Calling All Cross Stitchers

[xstitcher]

I feel like I live on another planet. I only know two people who xstitch..one in the UK and the other in Canada..I am in Denmark.
I'd love to hear what you are working on and any tips....

At the moment I am working on a Christmas Calendar and it is filthy. I don't know how I have managed to get the fabric so dirty. When I am finished which hopefully will be in about 10 days I plan to give it a soak in soapy water and then put it in a washing bag and wash it at 40 degrees in my machine.

Any comments and advice on this would be welcome.

[vodkancoke]

Hi xstitcher. I do a lot of cross-stitching. Because I am off my feet at the mo, I am working on one for my kitchen. It's a farmhouse kitchen scene. I usually wash mine in a laundry bag at 30 degrees and a slow spin cycle. xx

[rowanwitch]

I'm not a cross stitcher but I do a lot of freehand beaded embroidery. This is very delicate so my cleaning methods should be safe for cross stitch.

I wash the item in almost cols water cold adding a solution of lux soap flakes and water or woolite gently working it through from the back of the piece. I rinse it about three times in just tepid water and lay it on a towel to dry pushing it into shape On item of clothing (working on a ballgown at the moment) I'd either dry it on a sized mannequin or over padding like pillows Once dry press on the back into a clean pad of cloth to protect the texture of the stitches

[Robinia]

I'd just got into x stitching and my local craft shop closed down...typical.
I'd just hand wash it in warm water with something like Stergene too but my machine doesn't do a 30 degree wash, it's a few years old!

[Brinjal]

I love xstiching but don't do too much now as my eyes are bad.

[xstitcher]

Oh my goodness.....you really are out there! Thanks for all the tips...I have a 30 degree wash so will use that. Because of where I live I use internet shops for my stitching supplies and have always been quite satisfied with them, so if anyone wants some recommendations, just ask. xstitching seems to have died out here which is a pity because there are such lovely charts and kits to be found.

[xstitcher]

Have you thought of getting your charts enlarged Brinjal. I quite often do that by scanning them and then just printing out a part of the scan onto A4 paper. I have just had 2 cataract operations but they didn't really bother my stitching. I prefer stitching on aida 14 and sometimes use a size 20 needle. I am doing Eva Rosenstand 08-3590 (you can Google it) and I swear that it is jinzed. I have never made so many mistakes, but I began it in the summer so there has been no time pressure on me and am really enjoying it. It is the second Christmas Calendar I have done this year but that's it....all grandchildren are now supplied with one.

[Ratty2E]

I've been a crosstitcher and designer for 25 years, i do think it seems to have fallen out of favour in recent years as a hobby. I would always recommend you wash any embroidery project once it's finished, unless you have only handled it wearing cotton gloves, as the oils from your hands can cause brown staining over time. If you are not sure of the quality or origin of the thread then it's a good idea to spot test a small area for colour fastness. I normally hand wash with Dreft or similar mild hand wash liquid as rowan describes. Never wring or spin your work as you can ruin the stitching, you should lay it out flat on a clean white towel then roll it up and this should soak up the excess water. Lay it out flat on a fresh dry towel and pull gently back into shape and leave till almost dry. While still vaguely damp place face down on a clean folded towel to protect the stitches from getting squashed and press with a hot iron. Try to handle the work as little as possible once it's clean or wear cotton gloves.

[seekeerz]

love cross-stitching, have done so for years - just finished a piece from Permin and promising myself another from their range - quite beautiful !!

usually just hand wash in warm water and gentle soap, this seems to do the trick - good luck with yours

[xstitcher]

I love the red car series from Permin. Although it is Danish I find it cheaper to buy from the UK. Which kit did you use seekeerz?

[fredkins]

I,ve been cross-stitching for almost 15 years now.I have never put my work in the washer always hand wash like rattyratgirl says.I am working on (The Gold Collection) Alan Maley's Gracious Era,It's an oldy worldy snowy street scene and I have been on months and months with It.I still have some unfinished work that I must go back to.

[xstitcher]

I keep track of everything I make. I scan a picture of the pattern and print it out in small size. This goes into a little book with the info I want to keep about each project. A little filofax would be a perfect way to file them. I buy my books from Framecraft. They are cheap and handy.

[xstitcher]

I just Googled your Alan Maley cross stitch fredkins......gorgeous....lots of shading there so I can see that it would take time, but well worth it.

[nungate]

Well hello to all of you stitchers out there - I finally found you Xstitcher! Been away all day and have just logged on. You have been busy finding other stitchers on AB! I am currently working on a picture of Charlie Chaplin which was in a magazine a couple of months ago - I also do a bit of freehand embroidery as well as needlepoint but my problem isn't my eyes it's arthritis in my hands and I can only work when they allow me so it's takes me some time to finish my stitching these days. I must say it's great to find fellow stitchers here.

[xstitcher]

My grandmother was a master cross stitcher and she too had arthritis so I am familiar with your problem. Although I didn't learn my stitching from her I have definitely inherited her love of it. I have some of her work and some of the fabric they used is quite different to anything I have seen. She was from around 1870. She would do her own charts. How I wish I had been able to learn from her. I do know that the availability of charts was nothing like it is today. I have some of her DMC chart books and they are very lack luster.

[fredkins]

Hi there xstitcher yes there is a lot of shading ,but also a massive amount of half cross stitching which bugs me.

[abstibus]

A little off topic, but my mother did beautiful Carrickmacross lace until she died aged 86.

[fredkins]

I,ve just been on Alan Maley website and my cross-stitch is the 3rd picture,the horse,carriage and ladies in oldy worldy dresses and it is a lot of work stitching it.

[joggerjayne]

What is cross stitching?

A type of embroidery?

[seekeerz]

sorry x-stitcher, I've had computer probs over the past few days, just back now - the Permin piece I've just finished is the Cherry Tree with all the tiny birds, which I love - my OH has promised to have it framed for me as he says 'it;s the first piece I've done that HE really likes !! couldn't you just !!!!!!!!!

I'm going to order one of the Seasons - the Winter one [ and maybe another one as well ] direct from Denmark as I'm sure I can buy it cheaper there than here in Oz

Good luck to all the 'stitchers' & enjoy as well !!

[xstitcher]

I've asked Ed. if we can keep this going as it seems to be quite popular.

seekerz I buy my Danish kits from the UK as they are cheaper there than here. We have quite a high VAT called MUMS and also our post rates are very high.

Try checking out www.sewandso.co.uk I use them a lot and find them very satisfactory, but I always shop around and the prices can be vastly different.
Good luck.