Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

Allie G, do you have a regional forum / Facebook group where you can ask for local recommendations? I wouldn't avoid all framers because of one bad experience - it sounds like that shop no longer have their professional framer, and were trying to keep doing framing work despite not having the skills...

I'll put my don't need / not my cup of tea list first, as outside of that, I'm open to surprises :) *I have a lot of Anchor threads, and plenty of DMC threads. Whilst I'll never turn a gift of thread down, I don't need any of the regulars :) *I'm not wild on cartoony / cute designs (teddy bears, ani...

Inkysloth / Robin
London, UK
Anywhere!

Regarding the direction of crosses, it really doesn't matter whether the top cross goes left to right, or right to left! The neatest appearance is with a consistent direction - but I throw that out of the window sometimes, too, as I don't always like the flat-smooth texture that consistency brings. ...

I would try not to use Thomas Kinkade patterns as his name is associated with several controversies and overall not a great name in the art world. He is associated with being kitschy, having corrupt business practices, and terrible personal conduct. I would try anything but his name for patterns. I...

When I was a kid I ate: Breakfast - in the morning Dinner - at school Tea - at about 5pm. At some point in my adulthood I shifted to: Breakfast Lunch Dinner I'm sure there's some kind of class dynamic that can be drawn from that ;) I sit on a sofa in the front room. Never mind that I live in a flat ...

Doesn't seem to be anything that I could find on line. :thinks: Lucky find though, I'm really envious as I use Anchor threads :tantrum: Can't get them here in France. Hi Wendy, Yes, I looked online too, but it looks like John Lewis only sell packs of their own embroidery threads. I might be heading...

Hi all, Not sure this is a tip as such, but John Lewis on Oxford Street (and possibly others but I only went to the Oxford St branch) currently are selling all Anchor embroidery thread & tapestry wool for 10p a skein. I may have bought 250 skeins today... ahem. There were still plenty left when ...

DMC brought out a booklet with small, simple farm animals called "Domestic Animals", in the "Leisure Booklet" series. They're available from Ebay for a couple of quid, and are worth it IMO. (I found the Zoo Leisure Booklet in a charity shop, and from there went on to buy the Dome...

Hi Inkysloth, I don't know anyone with this problem, so to meet someone on the cross stitch forum with it is a surprise for sure! I am so sorry you have back problems too it's bad enough with the dysplasia let alone anything else, how are you managing? I complain a lot! To be honest, having the dys...

I am having a periacetabular osteotomy in Feb/March next year to treat my hip dysplasia, I got to see the specialist on Tuesday at the Children's Hospital and was told if I leave it I will get early onset arthiritis and have to have a hip replacement, at 41 years that's not a good option, I have ju...

Well done! It's a beautiful piece - I love the way the background fabric gently echoes the thread colours, too.

That's lovely to hear! And hopefully plenty of space on the walls for your stitching and other art?

vanessanjf wrote:I wish I had more time to stitch! I only get to stitch 2hrs per day because unfortunately I have to work full time.

O_o

Blimey!

Hi all! I clearly have too much time on my hands, or I'm looking for a procrastinatory diversion. Does anyone want to take part in an exchange with the theme "vintage patterns?" Make a small dangly thing / bookmark / scissor fob / badge / brooch etc etc using a pattern older than 25 years ...

That's lovely! And I love that you've got scope to expand

Thanks all! I'm very much trying to remember "this is a marathon, not a sprint!" It's quite satisfying seeing the outline of the country appear, I'm still unsure whether to have a black backstitch outline. Most of the colours are quite clearly defined, but the grey isn't holding out well a...

The line in your blog post about "waiting until I become an artist" is exactly it. There's no hard line between crafter ---> artist, as far as I can see. Craft has a focus on technique, and art tends to be about expressing ideas / emotions / narrative. Craft can be used as art, or it can b...

Hi all, Squirrel sent me a piece of evenweave in her destash, I dyed it using Inktense blocks, and it's now the base for a stitched geological map of the British Isles. I used the Pattern Wizard tool to convert the map, but I'm using that more as an outline guide than a strict pattern, as the colour...

I also tend to leave & adjust the pattern rather than unpick mistakes, unless I'm working on a small / simple design where mistakes do affect the end result. I have a long term stitch on the go - I adapted the Geological Map of the British Isles using the Pattern Wizard tool, and it's very slow ...