Archive for October, 2008

• Ready to Cross Stitch? How to begin your pattern.

  Date: 2008.10.29 | Category: Cross Stitch Blog | Response: 0

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  Ready to Cross Stitch

  Now you are ready to start stitching!  Make sure you have clean hands that are free of lotion or oil.  Look for the center of your fabric by folding it in half sideways and then again lengthwise.  Mark the center with a small pencil mark.  Look for the center of your cross stitch pattern (generally marked by arrows) and count up from the center of the pattern to the top of the design for an efficient starting point and another way to check that you have cut your fabric to the correct size before you stitch for weeks and find out you miscalculated.  Each grid on the pattern is 10 stitches for easy counting.

  I prefer to start my cross stitch projects at the top of the fabric and work my way down.  Some people like to start their cross stitch in the middle, which can be easily located on the pattern because it is marked.  Did you know that you can even start your cross stitch by turning your pattern upside down (180 degrees) and stitching your pattern from the bottom.  Try it.  Make a cross stitch on your fabric and then turn it upside down and look at it.  It looks exactly the same as it does right side up.

  For more cross stitch tips click here.

• Lavender and Lace by Marilyn Levitt-Imblum

  Date: 2008.10.29 | Category: Cross Stitch Blog | Response: 0

  Told in a Garden, Lavender and Lace and Butternut Road patterns are designed by an artist named Marilyn Levitt-Imblum who lives in Main.   The Lavender and Lace patterns are some of my favorites.  The inspiration for many of her designs came from living in the country near many Amish families.  Her cross stitch designs include several angels, brides, traditional women, Native Americans, Christmas themes and the Amish.  Her patterns are classy and turn out lovely. Some of my favorites are “The Wedding“, “Angel of Grace“, “Celtic Christmas“, and the whole Celtic Series.  All of these patterns are available in kits as well.  Her most recent design is a sequel to “Emma’s Garden “ a pattern created with one of her granddaughters in mind.  The newest cross stitch pattern is inspired by another granddaughter.   It is called “Isabella’s Garden” and it has been a very popular pattern.

  

• Christmas Elegance (MD6) by Miribilia

  Date: 2008.10.28 | Category: Cross Stitch Blog | Response: 0

  Glorious gifts await on the lap of the emerald-gowned heiress who sits beneath the softly falling snow on a starry Christmas Eve. Who would guess from her beaded and bejeweled opulence that she waits each year at this time to spread lavish holiday cheer among those less fortunate?

  Stitched on 32 count Antique Blue Linen by Wichelt Imports (2 over 2 ). Design area is 13 x 10 (1/2) inches. Stitch count is 210 x 170. DMC floss used.

  

  Christmas Elegance counted cross stitch  pattern by Mirabilia designs.  
  

• Cross Stitch kits at Julie’s Cross Stitch

  Date: 2008.10.22 | Category: Cross Stitch Blog | Response: 0

  If you are new to cross stitch, a great way to get started is to buy a kit.  Most cross stitch kits come with everything you will need to complete the project, including fabric, graph, floss, and needle.  Some even come with buttons, metalic threads, and beads that you need to complete the project.  A very popular and good quality designer of cross stitch kits is Dimensions.  Dimensions generally uses Aida fabric for their kits which is called “the cross stitch fabric”.  Aida was made specifically for cross stitch.  Another great designer of cross stitch kits is Maia. Maia is new to Julie’s X Stitch and they are some of my favorite kits right now.  They also usually used Aida fabric in their kits.  We also carry some other great kits from Heritage Stitchcraft of England and Permin of Denmark.  They are both special order kits since they come from overseas, but they are worth the wait.  Both designers use Linen most often in their kits.    We have many other designers of cross stitch kits to choose from, and we are searching for new kits to add all of the time.  Of course, we are happy to make any pattern that you like into a kit for you at Julie’s Cross Stitch.

  

  Cross stitch kit by Maia.  African Sunset.

• New Cross Stitch Pattern by Mirabilia

  Date: 2008.10.15 | Category: Cross Stitch Blog | Response: 0

  Mirabilia just released their newest pattern in their mermaid series called Bluebeard’s Princess. What a gorgeous pattern.  For those of you who love Mirabilia or enjoy her mermaid series of patterns, you will just love this one.   Stitched on 32 count Laurel Linen and has a stitch count of 160w x 228h.

  

• Cross Stitch kits by Maia

  Date: 2008.10.07 | Category: Cross Stitch Blog | Response: 0

  The Japanese Garden

  12″ x 16″ (30cm x 40cm). Kit contains color accented chart and instructions, needle, 18 count white Aida fabric and pre-sorted Anchor stranded cotton threads on a thread organizer.

  

• Loop Knot in cross stitch, cross stitch tip

  Date: 2008.10.06 | Category: Cross Stitch Blog | Response: 0

  How to cross stitch.  This is a simple tutorial on the basic stitches used in cross stitch.  To begin a cross stitch; bring your threaded needle up through the backside of your fabric, leaving a short tail of floss out the back.  Work your first few stitches over this tail to secure it.  You can also use what is called a loop knot.    A loop not is a good choice if you are using two strands of floss (which you do in most cross stitch) or when your design calls for just a few stitches like a flower, star, eye, etc.  Fold your threads in half and insert the cut ends in the eye of this needle, leaving a loop at the bottom or tail.  Bring the needle up through the back side of the fabric in step one, then down through the fabric in step two and then go through the loop on the back side, thus anchoring your thread down.    There are no knots in cross stitch.