some tapestry/embroidery/needlework questions!

[2jamsandwiches]

I'm not a crafty sort of person but I aspire to be one, and there's a project I'd love to do, but am not quite sure how to get started with. I'd like to make the 2 DCs embroidered Christmas stockings for next year (there's a small chance it'll be done by December if I start soon!)
I saw a kit for stockings here but they're really expensive and I'm not sure I like the designs enough. So I want to design one of my own.
My grandmother used to do this sort of thing, and I think what she did was find a picture and then trace the outline onto squared paper, colour it, and then use that as a plan. I was wondering if there was any software/anywhere online that did this sort of thing, ie a way of making a design up and then printing it off.
And am I just mad to think of doing this? Am I just going to be hideously disappointed with whatever I end up making? I'm not planning a Christmassy theme, perhaps one would be geometric and the other would have insects and flowers or something.
What do you think?
Any good ideas of how I get started?
Thank you!!

There is software out there, but it can be quite expensive. i have some really nice patterns with fishing penguins/polar bears and skiing bears. so there are some nicer patterns out there but it might need a hunt about. I would personally go for a pattern rather then a kit but have been sewing for decades and have a stash of threads. You need to make sure that you have a good idea, there are tons of motifs out there and if you have a good sewing shop you could go have a hunt about for an image that you like. I intend to make a christmas tree mat using christmas card motifs for a nativity scene. I will have to lay out the pattern myself and sort the spacing but find it is easier to start with an image i like. But then again i lack imagination...

Just wanted to say I have stitched 3 of the stockings you linked to for my DC (angels, dreaming and alphabet) and they draw admiring comments every Christmas. The kits are well-designed, with a printed canvas and a chart to follow for the more detailed sections. The colours are beautiful.

I am not connected with the company btw, just slightly addicted to stitching the kits.

Hi 2jamsandwiches
Have you ever done cross stitch/tapestry work(often called needlepoint) before?
For a stocking I think needlepoint would be best.

But to start with I would have a look around a craft shop or hobbycraft if you have one near you - have a poke about and see what takes your liking. Buy a small kit to give you a chance to practise......... Perhpaps buy a book or two?

Then when you have an idea how the fabric and threads/wools work together you can start to plan something!

Needlepoint can be worked in halfcross stitch or full cross stitch - which you choose obviously makes a difference to the overall result.

I hope that helps. Ask away if you have more questions!

I am a fan of Jolly Red too - they are more expensive than a lot of kits but they are fab quality

Thank you!
I've done some tapestry type stuff before, mostly in what I was told was called tent stitch? Like half a cross. But always with coloured printed kits, I've never had to count things out. So I'm fairly confident about the actual sewing bit, it's choosing materials (how many stitches per inch, ie what kind of canvas) and the design bit that is more tricky.
I do like the Jolly Red stuff, and I might in the end decide that's the more sensible option; but I know I'd be really pleased with myself if I made something like this from scratch. So if I can see how to do it, then I'd like to have a go.
If I was going to do my own design, do you think I need to get the whole thing worked out first? Or could I do it in a more piecemeal way? I think I'd do insects etc. first (bees, butterflies, spiders, flies, ladybirds, dragonflies-that sort of thing), and my idea was that I'd just sort of scatter them around the canvas, probably with a fair amount of plain space between them.
What do you think?
Where should I look for materials (we're in London, but online might be more practical...)

Wow, those Jolly Red kits are gorgeous.
I did a needlepoint for my dad once of ducks (he's a keen birdwatcher) by tracing the outlines of a picture onto graph paper, and then filling in the details in coloured pencil. I then stitched the pattern onto canvas following my graph-paper design. It took a while and it was a bit fiddly, but it turned out really well. I guess that's basically what your grandmother did?
John Lewis is probably a good basic first stop for materials.

Could you photocopy a picture onto graph paper then use that as a template?

I use hobby craft for bits and used to go to the big craft fair in manchester. I believe there is one in london around now/next month ish. Otherwise i like the little independant shops but i dont expect they will be that easy to find. kits wise the internet is best. If you used printed could you carbon copy the design onto the fabric and stitch if from there. I have no idea as have only done counted sewing and get very annoyed with minor inperfections of printed patters. Irrationally so. So avoided them

bettymum, I think that's exactly what she did. TBH it was really successful for some things (simple ones) and terrible for others! she did a good deal of unpicking, I seem to remember...

interesting that it seems that graph paper is still the best option - does anyone know of any software that might help? Even if it's expensive, I'd like to know what the options are!

Also, in terms of material, how many holes per inch should I be looking for, do you think? I don't want to drive myself insane, but I'd like a small enough stitch to be able to have some detail.

Thank you!

If you are clever you can set the size of the boxes in excel & then colour them

bump for any advice on tapestry software and how many holes/inch I should be looking for!
and any other advice!