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- From: rehak@rap.ucar.edu (Nancy Rehak)
- Subject: Re: Need x-stitch hints
- Message-ID: <1993Jan27.144558.25055@ncar.ucar.edu>
- Sender: news@ncar.ucar.edu (USENET Maintenance)
- Organization: NCAR, Research Applications Program
- References: <1993Jan26.084806.21780@newstand.syr.edu> <1k4bov$q99@agate.berkeley.edu>
- Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 14:45:58 GMT
- Lines: 102
-
- In article <1k4bov$q99@agate.berkeley.edu> holsten@golden.berkeley.edu () writes:
- >In article <1993Jan26.084806.21780@newstand.syr.edu> jareed@rodan.acs.syr.EDU (Judith Ann Reed) writes:
- >
- >>* How do you deal with patterns that need a stitch or three of a color in
- >>widely varied places?
- >
- >I would like to hear some answers for this question, too.
-
- I guess my answer to this is that it depends on several things -- how far apart
- the stitches are, how much stitching in other colors there is around these
- stitches (for anchoring the beginning of the thread or for running the extra
- thread under to move from one spot to another), if the final product will be
- framed or is an article of clothing and my current mood. In general, I try to
- keep all of my stitching localized (no running thread from one spot to another),
- but this is not always feasible.
-
-
- >
- >>* Do you work in straight rows across the pattern, in one direction, or do you
- >>follow the design sections, working on various sections as you get to that
- >>color?
- >
- >I start in the middle of the piece and work out from there. I will
- >usually work in color blocks, rather than in straight rows across the
- >pattern.
- >
-
- I usually start in the middle of the pattern, but will sometimes start at a
- corner if I have extra cloth and don't feel like estimating the size and cutting
- off the extra before I start. I always work in color blocks. If I have any
- extra threads on the back of the piece, I'm the type that will make a huge
- tangled mess!
-
-
- >>Do you mark up the pattern as you go?
- >
- >Yes. I fill in the squares with a light pencil. If I feel that there
- >might be a chance that I will want to reuse the pattern, I make a copy
- >before I begin.
- >
-
- I never mark on a pattern unless it's to clarify some stitches. But then I'm
- the perfectionist type who doesn't like to mark up anything!
-
-
- >>* Is it possible to clean the face of the work when you finish, as I note it
- >>can sometimes get a bit dirty.
- >
- >I always dry clean my work. Also, if you put a kleenex over the fabric
- >before you put it in the hoop, and then just tear out the part that
- >covers your working area, the rest of the fabric stays cleaner.
- >
-
- I may be a perfectionist, but I'm also lazy! So I don't do anything helpful
- that might be a little more trouble like use the kleenex like mentioned above.
- What I do do, however, is make sure I don't hold the front of the fabric when
- I'm stitching. I always hold the hoop from the back with a little bit of the
- fabric wrapped around the hoop. I haven't had any trouble with the front of
- the piece getting dirty using this method, so I don't know how to clean a work
- when I'm done.
-
-
- >>Should it be put in a frame with or without glass?
- >
- >A frame with glass will keep the piece clean longer. With some types of
- >embroidery (pieces with texture), glass is detrimental, but with
- >cross-stitch, I find that it works well.
- >
-
- I've always used a frame with glass to keep the piece clean as suggested.
- However, I was told once by a framer that if you live in a very humid area or
- put the piece in a humid room like the bathroom, you may not want to have glass
- on the piece because the piece can get wet and the glass won't allow it to try
- and then it can mildew. I have never had this problem and I do have a couple
- of pieces in a bathroom that's not used much, but it is something to consider
- and maybe as the framer about.
-
-
- >>* Do you knot the threads on the back, or rely on weaving it in under other
- >>threads?
- >
- >I always weave the threads under other threads--I find it faster than
- >knotting.
- >
-
- I always weave the threads, also. It's fast and it's also less bulky. I would
- be afraid that knots would cause bumps under the piece or would show through
- the holes.
-
-
- >Hope this helps.
- >
- >Donna Holsten
- >holsten@insect.berkeley.edu
- >
- >
-
- Me, too!
-
- Nancy Rehak
- rehak@ncar.ucar.edu
-
-