Stitch from Scratch Ep. 2.2 Materials: Floss and Needles

Let's get to it!

Floss and/or Thread

These words are used somewhat interchangeably. I grew up saying floss and that's what DMC calls it. When I think of thread I think of sewing. I normally use DMC but I also have a bunch of Krieink that I absolutely love.  Of course, there are many other brands.  Look around and just pick the colors you love.

The important thing to know about DMC floss is that you don't use the whole thing. It's actually 6 strands in one skein.

For a typical project you will use 14 ct cloth and 1 strand of floss that you will halve so that it becomes two.  I will show you this in the video at the end of this page.

The number of strands you want to you is really up to you.  Sometimes I want a more pronounced stitch, in which case I will use 3.  As a DMC Mentor, I will tell you that in general and typically you will use 2.

You will buy the skein and wrap it around a bobbin and likely put it in a plastic case like I have above.

I like to organize my thread based on color.  DMC has over 400 colors and types.  The numbers and the colors don't really go in an observable order but they do have this.....

Above: The number of the floss and the corresponding column.
Below:  The column sorted by color family.

 I use this tool to keep track of the colors I have and the ones I still need to pick up.

So pretty!!!  I've got a whole case of these.  :D

Kreinik a braided strand.  You don't separate them to use them.  In the second photo you can see there are actually many different braid sizes.  There are still more than I have here.  The size depends on your project. 

Needles

As I said in the last post all you need is a needle to get started.  This is true but there are specific needles for specific size cloth, if you want to get technical.

This site says it better than I ever could - http://www.crossstitchneedleshop.co.uk/needlesizeguide.html

For comparison...

There is a lot of information just on the packages.  They will say the size and generally what the size is used for.  I had no idea there was so much variation in needles sizes until very recently.

I used an old sewing needle until 5 weeks ago.
I know. Oops. Now I use my smallest needle always.  I realized I was stretching the hole in the fabric. Once I realized it, it's one of those things that I couldn't unsee. So now I kinda play it safe.

And now my very very first video on how to pull strands apart and thread a needle.

Don't bother with your volume, there no audio.  :)


Tell me, which thread do you like?

You can see previous episodes here -

Calendar
1.1 Credentials and History
2.1 Materials : Cloth

Oh Christmas Tree

A bit ago I gave a pattern for a blackwork Christmas Tree.

Of course I started the tree before I did the pattern, so It doesn't match.  I finally completed it.  And I HEART it.  I gave it to my mom :)

The best part is that I used my Kreinik thread.  All the metallic is Kreinik and it turned out beautiful.  I enjoy working with the tread.  Everything from the fact that it's in a spool to the different weights.  Love it.

I kinda love the back.

"Where da moon?" Progress

Violet really like cars, airplanes, trains, cats, the colors blue and purple, Britney Spears, Tool, acting like she is sleeping/ snoring, pulling my short hair and finding the moon in the sky. "where da moon?" Mama, where'd it go??" ... "There he is!"

So much so that I'm going to make her a moon for her room.  

A friend of mine found some cool glow in the dark thread that seemed perfect for the project.  These are Kreninik brand, which I haven't used before.  I'm excited to try.  

I whipped up this moon.  It's 10 x 10 and meant for a 12" embroidery hoop.  

I'm hoping to work on it before Christmas.  I gotta catch her while she still cares where the moon is.  :)

BONUS!!!  Comment below and I'll send you the pattern as a pdf. 

Update: 9/25/13

So, I can't wait.  I tried to wait and finish other things.  But I just can't do it.  

GAME ON.

Just a couple notes about this project already.  It's actually going to end up being about 8by8 in a 10" hoop.  That just felt better to me.  

The thread is, as you know, Kreinik Metallics, but it is also medium braid.  Having only bought basic DMC thread previously I didn't realize how thick this was.  It was actually a pleasant surprise.  I had been wanting to do something other that straight up cross stitch for this project.  Because the thread is thick I think it looks great with only one pass.  More sketchy.  :)

Also the pattern is kinda huge.  So I'm printing corner by corner.  The yellow bits are where I highlighted the middle gray color.  This is just to help me see it a bit better.  

This is now my main project.  At least until the new crochet book I ordered comes in...and until I get up and print out the embroidery pattern that I'm planning to do for this.

And the baby is due in 10 days.  UHOH!

Update: 9/26/13

This is about 2 hours of work today.

I like it :) I'm debating on taking out the green.  It's the darkest of the three "grays" and I think it would cool just not there are all.  Hmmm.