Cross-Stitching

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Help with Complicated pattern
Sun, Aug 25, 2019 12:38 PM
Posted by Vicky
Hi guys!
I'm sewing an ambitious project, but i could do with some hints and tips - I always sew from left to right but there are a lot of different colours in each line. What is the best way sew without continuously having to do one stitch and knot it off, then do the same thing 7 times? I tried leaving the threads loose but it got tangled. All the colours in the line are also very close shades of green! Any tips and tricks i would really appreciate - i'm also sewing on black aida which isn't fun.
Thank you!
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    Reply from Allen
    Saturday, November 16, 2019 1:24 PM
    Hey Vicky,

    I have been there as well. My strategy for doing these types of patterns is to put your chart in a page protector, mark all of the same color and do small areas at a time. If you are trying to do only one line at a time, i would do the stitches as needed skipping the areas that have other colors. When you put in the other colors they tie down the jumps automatically. Hope this helps. :) Go to top

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      Reply from Abbie
      Tuesday, December 3, 2019 1:25 AM
      Allen, thought your suggestion was a good one. I would like to ask a question. I understand the part about putting the chart in a page protector, but then what do you use to mark off the done stitches? Pen, sharpies, colored pencil would be permanent on the plastic. Highlighter? Would it stay on the plastic? Dry erase pen? Would that work? Again, great suggestion and one I would like to try. Do hope you see my post and respond back. Thank you. Go to top
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        Reply from Allen
        Monday, December 23, 2019 11:46 PM
        Sorry about the delayed response. I have had the best luck with Vis-a-Vis markers. They are finer point overhead projector markers, and work great for 8 or 10 squares per inch grids. They require moisture to remove, so they do not easily brush off when the pattern gets put away.

        Hope this helps. Happy Holidays. Go to top

        • Reply from Abbie
          Tuesday, December 24, 2019 7:02 AM
          Allen, Thank you for respondiing to my question. Abbie Go to top
  • Reply from Heather
    Wednesday, November 20, 2019 4:39 PM
    I usually just do one color at a time. Go to top
  • Reply from Leigh
    Monday, December 30, 2019 1:51 PM
    For the stitching, I work in one 10x10 box at a time. Pick a color and work all stitches, then "park" the thread wherever it goes in the next 10x10 box. To control the loose ends, I wind them in a circle around my fingers, clip them together with a small barrette, and then place the barrette on a needle minder. For a big project like a HAED, I end up with a lot of needle minders and barrettes, so I work all 10x10 boxes from left to right so that the working thread doesn't wrap around parked threads. Here is a video on the parking technique I use: https://youtu.be/Zdp4-traCo4

    As for marking the pattern, I use the ezPDF app on a Samsung Tab A tablet. This app will hilight all instances of a single mark, making it easier to not miss one. The app will also color by mark, so I color marks for finished crosses in one color, and marks for parked threads in another. One thing to note about this app is that it tends to work better on an Android device. Here is a video showing how to use ezPDF (yes, she is using an iPad, lol!): https://youtu.be/ZZ3QbIGiaMk

    Hope this helps! Go to top