To Grid or Not to Grid

Rhiannon wrote:

I would never grid a small, simple project as that would take more time
than it is worth. I would grid a larger project (e.g., over 8 x 10
inches solid stitching on 32 ct.) because I'm likely to work on it for a
bit and then set it aside for a long time and the gridding makes it
easier to get back into the project. It is also worthwhile to grid if
the chart is poorly printed/drawn or otherwise confusing since you use
so much effort interpreting the pattern you can't afford additional
confusion when looking at the fabric. Thank goodness hand written
charts aren't so common!

Suzanne wrote:

A few people on here have spoken about gridding projects before, but I
was hoping someone could tell me more about it. Do you always grid
your projects? How do you decide whether you should or not? Does it
matter what the stitch count is or fabric type? Just how do you go
about it? I've been looking online but haven't found many places that
talk about it.


--
Brenda
"Sometimes I'd sit and gaze for days through sleepless dreams all alone
and trapped in time." Tommy Shaw


There are times I would grid a smallish chart (say 5"x5" or 5"x7"); in
fact, I have 2 of these in my WIPs now. One is on black Aida, and I
have a devil of a time seeing the holes in the fabric, the grid lines
have been more than worth the time it took to put them in! And the
other has a large section of continous black cross stitches; the grid
lines make it much easier for me to keep track of where I am in that
large see of black! ;-)

Just my 2 cents,
--Mickey
Mansfield, MA

to reply remove "nospam"
mickey18385 at yahoo dot com

The only times I have been tempted to grid are on projects with
considerable open space between stitched areas, because this is where I am
most likely to miscount. On band samplers or similar things with a constant
series of reference points, I don't feel the need. If things are densely
stitched, I usually end up just marking and remarking the chart until it
becomes a graphite laden limp tattered rag, but rarely miscount.
Dawne

If it`s a medium to largish design, gridding will save you much heartache
and will be well worth the effort!

I don`t bother gridding with small designs - but since I only (usually) do
largish ones, I always grid now. I`m waiting for some pre-gridded Aida to
come from Miami right now - it should arrive at any time! I understand that
they`ve stopped making it now because it was too eaxpensive, which is a
downright shame.

Pat P

"Suzanne" wrote in message
news:200404152223481575%suzette40@comcastcrossnets titch...
A few people on here have spoken about gridding projects before, but I
was hoping someone could tell me more about it. Do you always grid
your projects? How do you decide whether you should or not? Does it
matter what the stitch count is or fabric type? Just how do you go
about it? I've been looking online but haven't found many places that
talk about it.
--
Suze

Cat hair? That's just an embellishment.

S & A wrote:
snip I've got a Lanarte kit to start
(4 Seasons with a Japanese lady in blue), but it comes with Linen and
I've never sewn on linen before. Would it be adviseable to grid?
It's size is 7.5" by 13.5". The chart is massive and at first look,
the symbols for back stitch are not easy to follow.

If the linen is supposed to be stitched over two fabric threads, I would
grid at least the area where you plan to start. If the chart has ten
stitches between major grid lines, you'll have twenty fabric threads
between major grid lines. 1 stitch = 2 fabric threads each direction.

As others have said,
*** Have the gridding match the major grid lines on the chart. ***

I also like to have the bottom legs of the over-two stitches pull
against a longer fabric thread (called "starting next to a vertical
thread"). See item 18 about stitching on linen at our RCTN FAQs:
http://users.rcn.com/kdyer.dnai/faqs/xstitch_tut.html

So after I make my first grid line in one direction, I very carefully
make the second grid line in the other direction so that where they
intersect, I can make a "correct" over-two stitch. This adjustment
moves the second grid line one fabric thread if necessary.

It says something about 1/6 & 2/6 threads?

I don't know what that means.

--
Beth Katz

I don't grid. when I started flower Power, I thought gridding might help. so I
started to do it. I think gridding would have taken me as long as stitiching
it (that is one humongous project). so basically i ended up basting a line up
the fight side of the project and along the bottom edge( I usually start in the
bottom right corner) I had a row fo 20 by 29 grids about a third of the way
across, then gave up on the girdding. I might, on a big project do the right
sinde line and bottom line to make sure I leave enough fabric for framing and
to give me a reference point,but that'sitI usually laeve 4-5 inches of fabric
on each edge anyway so if I am off by a little , it doesn't really matter that
match
and if i miscount in the pattern itself --- can you say "FUDGE IT"?? LOLOL

kathy
san antonio

It says something about 1/6 & 2/6 threads?

I don't know what that means.

maybe that you take 1 thread from the "bundle" of 6 threads
and
that you take 2 threads from the "bundle of 6 threads???

SGC

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 13:23:44 -0500, Beth Katz
wrote:

S & A wrote:
snip
It says something about 1/6 & 2/6 threads?

I don't know what that means.

--
Beth Katz

Possibly to use one ply (or two ply in the second instance) of
6-strand cotton floss?


Jenn L.
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace
http://sewu9corn.blogspot.com
Current projects:
Lady Scarlet's Journey (Just Nan)
Just Nan Round Robin - currently Creativity
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)

mickey wrote:

One is on black Aida, and I
have a devil of a time seeing the holes in the fabric, the grid lines
have been more than worth the time it took to put them in!
Have you tried putting a white cloth in your lap while stitching on the
black? Makes the holes soooooo much easier to see in the aida! That
being said, I can't use that trick with black linen (although others
have said it works for them). For me it shows up too many holes! I
just have to stick with good lighting, magnifying glasses and watch the
shading of the threads.
HTH

--
Joan

See my first-ever design he
http://www.heritageshoppe.com/joan.jpg

"Stitch when you are young and poor, frame when you are old and rich."
- Elizabeth's (rctn'r) sister's MIL (Barbara Marr)

Thank you all, very much! Your comments have been very helpful! After
reading everything so far, I think I will grid the sampler I'm
designing. Since I'm not yet through with the charting (coming along
good, though), I don't know how big this is going to be. Though it may
end up not very large, it will have large(ish) blank spaces between the
elements. So from what y'all have told me, I think gridding it will
help me keep track of where I am.


On 2004-04-16 07:08:18 -0500, "SGC" said:


"Suzanne" wrote in message
news:200404152223481575%suzette40@comcastcrossnets titch...
A few people on here have spoken about gridding projects before, but I
was hoping someone could tell me more about it. Do you always grid
your projects?

No, but usually I do.
How do you decide whether you should or not?

2 Factors I consider, and I ask the same question for each one: "Will
gridding make it EASIER for me (in the long run)?"....
* complexity of design, is it easier to keep my place if I grid?
* urgency to finish object, will I be working on other projects in the same
time frame?

Does it
matter what the stitch count is or fabric type?

For me, not really; but I do find that I'm less inclined to grid on 14ct
aida & more inclined to grid on 16ct, 18ct, etc aida and evenweaves and
linens

Just how do you go
about it?

I start in the center of the fabric horizontally & vertically. I thread a
needle w/ a light color of sewing thread that will be 'see-able' on the
fabric, I use a long piece of thread. I leave about half hanging out the
center and use a running stitch (2 'blocks' under, 2 'blocks' over) to grid,
then I go back and pick up the tail and go in the other direction. I've used
10x10 (stitches) grids & 20x20 grids. For Flower Power - Crossed Wings - I
did a 20x20 grid in pale pink and then went back and did a 50x50 overlay in
a darker color. MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GRID MATCHES THE GRID ON YOUR PATTERN
when you start stitching or else you'll go bonker &/or need to re-grid your
pattern w/ a colored pencil. You're design most likely won't be exactly
centered, but I've never had them come out *really* off enough to affect
finish-work (framing, pillow making, etc). Also, you clip the grid threads
out of your way as you go. Don't stitch over them -- please -- I've made
that mistake and sometimes they're sewn into the cross-stitching.

I've been looking online but haven't found many places that
talk about it.


--
Suze

Cat hair? That's just an embellishment.

Do you always grid
your projects? BRBR
No. If it is not absolutely necessary why take the time away from stitching.

How do you decide whether you should or not?

If designs are all ove the place and have no relationship to eachother, I would
grid. Also if I wanted to start some place other than an edge (where I would
just count threads to get correct placement) like the center, I would grid
enough to find the center.

Does it matter what the stitch count is or fabric type? BRBR

I can't think of a fabric or count that would make a difference. The placement
of the design on the fabric is what a grid helps with.

Now that I've talked about not working a grid, I am sure several people will
say they never start anything without a grid. Just like so many things in
stitching, that is a personal choice. Boo