never seen nor heard of this until I saw the
picture of the Firehouse Angel just recently (beautiful BTW). I still
just fold my fabric and half, then half again, and start in the middle.
Would someone please explain why/how this is done and if it is worth
the investment of time?

It helps keep you oriented to your pattern in large projects
with lots of confetti stitches. It makes it less likely you'll end
up with one of those "off by one" errors from counting inaccurately.
Finding the center isn't usually a problem, but even after you've done
that, it's easy to miscount when you need to place stitches that
are a ways away from the stitches you've already placed. I don't
bother with gridding anything that doesn't look like it might be
a counting problem, but it's pretty darned handy when counting
problems are likely.
To grid, you just run long stitches at whatever intervals
you like. I usually match whatever grid is on the pattern (usually
every ten stitches there's a darker line). I'll usually go up and
down every 2 or every 5 stitches with the basting line to serve
as an additional check on counting.

3. Pretty backs. I had heard, once upon a time, that doing each cross
stitch individually makes a sturdier, more time-friendly piece than
running a row of half crosses across the line, then coming back to
finish them. What do most of you do, and why?

I'm more worried about the appearance on the front than on
the back. I strive for relatively neat backs, but I doubt most of
my needlework will ever be in situations where a more dense back is
of any use. So, I pretty much use traditional (one X at a time)
for variegated/overdyed fibers (when I want that gradual transition
effect), when working over one, for isolated stitches, or when
it helps me get where I need to be. The rest of the time I
generally use Danish.

lizard-gumbo ) writes:
(snip)
1. Silks. I've never worked with silks, and I have a boatload of
Eternas awaiting me. I've heard: A) You can't wash a piece done in
silk; B) Can't use a hoop (oh my gosh I can't stand stitching "in hand")
because you can't wash a piece done in silk. For those of you
experienced in using silks, would you mind sharing your working and
finishing habits with the poor feeble newbie here?

2. Gridding. I have never seen nor heard of this until I saw the
picture of the Firehouse Angel just recently (beautiful BTW). I still
just fold my fabric and half, then half again, and start in the middle.
Would someone please explain why/how this is done and if it is worth
the investment of time?

3. Pretty backs. I had heard, once upon a time, that doing each cross
stitch individually makes a sturdier, more time-friendly piece than
running a row of half crosses across the line, then coming back to
finish them. What do most of you do, and why?

I believe I'll have more questions, but at the moment, I'm putting off
the project that uses the silks because I'm very, very intimidated by
the though of "no hoop." The other questions are out of sheer curiosity.

Lizard-Gumbo

You have already had some replies. Let me add my 2 cents worth. In
the early days of using silk, it was most unwise to wash it. However,
since WWII techniques have been developed so that silk is now completely
washable. Hence there is still advice out there which says you cannot
wash silk. If it is silk you bought recently, it can be washed.
Remember there is only one "rule" in stitching. The thread goes
through the eye of the needle. Dont take any notice of anything anyone
(including rctners) tells you that you *must* do. There are no embroidery
police.
I have never gridded any of my work. If you do grid, make sure you
use a thread that *cannot* be pierced as you do the stitching.
Monofilament works, or quilting threads. As to where you start, I prefer
the top right hand corner. What I do is to find the middle, and count to
the top right hand corner. Then I measure how much is left for framing;
in my book at least 3 inches. This process solves several potential
problem. If you happen to have the wrong size of canvas, you will find
out. If the piece is rectangular, and you have width and height muddled
up, you will find out. You dont have to start where I start, but I feel
safe if I have counted to at least one corner from the middle, *before* I
start stitching.
As to neat backs, the question really boils down to, IMHO, how much
thread you have at the back of the work. The more thread there, the
sturdier to piece will be. If you really want sturdy backs, you can use
tent, or continental stitches. Personally I like as little thread at the
back of the work as I can get. To do this, I have worked out how to know
what is happening at the back of the work, while I stitch the front. The
easier the stitching at the front, the more I can concentrate on the back.
However, my rule is that the front is far more important than the back.
As to how you work out what is happening at the back, this is, I suspect, a
very personal business. I know how I do it, but whether this suits other
people, I have no idea.
Assuming you are stitching on non-aida cloth. I assume you know all
about the "vertical thread". If not, it is a good idea to find out.
There is a rumour that you cannot do loop starts with an uneven number of
threads. This is another myth. People also have had trouble using loop
starts, and then finishing up with long lengths of thread, as they run out
of symbols before they run out of thread. There are ways of coping with this.
I could go on a long time with all the other tips I have got from
reading rctn over the years. If you have any other thoughts, just post
them and see what happens. HTH.

--
Jim Cripwell.
From Canada. Land of the Key Bird.
This creature of doom flies over the frozen tundra in winter,
shrieking its dreaded call; "Key, Key, Key, Key rist but it's cold!!"

Hi LG

I think I've cross-stitched on everything from Copper metal screen using
horsehair to silk on silk.

One thing I've learned, the 'RULES' are often Wrong!
What works well for one person is extremely awkward for another or doesn't
work for them at all.

My wife prefers to stitch a single color at a time, usually starting at the
middle and radiating outward working each of the four quarters at a time.
While I myself work only in horizontal rows starting at the upper left hand
corner, regardless of how many color changes I may encounter in that row.

I'm also a solid stitcher, meaning I stitch the background also, leaving
no exposed backing. Since I often work 'in-hand' I prefer the heftiness
of making full cross-stitches over the long runs of backing, rather than
the run across and back again, which leaves a very thin layer of floss on
the back.

My normal mode of stitching is simple cross-stitch, no 1/4 or 1/2 stitches
or backstitching, unless I'm doing a very detailed piece.
But then too, I'm usually doing photo-charted images and to maintain detail
I have a lot of confetti that I don't blend out.

My wife normally does pattern pieces, but she likes to build them up almost
to 3-D by layering stitch over stitch to gain depth. Or in some cases by
stitching smaller pieces and adding them over padding. One piece she was
working on recently, she actually cut out sections of the backing material
in order to give depth below the main surface of the material. The pieces
that went behind the material were worked individually, then stitched back
into place as she worked the main piece above it.

To gain certain looks, I often blend different materials with the floss,
such as clear monofilament with the floss for glassware and window panes,
etc. Gives them a sparkle while remaining invisible.

So there are a whole lot of things that you can do with a piece that defy
all the rules.

Not always do these attempts at being different turn out the way expected,
but they are interesting nonetheless.
I was working one of the simpler pattern pieces that had a caned rocker in
the image. I chose to use real Bamboo for the stitches that made up the
seat and back. The color was right, but the finished piece looked funny.
So I played FROG, rip-it rip-it and blended one strand of the Bamboo with
1 strand of floss. It came out just right then and didn't look so hard in
that particular area.

I could go on forever about some things I have tried, many did not work right,
some worked better than previously visualized, but for the most part, varying
materials used has created some awesome pieces.

Welcome back to RCTN!

TTUL
Gary









lizard-gumbo wrote:
Jim said in another thread:

***IF*** people like
yourself are prepared to start and keep on talking about the things you
want to discuss. Dont forget, these sort of newsgroups are what the
participants want them to be. If you want something, you need to *do*
something about it. If there are lots of others who feel the same way,
all the rest of us will benefit from the discussions.

I never kept up with the "shop talk" magazines. I never took any
classes. I don't know any other stitchers but you, and I only recently

came back to RCTN anyway. The last project I did was something I
designed myself and though it turned out very nicely, it was 5 years ago

and then life intervened and I haven't touched a needle much since.

So I've started learning recently and collecting questions, and though I

feel I'm an "advanced" stitcher (gee, I know how to railroad and use a
laying tool, I use a loop start--although I only recently realized
that's controversial--and my backs look almost as pretty as the front),

you folks do/discuss things here I've never heard of or need better
instruction for.

1. Silks. I've never worked with silks, and I have a boatload of
Eternas awaiting me. I've heard: A) You can't wash a piece done in
silk; B) Can't use a hoop (oh my gosh I can't stand stitching "in hand")

because you can't wash a piece done in silk. For those of you
experienced in using silks, would you mind sharing your working and
finishing habits with the poor feeble newbie here?

2. Gridding. I have never seen nor heard of this until I saw the
picture of the Firehouse Angel just recently (beautiful BTW). I still
just fold my fabric and half, then half again, and start in the middle.

Would someone please explain why/how this is done and if it is worth
the investment of time?

3. Pretty backs. I had heard, once upon a time, that doing each cross

stitch individually makes a sturdier, more time-friendly piece than
running a row of half crosses across the line, then coming back to
finish them. What do most of you do, and why?

I believe I'll have more questions, but at the moment, I'm putting off
the project that uses the silks because I'm very, very intimidated by
the though of "no hoop." The other questions are out of sheer curiosity.

Lizard-Gumbo

Jenn Ridley wrote:
I wouldn't suggest putting a hoop *on* the silk thread (most silk
snags somewhat easier than cotton, especially on long stitches), but
I've never had a problem washing pieces stitched with silk thread.
Eterna is very colorfast, although I wouldn't wash it in hot water
with Tide.

I stitch with silk threads all the time, and I use hoops - rarely a
frame. Never bothered my silks. And my hoops cover previously stitched
areas on a constant basis.

I also wash my silks. Just be sure whatever you wash them in has no
bleaching properties. Also, some of the overdyes may bleed, but I've
used Caron Watercolors without a hitch.

I don't find all the "snagging" problems some of you seem to talk about.
I've used Soie d'Alger, Caron's, Rainbow Galleries, Madeira, and a few
others.

So, go ahead and use your hoop. It won't affect the silk threads. Just
make sure the hoop is bound.

Dianne
--
"The Journal of Needlework" - The E-zine for All Needleworkers
http://journal.heritageshoppe.com

Dianne Lewandowski wrote:

Jenn Ridley wrote:
I wouldn't suggest putting a hoop *on* the silk thread (most silk
snags somewhat easier than cotton, especially on long stitches), but
I've never had a problem washing pieces stitched with silk thread.
Eterna is very colorfast, although I wouldn't wash it in hot water
with Tide.

I stitch with silk threads all the time, and I use hoops - rarely a
frame. Never bothered my silks. And my hoops cover previously stitched
areas on a constant basis.

I also wash my silks. Just be sure whatever you wash them in has no
bleaching properties. Also, some of the overdyes may bleed, but I've
used Caron Watercolors without a hitch.

I don't find all the "snagging" problems some of you seem to talk about.
I've used Soie d'Alger, Caron's, Rainbow Galleries, Madeira, and a few
others.

Enh. You've not tried a stranded or flat silk in a satin stitch, I
bet. Trust me, they snag. IME, even SdA, Waterlilies, Eterna
Minitwist, and Splendor snag *slightly* more easily than cotton floss.

--
Jenn Ridley :
WIP: Water Lilies, Rose Trio, Be Mine, Emperor's Coat II, Carousel
Most recently Finished: Romance, Halloween Circle, Always be a Wildflower
Stitching log: http://www.livejournal.com/users/jenn_stitch/

lizard-gumbo wrote:
1. Silks. I've never worked with silks, and I have a boatload of
Eternas awaiting me. I've heard: A) You can't wash a piece done in
silk; B) Can't use a hoop (oh my gosh I can't stand stitching "in hand")
because you can't wash a piece done in silk. For those of you
experienced in using silks, would you mind sharing your working and
finishing habits with the poor feeble newbie here?

I wash bright reds or very dark colors by themselves before use because
I'm slightly risk-adverse but haven't had any problems. I prefer to
stitch in hand and can't stand hoops but will use some aid on really
large projects. I would recommend a scroll frame instead of a hoop
since the frame wouldn't actually touch (and possibly snag) the silk.

2. Gridding. I have never seen nor heard of this until I saw the
picture of the Firehouse Angel just recently (beautiful BTW). I still
just fold my fabric and half, then half again, and start in the middle.
Would someone please explain why/how this is done and if it is worth
the investment of time?

I never grid anything 5 x 7 or smaller since it isn't worth the time.
If the piece can be fudged easily in the event of a counting mistake, I
wouldn't bother to grid it. Geometric designs (such as 4-way bargello)
which have absolutely no fudge factor are worth the gridding time. I
use ultra-lightweight Stren (monofilament fishing line) in bright colors.

3. Pretty backs. I had heard, once upon a time, that doing each cross
stitch individually makes a sturdier, more time-friendly piece than
running a row of half crosses across the line, then coming back to
finish them. What do most of you do, and why?

The sturdier backs really are important only for frequently worn
garments, furniture (church kneelers, piano bench covers, etc.), pillows
that will be heavily used, and the like. Any piece that is stitched
over two (or on Aida) and will be properly stretched and framed or made
into an ornament or decorative bell-pull does not need that much thread
on the back. I usually do the half-cross and then return unless I'm
going for a certain effect with overdyed flosses. If the entire piece
is to be stitched over one thread (linen, "evenweaves", or silk gauze),
doing full crosses is recommended by Maureen Appleton so the fabric
doesn't get pulled so far out of square and you have more "back" for
securing thread ends.

All in all, do what is comfortable for you. As long as the are
satisfied with the results and the process is pleasant, you have succeeded!

--
Brenda
NEW to Styx, classic to the world: Big Bang Theory

F.James Cripwell wrote:
You have already had some replies. Let me add my 2 cents worth. In
the early days of using silk, it was most unwise to wash it. However,
since WWII techniques have been developed so that silk is now completely
washable. Hence there is still advice out there which says you cannot
wash silk. If it is silk you bought recently, it can be washed.





The way I look at it, the ancient Chinese wore silk, and they did not
have dry cleaners.

25 years ago, I bought a fairly inexpensive silk blouse, and was not
going to double the price in the first week by taking it to the dry
cleaner, so I washed it by hand in cold water. The water ended up jade
green, but the blouse was fine. Lasted many years with regular
hand-washing in cold water. I never would trust it in the washer or
with hot water, but you might do a small test piece to try in various
forms of washing just to set your mind at ease.




--
Karen C - California
Finished 5/31/05 - Stars of Merlin wedding sampler

WIP: 50th Anniversary sampler for my parents, July birthstone
LTR: Fireman's Prayer (#2), Amid Amish Life, Angel of Autumn,
Calif Sampler, Holiday Snowglobe

Paralegal - Writer - Editor - Researcher
http://hometown.aol.com/kmc528/KMC.html
blogging at http://journals.aol.com/kmc528/Lifeasweknowit/

lizard-gumbo wrote:

Jim said in another thread:

Well, thank you all very much, ladies and gents. I especially was happy
to know I could use a hoop and wash the silks. My color palette is the
dark oranges to reds, so I will wash them first and see how they do.
Thank you, Brenda!

Jenn, I never thought about having to wash it MORE because of hand oils
when stitching in hand. Do you use gloves at all?

I also really liked Erika's suggestion to do a small patch first and
wash it and see how it does. It'll also help me work out a problem I'm
having with the design.

Thank you, Dianne, for suggesting to bind my hoop. I have never done
that, never thought about doing it, wondered why my grandma did it when
she quilted, and now I "get it."

Thank you, Jim, for your tips and tidbits...more, please? I don't like
Aida (haven't used it since I was 18 and found linen quite by accident
in a teensy tinsy little kit I bought on vacation to save me from having
to communicate with my parents). I figured out a loop start on my own
(that's a miracle--I never figure out anything on my own), so have no
issues (I'm really good at guestimating necessary length), but I was
surprised when I read a thread some time ago about how judges can tell
and they will mark you down. I have to ask: What's the crime?

Gary, your whole post was fascinating. I'm feeling like I'm "back in
beginner's where I belong" (quote from favorite movie, "Strictly
Ballroom"). Can you please elaborate a little more on your wife's 3D
technique, please? As for your "glass" effects, I have a photo of a
very detailed beveled glass window I'd like to do, but am having a
difficult time figuring out how to achieve the effect in fiber.

***

I have to warn you that now we've all opened this Pandora's box
together, I'm probably going to pick your brains mercilessly. I'd like
to do designing/selling (yes, one of THOSE), and the thread on
computer-generated charts was very instructive.

What else do you like/not like about computer-generated charts? Would
you buy a hand-drawn chart? Would you stitch a hand-drawn chart? Why
or why not? Whose charts do you like and why?

***

Lastly, I have a boatload of what I'd call "junk" fabric in a box I'm
never going to use. Mostly AIDA and some waste canvas and the
beginnings of some UFOs that need frogging. I just don't want to look
at it any more. Anybody up for getting some stash so I can clean out my
space? (Believe it or not, I am NOT a packrat--cross stitch or otherwise).

Thanks again!

LG