Anyone "gridded" cross-stitch before starting? - Wedding Forum

AngelaW · #1 (**permalink**) 22-08-2002, 07:29 AM

I'm quite nervous about starting my next project as its on linen (and expensive linen too!). I know its going to be harder than aida in terms of "finding the holes" so I was contemplating gridding the whole of the design area before starting so that I don't suddenly start stitching over three threads rather than two...

Has anyone done this before? I am basically wondering how easy it is to remove the threads used for gridding when you need to stitch over them?

In case I've confused anyone, here is an explanation of gridding: http://www.treasuredtapestries.com/grid.html

Bianca · #2 (**permalink**) 22-08-2002, 07:42 AM

Have never tried it but it sounds like a very good idea if it helps prevent mis counting.

Sounds like it can take a while to do though, is your linen big?

helen_adele · #3 (**permalink**) 22-08-2002, 07:57 AM

As long as you use a very fine cotton and a simple running stich gridding should pull out easily once you have finished or it will have become so oversown by the design you wont notice it anyway and can simply unpick the bits that show and snip them off.

if you use a hoop to keep you fabric tight and flat that will also help when sewing linnen - i've never had much of a problem but i've got good close up vision - remember to sew in good light and if you leave your stiching for anylength of time remove any hoops and needles so you don't mark the delicate cloth - but i'm sure you already knew that

helen

AngelaW · #4 (**permalink**) 22-08-2002, 08:05 AM

Yay! Thank you so much Helen! I'm going to pick up some ordinary sewing thread tonight and I'll start doing all the gridding lines this weekend (design area is 18" by 14" so v.big).

I'm using scroll bars to keep the fabric taunt - as far as I've seen in the past, they don't tend to leave marks on the fabric, but then again, I've never used linen... do you think this will be a problem?

Thanks once again!

helen_adele · #5 (**permalink**) 22-08-2002, 08:12 AM

no scroll bars will probably be better as you can leave them on and shouldn't get too much distortion atound the edges which bis a problem i've had useing linen in a hoop

another piece of advice is to hem you edges befor you start as the linen i've used in the past thas a habit of fraying

good luck and let us know how you get on

h.

AngelaW · #6 (**permalink**) 22-08-2002, 08:37 AM

Thanks Helen!!

Yes, I was going to hem my edges... I'm going for the works on this piece! I really hate hemming too, oh well.... this serves me right for selling my sewing machine!

mistleuk · #7 (**permalink**) 22-08-2002, 10:33 AM

i always use scroll bars i much prefer them to hoops, as for hemming i always edge my material with masking tape to stop the fraying it seem to work well
as for the gridding and as helen says running stitch should be good for that, i use it to mark the center of the material along the height and the width , it as always been easy to remove it when i needed to

AngelaW · #8 (**permalink**) 25-08-2002, 06:46 AM

Mmmm, well.... hemming the linen was fine and quite quick - I used blanket stitch - however, gridding it was pretty painful work.

I developed a headache within half an hour that recurred whenever I tried to start working with the linen again. I've decided to give up on linen and go back to aida since I don't get a headache with that!!