I have been cross-stitching for a while but am mostly self-taught. I was reading an article yesterday that made me think I may be doing some things wrong. . . I wanted to know what techniques avid cross-stitchers use.
1. The article said to tie a knot to start/end a color. I weave then ends under 3 or 4 stitches. I was taught to do this so that there is no bump from the knot.
2. The article recommended doing a whole X at a time. I do a row of ///// first and then I go back and complete the XXXXX.
3. The article said that a half cross stitch only goes to the center of the square. I thought those were called quarter cross stitches. I thought half cross stitches were ////// or \\\\\\.
4. The article said that when two colors are used for a full cross stitch, one color is used for \\\ and the other is used for ////. I don't think I've ever seen a pattern like that (They may exist; I am not an expert!) I thought the two-color cross stitches meant you put both colors in your needle and use both colors for both the \ and / parts of the X.
Any feedback you can give is greatly appreciated!
Posted by: sia0001 on 04/01/15
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Oh, where do I begin.... maybe you should just get amnesia where this article is concerned. Very, very little is correct.
Posted by: momcat25 on 04/01/15
I've used knots to start stitching (with 3 strands), but I've always trimmed the knot off. Weaving the thread works beautifully (when I use 2 strands, I use the looping method to thread the needle
I've recently started completing every X instead of doing rows. seems a smoother finish.
you are correct about the half-stitches
2 colours of thread? definitely thread both on your needle at once
Posted by: bgmarr on 04/01/15
Whew! Wonder where they get these ideas?
1. No knots, unless an "away knot," which you cut off. 2. Either English (full stitch) or Danish (first legs first). Depends on your pattern. Solid areas take Danish, confetti areas take English. 3. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. 4. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Posted by: jlhewes on 04/01/15
Thanks for the feedback! "Amnesia" lol :)
JLHewes: I'm guessing "confetti" means when the stitches are scattered. Is that right?
MGMarr: Do you do full crosses when you're filling in an area or just when they're scattered? I'm interested in improving, and if you recommend it, I would love to try it out. But how exactly do you go from one stitch to the next? Do you make a sort of checkerboard, or do you do a diagonal in the back to get to the next square?
Posted by: sia0001 on 04/01/15
I agree with the other stitchers' answers you've received. I would do a quick "amnesia" on that article! Who wrote this article anyway??? I feel sorry for new stitchers who read it and think they are doing their stitching correctly. I learn from the more experienced stitchers on ECS. They have expert knowledge, they will SAY if they don't know and guide you to another source and you can trust a lot of the stitcher here on ECS "chat" message board not to steer you wrong.
Posted by: Bermuda on 04/01/15
WOW! I am so thankful we have this message board. That is very scary! Let's just consider it an April fools Joke!
Posted by: xstitcher522 on 04/01/15
Thanks again, everyone. I'm very grateful that this message board exists so I can get the advice that I need :)
Posted by: sia0001 on 04/01/15
Let's not forget the 3/4 stitch which leaves one quarter of the square unstitched, but sometimes a 1/4 stitch of a different color will meet and complete it.
I agree with the other ladies - get rid of that book. Don't sell it on Ebay or Amazon, we don't want anyone else getting confused.
Happy Easter and Happy Stitching.
Posted by: Bones on 04/01/15
I've started using full stitches when filling in, too. You need to do this when using variegated threads. But sometimes I can notice 'lines' when doing halves, and, yes, you have a diagonal across the back of the stitch (which makes it easier to thread the ends in). But sometimes I will notice you have to be careful when finish the X, so that the thread doesn't pull towards the next stitch (it can cause you to split the thread when you use that hole again ... if that makes sense
Posted by: bgmarr on 04/01/15
OMG! Where did this come from??? I am also self taught through books (Readers Digest Book of Needlework) and the ladies on this message board. I have always done full crosses, I have never used knots except as waste knots. I have always known about using graphs but had never applied it to cross stitching. So time consuming but it works! So who wrote the article and in what magazine?