There is a cool site where you can have photos made into crosstitch designs. When you choose your photo carefully it makes a great project and a great gift. It costs about $20 US IIRC.
http://www.crosstitch.com/photo.html
Check out the pattern they made for me:
http://www.crosstitch.com/previews/p21h.html
It came out beautifully. I inscribed the name of my friend’s horse (pictured) and the name of her farm and had it framed.
Thanks, TP. I couldn’t “get” french knots when I was younger, and then one day I just sort of grokked them.
I love cross stitch and tho I am not necessarily anal about it,I try to keep the back as neat as the front. Juniper is exactly right about the way to start and end your thread. You should never have a knot on the back-or stray pieces of thread for that matter.
One thing no one has mentioned yet that I feel is crucial to having a neat project is to always wash your hands before starting. You’ll be amazed at how much cleaner it turns out. I work my piece on stretcher bars usually, then cold water wash and lay flat to try on a towel. I’ll press it a little when nearly dry. I don’t like to frame it under glass usually so I use that foam backed mounting.
I tend to be more seasonal when it comes to needlework, usually only working on things in the winter when I’m indoors more. It’s a great way to keep the snackiing down.
Thanks, Zyada, for those tips! It was really helpful.
By the way, for anyone still struggling with French knots, I found this fabulous site that explains it with very detailed illustrations. I printed it out and over the weekend sat down with this thread and that site, and eventually managed to make a perfect row of the little bastards. I haven’t felt so triumphant since I mastered my 11s times table in 3rd grade.
It was so cool to see this pop back to the top today! I just started a birth (well, adoption) sampler for some friends last night. It’s my first piece on Aida cloth since I moved to linen a few years ago, and it’s really going to be quick and fun. I can’t wait for the baby to arrive so I can get all that niggling backstitching letterwork done at the bottom. Good times!
Glad you got the French knot problem untangled, MsWhatsit. Those gave me fits when I was first learning them, and I still have trouble with them every now and again.
I haven’t done my cross-stich in ages. I need to start again as I have about 3 projects that are half finished. The one that really bugs me is the 2000 project with the angels because it is so small… 28 count if I recall correctly. I have this huge piece of aida cloth and the stitching itself is tiny. It’s really hard for me because of that. I haven’t actually framed any of mine except for the ones that came with frames and were really easy to do. Didn’t look too professional but they’re mine right!
As to the question… I have no clue how to do what you are talking about but I never use knots in my cross-stitch so it lays flatter. It was shown me when I first started so I never learned any other way. I’m kind of a crafty person but lately I haven’t had the time to do anything. I should start up again.