Cross Stitch On Linen
Is this hard to cross stitch on linen? I have never worked with linen to do a cross stitch project. Forgive my ignorance, but are there stitch holes visible to make the cross stitches or how does that work?

Has anyone tried this project and how did it come out?

Thanks!
Posted by: sweetpetitesavings on 03/28/15
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Hi,
Yes, I did this project on linen. It is be Lavender and Lace designs. I did it on a 28-count linen and it came out beautifully. With linen, you need to stitch over 2 squares, instead of one square that you do on Aida, 14 count Aida for example.
I did use a stand magnifier with lights to do this project to see the linen squares easier. All you have to remember is that instead of making your "X" over one square, you go over 2 squares. After doing the pattern for a bit, you'll get more comfortable with it.
For me, when I first started learning counted cross stitch I did small patterns on 14-count Aida, but then I progressed to 28 and 32 count linen and I've never gone back.
You may want to think seriously about doing your first linen pattern on an EVENWEAVE fabric where all the fabric threads are exactly the same width, rather than a linen that has threads where some are thicker or thinner that other threads in the fabric.
I have done about 4 Lavender and Lace patterns, "Earth Angel" was my first.
GO FOR IT!. ENJOY THE ADVENTURE!
by: Bermuda on 03/28/15
Bermuda
I have never worked on linen, am afraid I would have trouble seeing..
please explain, if you can, how to know even weave linen from other types of linen..
does this question make sense to you?
always had desire to try linen, but am fearful..

thanks,
Darlene
by: dbye468 on 03/28/15
HI Dbye468!
I always use my stand magnifier with lighting when I'm doing something on linen!. As you know, I have cataracts but I'm still plugging along with my 28 count linen projects.

You should try the linen! If I remember correctly, you've been doing cross stitching for a while, rigtht?
I think Syagel or Texas or one of the ladies gave a good explanation about evenweave fabric. Some linens FABRICs have strands (that make up the fabric itself), but the STRANDS of the fabric are not exactly the same width throughout the whole piece of fabric? Please help me out fellow stitchers as to what linen fabrics are like that???
Uh, Belfast linen is not an evenweave, I think.

Evenweave linen fabrics are created with the STRANDS that make up the fabric itself are all the SAME SIZE both horizontally and vertically which assists the stitches in having "X's" that are exactly the same width and height. I use evenweave and it's just easier to find the right "holes" to make my cross stitches.

I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND your nervousness about learning to use linen to cross stitch. When I bought my first linen, a 28-count fabric, I was a nervous wreck! I must've waited a week after I bought the material from the cross stitch shop I used to visit before I attempted to try stitching on it. I remember that I kept saying to myself, "Over 2, over 2...." The cross stitch shop owner told me when she was cutting the 28 count at the store, "When you get comfortable going "over 2" instead of using the AIDA fabric and going over one, you'll probably never go back to doing the 14 count aida you've been buying." At THAT time, I thought the store owner was doing a bit of "leg pulling" but you know what? SHE WAS RIGHT!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the "background" and "detail" of the projects when I'm done with a 28-count fabric and the owner was correct! I've never gone back! If I DO see a cross stitch project that I really like that has been done on 14-count aida, I just buy the pattern and go OVER 2 squares. Of course the size of the completed project will be a bit different, but I figure out what fabric I need and it tells me what the complete project size will be. Just remember to add the 3 inches earch side when ordering linen for matting and framing. Keep in mind, that linen fabric will be more costly, depending on what fabric choice and size of fabric you need!
You might want to think on doing a small project on some 25-count or 28 count linen to "get your feet wet" and give you confidence.
BUt I would encourage you to "GO FOR IT!" There are a lot of experienced stitchers on the "Chat" who work on linen and can give you the support and advice you need!
by: Bermuda on 03/28/15
dbye468, I recently got up the nerve to try linen. I bought 32 count and have done two projects on it. I was nervous especially about counting. But I love the results! I plan to purchase some 28 count and keep working on it.
by: terryslat on 03/28/15
dbye468
JOBELYN fabric is an evenweave linen. It comes in 28 count and I think 32 count as well with different colors. I saw some stitchers had reviewed the fabric and given it 4-5 stars. It is a soft to touch fabric.
It comes in different size cuts.
If I remember correctly, 28-count Jobelyn was the first fabric I bought and used for my first LINEN project.
by: Bermuda on 03/28/15
An evenweave fabric is any woven fabric where the warp and weft threads are the same. There are an even number of cross and vertical threads to the inch. Cashel, Belfast, Edinborough and Newcastle are all evenweaves. Strathaven is not...it is a 32/33 weave. Because they are often a tighter weave , they are stitched by counting threads rather than holes.

Lugana, Jobelin, Aida and similar fabrics are all evenweaves as well. The difference is that these fabrics are woven with more uniform threads, and do not produce slubs as does linen with thicker and thinner threads. They tend to have more visible spaces between threads, or 'holes.

It has become common to refer to the latter fabrics, Aida, Lugana etc. simply as evenweaves, when in fact, most of the linens are as well.

by: MissKitty on 03/28/15
Bermuda, linen is a natural fabric made out of flax.it has some wider threads, but they even out & aren't noticeable.

Evenweave simply means the fabric should have the same number of threads across as up & down. Everything you buy at a needlework shop is even. If you go to a fabric store to buy some linen fabric off a bolt, it doesn't have the same thread count warp & woof.

Names like Belfast are just certain linen counts. Edinborough ( or burg?) is 36 count linen.

Jobelan & Lugana are just Trade Names for evenweaves made out od different fibers: cotton, rayon, acrylic, viscose, even wool or silk.

Important for counted thread work like cross stitch. Stamped, surface embroidery, true Red Work, etc., don't need evenly placed holes.
by: jlhewes on 03/28/15
THANK YOU jlhewes and Miss Kitty,
I'm forever a student in trying to keep the different fabrics straight.
I plan on ordering some 28-count Jobelan (Jobelan being the "brand" name????) but Jobelan is considered an EVENWEAVE, or do I still have it confused?
by: Bermuda on 03/28/15
Bermuda, you've got it right. Jobelan & Lugana have slightly different fiber contents. Says what it is at the top of the fabric page for that fabric.

I'm usually looking for color & thread count; even use Aida occasionally.
by: jlhewes on 03/28/15
Does the fiber contents determine what fabric lasts longer?
I understand "cotton" shrinks, but that's about all I know...
by: Bermuda on 03/28/15