I don't know what the gridding or parking method are? Could someone explain? I have been doing cross stitch a long time and have done some complicated samplers but maybe I doing it wrong. Or a least making it more difficult for myself. Do you mark the fabric some how. I keep my linen clean so I don't need to wash it later.

Hi Rosie. If you search it on youtube.com it will give you a better explaination and show you what is looks like.

I grid....do not park. Found that even with what seems a simple project, the little time it takes to grid saves me time--and even better, SAVES FRUSTRATION! :) But I'm a cranky old woman. When I was young, I probably would have pooh-poohed gridding...that's the kind of fool I was! :)

VCESS thanks for the response. Just trying to decide what is the best method for me. I am cranky too!!!

I don't actually grid my work but put a "tick" stitch around all 4 edges every 10 stitches so it is easier to follow my pattern. Sometimes when I am in the middle part of a larger more detailed pattern it gets a little tedious when I have to count all the time but that is how I learned and so far it works for me. I did buy a piece of already gridded fabric a little while ago but am saving it for a "special" project. I have been stitching over 25 years and I think we have all had trial and error and over the years we learn what works for us and what doesn't. The main thing to remember - your cross stitching should be fun and relaxing - always.
cheryl

Thanks Cheryl. I have only been doing it for months LOL! I just want to learn all I can and I know trial and error will be my best teachers. I thought about griding with a marker and that may work for me also. It is fun and relaxing. Now whenever I see a nice picture I think about having it turned into a pattern, but I also don't want to have a lot of WIP so I don't get overwhelmed. I am currently working on two, an easy one and a more difficulty portrait.

Welcome, welcome! :)

Thought I would add that the more practice I get at gridding, I am faster and I'm more "customizing"--gridding specific areas....center axis and then picking my "spots". If I have a lot of counting, checking, counting, I'm gridding. :)

Lots of folk have different ways of doing things and none of them are wrong....even the ones who tell others they are wrong and themselves know the only correct way of doing things...You'll find what is right for you pretty quick. Just enjoy yourself. :)

I don't park, but I grid using Easy Count Guideline, sold here. It's a thin red nylon "fishing" line. I grid a little at a time, way before I start my next project, using it as a break from cross stitching. So it's not so tedious. It has saved me from making mistakes so many times. When I don't grid, I always find myself frogging--that's ripping stitches out: rip it, rip it, rip it, like a frog. Enjoy! Adele

I haven't gridded. I have bought a pre-gridded aida cloth. I am looking forward to using it on my next project.

Do you have to order gridded fabric or can you just buy in a craft store.