It's been a while !!

Hello ,I cannot believe my last blog was all the way back in March !! It doesn't seem like it was that long ago but I suppose time flies when you have lots of things going on . I started a foundation degree in early years in September and of course I had to go to various meetings , interviews and then inductions for it . I'm still in a bit of dis-belief that I am actually doing a degree ....me doing a degree amazing !!
So I've had a less time for crafting but it is still a big part of my life , I need to craft. It's my escape as I'm sure many of you agree ! In November I purchased a second hand big shot machine however I have not bought any dies for it yet. So it is sat waiting to be used in the spare room. Once all the expense of Christmas and New Years is over I will purchase some dies and will do lots of experimenting with them.
Unfortunately I can't seem to add any photos as I'm on the iPad ! So next time I will use the laptop instead and will hopefully be able to add some photos
Till then x.

How to ... use a cross stitch kit

 

 

So you fancy giving cross stitch a go ? There are so many options out there you could perhaps buy a cross stitch magazine with a free cover kit and see how you feel. Some of the cover kits can be pretty tricky though with lots of fractional stitches and backstitching in a little space. Or you may find a cross stitch chart you fancy but then you would also need to purchase the aida/linen , threads and needles separately which can turn out to be pretty costly. So I suggest getting yourself a cross stitch kit. The one I am demonstrating with is from DMC and along the side they give you an idea of how tricky it may be...there are three levels on them easy, moderate and advanced. So if this is your first go at cross stitching I suggest a easy or moderate kit.

 

 

Inside a cross stitch kit you get everything you need to get started.

                                                                       Aida
                                                            

                                                                    Needles

                                                

                                                                    Chart (sorry the photo doesn't do the chart justice)

                                                               

                                                 

                                                            Threads and thread card. Sometimes the threads come pre-sorted with kits and other times they don't. With this kit they didn't come pre-sorted. First I drew the symbols on the thread card and then sorted the threads into the colours...each colour has a different symbol.

                                                   
This photo has come out really bad ...but it is meant to show the key that is given for the threads showing each thread has a different symbol. Also at the side of each thread on the key there is a number in brackets this tells you how many skeins of threads you should have in that colour. Such as the colour white uses a dot symbol  and you should have 7 skeins of that colour. Each skein is made up of 6 separate strands.

 

 So you've managed to organise your threads...the next step is to find the centre of your chart. There are arrows on each side of the chart you follow these arrows and you will find the centre of your chart.

 

                                                     This is the centre of my chart. To find the centre of your aida you simply fold it in half and half again. When you unfold it you will have a slight crease and you will see the middle of your aida is where the creases cross.

So I can see that the middle of my chart is a dot which means I need to use white colour thread.

This bit at the top of the key tells me that I need to use 2 strands to stitch these parts.

 I take one skein of thread off the thread card and pull out one strand of thread from it. I thread that onto my needle and put the others back onto the thread card.

I use the loop method to stitch with hence me only taking one strand and not two from the skein. Using the loop method means I don't have to use any knots and keeps the back of my stitching neater and gives it no bumps. So to do the loop method I fold the thread in half so the start and end of the thread are level and thread them both through the needle. This then gives me the 2 strands required to stitch this part.

Aida is made up of lots of little squares...14 count aida has 14 holes per inch...16 count 16 holes per inch etc . Now you push the needle up through the back of your aida through the hole nearest the middle of it. But don't pull the thread all the way through.

 Pull it through and then push it through the hole diagonal to where you came up.

 You will see at the back you have got a loop.

 Put the needle through the loop and pull it so the thread is all the way through...this secures your thread with out using a knot and you have made the first half of your cross stitch.

 Now you push your needle up through the back of your aida through the hole next to the bottom part of your first arm.

 

 You then put the needle through the hole diagonal to it pull it through and you have made your first cross stitch !!!

 To start your second cross you pull your needle through the same hole you have used (the bottom right one)

Pull it though and then put it through the hole diagonal to that one. You then pull the thread through the bottom hole as shown.

 

 Pull it through and then put it through the hole diagonal. You have made your second cross stitch.

 

 If you have a area full of the same colour you can carry on completing each cross stitch as you go or you can use the method that I prefer. You make the first half of each stitch and then go back along and complete the row.

 Every-one has their own method of cross stitching and if you are having your first attempt then I hope that this has helped you in some way. If you have any questions or comments feel free too. I promise I don't bite !

In the next blog I'll show you how I'm doing with this kit and will hopefully show you how to do backstitching .

Stitching, playing shop and other stuff

Hi all sorry I am a day later than promised but I have worked extra this week at the day job. However I am meant to be at work today but I'm not feeling 100%, although thankfully my pounding headache has eased! So what else have I been up to since my last blog post ?

My man went to Scotland on Friday and came back Tuesday so I had a pretty stressful few days sorting out the kids, dog and cats by myself ! I did have a stitch and bitch round mine on Saturday with Sarah (www.sarahswindow.wordpress.com) her son and Katie and her baby boy. We all got on with our various projects. Sarah was cutting out felt petals for her flowers that she sells at https://www.facebook.com/norwichgiftemporium where I sell my cross stitched and paper crafted cards as well. Katie was working on a crochet hair band for herself. I was working on heaven and earth designs grumpy owl

Tuesday Sarah and I went and played shop at Norwich Gift Emporium (link above). We cleaned the shelves and moved things around. We made a little valentines display and helped Charis with the window display. My cards had a move around as well they started off here

 on a unit near to the till .........

and moved to here (second shelf down) where most of the cards are on display. I took some new cards into the shop with me

The kaput card sold whilst I was playing shop which was a nice feeling ! Lets hope the rest of them fly off the shelf.

I couldn't resist purchasing these lovely cards by https://www.facebook.com/EllaGoodwinIllustration

and this fridge magnet which I am going to use as a needle minder !

Then Tuesday evening it was time for stitch and bitch at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Biddys-Tea-Room/184967728200583 where I started stitching on my hand dyed aida

all will be revealed as I stitch the design on it !

Today was a happy post day....I received 3 ATC's (artist trading cards). I am part of a group on facebook where we exchange these cute little things.https://www.facebook.com/groups/XSATCSwappers/  I have got on and stitch my ones to post off.

I also received this lovely wristband which I won through twitter !

Right well that's all my news and stitchyness for now . Until next week x

Tuesday Experiments

Hi all well it has been a while since my last blog but we all know how busy Christmas and New Years is especially when you have children ! So in this lovely new year my friend has been having Tuesday craft club at her house (there are only 3 of us all together but we have a blast!!!) The first week there was lots of wool dying going on but I missed out on most of it as I had gone to have a tattoo and then had to go to work. However the 2nd week there was lots more wool dying going on but also some aida dying too !

 It is trick to get a good photo off but I hope you get the idea. The background turned out a light red colour and the green food colouring I used broke down and went blue and yellow as well. I will stitch a design on it using just black thread.....I have just got to find the right one.

So the 3rd week (which was yesterday) we took a trip out to a local charity shop and all had a good rummage around. When we got back we ate our lunch and then experimented with some bleach dying and then decorating.

I didn't have a plan in mind when I started out as you can probably guess. But it turned out looking like some kind of alien or sea creature. I'm sure once it has dried my son will want it up on his bedroom wall !

I have been working on some new cross stitch cards as I am no longer having a shelf space at Norwich Gift Emporium but instead have a card stand. So I need to keep that well stocked and came up with these little ideas.

                                                  

I shall be taking these with me on Tuesday when I am in there doing my volunteering in the shop. If you are in Norwich why don't you pop down to see me and have a browse round the shop. There are lots of lovely handmade items in there all made by local people.

Well that's it for now but I will endeavour to write a new blog on a Wednesday each week.