Floss
Mar 11, 2010 ~ Blogging, Cross Stitch ~ 1 Comment
Many of you know that I cross stitch as my hobby along with blogging & reading. Don’t worry, Michelle, reading will always be my first love, lol. Anyway, I was thinking today while I was working on my lastest project (a quickie) that one of the things that really bugs me is floss lengths.
Every tutorial or advice you get tells you to use approximatly 18 inches of floss. Though if you use the loop method to start, like I do, you will actually use 36 inches folded in half to equal 18 inches of usable floss. Hmm…problem. That is simply to short for me. I can’t stand having to thread my needle over & over approximately every three minutes (that is how long it takes me to use 18 inches of floss). I know I could use multiple needles threaded with the floss colors, but I have this horrible habit that I like one needle & I keep using it until I either break it or bend it, which is usually one project. Yes, I manage to break & bend metal needles of all brands. I am thinking of having one of my friends make me a few bone needles to see if I have the same problem. So my solution is to simple use 69 inches of floss folded in half to make 34.5 inches of floss. Nice & long amount of floss that gives me about five to ten minutes. Very nice.
That is my main problem with kits. Give me more thread lengths people! I am not going to use ittie bittie amounts of floss. They give me small amounts so I don’t buy them. Hence the companies lose money. Not that they care, lol. Kinda like Wal-Mart, lately & removing the fabric from the stores. *more on that one in another blog post*
What about wear & tear on the floss, you say? Haven’t really had that problem. Though I did notice it when I used other floss besides my DMC, but then, it may also be my stitching habits. I don’t pull my floss really tight nor do I let it get tangled. When there is a knot, on the few times, then I stop & work the knot out instead of tugging it all the time.
I am not saying this makes a difference when it comes to working with floss or not, but my background, when it comes to dealing with floss, is simple. I used to emboridory all the time & though I didn’t like it I got used to using floss & all of its little quirks. Floss is not like sewing thread, it is more delicate, yet stronger in some ways, & it will work diferently as it goes through the fabric. I am not saying that you can’t use it as sewing thread, but it does work differntly then the thread you buy of the spool for your sewing machine.
For me, I only use DMC & hand-dyes that start with DMC floss. Some people hate DMC & say it is the worst. Personally, I can’t stand Anchor floss. Now there used to be a brand called J.P. Coats (I think it is what is called Anchor now) that was better then DMC & even I agree there. But I know that J.P. Coats makes Anchor now & I have tried Anchor & all I ever got was tangles & breaks. I have also tried Madeira Silk floss & I do like it, but it is too expensive for me to purchase. The only way I can get it is to purchase it online & I want to see the colors before I purchase with my own eyes & not on my computer screen. Plus the cost of the floss plus the cost of shipping & handling make it more then it is worth. Carrie’s Creations are my over-dyed choice when I need varigated floss (DMC is really bad at having varigated floss choices). Carrie’s Creations starts with DMC floss & then over dyes it. So I still get my DMC floss but in some really cool colors. I have used Carrie’s Creations, which I can get at Cecilia’s Samplers, & I have no problems with it except that I can’t wash my project afterwards so I usually do that part last after I have washed the project if it needs it. I think there is another company that starts with DMC floss, but I have never used it so I don’t have anything to say about it.
I have yet to use metalitics, so I won’t comment on them, except to say I have heard that they are not fun to use.
As far as beading goes, I actually enjoy the process. Yeah, I know, I am weird. I normally will use floss the color of my material or the color of the stitching below the bead to attach it. If I can’t do that then I take some clear nylon sewing thread to attach the bead. I do the same thing to attach charms onto my designs. I have yet to have one come off yet. Though I do admit that I do make a very tiny knot in the nylon thread to make sure that the thread doesn’t slip off the needle, but you can’t tell that it is there at any time.
As far as fabric goes. If it is 14 count or 28 count, I will use it. If I can afford it & can get my greedy little hands on it, then I will use it. Don’t care about the brand or anything like that. As long as the color & count go with my project I will use it. I plan on trying my hand at a 32 count once I get the hang of 28 count. Jangle Scamp is going on a 28 count Linen so that is going to be new since all I have worked on is evenweave but they swore to me that I can handle it. Hmpf. We’ll see.
If I had a place to store the fabric I would get it when I had the money in just plain white & ivory *the colors I use the most* but when your supplies stay in a house that is over 100 years old you get little visitors that like to chew things & build nests. No matter how many traps you set. So no storage & buy only what you use. Though I do have a huge amount of white 14 count in stock, lol, maybe when I get some of them used down I will purchase some 28 count white & ivory to have on hand. My father hates it cause the safest place is in the 18 gallon storage boxes & they are along the walls & he continually tells me that they are eyesores. I just inform him that his wood working magazines are too, but I don’t complain about them, lol.
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I am a 29yr old sassy woman that enjoys making friends. I do have a seizure disorder so that makes it hard for me to be online & I do tend to forget things, so you may have to remind me sometimes. I am a little quiky & a little crazy, but very friendly. In my spare time I enjoy reading & counted cross stitch when my disorder allows me to stitch which is usually only about 15 minutes at a time.
