Cross Stitching Series - Finishing and Framing

Welcome to Part 6 of the cross stitching series - this is the last post! If you missed Parts 1-5 click below.

1) Selecting a Kit
2) Prepping your Kit
3) The Stitches and following a pattern
4) Outlines (back stitch) and Details
5) Personalizing a kit
6) Finishing and Framing

When I first wrote about cross-stitching, Kathy from Creative Home Expressions and I started talking about our love for it and all the projects we've done over the years.  She has done way more than I have and I knew that she had lots of great information to share.  I was so thrilled that she agreed to write a guest post!!  (esp. on a topic I could use some help myself!) Kathy, take it away...

Heather at Pixie Dust is doing a series on cross-stitch and I really enjoyed following along because I used to be a cross-stitch fiend.  You know how you stay up late to blog?  Well, I used to stay up late to do “just one more row” of cross-stitch!  Heather has graciously allowed me to participate in her series with a post on finishing and framing your cross-stitch piece.

As we go through the different ways you can finish your cross-stitch, I thought I’d share some of the many pieces that I’ve done over the years.

Probably the most popular way to finish off your cross-stitch is to frame it.  I always took my pieces to a professional framer to have it done right.  You can have the matting done so that it enhances the piece whether it is the color of the mat or the way it is cut.  Non-glare glass works really well on a framed cross-stitch as it doesn’t distort the way it looks.  If you are comfortable framing your own work ~ more power to you!

Another way to finish your work is by making a pillow.  This pillow covering came this way and I used a pattern from a cross-stitch magazine.

This little tiny baby pillow I made from a found pattern {very simple to do, too, if you need a gift for a shower or new baby gift in general}.  I put it together with a linen fabric and ribbon.  I used to sell these and would do them in pink, blue, mint green, and yellow.

Like the pillow cover above, you can buy Christmas stockings that are already finished off and you just need to add the cross-stitch pattern.  I bought these quilted stockings several years ago at Michael’s and cross-stitched my family’s names on them using an alphabet pattern that I adapted to fit the aida cloth part of the stocking.

I’ve also made switch plate covers and eyeglass cases.  I have even used dissolvable aida cloth to sew cross-stitch designs onto sweatshirts and t-shirts!

You can find some great kits that come with everything you need to do the cross-stitch and even include a way of finishing or framing.  If you look through some cross-stitch magazines you will come across some novel ways of finishing off your cross-stitch.  That’s what happened when I found this one and was able to order the mitten frame.  I put this one together myself. 
Here is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I did for my son back in the early 90’s when he was into them.

Many of my cross-stitch projects became gifts and there were such a variety.  I did baby blanket and pillow sets; bibs; framed pieces with shaped mats; glass cases; baby alphabet samplers; baby hooded bath towels and much more.

This is the last one I finished.  If you notice, the bottom is dated 2000.

I have a couple of others in various stages of completion.  I have a very cute Winnie the Pooh sampler that I will be finishing off for my daughter; all it needs is the personalization and framing.
The manner in which you finish off {or frame} your cross-stitch is limitless!   Have fun with it!

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Wow, those are some awesome tips!  The dissolvable aida cloth sounds so fun! I am going to have to keep an eye out for that.  I love the thought of finishing a design as a pillow and now I know to ask for non-glare glass if I ever go to a framer.  Thanks Kathy.

Hope you all enjoyed this series,

Cross Stitching Series - Personalizing

Welcome to Part 5 of the cross stitching series. If you missed Parts 1, 2, 3 or 4 click below.

1) Selecting a Kit
2) Prepping your Kit
3) The Stitches and following a pattern
4) Outlines (back stitch) and Details
5) Personalizing a kit
6) Finishing and Framing

I always like to add something to my kits to make them more special and personal.

In order to make my turtle hooded towel extra special and cute, I stitched my cousin's name onto it.


I found an alphabet template from an old kit to make the letters.

I also made a towel for his little sister this past week.



I used a girlier font on hers.  It is centered on the hood but it is off from the lion - bah!!


It's also nice, especially on a design that will be framed, to add your initials and or date in the corner of the design.  It's very easy to add your initials in a simple back-stitch.

There are also ways to add some sparkle and texture to your design.  You can find metallic and sparkly filaments at the craft store in the needle-craft aisle.  You can either add these to or substitute them for colors in your design.  They are so pretty.  I used light blue to make a twinkly sky once and white makes snow look amazing.

Beads and other charms also make great embellishments.  You can attach them while you are working your cross-stitches so that they are very secure.  Just use anything you find pretty and inspiring and I'm sure you can find a way to incorporate it!!

Cross Stitching Series - Outlines and Details

Welcome to Part 4 of the cross stitching series. If you missed Parts 1, 2 or 3 click below.

1) Selecting a Kit
2) Prepping your Kit
3) The Stitches and following a pattern
4) Outlines (back stitch) and Details
5) Personalizing a kit
6) Finishing and Framing


After a bit of slacking, I cracked down and finished all of the cross-stitches on my Turtle Towel.


It may look done, but the turtle and starfish have no faces and the entire design lacks definition.  This is where the back-stitching comes in!  Here are a few tips.

I like to try and have the outlines look just as good on the back as the front so I like to stitch a running stitch and then go back with another running stitch to fill in the gaps.  This circle has an octagon shaped outline.  I started by stitching the straight lines clockwise...


...then stitched the diagonals counterclockwise.


I worked in a similar fashion on the larger outline.  Look closely at the outline one the pattern to see where it touches a hole.  I like to go no more than 4 holes in one stitch, but if a diagonal needs 5 or 6, so be it.  I worked a running stitch in one direction...


...and worked back to finish it.


Now the french knots can be tricky.  These are used a lot to add eyes and other misc. details.  This design used them for eyes and random bubble dots.

Bring the thread through the correct hole and pull it taught.  Hold onto the needle with your dominant hand and the thread with your other hand.  Place the needle behind the thread and wrap it around so it crosses and looks like the picture below.  Then place the tip on the needle back in the same hole.  I've had issues with french knots popping out, so you can actually place the tip of the needle inbetween the fibers right next the hole to secure it better.


Next, pull the thread taught so that the knot forms.


Keep the thread held taught and pull the needle through.  You'll end up with a french knot!


See how nice it looks with all the details added.


Next week we will go over finishing up and the different ways you can personalize your designs.  Plus I'll show you what I did to this one to make it super special!!

Cross Stitching Series - The Stitches

Welcome to Part 3 of the cross stitching series. If you missed Parts 1 and 2, click below.

1) Selecting a Kit

2) Prepping your Kit

3) The Stitches and following a pattern

4) Outlines (back stitch) and Details

5) Personalizing a kit

6) Finishing and Framing

So your kit is all prepped and you are ready to start, but where?  Take a look at your pattern - the design is in a grid and each square has a symbol.  Each square on the grid is one stitch. You will also see a color chart on your pattern.  This lists all your colors and what symbol they are represented by.  It will also say in parentheses how many strands to use and let you know if they are cross-stitches, half-stitches, back-stitches and french knots (or other additional stitches your kit may include).

Decide where you are going to start your pattern.  For my towel, I am starting with the turtle, then the stars, then the bubbles and details.  On the seaside cottage kit I've shown, I started with the houses, then the sea, beach, trees, and sky.

Start by placing your fabric in the hoop.  Loosen the screw and separate the two pieces.  Place the smaller hoop under the fabric on a flat surface and place the large hoop on top, over the area you are working.  Push them together and pull the fabric taut while you tighten the screw.

Find your first square and determine which color it is.  Most of your stitches will be 2 strands.  Each length of floss has 6 strands in it.  Pull out one strand, fold it in half and thread the loose ends throw the eye of the needle.

Working from the back, insert the needle into the bottom left hole of your starting square, bring it through and insert it into the top right hole to make a diagonal stitch.  Flip your fabric over and thread the needle through the loop of thread, pull tight, this will secure the thread and do it very neatly!

Keep stitching from left to right, bottom to top until you have completed the row as shown on your pattern.  This is a half-stitch.  If your pattern calls for this stitch, you can continue the next row by working right to left, the third row from left to right and so on.

To complete the cross stitch, insert the needle into the bottom right corner and cross over to the top left, working from right to left.  Then do the next row from left to right, then right to left.

The back of the fabric will stay very neat by working this way.  Here is what it should look like:

When you do not have enough thread to keep working, finish it by threading through the straight stitches on the back, 5 or 6 should be good, and cut the excess.

Sometimes you will realize you have made a mistake.  Un-thread your needle and use it to pick out the incorrect stitches.  Re-thread the needle and start working again.

You may also get knots while you work.  To prevent them, let go of your needle every so often and let it unwind itself.  If you do get a knot, insert the needle into the loop and tug, it should come right out.  Some knots are tougher and may need more tinkering, but I have gotten 99% of my knots out.

One more thing, while 2 strands is the most common, sometimes your pattern will call for 1, 3, or tweeding, which is one strand of two different colors stitched together.  When you are working like this you can't secure your first stitch with the loop.  Leave a bit of a tail and work your first few stitches so that they cover the tail.  This is pretty much the opposite of how you secure the end.

You can always email me or leave comments with questions.  I'm happy to help.

Cross Stitching Series - Prepping Your Kit

Welcome to Part 2 of the cross stitching series.  If you missed Part 1, click below.

1) Selecting a Kit

2) Prepping your Kit

3) The Stitches and following a pattern

4) Outlines (back stitch) and Details

5) Personalizing a kit

6) Finishing and Framing

Now that you have your kit, there are a few things we need to do before we start stitching.
I am going to be working on a child's hooded towel kit as we go through the process. It is a terry cloth towel with aida fabric in the hood. 
Let's open it up and make sure that everything is included.  Most kits will contain Aida fabric, colored thread, needle(s) and instructions.  Some will also have a thread palette and accessories for the finished design.

Grab a gallon or freezer size plastic zip bag to keep all of the contents of your kit in one place.  This is will also keep everything clean and protected when you are not working.  You should also place your hoop and embroidery scissors inside {if you don't have embroidery scissors, any small pointy scissors will work, even manicure scissors).


There are two more things to do before we are ready to start - sort colors and prep the fabric.

If your kit included a thread palette, lucky you.  If not, they are so easy to make!  Just take an index card or a piece of card stock and punch a hole for each of your colors {if you have more than 6 lengths of any color, give it two holes}.  Your pattern will have a key for the colors - it will tell you the colors, how many lengths of each are included, and the symbols used for each color.  Sort the colors by the order they are listed on your chart and label each color.  DO NOT CUT THE THREAD.


Now the fabric for the kit I am starting is already a finished part of the towel, so I can skip this step, you can too if yours is finished or you have a plastic canvas.  Otherwise, the edges of the fabric need to be protected from fraying.  Use some of your own thread for a blanket stitch around the perimeter.  If you have a different stitch you prefer, use it, as long as it will prevent fraying.


Next, fold your cloth in half width-wise and length-wise.  This will mark your center point.  Most kits will tell you to start working here.  That drives me nuts!!  I need to start my pattern from the top and work down, so here is my special tip for the day.  All patterns are marked with darker lines that separate the pattern into 10x10 squares.  I use black thread and insert my needle into the center from the back.  Count up 10 squares and go back in.  My pattern has 34 lines above center, so I have 2 black lines showing, and I have taken the thread back through to the front 4 squares later.  I then do the same running stitch working towards the left corner, then go back to the middle and work towards the right corner.  I now have a T shaped grid that corresponds to the grid on my pattern.


Take your time doing your prep work, this will make the whole process much easier.  Please comment with any questions - I'm here to help!  It's also a good idea to read all the information in your kit.
Next week we will go over how to read your pattern and how to make the stitches.

Cross Stitching Series - Selecting a Kit

I'm really excited to start my very first series.  I've never taught anyone how to do cross stitch before, so this is going to be a new experience for me.

I've broken this series into 6 topics:

1) Selecting a Kit

2) Prepping your Kit

3) The Stitches and following a pattern

4) Outlines (back stitch) and Details

5) Personalizing a kit

6) Finishing and Framing

Sometimes I think the hardest part of making any cross stitch project is picking out a kit!  There are so many styles out there, and most of them don't appeal to me.  I really do not want to make a snowy owl, a geisha, a Navajo scene, or a menacing tiger, so sorting through all of these kits to find ones I like can sometimes be challenging.

Two of my favorite themes are babies and Christmas.  I rarely see a baby pattern that I don't find adorable, and the birth records make wonderful keepsakes.  The Christmas ones are also very cute, and you can make banners like the one I did below, stockings and ornaments.

There are also lots of other cute kits, but I usually find those by digging through all of junk to find the good stuff.  I also prefer to shop for kits online instead of Micheal's or Joann's, etc. b.c the stores often have a very limited selection and they tend to stock all the kits I don't want.

Dimensions is a great brand and you can shop from their website - just remember, we are looking at counted cross stitch kits.

Twinkle Twinkle Birth Record

(this is the one I made for my cousin)

 

ModZoo Birth Record

 

I'm really excited about the website I found this morning doing research for this post, The Stitchery, I have never found such an abundance of kits I love all in one place, take a look at what I found:

Trimming the Tree Stocking

Penguin Ornament Set

 

Where Your Story Begins

Wedding Record

 

Spring Jar Wrapper

 

Olive Branch Sachets

 

I have never seen the jar wrappers or sachets before.  The sachets even come with lavender to fill them when you are done!

The kits come with everything you need to work on your projects except for the hoop.  I have  5", 7", 9" and 12" hoops so that I can choose the appropriate size for my canvas.  The fabric for the kit I am working on now is 22" x 11" so I am working with a 9" hoop.  You should choose a hoop that is 2-3 inches less than the shorter length of your fabric.  I didn't see hoops on either of the sites above, but I bought all of mine at Micheal's and Walmart (in the fabric, not craft, section).

Next week, we'll go over how to prep your kit.