Newbie here saying ........

[eathcliff]

Hello everyone ( I always think this is a good way to start a conversation) from Dave in UK.
I started this cross stitch project 12 years ago, and then promptly "lost it" when I moved house! Now I am retired I have found the bag of floss and assorted needles during a belated Spring clean.
Lets see if this photo bucket thingy works.....[/URL]
I'm nearly finished now and I can't leave it alone. I have other hobbies but find this is becoming addictive. My arthritis doesn't seem to be a problem, nor my dodgy eyesight (i am 67) but my right knee doesn't half ache after a stitching session. Think I will have to change my seat or maybe bad posture?
Anyway, I have picked up quite a few good tips already from these topics and hope to learn lots more in future. Best wishes to you all, regards from dave

[rcperryls]

Hi Dave and welcome to the forum from South Carolina! What a beautiful piece of stitching you have shown us! Sounds like the stitchy bug has bitten you and this is one of those bug bites that can be fatal. The photo bucket thingy worked fine, so I hope you will continue to post progress pics here. I will be 67 soon and find that standing up and stretching is a good way to keep my arthritis under control when I'm in a prolonged stitching session. Good light and magnifiers help with dodgy eyesight too! There is lots to learn here. Ask any questions you have. Someone will either know the answer or have a good idea of where to go to find the answer. Have you decided on what your next project will be?

Carole

[charmagne_capalad]

Hello and welcome ! Great project you have there! Looking forward to seeing more progress updates. Happy stitching

[Nachstenliebe]

Welcome to the forum!
I'm glad to see that this piece is getting happy ending. I hope you continue to show your progress upon it.

[karen4bells]

Hello Dave and welcome to the forum!! What a beautiful project you are working on---and it doesn't look like it will take long at all for you to finish!!

[fccs]

Hello from Colorado and welcome to the forum. Your long-lost WIP looks great - please continue to share with us.

My eyes really appreciate my magnifier light on anything higher than an 18 or 20 count.

[Squirrel]

Hi Dave and Welcome from me too in coolish Brisbane its great that you have joined us. Love your project and so glad you found it again and are working to finish it now. Photobucket is a very useful tool for posting pictures I wouldn't be without it.

[Lulu22]

Hi Dave I'm glad you found your long lost project its fantastic and welcome to the forum

[19Roland19]

My arthritis doesn't seem to be a problem, nor my dodgy eyesight (i am 67) but my right knee doesn't half ache after a stitching session. Think I will have to change my seat or maybe bad posture?

I now sit in the corner of the couch. It's a Lay-Z-Boy and with the foot part up, I can sit with my legs comfortable, and easy to adjust my position if needed. This has eased pain in both my knees and my back. (I don't think I have arthritis in my back...it's just an old back.)

[MelindaH]

That's what I do as well, Roland. I have a La-Z-Boy chair with a reading lamp behind/beside it. I have bad knees and back, especially my right knee. The leg rest lets me move my right knee when it gets stiff.

[fccs]

That's what I do as well, Roland. I have a La-Z-Boy chair with a reading lamp behind/beside it.

Same here - stitching AND a La-Z-Boy - ahhhhh...

[Allyn]

Welcome from the Mississippi Gulf Coast!


I agree: good light, a magnifier and a comfortable chair beats all. Who is that delightful little cherub that you are stitching?

[ayna]

Welcome to this forum! I'm older than you, also have arthritis in my lower back and can have mobility problems. I still stitch a lot, in fact, I find that the concentration needed helps to take my mind off my problems. I think that one has to remember to stop and have a good stretch every so often and then to realign the sitting position. I have a Needle Needs neccesaire at which I do most of my stitching but also sit in an upright chair in which I have a 'backfriend' support which does help to remind me to correct my posture when I 'slump'.

Occasionally, I'll sit at a table to stitch or even, when working on a small project, in an armchair with the work in a hoop held by hand. Variety does help, mentally, if nothing else!

Addictive? Oh, yes, but what a lovely addiction to have. You'll find this forum is full of 'enablers', encouragment and friendship. so do stay with us, please

[eathcliff]

Hello again everyone. Thanks for all the kind comments and helpful tips. My ailments are having a rest and I am enjoying the summer, or what is left of it. Here's the finished pic of my project...
15,863 stitches can you believe it? I have learned a lot, and most importantly, photograph the finished project "before" you put it behind glass because reflections spoil the image as I have demonstrated.
The "cute little cherub" in the picture is my daughter at about 5 years old. She is now 42, and still cute I reckon! So sorry if this pic is presented on its side. I did try to edit it accordingly, but to no avail!

This is the latest project, another cutie! It was rather difficult stitching a mottled background in order to replace a multi coloured poster on the wall, let's see what it looks like when finished........

regards to you all, from dave

[fccs]

Dave, your finish is beautiful! What an adorable little girl (does she still wear her hair in pigtails?). I can't get over how fast you stitched it - and it's beautifully stitched, too. I am definitely a slow stitcher.

Your next WIP looks like it will be fabulous as well. Is it another picture of your daughter?

[lavenderbee]

What a lovely picture, well done. It is great, very neatly stitched. Look forward to seeing updates of your next one as that looks interesting too.
Thanks for hsaring

[richardandtracy]

My that's impressive work. Looking forward to progress updates.

All the best

Richard

[rcperryls]

Dave, your finish is beautiful! What an adorable little girl (does she still wear her hair in pigtails?). I can't get over how fast you stitched it - and it's beautifully stitched, too. I am definitely a slow stitcher.

Your next WIP looks like it will be fabulous as well. Is it another picture of your daughter?

I agree. Well done!!

Carole

[eathcliff]

fccs wrote:
Dave, your finish is beautiful! What an adorable little girl (does she still wear her hair in pigtails?). I can't get over how fast you stitched it - and it's beautifully stitched, too. I am definitely a slow stitcher.

Your next WIP looks like it will be fabulous as well. Is it another picture of your daughter?

Hi again Debbie, Carole and everyone............. Glad you liked my effort! No, I don't think I am a fast stitcher but I do spend a lot of time at it, and that's why my back sometimes gives me trouble. I am lucky that I have plenty of free time now that I'm retired and most of the "house repairs" have been completed. I even took the stitching project with me on holiday to the Cumbrian Lake District where I sat for many hours stitching away in my campervan, how sad is that eh? Ha!

Beautifully stitched? I don't know about that, I get into an awful tangle sometimes and have wasted lots of threads. As you can see, the new project AIDA fabric is a right mess because I used a steam iron after marking it out using the WRONG kind of pen! I have always been very enthusiastic about new hobbies. I'm one of those people who doesn't read the instructions until I've nearly finished! Now, I reckon I'm too old to change my ways, but I'm probably an expert at getting out of tangles!!

My daughter doesn't wear pigtails anymore. We called them "handlebars" like the ones on her tricycle. The new project "subject" isn't my daughter but a friend, both of Chinese origin but not related at all.
That's all for today, regards to you all from Dave

[fccs]

I even took the stitching project with me on holiday to the Cumbrian Lake District where I sat for many hours stitching away in my campervan, how sad is that eh?

I think it sounds wonderful to stitch on vacation in what looks like a beautiful setting!!!