I have made several of your kits. Each and every one of them have turned out beautifully. I love them so. I have lost the directions to the Jim Shore Reindeer kit. I dont know how or where. Is there any way possible to just order the instructions for the kit. I am willing to pay for it. Please let me know. I would love to finish and display the Reindeer. Thank you, Kristel

I’ve taken this WIP up to brighten up my days. The one hard and fast rule here is to do your outer circle first. Getting it right avoids massive 🐸

Well I finished the 8 cushions yesterday and they look good even if I do say so myself. The pictures weren't that difficult to pin on and sew once I got the hang of it. Now I just have to get going on the 4 ornaments and I have finished the gift stitching for the year. I have been doing Siberian Gold over the last few days and remembered I had started on a Christmas tree skirt awhile ago so I think I will get that out and finish it for next year's tree. It's been around long enough waiting for me to finish it. Then back to Sweet Rememberance and Siberian Gold with Tuk Bear in between them. Can't wait!!

I never though I'd lose interest in cross stitching but my husband passed away last week and I just cannot seem to function. I just sit and stare in space and have no interest in any craft what-so-ever, Never felt such deep sadness in my life. I know things take time . I need that time. Love this forum...such good advice from all of you. I need time now

Well we were supposed to get back to Pennsylvania today but things never go as planned. We actually got back to PA on Tuesday and surprised the heck out of our daughter and her family! Our original plan was to leave Arkansas on Wednesday getting us home today (Sunday) but after checking the weather forecast we decided to leave last Saturday and make stops in Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, the Hershey area and then finally Bucks County. We were watching the weather carefully and thought we would have to stay 2 nights in either Indiana or Ohio. But we got up early Monday morning in Indiana and were on the road by 8:30 AM trying to stay ahead of a rain/snow mix that was supposed to start around noon. We made good time into Ohio and decided not to stop and instead find a campground in Western PA for an overnight. Unfortunately when we got off of I-70 to drive to the campground we discovered the road was so narrow with lots of curves to get a 38 foot RV around that we had to get our GPS to take us back to the highway. So we decided to just drive straight through to Hershey. We were able to sleep in until around 8:30....late for us....and drove to the place where we're parking our camper until next spring. But we have been so busy, cleaning and winterizing the camper, buying furniture for the bedroom at our daughters house and moving all our belonging in. Plus after 8 winters in south Texas we have few winter clothes. So at some point this week we have to go shopping for some winter clothes. Really looking forward to Thanksgiving when we will be with both of our daughters and their families. My two brothers and their families know we're back but we haven't said anything to my husband's three sisters yet. They are the kind of people.....especially his oldest sister.....who thinks we should drop everything and run to visit them. Oh well what's that old saying......you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family!......If only!!

Has anyone ever heard of Synthrapol thread pretreatment. I am starting a pair of kitchen towels done in Weeks Dye Works. They recommend pretreatment thread with this. Can’t find it anyplace. Please help. Anna Marie

Does anyone just cross stitch something because they love the design or what it says - with nothing in mind what they are going to do with it or who going to give to? And then never really do anything - just keep it, pull it out to look at every now & then. I have several pieces like that. When I'm gone from my earthly home, I hope my kids will smile at me, enjoy going through them & find someone to give to.

I wanted to pick up again with the Thankful chat I started a while back. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to jot down what I am thankful for. Although the list is long and I have many, many things to be thankful for, I will narrow it down a bit! I am thankful for my husband and kids for the love and life we share! I am thankful for old friends, whom I grew up with and will never forget and new friends I found in this chat room and in Bootcamp, with whom I can share my laughter and tears. I am thankful for Hunter and Hazel for being my puppies and bringing laughter and joy to my life! And to my never forgotten puppies, Lassie, Gypsy, Princess, Lucky, Chestnut, and Dante, who have left pawprints on my heart forever!

Is anybody else having problems here?

You know a long time ago - years & years - there used to be a "Spirit of Cross Stitch" festival/show at coliseum in Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC area once a year. Suppliers brought their ware; classes for different methods, stitches, products etc.; exhibits that you could enter your cross stitch & win ribbons & prizes. You could even take your cross stitch project in the evening to a special set up room to stitch & chat with others. I never did that but it was a great idea especially for people who came for the weekend from out of town. My friend Sandy & I used to attend every year & met many really nice people. I miss that a lot. Oh well, times changes. So glad I have all of you to chat with.

I work exclusively with 25 ct Lugana. I'm the super fan who ordered a fabric swatch sample book all the way from Italy. I'm having a hard time estimating my design size. 14/28 and 16/32 are always listed, but 25 ct is left out in the cold. I've tried calculators that leave room for framing, or not, leave room for a border, or not, and calculate simply the size of the design, which is ideal. Different calculators have come back with several inch differences in design size. Who can I trust? My current method is to run a basting stitch every five stitches vertically and horizontally and count the stitches for myself. There has to be an easier way.

Still working on the ‘Freshwater Pearls’ pattern and (of course)have made one change of combining 1 strand of Kreinik blending fillament with one strand of white to make the white of the breaking water sparkle. In another week will put up another picture but- knowing how the camera is- You won’t be able to see the sparkle. The 2nd change will occur after the pattern is completed, washed, dried and ironed. I’ll be adding some ‘Pearls’ (that I found on e-bay) that are half-Pearls -have a flat side - for the few areas on the beach that look like the Pearls are half buried in the sand; then 2-3 whole Pearls (pattern shows the crab is holding one in his claw) for an extra 3D effect. No matting, may consider a ‘window-box’ driftwood -look frame if I can’t find a deep enough driftwood regular frame. My ‘Autumn trees’ WIP pattern is starting to call to me as well.....

Is there a way to personalize this stocking...I noticed there is no name at the top...

To all of you, Thank you so much for your kind words . It meant a lot to me. My family has been so supportive. Now, I can get back to the church (which I have not been attending for a while) I know that will help. What a wonderful group. I am so glad I found you. Thank you all again. Paula.

Hi. I hope it's ok to ask 2 questions in a single post I need a 21" x 25" size of cloth. What size should I get? Is there a way to describe how soft Wichelt is compared to Zweigart? Thank you. bing