I have been stitching for 66 years. I use a size 24 on 14 count and a 26 on 18 count.

I am not an employee of ECS, just an old stitcher in this chat group.

YO! Me, too. :)

Some folks use one size smaller needle for back stitch...I don't, usually. But if the fabric is seems crowded, I will use the smaller size...that's happened one time...not a normal occurrence. :)

Okay. Thanks for replying so quickly.

You're very welcome! You can always count on an opinion around here! Get it? Always count? (SIGH)

I use the same sharp regular sewing needle for all the different types of cross stitching that I do and have for all the 30+ years that I have been stitching. I don't change for any of the different things I do during my stitching.

I like using a pointed needle for back stitching.

I really enjoy reading the questions and answers. I don't know any cross stitches here.

x, I am way behind in answering but will try to catch up tomorrow. I don't know any cross stitchers in my real life either. It seems to be a popular hobby. I knew a few ladies at the local shops, you know when you sit around and stitch. I never got much stitching done because I can only focus on one thing at a time. I did see some beautiful pieces. Now, that my little one is in school and our shop remains open after all I might go there from time to time and sit around talking not stitching. :)
Had a bad day today. I had to take out about 30 stitches and I'll be darn if I didn't make the same mistake twice.
Gotta run, more tomorrow. Have a great evening. Well, it's almost time to get up in your part of the world. I remember when we lived in Japan, I always had three clocks, one for local time, one for the US and one for Germany. It was so much easier than having to figure out what time it was in each location. Now I only need one. Both of my sons live on the east coast and I can remember that it's only one hour difference. They got rid of their home phone and use cells only, so it's mostly texting. I'm not fond of having lengthy conversations on the cell phone, there is always so much static, they multi-task and I mostly make noncommittal noises. Who knows what I agree or disagree to. No need to contact me if you don't have enough time set aside to focus on me is my motto.

Hi Texas C

I began stitching in 1964 but when the babies started arriving it was forgotten. Now that my babies have their own babies I'm off again. It all hit off in 2005 when I was at the hairdressers and saw a little chart in a magazine......a basket of flowers in many shades of pink...my young granddaughter's favourite colours. It was lovely to get going again and I haven't looked back.

I too spent ALL day Saturday cutting out stitches....I'm using threads I have so could do it that way instead of carefully pulling them out. How I went so wrong I'll never know and like you kept making more mistakes but finally got there in the end. I was so tired that I slept three hours longer than usual the next morning which was so not me.

Because I'm working from a copy of a chart from the 60's it's old and beat up, the symbols are very similar to each other and the cover picture of the finished product is lost, so there are lots of possibilities for mistakes.

I love the American idea of these shops where you can also sit down and have a chat. I saw one once in Portugal in a shoe shop. Like you I don't think I could stitch and chat unless I was doing something mega simple like filling in one colour.

I have a late friend from the UK who lived in Japan. Her stories were wonderful. Her husband was with BP Gas. She took her drivers' license in Tokyo can you imagine that! I've been there with hubby on a business trip but it was too short to see anything which was very unfortunate.

I have rehab training today which I love so best have breakfast now as I must leave in 1 1/2 hours. It takes me about 7 min to get there on my super duper metallic red 3 wheeled scooter which I love..

I've "scooted" in rain,sun, snow and high winds and it always puts me in a good mood. If you see another scooter you wave...we're a very jolly group. I also get sweet waves from children in a kindergarten group. I think they like the colour. 😍

Xstitcher, I am soooo green-eyed with envy! I have long wanted a 3-wheel scooter! My daughter keeps talking me down with the image of myself as a grill ornament on a large speeding truck like Wily Coyote in a Road Runner cartoon. The traffic monsters in this town chew up scooters for a light snack...nothing cute about that...but I can dream! :) Ride, cowgirl, ride! :)

Hi Vcess gosh I'm sorry the traffic you have makes getting a scooter a real safety hazard. Here we have bicycle lanes (paths) and I drive on those. We aren't allowed on the road unless the bike lanes don't exist.

I can't figure out how to put a picture onto my post. Any help would be appreciated. I googled it but with no success.

It's 9:30 am here and I'm off to training now and I expect the US contingent are fast asleep.