Cross-Stitching

Questions and discussions related to cross-stitching. Want to know how to get creases out of fabric? This is where to ask. To locate past posts on a specific topic, simply enter the word or words in the field below and click the Search button.
Note: Any discussions regarding the distribution of any copy-written materials will be removed. No advertisements, sales-related, or social media postings allowed.
Back
How to make cross stitch pattern more "full"
Mon, Oct 27, 2014 1:59 PM
Posted by Suzanne
Hey Guys
New to cross stitching and I've got a question. I see all these wonderful completed cross stitch pictures online and they all look "full" as in you can't see any of the aida or fabric beneath the stitch. My question is how?? How do you do this? I am using white and beige 14 count aida..and I use one strand of embroidery floss but I fold it in half and do the loop method of tying it off in the back..so it makes it double.
Any suggestions would be amazing
TIA
  • Reply from Maria S.
    Monday, October 27, 2014 3:20 PM
    Don't pull your top stitches too tightly, same for the bottom. Snug not tight sitches. Also if you "railroad" (railroad......as you put your top stitch into the fabric make certain both plies are aligned, not on top of one another. You can do this by making sure one ply is on one side of the needle and the other ply of floss on the other side.) With practice your stitches will become nicer and nicer. Go to top
  • Hide Replies
    Reply from Valerie
    Friday, April 24, 2015 11:32 PM
    I think the look you're thinking about is achieved by using 3 strands of floss on 14-count. You have to work a little harder at getting the plies to lay straight, but it makes for a good finished piece. Also, I know lots of people do that folding of 1 strand of floss, but I've read that you should separate the threads and then recombine them so that their twist is laying in the same direction. I do know that if you hold the thread and run your fingers along it, you can feel by the twist that it's rougher going in one direction than the other. You should work with the "smoother" end of the thread in your needle. It frays a lot more if you use it the other way around. Now that I think about it, someone on the ECS message board was asking about fraying. Maybe she's using the thread in the wrong orientation. Does that make sense? Go to top
    • Reply from stitchyliz
      Thursday, May 7, 2015 1:11 PM
      You know, I've seen that same thing about floss direction before and while I can see where it might make a difference in the look of the stitch, when it comes to fraying it is usually the length of the floss that causes it as the longer the floss the more trips through the fabric.
      Try making a small sample, a 5x5 stitch square is large enough, using the loop method and railroading and then 3 strands (you can still railroad 3 strands just split 2-1). See what you like best. Go to top
    • Hide Replies
      Reply from chinablues
      Saturday, May 23, 2015 11:02 PM
      Absolutely agree, three strands yields a much richer and fuller finish. I've actually ripped out a piece I started with the two strand recommendation because it looked . . . cheap? Unfinished? Chintzy. I don't know how to explain it, but three strands made me much happier with the end result. I do recommend that you color match kit supplied threads with the closest DMC color in case you run out of the supplied thread. (Bring the thread to the store, don't try to trust your memory or go completely by conversion charts. Dye lots can make a difference!) I especially recommend this when you use a Design Works kit, I've run out of every color because I tripled instead of doubled. Ultimately, though, I recommend that you stitch as you please, once you bought that kit/pattern, that design belongs to you and you can change it to suit your own purposes. For example, I stitched an adorable baby afghan with a gigantic dancing baby elephant using SIX strands instead of the recommended three. I'm pretty sure I used about 30 skeins of gray, if not more. But I knew that the afghan would be used for decorating and heirloom rather than day to day so I'm glad I ended up with a very heavy coverage and the finished design had some significant weight. Go to top
      • Reply from NANCYE G
        Sunday, May 24, 2015 9:28 AM
        These are all excellent suggestions. I picked it up easily because I had been doing needlepoint which is way too expensive for me now. Take a look at some of the online videos. This will probably help you more than reading about it Get a book from the library. Start with something easy. You will become addicted quickly. Go to top