New subscriber here and fellow flosstuber - your video was so helpful, not just for a TW, but for any stitching requiring a lot of floss colors! Thank you for sharing what you have learned in such a clear and concise way! I have never stitched a TW pattern; now I am intrigued. 🙃 I look forward to seeing your progress and also seeing your other WIPS. 🧵🪡☃️
Oh that is so good to hear! I am new to TW so I wasn’t sure if everything I was sharing was already well know to the TW community or not, assuming most stitchers already heard of most of the info. Thank you for your feedback. Happy Stitching!
I really liked this video. It's really informative and you explained everything without adding confusion to the already "scary" pattern. Also you gave very nice tips that can help with other big projects even if they aren't as scary as this one 😛 I was stitching when I was a kid then I took a long break apart from a few projects that I stitched now and then, very sporadically and I started stitching fanatically again two years ago. I had been thinking about it for long and then one day I saw a HAED project and lost my mind. I started with a simpler, easy project and then I made the decision to start a HAED myself. I was feeling excited and a bit scared, I have to admit. It was like nothing I had stitched before. It has 87 colours and that was crazy for me. I had no idea how to stitch something like that with all the confetti stitches etc. But, luckily, it has no back stitch and no blends. Of course I am still stitching that one,I have no idea when it will be done and I really enjoy working on it but if I new a bit better back then, I would have chosen a mini HAED because you know, I am already 51 years old and I would like to believe that I have uhm enough time to finish it. Now the pattern you explained here, is interesting but I think I would feel so overwhelmed that it really wouldn't be fun any more. So thanks again for all the effort you put into making this video and really looking forward to see your progress on this pattern 😊🦚🧵🪡
Thank you for tuning in and sharing your journey with us ❤️ HAEDs are GORGEOUS but those have me intimidated lol - somehow I find the full coverage to be too much for me 🤷🏻♀️ Happy Stitching! 🧵🪡
@@FibersandFlossCanada Haha I understand why you'd feel that way but it's not as scary. You see, in a HAED you take page by page, little square (10x10) by little square and when you are done, you are done, you don't need to go back and back stitch trying to find the "borders" between colours that are impossible to tell apart. So I think that compare to what you and Samantha stitch the HAED would be a walk in the park. But yes sometimes it feels like that, it's like when you write a test at school, you are separated in a) and b), you go well but you think that if you had the other questions you wouldn't write a thing 😛 See you soon 😊🧵🪡🧶
In a Theresa Wentzler, you don’t necessarily need full skeins of floss per color/blend. If the chart says I need 1 skein of 640 and it’s got its own symbol and is used in 2 blends, I’ll cut a length per blend and leave the rest in whatever method I store master colors in a project. If I need more for a blend, I just cut a new length. If I finish all the blend (not always easy to tell…mermaids hair colors are distinct from the rest of the design for example though), I deconstruct the blend, mark it off on the floss list and blend organizer and put the separate colors (if any remain) back with the main color so I’m wrangling less floss. Finished colors go back into my master floss stash (or into another project that needs it too). In fruit bellpull, the border was a blend, I had multiple lengths on my blend card, but I might only make 1 blend of a symbol for something in the grapes. And with floss cards, I gently wrap my colors around the card to help keep them out of the way. Floss drops look like a tangle nightmare to me. On the castle, I attempted to organize floss cards by “region” on the chart, but some blends were used in multiple areas so I decided to never do that again. I just use the symbol key as my guide, and the next TW I start, I’m going to try to avoid putting solid colors on the cards…I might end up with 1 less card next time. As for peacock, it’s one of TWs most challenging charts. The advice I’ve heard is back stitch the pears & leaves as you go so you don’t get lost in the sea of green. (I think peacock & Pegasus are probably the most difficult charts, but each chart has its own complexities.)
Haha one of the most difficult charts??!!! Lucky me haha! That is so typical for me to choose the most challenging 😆 I find the pattern keeper version and their defined lines has really helped but yes I am consistently lost in the sea of green despite backstitching as I go… Thank you for all your feedback. You have so great ideas! I’m currently kitting up a dragon for the #yearofthedragonsal and I’m tempted to kits up a different way with the bobbins just to try something else out. Happy stitching!
I will never stitch one of these very complicated patterns but I very much enjoyed your video and I think some of your hints will help me in my journey to learn more about cross stitch. Thank you.
Thanks for watching and comments Linda. It’s always good to know which projects will bring you joy (stitch all the things!) and those that won’t (keep them away!). Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Thank you so very much for this video! I am one of those who have been sitting with this kit for about 25 years, totally intimidated by it. Now I have brought it out and will make a new start! It is so beautiful and I would really want to have it on my wall. You are a very good teacher by the way!😊
Awww thank you so much! I’m happy to hear you’ve pulled it back out and are stitching on it! It’s so beautiful and deserves to be on your wall! Happy Stitching :)
Wow, if you are not a teacher I think you should be! Fabulous tips and tricks that I plan to use, even though I’m not doing anything nearly as complicated as a Teresa Wentzler. I truly appreciate all the research you did and everything you so generously shared!
I stitched the floral bell pull years ago so I know what you mean about having to stay organized when stitching all those blended stitches. I have the fruit bell pull kit but haven't touched it yet. I really liked the paper plate idea and the sticking the needles on a piece of fabric with the symbols written on the masking tape. Looking forward to seeing your the year of the dragon stitch.
Thank you for taking the time to tune in and comment :) organization and acceptance of a slow pa r I thinking key to enjoying some of these projects. Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
What an interesting video! I like floss cards, which hang off the back of my scroll frame stand - one binder ring of cards per project, but then again, I don't have cats or children! I think the Scarlet Quince patterns have loads of blended threads as well, so they might be good for idea mining. Thanks for taking the time to put this video together for us!
Thank you for tuning in and taking the time to comment :) I actually haven’t heard of Scarlet Quince so I am off to look that up - thank you! Happy stitching 🧵🪡
Thank you for your kind comments. It’s funny bc when I film I think I mention everything but afterwards I realize there was so much more I wanted to share and missed despite noting it down 🤷🏻♀️ Anyways, thank you for tuning in and happy stitching!
This was very informative and I enjoyed it a lot. I'm not sure if it makes me want to stitch a Wentzler piece or stay away from therm. 😊 I have a pattern book that has several of her designs in it and I'm going to check it out again to see what I think. I don't want to stitch a dragon, but you may have inspired me to choose one of the patterns I already have. Thanks so much for sharing with us.!!!
That was very informative. Thank you for sharing. It's good to know what is involved with one of her patterns instead of running in blind and getting severely overwhelmed.
Thanks for tuning in again :) it’s definitely a lot to consider but I think when we have the info we can have success at her patterns. Have you ever contemplated a TW?
I have the English Cottage Sampler by Teresa Wentzler. It was the second cross stitch project I began 30 or so years ago and is maybe half to two-thirds done. I've well lost the original pattern and beads, and now have a digital version. Some of the linen has discoloured, some of the stitches look to have faded, and there's a coffee stain on the border. I think I'm going to give it a gentle soak in some Soak, as I do my knitting and see how it looks because I want to finish it even more now after watching your video. I have a few bits of blended threads looped through the selvedge with the symbols marked in, now faded, pen. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hahah I love it - evidence of many years of love you have put into the piece. I would give it a soak too in cool water and your soap. I also have a project from the late 1990s which is HUGE and I never completed bc HALF of the white floss has discolored. I suspect this is when acid free became a thing…. Maybe I should share this in my next video… anyways, good luck with your piece and thank you for sharing your story :)
@@FibersandFlossCanada Thanks for your reply. Now that I've washed it twice it's look much better. I even managed to get some of the coffee straining out, not all, but it's better. I will be working one page at a time now to full in the gaps and back stitches until it's finished.
Great video. Looked watching your organization of your floss. I don’t have the pattern but I do look forward to seeing your progress on this pattern. What you have done already looks beautiful❤
Your flosstube came just in time to encourage me not to give up on this pattern which I have been stitching on for years. I am going to take your advice about using multiple needles. Rethreading has been my nemesis. I have also separated my blended threads according to which part of the piece I am working on, the tree, the peacock tail, etc. Again, many thanks for your tips. Darlene R., Israel
Thank you so much for watching Darlene! I’m so happy to hear this video has encouraged you to keep on stitching. I hope these tips make it easier and bring some life back into your piece! I also hate retreading every 5 stitches lol ;) I have ended up with a piece of fabric for the border and another for the tree but that’s all I’ve worked on thus far… happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Thanks for the tips. I have thought about Wentzler patterns for years as well. Did a few bookmarks. You have inspired me to think about putting these on my list, for when I finish a few wips first!
I have been stitching since 1981, and have quite a magazine collection. I have started to look through some old Just Cross Stitch issues. But this is not a project for this year. Might be for 2025 if I get good progress on my wips in 24.
That was very helpful and good tips on floss organization as I’m just about to start a project with 250 colors so I think I’m going to take mine to work and get my coworkers to help me put them on floss rings. This is a beautiful project.
I recently bought a Peacock kit off FB Marketplace, never opened, with thread, material and charts. Then I found this video and i think im ready after your great hints. I also have a couple of HAED that I've started, so I'm pretty certifiable, but blissfully ignorant and having a great time. Great hints and tips.
That’s fantastic! I am also blissfully ignorant most of the time too! As long as we can enjoy our stitching time that’s all that matters :) I hope you enjoy the peacock - it’s one of her most challenging patterns!
Thank you so much for making this video. It is really helpful. I want to start my first T. Wentzler and your video give me idea what to expect. Looks like quite a journey ahead of me 😅. Thank you again 🙂
Thank you so much! I started a TW about 5 years ago and became overwhelmed, plus it had too many mistakes for my tolerance. It's been in timeout since then. Despite the problems, it was coming out beautiful and in a masochistic kind of way, lol, I enjoyed working on it. So now I've invested in a scroll frame rather than just a hoop, and a brand new piece of linen. I'm calling the original my practice piece and now I'll start it for real. I came to your video looking for tips to make attempt number two succeed. I can't wait to get started! I've never done beading before, so if you ever want to do a video on that....
Thanks for tuning in here. Hopefully I was able to give you some helpful tips/tricks that may make your second go around a bit more enjoyable. Which pattern are you stitching?
@@FibersandFlossCanada English Cottage Sampler was a UFO for a friend. She "gifted" the pattern to me. I just started the restart a couple of days ago. I don't have a lot of time to stitch, so only about 300 stitches in, but so far so good!
I am watching the section on threads, I bobbinate and I pull one thread through a damp sponge and it straightens out the thread and takes care of any stray imperfections in the section of thread. I also use the loop method when I can. Just an idea for those that bobbinate. Love your videos, I am in Alberta so like to see more Canadian FLossTube content!
Oh that’s a great idea - those kinks make me so crazy! I have bobbins for my owl forest embroidery so I will definitely try out your technique:) thanks for tuning in today and happy stitching 🧵 🪡
I’ve enjoyed seeing your process. I absolutely love peacocks. I will live vicariously through your stitching of this piece. I am stitching Peacocks and Posies by Karen Kluba of Rosewood Manor. It uses mainly a variegated thread. I am doing the head and bodies with solid colors. There is a peacock sal you could post to. #prettypeacocksal.
Hi I am on the east end of our beautiful country. I just discovered you holding a pattern I have since the 90's. No it isn't stitched yet but your break down of how to get organized just might get me going on it. Might! I will catch up with your five videos while I stitch on a whale shark for my grand daughter. OMG it is on black Aida...long time since I stitched on black. Cross stitch has been my passion for thirty eight years.
Thank you for tuning in today and commenting! I’m finding a lot of ppl have this pattern in their stash - maybe you should join us in stitching it! And black fabric - ohhh that can be a challenge!! Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Thanks so much for sharing your research…very generous of you! I’m tempted to try a full coverage so this was very helpful. Biggest tip was to truly, truly love your design😉. About getting the camera to focus on your work, it will stay on your face as long as it’s in the frame🥴
I don't see me stitching a Wentzler but your video was super helpful in organizing all the things. I especially liked the floss drops you selected. I could actually see me trying something much smaller but with blended threads now that I have seen how you did it. Thank you! The video was very interesting.
Thank you for tuning in today and I’m happy to hear you found it interesting! I hope you find a project with blended floss to try, the finished look is amazing!
Excellent and thorough research ! I don't have capacity to do something this challenging right now, but I learned a lot from your presentation! I dislike kinky threads too. I love how you organized the floss!
Thank you for tuning in and commenting. It’s good to know what projects you would enjoy at this time in your life. Stitching should be fun and relaxing - if it’s not, then we need to look at what we are stitching. What are you currently working on?
I'm working on Peacock Tapestry right now, and this is the easiest way I found to organize the floss. I'm working from an old kit (very old!), and it included hanks of DMC floss. So I first had to identify the floss by number and put them on LoRan punched cards under each floss number (in numerical order). Then I bought a bunch of DMC CARDBOARD floss bobbins. (I normally use the plastic ones for my stash, but I knew these would be temporary and I wanted to be able to write on them.) I went through the pattern's floss list and made a bobbin for each symbol, writing the symbol on the left side and the DMC color(s) on the right side at the top. Then, since I didn't yet know how much of which blends I'd need, I pulled a one-yard strand for each color on that bobbin, making up the initial one-yard amount of each blend. Those are all neatly (and compactly) stored in one typical plastic bobbin box. (They take up less than a quarter of the box.) As I use up a blend, it's easy to pull the needed threads individually off the LoRan cards and wind them back on the blend bobbin. If I use up a blend and I'm in a section where I know I'll need more than one yard, I make up two or three yards worth at a time. I organize the blend bobbins by the lowest DMC number for each blend. So if the pattern shows a 3, I look in my bobbin box and find my 522/647 blend, which is between 520/3051 and 523/3053. I use only one needle, since that's all I can sew with, but I try to do all of one symbol in a section before I change. (I ended up buying the digital download of the pattern from Patterns Online because it's divided into twelve sections, and I can print it out and mark all over it without destroying my original. I do one section at a time so I don't get overwhelmed with the task.) I was struggling with an earlier Teresa Wentzler pattern when someone suggested this great method for doing confetti stitches: Decide which symbol you want to sew first (for me, it's whichever one covers the most of the area I'm working on) and highlight that in yellow. That way you can see what symbol your aiming at and are much less likely to miss one and have to come back later. When you have stitched that particular symbol, come back with a pink highlighter and mark it again, effectively marking it as done. (Sometimes, before all of one symbol is done, I have to mark off the completed stitches in the symbol I'm working on so I don't get confused about what I still have left to do.) Once that first symbol is done, I change to whichever symbol is either closest to that one or one that covers the most area that's left and stitch that one, and so on till the section is done. If there are branches or vines, I usually do those first so that fruit or flowers or leaves have something to "hang" on. In my earlier Wentzler pattern, I had done a small section of flowers (before I knew about this method), and it took me 21 1/2 maddening hours. With this method, the exact same section reversed took me only 7 1/2 hours. I'm about 1/3 done with Peacock Tapestry, and I don't think I could have done it without this method. This may not work for everybody, but some of your viewers might find it helpful. It has helped me a lot. I hope this all makes sense. I'm enjoying your video. It was so nice to find it when I was preparing to stitch this piece.
WOOHOO! That is exciting news :) Any idea which dragon you will be stitching?? Will it be a TW or something different? Looking forward to see what you have in mind :)
My goodness, absolutely wonderful research you have done and shared. The pattern is gorgeous, I love it, Im going to have a look at these however Im only new to this stuff so it might be a little scary for me - but I LOVE IT!!!
Yay! Great video! Very helpful suggestions - especially about storing the floss with the blended threads! I decided to go with a similar arrangement of the paper plate method - I used index cards. I will have to post a picture of my progress to Instagram. I do like the blended floss rings and might order some of those! Oh my gosh, I hope it doesn't take me 27 years, lol!
This was SO helpful, especially regarding blends. Years ago I bought a JanLynn kit called "Smokey Mountain Cats." I've restarted it 3 times. It uses blends of 3 threads at a time over a range of about 20 DMC blues to create a lovely subtle full-coverage gradation. It also has fractional stitches and definitely calls for gridding. I was a real newbie when I started it the first time! I had bought light blue Congress cloth (similar to Aida) and went into shock when I figured out what I was supposed to do about the fractionals. Now I'm trying to work up to a final try. I have some pre-gridded Zweigart evenweave but I've been fretting about keeping track of all the blended flosses. Because they are blends of 3, not 2, I think I'll need to make my own floss drops. At least there's no backstitching involved!
I happy this has been a helpful video for you. What has proved to be most helpful since I have started, the project, is having the needles with floss stored on a piece of felt. That way you were able to pull what you need stitch what you need and then pop it back on the felt. It keeps everything very organized and easily assessable, perhaps you may want to try this when you go back for your third and final attempt. A little bit of organization will ensure success :) you can also research confetti stitching and how to leave your unused thread on the project for your next 10x10 block of stitching :)
@@FibersandFlossCanada I will definitely come back to this video when I'm ready to start re-organizing. I can see how the felt strip. labeled, with filled needles, wuld save time and aggravation. I have looked at many videos on parking threads but so far I'm not convinced it will work for me. I will add that to the best of my recollection there is very little confetti -- rather, it's long irregular horizontal runs of graduated color,. Each run follows the contours of one cat with the darkest cat in the foreground, fading to a pale sky just beyond the last cat. There are about ten "ombre" cats in all.
Very helpful tips but it has made me decide to never start mine and give away my patterns of hers. Too much work that I'm not willing to do just to get started
Haha that’s awesome! At least you know your boundaries :) sorry if I pushed you away from her designs bc they are gorgeous but anything worth doing is never easy (as my mother always said). Who knows, maybe one day you will come back to a TW? Thank you for watching and happy stitching on whatever your next project is :)
@@FibersandFlossCanada it's ok I figured they were going to be alot of work. That s why I was already hesitant on doing one. Yes they are beautiful but I'm not up to putting all that extra work into something that's supposed to be enjoyable. I like watching your videos. This one was informative and eye opening. Thank you for posting it.
@@stephaniegalart130 great patterns. While this video was informative, I would not let it deter you from stitching a TW. I would treat her design as any other. The biggest difference is the blends. My 2nd cross stitch ever was a TW over 30 years ago. I bobinated all of the threads. When it was time to use a blend, I took a strand from each color, did the stitches and what was leftover I put on an empty bobbin and wrote the symbol on it. It really is not any different than any other pattern except for the number of blends. I stitched The Castle on 14 or 16ct Aida. Unless there are over 1 sections in the pattern, Aida can be used. I didn’t want you to give up if you were really wanting to stitch a TW.
This was the pattern that drew me back to cross stitch but this year decided not go start my Peacock Tapestry since I have a wedding sampler of hers to finish first and this year focusing on my HAED and the MFE SAL. The year of the dragon though has me thinking of stitching a dragon🐉
Thanks for watching and your comment :) I’ve contemplated the MFE SAL, I never stitched one of his designs and would like too…. Which HAED are you working on?? And I def think you should join us with a dragon - it’s a great and memorable reason to start this year ;)
If ever there was a doozy of a project I've always wanted to do, this was always it. I've had this chart since the 90s, never went near it because TW is so intimidating... but your tips and tricks have given me new hope :) Do you think a 28-count fabric would be suitable? Or do you really really REALLY recommend sticking to a 25-ct? I have concerns about coverage in the darker sections of the border. Thanks for sharing!
Oh yes her patterns can be intense and I have since learnt this one and her Pegasus are the two most complicated. I wouldnt do a 28 to be honest. While it would be doable, it will be quite tight in some areas as the fractional blends and backstitching gets to be quite intense! Let me know how it goes and what you decide to do :)
Very nice beginning, mine is sitting on the couch waiting for me to put floss to needle …. Although I’m already making life harder for myself by looking at what substitutions I can make 😁. Specialty fibres have come a long way since this pattern was published, and I’m thinking silks and metallics may make appearances … definitely going to check out patterns online, though!
Ohhhhhh imagine some variegated blue silks here hmmmm 😍! The one thing I forgot to mention about patterns online is that a few of the symbols are different than the original pattern - I think 5 of them. If you end up numbering your flosses it’s not a problem tho! I wrote both symbols on my floss drops ;) Thanks for watching and happy stitching!
I’m still trying to figure out my floss setup style and these are some great tips. I bobbinate for storage and that works for me but I think I like floss drops better for actively working on a project. I don’t mind the kinks and haven’t had any problems due to it. I will have to make my own floss drops though because I would rather spend my money on floss and fabric until I build up my stash. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for tuning in today! Another person commented noting how to get rid of those kinks, should they become an issue for you. What project are you working on??
@@FibersandFlossCanada I’m currently working on an old Just Cross Stitch magazine pattern called Rainbow Pegasus. It’s from 1996 and I originally got a copy from my grandmother back then (not a taboo then 😅) but my mom threw away my project with the pattern and my grandmother passed away before I could get it from her again😭. I finally tracked down the magazine and paid about twice the cost of the original sales price but I now have it. I’ve been trying to finish this project for over 20 years now 🤣. Maybe I’ll finally get it done this year. Kitting is up was an adventure as some of the called for threads have been discontinued. I had some of them in my stash but not enough skeins so I had to make my own color conversion for one of them but thankfully DMC had a replacement for the other.
@@Luvs2read33 oh wow!!! Is this the TW Pegasus pattern?? If so there’s a lot of green!!! How fantastic to finally get everything and work on finishing it. What a great story! Thanks for tuning in today and sharing your journey :)
@@FibersandFlossCanada Sorry I got the magazine wrong. It was the April 1996 issue of The Cross Stitcher magazine and was designed by Conn Baker Gibney. I think I have the TW one you’re talking about but I’m not quite up to that one yet. The Rainbow Pegasus, like the TW pegasus, also has a unicorn companion piece that came out in the February issue (I also tracked down this issue) and I’m going to do that one next. Maybe by then I’ll start kitting up the TR ones, but I think I’ll have to save up some money because kitting up a TW seems a bit expensive with all that floss organizing. I will definitely have to buy some more needles as I think I only have 5 each of the 3 main sizes.
Good to know, thank you! Its been nearly a year since I even thought about the troubles downloading the file. I was able to have my husband print it from work so it all worked out. But its a good thing to know for the future so thank you :)
New subscriber here and fellow flosstuber - your video was so helpful, not just for a TW, but for any stitching requiring a lot of floss colors! Thank you for sharing what you have learned in such a clear and concise way! I have never stitched a TW pattern; now I am intrigued. 🙃 I look forward to seeing your progress and also seeing your other WIPS. 🧵🪡☃️
I really enjoyed your video. I have loved and Teresa Wentzler designs for years but I did learn some new tips. Thank you!
Oh that is so good to hear! I am new to TW so I wasn’t sure if everything I was sharing was already well know to the TW community or not, assuming most stitchers already heard of most of the info. Thank you for your feedback. Happy Stitching!
I really liked this video. It's really informative and you explained everything without adding confusion to the already "scary" pattern. Also you gave very nice tips that can help with other big projects even if they aren't as scary as this one 😛
I was stitching when I was a kid then I took a long break apart from a few projects that I stitched now and then, very sporadically and I started stitching fanatically again two years ago. I had been thinking about it for long and then one day I saw a HAED project and lost my mind. I started with a simpler, easy project and then I made the decision to start a HAED myself. I was feeling excited and a bit scared, I have to admit. It was like nothing I had stitched before. It has 87 colours and that was crazy for me. I had no idea how to stitch something like that with all the confetti stitches etc. But, luckily, it has no back stitch and no blends. Of course I am still stitching that one,I have no idea when it will be done and I really enjoy working on it but if I new a bit better back then, I would have chosen a mini HAED because you know, I am already 51 years old and I would like to believe that I have uhm enough time to finish it. Now the pattern you explained here, is interesting but I think I would feel so overwhelmed that it really wouldn't be fun any more. So thanks again for all the effort you put into making this video and really looking forward to see your progress on this pattern 😊🦚🧵🪡
Thank you for tuning in and sharing your journey with us ❤️ HAEDs are GORGEOUS but those have me intimidated lol - somehow I find the full coverage to be too much for me 🤷🏻♀️ Happy Stitching! 🧵🪡
@@FibersandFlossCanada Haha I understand why you'd feel that way but it's not as scary. You see, in a HAED you take page by page, little square (10x10) by little square and when you are done, you are done, you don't need to go back and back stitch trying to find the "borders" between colours that are impossible to tell apart. So I think that compare to what you and Samantha stitch the HAED would be a walk in the park. But yes sometimes it feels like that, it's like when you write a test at school, you are separated in a) and b), you go well but you think that if you had the other questions you wouldn't write a thing 😛 See you soon 😊🧵🪡🧶
In a Theresa Wentzler, you don’t necessarily need full skeins of floss per color/blend. If the chart says I need 1 skein of 640 and it’s got its own symbol and is used in 2 blends, I’ll cut a length per blend and leave the rest in whatever method I store master colors in a project. If I need more for a blend, I just cut a new length. If I finish all the blend (not always easy to tell…mermaids hair colors are distinct from the rest of the design for example though), I deconstruct the blend, mark it off on the floss list and blend organizer and put the separate colors (if any remain) back with the main color so I’m wrangling less floss. Finished colors go back into my master floss stash (or into another project that needs it too).
In fruit bellpull, the border was a blend, I had multiple lengths on my blend card, but I might only make 1 blend of a symbol for something in the grapes. And with floss cards, I gently wrap my colors around the card to help keep them out of the way. Floss drops look like a tangle nightmare to me.
On the castle, I attempted to organize floss cards by “region” on the chart, but some blends were used in multiple areas so I decided to never do that again. I just use the symbol key as my guide, and the next TW I start, I’m going to try to avoid putting solid colors on the cards…I might end up with 1 less card next time.
As for peacock, it’s one of TWs most challenging charts. The advice I’ve heard is back stitch the pears & leaves as you go so you don’t get lost in the sea of green. (I think peacock & Pegasus are probably the most difficult charts, but each chart has its own complexities.)
Haha one of the most difficult charts??!!! Lucky me haha! That is so typical for me to choose the most challenging 😆 I find the pattern keeper version and their defined lines has really helped but yes I am consistently lost in the sea of green despite backstitching as I go…
Thank you for all your feedback. You have so great ideas! I’m currently kitting up a dragon for the #yearofthedragonsal and I’m tempted to kits up a different way with the bobbins just to try something else out.
Happy stitching!
I will never stitch one of these very complicated patterns but I very much enjoyed your video and I think some of your hints will help me in my journey to learn more about cross stitch. Thank you.
Thanks for watching and comments Linda. It’s always good to know which projects will bring you joy (stitch all the things!) and those that won’t (keep them away!). Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Thank you very much! 😊 I am planning to do Millenium from TW, and the idea of numbering each blend is excellent!!!
Oh wow that one is BEAUTIFUL! I just love the sky😍😍 thank you for tuning in and I’m happy you found the FT helpful. Happy stitching!
Thank you so very much for this video! I am one of those who have been sitting with this kit for about 25 years, totally intimidated by it. Now I have brought it out and will make a new start! It is so beautiful and I would really want to have it on my wall. You are a very good teacher by the way!😊
Awww thank you so much! I’m happy to hear you’ve pulled it back out and are stitching on it! It’s so beautiful and deserves to be on your wall! Happy Stitching :)
Wow, if you are not a teacher I think you should be! Fabulous tips and tricks that I plan to use, even though I’m not doing anything nearly as complicated as a Teresa Wentzler. I truly appreciate all the research you did and everything you so generously shared!
Maybe I should make a career change to teaching! Nursing is to crazy at times lol! Thanks for tuning in and your kind comments. Happy stitching 🧵🪡
I stitched the floral bell pull years ago so I know what you mean about having to stay organized when stitching all those blended stitches. I have the fruit bell pull kit but haven't touched it yet. I really liked the paper plate idea and the sticking the needles on a piece of fabric with the symbols written on the masking tape. Looking forward to seeing your the year of the dragon stitch.
Thank you for taking the time to tune in and comment :) organization and acceptance of a slow pa r I thinking key to enjoying some of these projects. Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Pako organizers work amazingly with her designs as well
Good to know! Thank you :)
What an interesting video! I like floss cards, which hang off the back of my scroll frame stand - one binder ring of cards per project, but then again, I don't have cats or children! I think the Scarlet Quince patterns have loads of blended threads as well, so they might be good for idea mining. Thanks for taking the time to put this video together for us!
Thank you for tuning in and taking the time to comment :) I actually haven’t heard of Scarlet Quince so I am off to look that up - thank you! Happy stitching 🧵🪡
Wow!!! You’re good at teaching !!! I’m impressed!! Thank you so much!
Thank you for your kind comments. It’s funny bc when I film I think I mention everything but afterwards I realize there was so much more I wanted to share and missed despite noting it down 🤷🏻♀️ Anyways, thank you for tuning in and happy stitching!
This was very informative and I enjoyed it a lot. I'm not sure if it makes me want to stitch a Wentzler piece or stay away from therm. 😊 I have a pattern book that has several of her designs in it and I'm going to check it out again to see what I think. I don't want to stitch a dragon, but you may have inspired me to choose one of the patterns I already have. Thanks so much for sharing with us.!!!
What about one of her smalls? It may give you the joy of a TW without such a commitment?
Beautiful project. You are very courageous Erica. Your cross stitch embroidery is amazing!
Awww thank you so much. Happy stitching!🧵 🪡
That was very informative. Thank you for sharing. It's good to know what is involved with one of her patterns instead of running in blind and getting severely overwhelmed.
Thanks for tuning in again :) it’s definitely a lot to consider but I think when we have the info we can have success at her patterns. Have you ever contemplated a TW?
I have the English Cottage Sampler by Teresa Wentzler. It was the second cross stitch project I began 30 or so years ago and is maybe half to two-thirds done. I've well lost the original pattern and beads, and now have a digital version. Some of the linen has discoloured, some of the stitches look to have faded, and there's a coffee stain on the border. I think I'm going to give it a gentle soak in some Soak, as I do my knitting and see how it looks because I want to finish it even more now after watching your video. I have a few bits of blended threads looped through the selvedge with the symbols marked in, now faded, pen. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hahah I love it - evidence of many years of love you have put into the piece. I would give it a soak too in cool water and your soap. I also have a project from the late 1990s which is HUGE and I never completed bc HALF of the white floss has discolored. I suspect this is when acid free became a thing…. Maybe I should share this in my next video… anyways, good luck with your piece and thank you for sharing your story :)
@@FibersandFlossCanada Thanks for your reply. Now that I've washed it twice it's look much better. I even managed to get some of the coffee straining out, not all, but it's better. I will be working one page at a time now to full in the gaps and back stitches until it's finished.
Great video. Looked watching your organization of your floss. I don’t have the pattern but I do look forward to seeing your progress on this pattern. What you have done already looks beautiful❤
Thank you so much! Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Your flosstube came just in time to encourage me not to give up on this pattern which I have been stitching on for years. I am going to take your advice about using multiple needles. Rethreading has been my nemesis.
I have also separated my blended threads according to which part of the piece I am working on, the tree, the peacock tail, etc. Again, many thanks for your tips.
Darlene R., Israel
Thank you so much for watching Darlene! I’m so happy to hear this video has encouraged you to keep on stitching. I hope these tips make it easier and bring some life back into your piece! I also hate retreading every 5 stitches lol ;) I have ended up with a piece of fabric for the border and another for the tree but that’s all I’ve worked on thus far… happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Thanks for the tips. I have thought about Wentzler patterns for years as well. Did a few bookmarks. You have inspired me to think about putting these on my list, for when I finish a few wips first!
Thanks for watching and I’m happy to hear I have inspired you. Any design in particular you are thinking about starting? Maybe a dragon for the SAL??
I have been stitching since 1981, and have quite a magazine collection. I have started to look through some old Just Cross Stitch issues. But this is not a project for this year. Might be for 2025 if I get good progress on my wips in 24.
That was very helpful and good tips on floss organization as I’m just about to start a project with 250 colors so I think I’m going to take mine to work and get my coworkers to help me put them on floss rings. This is a beautiful project.
Haha I LOVE it - put them to work! It was a much larger job than I anticipated! What project are you starting?
It’s called Birch Forest. I will send you a message with a pic of it. I’m dying to start it so hopefully the fabric will be in next week.
I recently bought a Peacock kit off FB Marketplace, never opened, with thread, material and charts. Then I found this video and i think im ready after your great hints. I also have a couple of HAED that I've started, so I'm pretty certifiable, but blissfully ignorant and having a great time. Great hints and tips.
That’s fantastic! I am also blissfully ignorant most of the time too! As long as we can enjoy our stitching time that’s all that matters :) I hope you enjoy the peacock - it’s one of her most challenging patterns!
Thank you so much for making this video. It is really helpful. I want to start my first T. Wentzler and your video give me idea what to expect. Looks like quite a journey ahead of me 😅. Thank you again 🙂
Haha yes you do but it’s an enjoyable one :) Thanks for tuning in :)
Thank you so much! I started a TW about 5 years ago and became overwhelmed, plus it had too many mistakes for my tolerance. It's been in timeout since then. Despite the problems, it was coming out beautiful and in a masochistic kind of way, lol, I enjoyed working on it. So now I've invested in a scroll frame rather than just a hoop, and a brand new piece of linen. I'm calling the original my practice piece and now I'll start it for real. I came to your video looking for tips to make attempt number two succeed. I can't wait to get started! I've never done beading before, so if you ever want to do a video on that....
Thanks for tuning in here. Hopefully I was able to give you some helpful tips/tricks that may make your second go around a bit more enjoyable. Which pattern are you stitching?
@@FibersandFlossCanada English Cottage Sampler was a UFO for a friend. She "gifted" the pattern to me. I just started the restart a couple of days ago. I don't have a lot of time to stitch, so only about 300 stitches in, but so far so good!
I am watching the section on threads, I bobbinate and I pull one thread through a damp sponge and it straightens out the thread and takes care of any stray imperfections in the section of thread. I also use the loop method when I can. Just an idea for those that bobbinate. Love your videos, I am in Alberta so like to see more Canadian FLossTube content!
Oh that’s a great idea - those kinks make me so crazy! I have bobbins for my owl forest embroidery so I will definitely try out your technique:) thanks for tuning in today and happy stitching 🧵 🪡
I’ve enjoyed seeing your process. I absolutely love peacocks. I will live vicariously through your stitching of this piece. I am stitching Peacocks and Posies by Karen Kluba of Rosewood Manor. It uses mainly a variegated thread. I am doing the head and bodies with solid colors. There is a peacock sal you could post to. #prettypeacocksal.
Oh thanks for the tip! I will post there for sure too :) Thank you for watching and your comments. Your pattern is beautiful! Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Hi I am on the east end of our beautiful country. I just discovered you holding a pattern I have since the 90's. No it isn't stitched yet but your break down of how to get organized just might get me going on it. Might! I will catch up with your five videos while I stitch on a whale shark for my grand daughter. OMG it is on black Aida...long time since I stitched on black. Cross stitch has been my passion for thirty eight years.
Thank you for tuning in today and commenting! I’m finding a lot of ppl have this pattern in their stash - maybe you should join us in stitching it! And black fabric - ohhh that can be a challenge!! Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Thanks so much for sharing your research…very generous of you! I’m tempted to try a full coverage so this was very helpful. Biggest tip was to truly, truly love your design😉. About getting the camera to focus on your work, it will stay on your face as long as it’s in the frame🥴
Thank you for tuning in and commenting Connie. Which full coverage are you contemplating??
this was really helpful. thank you!
I am so glad you found it helpful!
I LOVE your floss organization. Makes such sense. Great job.Thank you for sharing all your knowledge.
You are so welcome! Thank you for tuning in today. Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
Happy New Year. Loved how you went over the Peacock chart.
Thank you and Happy New Year to you as well. May have have many happy stitches ahead of you this year 🧵 🪡
I don't see me stitching a Wentzler but your video was super helpful in organizing all the things. I especially liked the floss drops you selected. I could actually see me trying something much smaller but with blended threads now that I have seen how you did it. Thank you! The video was very interesting.
Thank you for tuning in today and I’m happy to hear you found it interesting! I hope you find a project with blended floss to try, the finished look is amazing!
Excellent and thorough research ! I don't have capacity to do something this challenging right now, but I learned a lot from your presentation! I dislike kinky threads too. I love how you organized the floss!
Thank you for tuning in and commenting. It’s good to know what projects you would enjoy at this time in your life. Stitching should be fun and relaxing - if it’s not, then we need to look at what we are stitching. What are you currently working on?
Wow, thank you for passing along your tips. It’s going to be a beautiful project. Looking forward to following along.
Thanks for watching! I’m sure it will stitch up beautifully - it better for the amount of work going into it HA! Happy stitching :)
I'm working on Peacock Tapestry right now, and this is the easiest way I found to organize the floss.
I'm working from an old kit (very old!), and it included hanks of DMC floss. So I first had to identify the floss by number and put them on LoRan punched cards under each floss number (in numerical order). Then I bought a bunch of DMC CARDBOARD floss bobbins. (I normally use the plastic ones for my stash, but I knew these would be temporary and I wanted to be able to write on them.) I went through the pattern's floss list and made a bobbin for each symbol, writing the symbol on the left side and the DMC color(s) on the right side at the top.
Then, since I didn't yet know how much of which blends I'd need, I pulled a one-yard strand for each color on that bobbin, making up the initial one-yard amount of each blend. Those are all neatly (and compactly) stored in one typical plastic bobbin box. (They take up less than a quarter of the box.) As I use up a blend, it's easy to pull the needed threads individually off the LoRan cards and wind them back on the blend bobbin. If I use up a blend and I'm in a section where I know I'll need more than one yard, I make up two or three yards worth at a time.
I organize the blend bobbins by the lowest DMC number for each blend. So if the pattern shows a 3, I look in my bobbin box and find my 522/647 blend, which is between 520/3051 and 523/3053.
I use only one needle, since that's all I can sew with, but I try to do all of one symbol in a section before I change. (I ended up buying the digital download of the pattern from Patterns Online because it's divided into twelve sections, and I can print it out and mark all over it without destroying my original. I do one section at a time so I don't get overwhelmed with the task.)
I was struggling with an earlier Teresa Wentzler pattern when someone suggested this great method for doing confetti stitches:
Decide which symbol you want to sew first (for me, it's whichever one covers the most of the area I'm working on) and highlight that in yellow. That way you can see what symbol your aiming at and are much less likely to miss one and have to come back later. When you have stitched that particular symbol, come back with a pink highlighter and mark it again, effectively marking it as done. (Sometimes, before all of one symbol is done, I have to mark off the completed stitches in the symbol I'm working on so I don't get confused about what I still have left to do.) Once that first symbol is done, I change to whichever symbol is either closest to that one or one that covers the most area that's left and stitch that one, and so on till the section is done. If there are branches or vines, I usually do those first so that fruit or flowers or leaves have something to "hang" on.
In my earlier Wentzler pattern, I had done a small section of flowers (before I knew about this method), and it took me 21 1/2 maddening hours. With this method, the exact same section reversed took me only 7 1/2 hours. I'm about 1/3 done with Peacock Tapestry, and I don't think I could have done it without this method.
This may not work for everybody, but some of your viewers might find it helpful. It has helped me a lot. I hope this all makes sense.
I'm enjoying your video. It was so nice to find it when I was preparing to stitch this piece.
Thank you for taking the time to share your TW process with us :) it is definitely a learning curve from other stitches for sure! Happy stitching 🧵 🪡🦚
Thank You
Love the suggestion on double thread floss drops. I am going to join the dragon SAL
WOOHOO! That is exciting news :) Any idea which dragon you will be stitching?? Will it be a TW or something different? Looking forward to see what you have in mind :)
Wonderful research, I’m going to watch your progress, I don’t think this is for me but gosh it’s gorgeous! Enjoy the zen of that stitch. 🪡🧵☮️❄️
Thank you for tuning in today and commenting. It’s good to know what stitches will bring you joy and which ones won’t :) Happy stitching!
My goodness, absolutely wonderful research you have done and shared. The pattern is gorgeous, I love it, Im going to have a look at these however Im only new to this stuff so it might be a little scary for me - but I LOVE IT!!!
Oh how fun Lisa! There is a whole word of stitching waiting for you when you are ready. Happy stitching :)
Yay! Great video! Very helpful suggestions - especially about storing the floss with the blended threads! I decided to go with a similar arrangement of the paper plate method - I used index cards. I will have to post a picture of my progress to Instagram. I do like the blended floss rings and might order some of those! Oh my gosh, I hope it doesn't take me 27 years, lol!
Haha yes I hope I’m done long before 27 years as well but you never know. I look forward to seeing your progress :) Happy Stitching!
This was SO helpful, especially regarding blends. Years ago I bought a JanLynn kit called "Smokey Mountain Cats." I've restarted it 3 times. It uses blends of 3 threads at a time over a range of about 20 DMC blues to create a lovely subtle full-coverage gradation. It also has fractional stitches and definitely calls for gridding. I was a real newbie when I started it the first time! I had bought light blue Congress cloth (similar to Aida) and went into shock when I figured out what I was supposed to do about the fractionals. Now I'm trying to work up to a final try. I have some pre-gridded Zweigart evenweave but I've been fretting about keeping track of all the blended flosses. Because they are blends of 3, not 2, I think I'll need to make my own floss drops. At least there's no backstitching involved!
I happy this has been a helpful video for you. What has proved to be most helpful since I have started, the project, is having the needles with floss stored on a piece of felt. That way you were able to pull what you need stitch what you need and then pop it back on the felt. It keeps everything very organized and easily assessable, perhaps you may want to try this when you go back for your third and final attempt. A little bit of organization will ensure success :) you can also research confetti stitching and how to leave your unused thread on the project for your next 10x10 block of stitching :)
@@FibersandFlossCanada I will definitely come back to this video when I'm ready to start re-organizing. I can see how the felt strip. labeled, with filled needles, wuld save time and aggravation. I have looked at many videos on parking threads but so far I'm not convinced it will work for me. I will add that to the best of my recollection there is very little confetti -- rather, it's long irregular horizontal runs of graduated color,. Each run follows the contours of one cat with the darkest cat in the foreground, fading to a pale sky just beyond the last cat. There are about ten "ombre" cats in all.
Very helpful tips but it has made me decide to never start mine and give away my patterns of hers. Too much work that I'm not willing to do just to get started
Haha that’s awesome! At least you know your boundaries :) sorry if I pushed you away from her designs bc they are gorgeous but anything worth doing is never easy (as my mother always said). Who knows, maybe one day you will come back to a TW? Thank you for watching and happy stitching on whatever your next project is :)
@@FibersandFlossCanada it's ok I figured they were going to be alot of work. That s why I was already hesitant on doing one. Yes they are beautiful but I'm not up to putting all that extra work into something that's supposed to be enjoyable. I like watching your videos. This one was informative and eye opening. Thank you for posting it.
If I may ask, what pattern were you thinking of doing?
@@stitchingginny Future cast, Stretch, Celtic Cross, and Dragon Rampant is what I have
@@stephaniegalart130 great patterns. While this video was informative, I would not let it deter you from stitching a TW. I would treat her design as any other. The biggest difference is the blends. My 2nd cross stitch ever was a TW over 30 years ago. I bobinated all of the threads. When it was time to use a blend, I took a strand from each color, did the stitches and what was leftover I put on an empty bobbin and wrote the symbol on it. It really is not any different than any other pattern except for the number of blends. I stitched The Castle on 14 or 16ct Aida. Unless there are over 1 sections in the pattern, Aida can be used. I didn’t want you to give up if you were really wanting to stitch a TW.
This was the pattern that drew me back to cross stitch but this year decided not go start my Peacock Tapestry since I have a wedding sampler of hers to finish first and this year focusing on my HAED and the MFE SAL. The year of the dragon though has me thinking of stitching a dragon🐉
Thanks for watching and your comment :) I’ve contemplated the MFE SAL, I never stitched one of his designs and would like too…. Which HAED are you working on?? And I def think you should join us with a dragon - it’s a great and memorable reason to start this year ;)
If ever there was a doozy of a project I've always wanted to do, this was always it. I've had this chart since the 90s, never went near it because TW is so intimidating... but your tips and tricks have given me new hope :) Do you think a 28-count fabric would be suitable? Or do you really really REALLY recommend sticking to a 25-ct? I have concerns about coverage in the darker sections of the border. Thanks for sharing!
Oh yes her patterns can be intense and I have since learnt this one and her Pegasus are the two most complicated. I wouldnt do a 28 to be honest. While it would be doable, it will be quite tight in some areas as the fractional blends and backstitching gets to be quite intense! Let me know how it goes and what you decide to do :)
Very nice beginning, mine is sitting on the couch waiting for me to put floss to needle …. Although I’m already making life harder for myself by looking at what substitutions I can make 😁. Specialty fibres have come a long way since this pattern was published, and I’m thinking silks and metallics may make appearances … definitely going to check out patterns online, though!
Ohhhhhh imagine some variegated blue silks here hmmmm 😍! The one thing I forgot to mention about patterns online is that a few of the symbols are different than the original pattern - I think 5 of them. If you end up numbering your flosses it’s not a problem tho! I wrote both symbols on my floss drops ;) Thanks for watching and happy stitching!
I am not doing a T.W. Stitch but I am doing a large dimensions gold project . I will use some of your ideas with that oroject. Thank you!
Thanks for tuning in today. I’m happy to hear there’s some cross over between this video and what you are working on. Happy Stitching! 🧵 🪡
I am starting a HAED this year and some of your tips will be helpful to me.
I'm so glad! I am worried this is a rather restrictive video so I’m happy to hear it is useful to you! Which HAED are you starting??
I will be starting The Nativity. It is kind of intimidating to me. LOL.
@@karendansak7022 WOW!! May the force be with you!
I’m still trying to figure out my floss setup style and these are some great tips. I bobbinate for storage and that works for me but I think I like floss drops better for actively working on a project. I don’t mind the kinks and haven’t had any problems due to it. I will have to make my own floss drops though because I would rather spend my money on floss and fabric until I build up my stash. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for tuning in today! Another person commented noting how to get rid of those kinks, should they become an issue for you. What project are you working on??
@@FibersandFlossCanada I’m currently working on an old Just Cross Stitch magazine pattern called Rainbow Pegasus. It’s from 1996 and I originally got a copy from my grandmother back then (not a taboo then 😅) but my mom threw away my project with the pattern and my grandmother passed away before I could get it from her again😭. I finally tracked down the magazine and paid about twice the cost of the original sales price but I now have it. I’ve been trying to finish this project for over 20 years now 🤣. Maybe I’ll finally get it done this year. Kitting is up was an adventure as some of the called for threads have been discontinued. I had some of them in my stash but not enough skeins so I had to make my own color conversion for one of them but thankfully DMC had a replacement for the other.
@@Luvs2read33 oh wow!!! Is this the TW Pegasus pattern?? If so there’s a lot of green!!! How fantastic to finally get everything and work on finishing it. What a great story! Thanks for tuning in today and sharing your journey :)
@@FibersandFlossCanada Sorry I got the magazine wrong. It was the April 1996 issue of The Cross Stitcher magazine and was designed by Conn Baker Gibney. I think I have the TW one you’re talking about but I’m not quite up to that one yet. The Rainbow Pegasus, like the TW pegasus, also has a unicorn companion piece that came out in the February issue (I also tracked down this issue) and I’m going to do that one next. Maybe by then I’ll start kitting up the TR ones, but I think I’ll have to save up some money because kitting up a TW seems a bit expensive with all that floss organizing. I will definitely have to buy some more needles as I think I only have 5 each of the 3 main sizes.
@@Luvs2read33 oh I will have to look that one up. I’m new to TW so there is still so much for me to learn! Happy stitching 🧵 🪡
There is a workaround to having to have a pc. Go ahead and download the file as .pvf, then change the extension to .pdf and there you go!
Good to know, thank you! Its been nearly a year since I even thought about the troubles downloading the file. I was able to have my husband print it from work so it all worked out. But its a good thing to know for the future so thank you :)
Enjoy watching and listening to your FT 👋🙏🧵🪡watching from TeXaS 🥶🧊🌨️☃️💨🌬️🫧⛈️froze like everyone
Thanks for tuning in!! Yes it’s been so cold all over this week making it a great week for some Hygge Stitching!!