Hi all, I am very new to cross stitching... My grandmother passed away last march and then my grandfather passed away this past thanksgiving. I am a crafty person and so was my grandmother. My dad gave me all of her craft items and in there was an unfinished cross stitch pattern. So I am currently working on it. I thought it would be nice to give to my father (he likes to hunt and it is on a duck) I thought it would be nice to have something my grandmother started and I finished. This pattern is easy. There is a coded chart telling me what color to stitch where and then on the fabric itself is the pattern... so it is super simple to do.
I really enjoy doing it and I thought I would have something for a friend getting married soon - I found a pattern on etsy and bought it. It is a PDF file... it has the color coded chart telling me where to mark what.... but I do not know where to start on the fabric because unlike the duck, there is nothing on the fabric... Where/how do I start?
I hope this post makes sense...
thanks, Dedie
Posted by: dedie.zachary on 03/26/15
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Hi! Love to see new blood! Enjoy! Be happy! Expect to make mistakes, we ALL have! Love the the story about the duck for dad....it is exactly in the spirit of the craft. How did you finish it for him...framing? Pillow?
Starting is easy....ensure you have plenty of fabric for finishing by adding 6" to the finished size, both vertically and horizontally. A 9x12 finished size needs, at a minimum, a piece of fabric 15x18".
Fold the fabric in half on the horizontal axis, and then in half again on what would be the vertical axis...effectively, you have quartered your fabric. When you open the fabric, where the two fold lines cross is the center of your fabric. I usually finger-press that corner to make it easier to see.
Any questions? These ladies will have twelve recommendations for every question and you can choose the way you want to do it. This is a highly individualized craft. :)
Posted by: VCESS on 03/26/15
Thank you, that does make sense!
I am going to frame it for him... I also have a quote book that my grandmother kept. So if I can I want to use one of those quotes in her handwriting to put underneath it.
thank you for the help!
Posted by: dedie.zachary on 03/26/15
Welcome and loved your story about finishing the started duck cross stitch by your grandmother.
VCESS gave you excellent instructions to get started with counted cross stitch. As you become experienced, there are so many wonderful counted cross stitch designs out there to stitch and enjoy doing. Check back to let us know how you're doing with your new project and of course, if there are questions you need answered, there are many experienced stitchers here that are willing to help.
Happy stitching to you.
Posted by: lbcatlovr001 on 03/26/15
The handwritten quote is a loving tribute...a wonderful idea! Start shopping for a framer now...do your homework....evidently there are a lot of freaks in the framing business. :)