question for cross stitchers plese

[stitch]

i wnt to make something that i can frame and hang up in the living room withthe very bare walls.....cross stsitchnig magazine have a lovley free pattern of flower pots tht would mthc the colours scheme perfectly i think.
but i havent made anythign cross stitch wise for years, and never any thing as big, and never done counted cross stich. the pattern has alwasy been printed on the material i have used.
should i attempt it? andd if so, would i be able to just use an embroidery ring, or do i have to buy the bigger rack type thing?
ALSO where can i get stuff for it online?
tia

I use an small embroidery ring and a do a little bit at a time but sometimes it can get a bit grubby like that. A bigger ring can stop you handling it so much but I find them difficult to use tbh.

If you have a pattern and you are careful that you follow it closely, it should be fairly straightforward.

Good luck

a bigger ring would work ok and if it did get a bit grubby you can gently wash it by hand to freshen it up. THen iron it through a tea towel before framing it and it should be mark free. If you want to frame it yourself then pop it on some stiff sticky board from an art shop, choose your own ready made frame and do it yourself.

If it's bigger than say a 5 by 7 photo size then you might want to consider getting it properly stretched and framed by a professional, but that would obviously cost more. Well worth it though if it's something you're going to look at every day

Good luck!

thank you.. thats the encouragement i need.
any ideas where to get the threads online? and the material!
tia

Don't no any offhand, but a google for DMC or Anchor would probably be the best place to start.

Stick to one brand for threads once you start the stitching though, cos although you can roughly match them between brands, it's never exact and might show.

Meant to say, if you use a wooden embroidery ring you can wrap some kitchen towel around it to stop any grubbiness rubbing onto the fabric.

thanks all, i priced it all up, and it ws coming to well over fifty pounds. sso insted have gotten an nchor kit with everything includedd, except the ring, for 15. its smaller, but lets ssee how long it tkes me to finish..

Having a go at something smaller first will give you the confidence to have a go at your larger project.

If you use a wooden hoop, it's often recommended that you use bias-binding to cover the hoop - wrap it round and round like a bandage. This stops the wood from marking or damaging the fabric and your stitches. I do large projects but hate hoops, and I dodn't get on with large frames, so I just hold my work in my hand - I tend to roll up the excess fabric and pin it, so that it's out of the way as I stitch.

A good place for threads and things is Sew and So - very quick, reliable service and the threads are cheaper than my local shops.

Enjoy your stitching!

Hi stitch,

If you like the pattern in the magazine I'd go for it. The magazine will have pretty comprehensive instructions.

But be prepared for it to take a while.

I have a lovely floral cottage design on the go. I started it when I was pregnant, I haven't completed it yet, and ds is seven and a half !!

As wigwambam said sew and so are a very good site and a lot cheaper then places like hobbycraft.

I placed an order with about 8pm on a sunday night and the order was delivered the following tuesday.

I would order one of their metal boards with magentic strips for your pattern so you can mark the line your are doing so you don't lose your place.

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