Hey Everybody!,
So, I am an odd bird in that I have always had a needle for every symbol on the chart, no matter how big my project. For a VERY long time, I have always just lined them up on a spare piece of Aida and marked each 10 with a big headed pin to make counting easier. Then I would pull the needle number I needed based on what I had assigned to the chart symbols. Many times I'd have a lot of empty needles acting as place holders until I got into the meaty parts of the pattern. Here's a picture from the project I just finished. It was a smallish project - only 17 colors, but I'm sure you can imagine what a 75+ color project looked like.
I'm getting ready to start a bigger project that will probably have 100 needles or so going by the time I account for the tweeding and backstitching. I decided I'd try to make it a little easier on myself and try to eliminate the frogging required when I miscount and use the wrong, but similar, color. I took a piece of 28ct and put a border on it and then stitched myself some numbers that the needle can park under while not in use. By having the slots numbered I don't have to line up 100 needles before I start. If there is thread left on the needle when I get to my end point, I park it in the appropriate slot - otherwise, I can just load it with the next color and get on with my business. Here's a picture of what I did, and I loaded the needles from my last project on it just to see how it would work.
Things I learned doing this:
1.) I LOATH gridding.
2.) MCG really does produce terrible fabric.
3.) I can't believe I haven't thought of this before in the 30 years or so that I've been stitching.
What do y'all think?
Organizing active needles a little better
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Re: Organizing active needles a little better
I think it's an absolutely brilliant idea.Not that I would have the patience to set it up.
Marilyn in SE Queensland
"People who hate cats will come back as mice in their next life."
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~mmoorhouse" target="_blank" target="_blank"
"People who hate cats will come back as mice in their next life."
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~mmoorhouse" target="_blank" target="_blank"
Re: Organizing active needles a little better
Brilliant!!!
Debby
(main) WIPs
Angel of Love
Book of Mythical Creatures
Cache la Poudre
Past Present Forever
Fishing Friends
(main) WIPs
Angel of Love
Book of Mythical Creatures
Cache la Poudre
Past Present Forever
Fishing Friends
- wendywombat
- Posts: 13544
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:03 pm
- Location: Scottish Borders
Re: Organizing active needles a little better
You are Very organised!! If it works for you that's great
I was given a Pako needle minder and I tried that method for a while....but then I kept forgetting to re-thread my needles so that they were always ready to use...slowed me up so now I'm back to one needle.
I still use it when there are blends though and it's great for that.
I was given a Pako needle minder and I tried that method for a while....but then I kept forgetting to re-thread my needles so that they were always ready to use...slowed me up so now I'm back to one needle.
I still use it when there are blends though and it's great for that.
Re: Organizing active needles a little better
That is a great idea!
Carole
Carole
WIPs
Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
2022 Finished: Star Wars Afghan: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Finn, Rey, Poe, Han Solo,Darth Vader, BB8,Luke Skywalker
Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
2022 Finished: Star Wars Afghan: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Finn, Rey, Poe, Han Solo,Darth Vader, BB8,Luke Skywalker
Re: Organizing active needles a little better
Very smart! I admire your organizational skills.
Agi
"The world, as a colourful knot of threads, has turned into a memory, and now you cannot be sure whether it was real." (Géza Ottlik, Hungarian writer)
My blog
"The world, as a colourful knot of threads, has turned into a memory, and now you cannot be sure whether it was real." (Géza Ottlik, Hungarian writer)
My blog
- richardandtracy
- Posts: 5448
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- Contact:
Re: Organizing active needles a little better
Hmm.
I have one needle on the go.
And a floss card with all the bits that will be stuck in the eyes of your needles.
Horses for courses, I think.
Regards
Richard.
I have one needle on the go.
And a floss card with all the bits that will be stuck in the eyes of your needles.
Horses for courses, I think.
Regards
Richard.
- Squirrel
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- Location: exChristhcurch NZ, now Brisbane, Australia
Re: Organizing active needles a little better
How wonderful your needle minder is, and what patience to embroider the numbers on it too. I use a Paco needle holder and it neatish and helps me keep track of needles - especially threaded ones - to make sure I haven't dropped any where the dogs can get it.
Sally in Brisbane Australia
WIPS
Christmas Stocking from World of Cross Stitching mag. 262
WIPS
Christmas Stocking from World of Cross Stitching mag. 262
- AlwaysGoofy
- Posts: 1266
- Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:04 pm
- Location: North of Seattle, Washington, USA
Re: Organizing active needles a little better
Very creative and organized of you. Keep us updated and how you're like it as I just might want to give it a try at some point.
AlwaysGoofy's Blog with Cross Stitching, Quilting, and My Love of All Things Disney: http://goofinoffaroundtheblock.blogspot.com/