Holes or threads

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poppy
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Holes or threads

Post by poppy »

As I am getting used to stitching on finer fabrics ( 28 count and 32 count Lugana), I wonder if you see the "holes" or are guided by counting 2 threads? I tend to just see the holes but think that when I will attempt stitching on 32 count, getting used to see the treads would be helpful.
How do you "see" your fabric?
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Mabel Figworthy
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Re: Holes or threads

Post by Mabel Figworthy »

When I teach workshops I tell students to find out which comes more naturally to them, counting holes or counting threads - it does vary from person to person. When doing Hardanger or other counted work I will often go by the number of holes skipped rather than the number of fabric threads crossed, but often I mix and match and count in whichever way appeals to me at the time :-)
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rcperryls
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Re: Holes or threads

Post by rcperryls »

That is a really interesting question. My initial thought was that I count holes, but actually I think I count threads, though since I have been gridding my fabric for HAEDs mostly, I count by squares, which must mean I'm counting threads. My guess is depending on the fabric and the design I probably do both, though mostly by threads.

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Re: Holes or threads

Post by richardandtracy »

Working at 28ct 2 over 1 tent stitch, I count holes or stitches - they are the same.

On the only occasion I stitched 2 over 2 on 32 ct, full cross, I got in a terrible muddle until I gridded, and the it was only really cured when I did parking.

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CuriousKitty
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Re: Holes or threads

Post by CuriousKitty »

I usually work on Aida, so when I'm counting 10 out at a time, I count the holes. I bought my first piece of evenweave today, and I know I've asked this before, but it's just something that doesn't stick in my mind.

But then I get very confused. So for instance, I'm looking at my "new" 25 count Lugana. It came with a folder that says, "Blah Blah requires stitching over two threads. You are really stitching over a block of 4 squares. Go up two squares and over two squares."

But where I trip myself up is that since I count holes, I just read "2 threads, 4 squares" but I'm counting 3 holes. So in my head, that's a 3x3 stitch for a full cross. So when I relate that here, is my 3x3 stitch a 2 over 2? 2 threads up and 2 threads over?
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Mabel Figworthy
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Re: Holes or threads

Post by Mabel Figworthy »

"over 2" means it crosses two threads. You come up in hole one, cross thread one, skip hole two, cross thread two, go down hole three. Hope that makes sesne!
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sina28
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Re: Holes or threads

Post by sina28 »

That's an interesting question! I usually stitch on 28-36 ct linen "over two". I think that I count the threads.
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Allyn
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Re: Holes or threads

Post by Allyn »

I'm not sure how to describe what I count. When I'm working over two, I count the holes above where the horizontal thread is on top and to the left where the vertical thread is on top.
Like this:
Image
Which is the correct hole to hold the lower left leg of the stitch. So I don't count every hole when working over two. I 'see' that particular hole and count them; so in that example, I'm counting the dotted holes. I don't know how to describe it. Once my eye 'sees' it, I can't unsee it while working in that fabric.
If I'm working over-one, I count holes.
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fccs
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Re: Holes or threads

Post by fccs »

When I'm stitching over two, I count threads. When I stitch over one, I count holes.
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