What to use when drawing a grid on your fabric?

[Pengwenn]

When I finish with my current projects I'm going to start something that is larger than anything I've ever done before. There's no way I could start in the middle due to all the color changes so I've decided to start in a corner, but I've never done that before. I've noticed in some of the SALs (I can't remember which ones) that some people have marked out the grid lines on their fabric to help with stitching. I want to use this method too. My question is what did you use to do that with? And how do you get rid of it when you're done?

[Serinde]

Mags? Mags! You're needed here.

[~threadbear~]

I think Mags used thread and Agi a washable pen .... but they will give you the details themselves.

[mags]

On my cat and owl pictures I used a red thread and gridded 10 x 10 squares, doing the same with a red crayon on a copy of the pattern, crossing off the block when I had done. Yes it was a bit tricky to remove (suggest from the back) and if you scan it in and zoom very big there are one or two bits left (but I can't see them naked eye). There is no way I could have done these pictures without gridding. Completed cat picture is in my gallery, half finished:


On my current sepia picture which has large areas of one colour (progress picture not yet taken) I gridded with a brown cotton in case it got caught and as it seems to be getting caught quite a bit I am removing it as I go.

I have heard that it would be better to use a synthetic thread rather than cotton (fluff-wise) but I think I prefer the cotton thread as it is more sympathetic pulling it out

Agi uses a water soluble pen which I would like to try as it would be a lot quicker. I saw one in my LNS but was a bit doubtful about it as it said use on the reverse of the fabric only. Agi, does yours say that?

Hope this helps.

[agi]

No, mine says nothing except "water erasable pen", and I have used it on a few projects already and it comes off.

But the trick is you have to put it first into cold water, and it fades away in a minute, it's quite funny watching it go. (Then I always wash my projects in warm water with some Perwoll.)

I really recommend it, it does the trick for me, definitely!

[coffee_freak]

in the sewing section at most craft stores has water soluable pens and pencils..i was thinking of doing this when i tackle a HAED..and yes I said when not if..

i found a freebie i wanted to try...

[nettie]

What fabric are you going to be using? DMC are now selling aida with it already gridded and the marking comes off when you wash it. I saw this on a website called Wimblebees.

[Pengwenn]

Thanks for the help guys! The fabric that I'll be using is 18 count white Aida. The stitches are 198w x 269h and every square a stitch. The title is Twilight Balloon Flight. The background should be easy to stitch but the balloons are going to be a pain in the you-know-what. I just want some way to break this pattern up into more management segments and I thought the grid idea was a great one.

I like the thread idea but I'm afraid that I wouldn't be able to pick it out and then it will look funny in places. The pen idea worries me about it running and ruining the thread when it's washed. But since some of you guys have used that maybe it's not so bad after all.

Here's the image of the project:



(If this one doesn't turn out too bad I might tackle the HAED Lady of Shalott that I've been having my eye on for a long time.)

[nettie]

What a lovely picture I can see why you wanted to grid it out tho! I can only find that grided Aida in 14ct sorry.

[Rose]

The pattern is beautiful. I hope you let us watch by putting it into an SAL.

[mags]

Lovely picture

[Mabel Figworthy]

Lovely colourful design, it'll be nice and varied to stitch -- do make a SAL thread, please? I'd love to see this develop!

[~threadbear~]

Yes me too. I was trying to think where I have seen a picture like this before and I suddenly realised it was on a web site, when I was looking at differences between what a colour blind person will see compared to normal colour vision.

At anyrate, it's lovely and colourful and will be a treat for us to watch your progress.

[sammy_v]

Lovely design, great colours and i will look forward to seeing this if u put a SAL up and i really hope u find something to help with gridding, i just got a pen from sew and so to do it and i aint tried it yet.

[Pengwenn]

Yeah, I will put it up in the SAL when I do get around to starting it. It's based off of someone's painting (can't remember the artist). And no detailing except the strings on the balloons 'cause I hate detailing. I have a feeling I'm going to need a lot of incouragement with this project. I'm going to go look for a pen tonight after work so hopefully I can find one. If not I guess I'll have to stitch a grid.

[Mabel Figworthy]

*settles down with a mug of hot chocolate and some nibbles, ready to encourage when needed*

[Rose]

I am going to sit with Mabel. She has treats and we can stitch together while we wait.

[~threadbear~]

Is there room for a fluffy one with you both?

*squashes fluffy personage next to Rose and Mabel*
I'm stitching my owls while we wait ... Nettie has my chocolate.

[Angel]

Is there room for a loppy one?*squishes in*

[Rose]

This is a magic stitching bench it just automatically increases in size to fit whoever needs room. It also has an otte light for anyone who needs it. Scissors never get lost, neither do needles. And charts set in just the right position.