|
Organize your Cross Stitch Materials
Begin by
measuring your
fabric to the appropriate size. You must first figure out the
stitch count of your design horizontally and vertically. Most patterns
will supply this information in the directions. For example, if your
stitch count on your pattern is 140 (vertical) X 112 (horizontal) you
would divide each of these number by the count of the fabric you have
chosen. Let’s assume you have chosen a 14 count Aida cloth (which
means there are 14 stitches or squares per inch). You would divide each
stitch count by 14. Don’t forget to add another 4 to 6 inches to each
measurement for framing.
Example:
140/14 = 10 inches + 6 inches (for framing) =16 inches
112/14 = 8 inches + 6 inches (for framing) =14 inches
(you would cut your
material 16 inches vertically and 14 inches horizontally)
When using a linen or Jobelan or any fabric with an even stitch count of
20 or above you will generally be stitching over two threads. For
example, if your linen has a count of 32, you will cut that in half for
your calculations (32/2). So, a 32 count fabric would become a 16
count fabric when stitched over two threads. (32/2=16)
Cuts of fabric. There are different
cuts of fabric. Among these are fat quarters, fat halves, and full
yards. If you were to take a yard of fabric and lay it out flat
and cut it into 4 equal parts vertically and horizontally, one of the
four pieces would be considered a fat quarter. A fat half is that
same fabric cut horizontally right down the middle to make two halves.
Of course, a full yard is the whole piece of fabric. Most patterns
will fit onto a fat quarter of fabric.
Be sure
to double check your math before cutting.
Once you’ve cut it,
it’s too late. There is no taping it back together.
Next, use
masking tape to tape the edges of your material to prevent fraying.
You can also serge the edges of your fabric with a sewing machine.
There are also products on the market that can be applied to the edges
of your fabric to stop fraying like
Fray Stop. Follow the directions on the bottle.
Then,
organize all of your floss colors in one floss container in numerical
order for easy access. Keep any other material you will need to
complete your project in the container as well, like beads and specialty
threads, extra needles, etc. Be sure to check how many skeins of each
color you will need so you don’t run out. This information should be
provided in the directions or in the color chart. I like to keep
my floss on reusable
plastic bobbins with a
number tag. Some people like to use small bags to hold their
floss called
Floss Away. |
