QuirkyK's WIP on a HAED Merlin and Arthur...

[quirkyk]

Well I'm actually working on a small piece right now that I thought I'd transfer to the frame once I got it...I'll try the velcro on it and if I don't like it I guess I could actually convert the rods to the webbing myself...it just looks like they used a staple gun to attach the canvas webbing to the rods Guess we will see...I found the stand on amazon for 30 bucks cheaper so I'm gonna order it and give it a shot

[Serinde]

Nothing ventured, as they say. Velcro would certainly make life a lot easier for the hard-pressed stitcher with too many

[quirkyk]

Nothing ventured, as they say. Velcro would certainly make life a lot easier for the hard-pressed stitcher with too many

Now that is a perfect point!!!!

[Pengwenn]

I have some rods with webbing and some with velcro. I liked the webbing, but once you've basted it to the rods it's there to stay. Unless you like unpicking and redoing it to change projects out.

I recently had to get rods with the velcro because I needed a specific size. If you use the velcro I wouldn't put it too close to the edge of the fabric because it's a pain to pull off and it will make your fabric fray. And when you do that I would do it very carefully and slowly. Also I would put it on in small sections instead of one long strip. When you do take it off there will be a sticky residue that you'll have to wash off (haven't done that yet so I don't know how hard it will be to remove). I like the velcro because you can switch out multiple projects on the same frame without too much trouble.

If you're someone who'll work on one project at a time I would recommend the webbing and basting your fabric on. If you want the freedom to work on multiple projects the velcro rods would work better for you.

[quirkyk]

I have some rods with webbing and some with velcro. I liked the webbing, but once you've basted it to the rods it's there to stay. Unless you like unpicking and redoing it to change projects out.

I recently had to get rods with the velcro because I needed a specific size. If you use the velcro I wouldn't put it too close to the edge of the fabric because it's a pain to pull off and it will make your fabric fray. And when you do that I would do it very carefully and slowly. Also I would put it on in small sections instead of one long strip. When you do take it off there will be a sticky residue that you'll have to wash off (haven't done that yet so I don't know how hard it will be to remove). I like the velcro because you can switch out multiple projects on the same frame without too much trouble.

If you're someone who'll work on one project at a time I would recommend the webbing and basting your fabric on. If you want the freedom to work on multiple projects the velcro rods would work better for you.

Thanks for the info...and I thought with the velcro the idea was to add it to the very edge of your piece and once you were done just to cut it off...that way there was no residue? Could be wrong but I thought I read that somewhere And I usually work on one at a time but with this HAED I think I'm going to have to have a few small ones in between to keep my sanity Although after joining the HAED forum I read that several of the people prefer using two strands and doing the tent stitch...If I like it then that would def. make it all go quicker...

Now to find somewhere where I can get my fabric in small pieces for practice cheap! :)

[nettie]

Oh wow another HAED to watch *settles down with a long cold drink and some nibbles in a comfy chair*

[quirkyk]

Oh wow another HAED to watch *settles down with a long cold drink and some nibbles in a comfy chair*

Girl that better be a refillable drink and a serious stash of some nibbles!!!!!

[Pengwenn]

Thanks for the info...and I thought with the velcro the idea was to add it to the very edge of your piece and once you were done just to cut it off...that way there was no residue?

Well, when I cut my fabric to use I hadn't planned on using a velco scroll frame so I hadn't allowed for any extra fabric to be cut off. Ooops Even if you put the velco on the end I still think there's a possibility of fraying, especially if you end up taking it off and putting it back on the scroll frame all the time.

I've considered getting this HAED design myself but I'm not that ambitious . . . yet. I can't wait to watch how this all turns out.

[quirkyk]

Thanks for the info...and I thought with the velcro the idea was to add it to the very edge of your piece and once you were done just to cut it off...that way there was no residue?

Well, when I cut my fabric to use I hadn't planned on using a velco scroll frame so I hadn't allowed for any extra fabric to be cut off. Ooops Even if you put the velco on the end I still think there's a possibility of fraying, especially if you end up taking it off and putting it back on the scroll frame all the time.

I've considered getting this HAED design myself but I'm not that ambitious . . . yet. I can't wait to watch how this all turns out.

LOL...sounds like something I would have done So don't feel bad...and yeah you are probably right...there would be fraying no matter what...maybe I'll sew the edges before I do anything to them! Gosh there is a TON to do before you even get to the fun part of stitching!

[quirkyk]

another totally random tid bit I've learned thanks to this project....

I mark up my patterns as I do them...unfortunately I inevitably mark a box wrong even with the fine tip highlighters and such...Thanks to the HAED bulletin I got one of those moments of why didn't I think of that! Sheet protectors and dry erase or wet erase markers!

So...off to walmart and office max I went...Got me 50 page protectors and a wet erase marker..and talk about brilliant! I started using it on the smaller piece I'm working on and not only does it mean I don't ruin my pattern or it doesn't wear out...but if I screw up and mark a stitch wrong I can FIX it!!!!

Just a note...I went with the wet erase because of my 4 year old who with my luck would rub off what I'd marked up And just so you all know I've marked up the smaller sample where I'd already marked the original pattern and then gave it to my little girl...and poof...it worked...she didn't get it off!!! Ohhh one more tip...Get the cheap Glossy protectors...not the heavy duty ones or it won't come off as the heavy duty ones have some texture that the pen soaks into Yes I learned that one the hard way...But it is all fixed...I now have all 50 of my precious pattern pages in a nice little binder ready to be marked up And my little magnet board even slips into the protector and I can still use it to keep track of my lines So all in all I may not be stitching yet but I think it has been a productive day!!!

[Rose]

That is a good idea if it works for you. I have found that working on larger pieces, that eventually the marks wear off. What I do is make a working copy of the pattern. I then mark off with a mechanical pencil. If I have to frog or I mark the wrong square it is easy enough to just use a very good eraser and go back to the proper place. This also leaves the original pattern intact and the backstitching lines are easy to see and easy to work.

This is just a different way to work with patterns.

[quirkyk]

Ok...another day of waiting and I ran across a post by Jilly about Piecemakers needles...so I had to go and order some to try! thank shopping...but patience is a virtue right?? ohhh...and I have a new Piece to do as my escape from the HAED as well...my mommy dearest loves the Mad Blue Bird, isn't he just too cute!

[SusanF]

Good luck with this, it is a massive undertaking Talking about marking your chart, I've found that using two colours with these very intricate charts really helps. I first mark the stitches I'm going to complete in yellow, then overwrite that in green when completed. It just helps to make the bit you're working on stand out, especially if there are many colour changes in an area. It's also a really good idea to grid your fabric so that if anything goes wrong you should spot it really quickly. I've found frogging very difficult when working with such small stitches.

Looking forward to watching this grow

[Daesania]

I know I'm just butting in with my two cents here.. but I have found using a highlighter really helps on these types of patterns. The Jester might as well be a HAED with the complicated-ness of it. Anyway, I mark the places I'm going to go in a yellow highlighter (the ones of the same stitch color) and when i'm done, I color it in with blue - turning it green. You can still see the stuff under the highlighter incase you gotta frog.

[Jilly]

Two colour marking sounds a brilliant idea, I may well give that a try.

[quirkyk]

I actually use a magnet board and a strip... so I only see one line at a time but I see your idea Daesania of coloring in what you will be doing and then coloring it when it is done would even be good in my case...every little tiny tip helps!

I got a scrap piece of the 25 count evenweave last night...not the exact Lugana that I ordered but thought it would be close enough to give me an idea of what I liked! I didn't get around to doing any 10 by 10 blocks for practice but that WILL be my goal this evening! Gosh I really really wish I didn't WORK!!!

Oh well...Later

[Serinde]

No kidding. Working does eat into stitching time. But I guess we have to be able to buy stash somehow...

[quirkyk]

No kidding. Working does eat into stitching time. But I guess we have to be able to buy stash somehow...

Darn it and here I was hoping there was a little cross stitch elf that would just float me a new piece every once in a while

Ohhh...wait....grow up right...I really really am going to go work now!!

[Serinde]

If you ever come across that elf, don't forget all of us here, ok?

[Busy_B]

Now to find somewhere where I can get my fabric in small pieces for practice cheap! :)

Being new to the forum, I don't know if I'm allowed to post this, but I just saw last night that salt-and-pepper.com is having a large sale on all of their scrap fabrics. All different sizes with a lot under $5.

By the way, I love the HAED. I had never heard of the patterns before joining. I love the Merlin one and several of the landscape ones.