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Cross Stitching - Tips & Tricks

Counted cross-stitching can be a very tedious process. Here is a tip that can make your cross-stitching projects much more portable, even in the car or anywhere you are.

My name is Diana, I have been doing cross stitching for over 30 years and have even taught classes. One of the most frustrating parts of this craft is that you have to constantly refer back to the pattern every few stitches to count and recount before you stitch. If you make an error there is a lot of "frogging" (stitch removal). (For an example of 'frogging' read the Article by By Theresa Vinson Stenersen from Knitty.Com.)

One day I came upon an idea that has made this 'back and forth' process completely unnecessary. When I start a project I choose a color that is as close to the center of the project as possible (just like most patterns instruct). Then I sit down with the pattern at a table and start to mark that color on the cloth. That's right, mark the color. I use a Pigma Micron 005 or 01 permanent ink pen in a color that comes the closest to the thread color for that section. You can get these pens at most hobby or fabric stores. Most of the time I find that the black pens works for most colors that you cannot match with a Pigma colored pen.

All you do is put a very tiny dot in the center of square on the cloth for every place that color is used. I mark as much of that one color on the pattern as I can (sometimes all of the color on small projects). Make certain that the dot you put there is very, very small; just enough that you can see it when you start stitching.

Once you have as much of that one color marked as you want, then you can go and sit down in front of the TV, ride in the car or whatever and start stitching. You do not have to refer back to the pattern until it is time to mark the next color. You will find that your thread covers the small dot that you have placed on the fabric and because it is permanent ink it will never bleed or wash out. Just be sure that you are very careful in counting and marking your cloth.

If you make an error in your marking, don't panic, I just usually put a light diagonal pencil mark in the square that is wrong so that I don't stitch there (the pencil mark will wash out, but it usually doesn't show anyway or you can erase it when you want to stitch that square with the correct color). You will get to that square that you marked in error later with another color. Try not to use too bright a color marking pen, but just come as close to the color of the thread without making it too bright. I have about 6 different Pigma pens that I use for all projects, because as I said, I find that the black works very well for most colors, even white thread, interestingly enough.

If you try this method you will find another interesting feature. Because you have a lot of one color marked you can decide which direction to go with your stitching and thereby have less starting and stopping of your thread and no long threads on the back. I tell my cross-stitch students that the back of their work needs to look almost as good as the front so that their project will lie flat when they stretch it for framing.

This procedure only works on light colored aida-type cloth where you have actual squares to mark and not on woven fabric like linen that does not have exact squares but only threads to count. I am sure that cross-stitch purists are now rising up to disclaim this procedure, but it has worked beautifully for me for over 15 years.

Article written by Diana from TheAcornPatch.Com ldpowelson@sbcglobal.net