Finally, someone who actually explained 2/2. Now i get how to stitch and count easily. Thank you. Been stitching only on aids for many decades. This opens up all the beautiful patterns I have. Thank you.
Thank you so much. I am new to flosstube and the cross stitching world. I have learned more in one week watching you and some other flosstube video's than I have the whole 10 months working on a gold collection, and teaching myself along the way.
Heidi Pease That's great to hear Heidi! There is so much information now on the internet to make things easier. I taught myself via the charts too, and it was a long process. Now you also have stitchers to answer questions you may have as you go along, which is awesome! Happy stitching :) x
Please don't ever feel like you have to apologize for your pretty hands. They are lovely whether your nail is broke or not. You are doing us the favour with your stitching tutorials. You, as always are lovely!
Wow....literally the light bulb went off in my head on how to stitch on any other fabric other than Aida. It is so clear to me after watching this video. Thank you so much. I am currently working on a project on Aida cloth....I wish I had done it on the even weave now. Thanks again for showing the difference on stitching on these different fabrics.
pamela colberg And that is the exact reason I did the video Pamela - to show people in a way they haven't seen before, and hopefully they'll understand it and give it a go. Thank you so much for letting me know, I really appreciate it :) x
Thank you, Carolyn, for showing this. I've been crosstitching on & off for as long as you have, interspersing with several years of quilting. I've never had the confidence to use anything other than Aida, but now I am willing to give it a try. I'll find a small easy project and go from there. Seeing things done in a visual median is far more helpful than pictures and instructions in books :-)
+Sandra's Stitches Oh I agree! Although I can follow written instructions, I am a VERY visual person at heart and find this a much easier way of learning new things. I hope you do give it a try, and once you do, I'm sure you'll never go back :) x
thank u ....I learned a lot :) it means a lot that you would take the time to teach what you have learned :)Most of us before flosstube only stitched alone and had to learn from reading books...I learn better from someone showing me and it is so neat to be able to watch vids like yours :)
+awakendixie Thank you very much! That was my aim, as I remember what it was like when I was learning and I had sooooo many questions, with no-one to ask. Some people also don't like asking, for fear that their question will be deemed as silly.... so I too find videos like this helpful. This hobby is something that we can continually learn from... seeing how others' do something can make life that much easier sometimes. I'm also a visual person and I prefer to watch, rather than read. I'm so glad you enjoy the videos. Happy stitching :) x
This is so helpful to me! I've been stitching for 27 years and have always stuck to Aida, bc the evenweaves always seemed so intimidating. I have a beautiful hand dyed fabric I want to use and the perfect pattern for it, and I kept putting it off. You've totally demystified this for me. I knew I could count on my stitching guru once again! Thank you Carolyn!
Thank you VERY much! I also have been searching Floss Tube for this information, and YOU have been the best and most informative! Great video! You are the only one who explained about the vertical thread! Also, your hands looked beautiful! Thank you again, I really appreciate you making this video!
I wanted to do something different so I got linen to stitch on thinking it would be just as easy to do as the aida fabric. I could NOT figure out what they meant by 1 over 2! But when I learned what it !want I had no idea how to count on linen! I didn't know at the time that it was 36 count! I watched a couple of UA-cam channels, they were informative, but it wasn't until I watched your channel did I FINALLY get it!! So thank you thank you thank you! I'll send a pic when I finish.😄
love love your video I am just jumping around but I'm going to start watching them from the beginning I'm amazed how much you know.. And I want to thank you for taking the time to make these to show others how to stitch in a correct way..I really feel I will learn from you..looking forward to see you in the future.. again thank you..
+carmen escamilla Aww thank you so much Carmen - that is such a lovely thing to say :) Thankfully, the internet is a wealth of knowledge and I'm still learning new things all the time. And now that we have this wonderful community, we can share or knowledge with each other and make it a more pleasurable, informed experience :) Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you and your family :) x
It's been a few years since I first watched this, and it's still super helpful and informative. Thank you for making the effort and explaining all this. I'm sure this video will help many, many people for years to come.
Thank you so much for making this video! I was having so much trouble finding thorough and clear info about the different fabrics with visual examples!! Your video has been so helpful for this newbie :)
Joyce Robertson Thank you so much Joyce - I'm glad to hear so many people have found it useful. New stitchers are so very lucky to have all these helpful videos now to explain things for them. Happy stitching :) x
Thank you, Carolyn, for taking the time and effort to post this video. You have explained and displayed so clearly that it has taken the mystery out of stitching on linen and Evenweave. I'm ready to take the plunge! ;)
Tara Ward That's awesome to hear! Thank you so much for letting me know. If you have any questions once you start, please let me know and I'll help if I can :) Happy stitching x
Hi Carolyn, just watched some of your videos, and they are great. I can see by all of your subscribers that they all agree. Thank you for sharing your skills and tips with us. I just bought my first Mirabilia cross stitch design "waiting for ships". I tried to do it on a 32 ct linen, but for the life of me I couldn't see the holes even with a magnifying glass and my glasses at the same time. This is actually how I found your video which describes the difference between aida, even weave and linen. I went to my craft store today and bought both even weave and aida. After a long decision I went with the Aida. I have never cross stitched on linen before, like you I have been cross stitching a long time, but just never on linen. I feel quite disappointed that I am not doing my mermaid on the linen, but am trying to console myself that I will enjoy doing the design more if I can see the holes and I am not frustrated with not being able to see properly. I suppose its also a fairly complex design to begin on linen for the first time. Have you encountered other people who find using linen difficult? Maybe I should do a small sampler on linen to get used to it. I think the pressure of wanting my mermaid to look good shook my confidence in using the linen. Its funny how what other people think can affect us, my thoughts of showing my friend, but getting the response of "why didn't you do it on linen" is bugging me. Lastly do you have a video where you show how you add the beads to a cross stitch design like Mirabilia?
+Michelle Gillett Thank you so much Michelle! It is my pleasure to share with you all - I also appreciate learning from others, and it's great that we all have the opportunity to learn new things. I'm sorry to hear you've had trouble with the linen. I do find that linens can vary a lot (in regards to seeing the holes). I'm currently stitching Mirabilia Roses of Provence on a 32ct hand dyed Lugana (evenweave) and the holes are almost indistinguishable .... I think the dye has filled them in somewhat and it definitely makes the stitching more challenging. I've used other 32ct fabrics (Linens & Evenweaves) and I can see the holes just fine. So don't give up on linen completely (or 32ct) as you may find one in the future that you can actually see quite well. Have you ever stitched on Evenweave before?... like Lugana etc. I always recommend to someone transitioning from Aida to other fabrics to try Evenweave before Linen. The reason being, linen can be challenging at times because of the uneven weave of thread and also those pesky little slubs that sit within it. Evenweave is a great medium between Aida and Linen as it provides you with a beautiful soft, pliable fabric (that is also available in hand-dyed colours if you like that effect), and is great for fractional stitches. Mirabilia designs do tend to have some fractional stitches in the chart, which you might find slightly more difficult on Aida. They're not impossible, but it just means you'll have to pierce the fabric and it won't look as neat as it would do done on a material where you would stitch over 2 threads, hence alleviating the need to pierce the fabric to create the stitch. I can completely understand you wanting your Mermaid to look the best it can be. The cost of setting up these designs is no laughing matter, and the last thing you want to do is waste your money.... or even worse.... not enjoy what you are doing! After all, that's what it's all about... enjoyment! So my recommendation to you is to try Lugana first and see how you like it. As for the beading video... no I haven't done one, but my lovely friend McKenzie has and I actually followed her technique. Here's a link to her video: ua-cam.com/video/bzVELRtwWrI/v-deo.html The beading technique starts at 8:28 in the video, if you want to fast forward to that section. I hope this information has helped. If you have any further concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me. Happy stitching :) x
as usual this is a wonderfully helpful video, I so appreciate your tutorials, the close ups make it easy to understand and your explanations are clear. thank you.
saja abdullah Thank you Saja! If only I didn't mess the first one up, the video would have been out a few weeks ago! I hope I have de-mystified the differences of the fabrics for those that felt intimidated. :) x
oh gosh, this really explains why my embroidery was not looking like the pattern on the linen cloth. Had no idea I was supposed to do one over two (which I realize now is clearly stated in the pattern). Life saving video haha!
I would have loved to have had this video as a reference when I got into cross stitching! I remember being so confused when I encountered the terms 1 over 1 and 2 over 2, etc, on stitchers' blogs. Eventually I found a tutorial with some pictures, but this video makes it very clear. To see you actually make the stitches makes a difference!
BlimeyCatStitches That makes two of us! There weren't even blogs when I taught myself, so all I had to go on was the instructions on the chart. I'm so glad this video has helped de-mystify the process for you :)Happy stitching :) x
Nina W Awww I'm blushing.....! I just love this community - everyone is so nice and it makes me want to share as much as I can to help others. I remember how much I struggled when I started - there was no UA-cam or Google back then! We are very lucky indeed. Happy stitching :) x
I've watched this before but have just watched it again as I'm about to start my first mirabilia and have only ever used aida before. I was concerned about the fractional stitches so think I'm going to give evenweave a try. Thank you for this video as its so helpful :-)
+Mummula Stitches My pleasure! Yes fractional stitches are much easier if done on evenweave (or linen), but they're not impossible on Aida.... they just don't look as neat, and piercing the fabric can be touch and go sometimes. Plus in my opinion, a piece like a Mirabilia deserves to be done on a special fabric that once completed compliments the design and doesn't detract from it. Aida's large holes surrounding the design will possibly do that. But of course, that's only my opinion.... you can stitch on whatever you like to stitch on. Happy stitching :) x
Fantastic tutorial. Thank you. I wish I'd watched this last week when i decided to stitch a Mirabelia for my Daughters birthday, bearing in mind that i had never stitched on it before. I c/s 15/20years ago and only ever worked on Aida. Found flosstube(fantastic, amazingwonderful) in April after a very Long absence. I am now on my third attempt!!! Think i've sussed it(silly meadow lady). The penny dropped yesterday (dah). I do hope you are well. Your stitching is beautiful. Thanks again☺
I have been looking for a video like this forever, thank you so much for posting, your videos are always so informative and helpful! It definitely makes the idea of stitching on linen a lot less scary ahah thank you!! :)
akaFabulous You're very welcome and I'm glad I could provide you with something you've been looking for. Linen definitely isn't scary - you just have to be a little more patient when stitching on it, but the finished effect is beautiful. Happy stitching :) x
Thank you so much for this video! It was very helpful. :) I just got into cross stitching a few months ago and I am very addicted. I have been watching all of your videos from the beginning and look forward to catching up to your most recent! :)
+Melissa Derlein Oh that's awesome Melissa..... you are very fortunate to have a wealth of knowledge at your feet. What I wouldn't give to have access to all the information that is now at your fingertips, back when I started all those years ago. It's an extremely addictive hobby with so many benefits, and so many wonderful people in this community of ours to ask questions, or simply share your work with. I don't classify myself as an expert by any means, but if there's something that I can help you with I'm more than happy to try.... don't be afraid to ask. Take care and happy stitching :) x
Colleen MA66 That's awesome Colleen! I'm sure you will love it, and hopefully it will become a favourite fabric choice for you, like it is for me :) Happy stitching x
crossstitchbutton When I heard it last year I was shocked to think I'd been doing it all wrong! Maybe it's only a problem for really tight stitchers... although I'm a tight stitcher and never had an issue. Maybe there's more to it than that , I don't know.Thanks for watching and happy stitching :) x
Thanks for showing the stitches on both Aida and linen. I have mostly stitched on 18 and 14 ct Aida in the past, but am looking forward now to starting a project on an even weave fabric like lugana. So helpful.
Pam Reid You're very welcome Pam. Lugana is my favourite and is such a delight to stitch on. I look forward to seeing what project you decide to stitch it on. Happy stitching :) x
Thank you for this video. Having the close ups of the fabric really helped me understand linen vs. even weave. To me, it looks like even weave is really just higher count Aida. Right now, I like to stitch on 22 count Aida over two - it makes stitching in hand and fractional stitches easier.
***** You're right - Aida is technically also an even weave fabric. When transitioning from Aida to higher count fabrics, even weave is the easier choice as the weave is more clearly defined than it is with linen.Thank you for watching and happy stitching :) x
j00licious That's great to hear! The first time I used linen it was because the design I wanted to stitch recommended it. I just followed the instructions given and it worked for me. I know a lot of people find these materials intimidating and I wanted to show that it's really nothing to be scared of. I hope you venture out and try these different fabrics when you feel comfortable doing so. Happy stitching :) x
Thanks.. You are a Awesome teacher... I am a 14ct Aida girl.. But I being drawn into the Evenweave and Linen world... Thanks for the hands on I learn better that way...
This helped me so much! I'm making an embroidery project for my grandma and I couldn't find anything to explain the differences. Thank you sooo much!!!!
Starting stitch on 28ct linen last night and it was a nightmare! I never knew to cross two threads - such a relief! Thank you so much for your explanation!
Thank you for this very informative video. I'm starting to take up cross stitching again but have never stitched on any fabric but Aida. I will stick to small projects for now but will try evenweave soon!
Carolyn Mazzeo Well your videos are definitely helpful, I plan to watch all of them. Really enjoyed the parking video, that was a revelation to me :) And of course I want a Millennium frame and stand too but I'm getting way ahead of my skill level...whew! Anyway you have inspired me so thank you!
Jill Swank It's definitely hard watching these youtube videos and not ending up with a few "I wants" lol! Super happy to have inspired you - that's the whole reason I do these videos :) Happy stitching x
This was very helpful! I had some ideas, but I didn't really know the exact differences between these 3. I'll shop around for some eavenweave because that seems much more appealing than aida. I don't really like the stiffness in aida. Thank you!
Super tutorial. Question for you. I want to make a quilt that will be used and washed. It will be cross stitched on small squares. Which fabric should I use aida, evenweave or linen? Thank you.
I think the slipping is much more likely if you're stitching over 1. I can see why. It has made me paranoid, though, haha. Thanks for the informative video. :) I thought I should watch it even though I've played around on all these already. You explain things really well. :) xx
Emily Chadwick Yes I guess you're right Emily - I haven't done a lot of 1 over 1 stitching on linen but I can see where it would become an issue, especially if the stitching tension is tight. My pleasure - I think it's always nice to get other people's views on things and maybe even pick up a tip or two :) x
thank you so much for this video . i'm planning to try to stitch on Linen. honesly speaking i chose a lovely design ( Botanic Etude from "Les Brodeuses Parisiennes" ) long time ago but could't start because i have no experience stitching on linen. now i'm not so afraid thanks to you )))
Yulia Bardo It was my pleasure Yulia. I'm so happy you'll be able to stitch your piece now. There's nothing to be afraid of, just take your time and make sure you count everything twice. Before long you will get the hang of it, and stitch many more pieces on linen, I'm sure :) x
I love the quality of linen but I hate that the thickness difference makes stitching more difficult ... someone suggested to me evenweave but could you recommend one that is not stiff similar to how linen is? I love the linen just I wish it was an evenweave at times
Carolyn thank you for doing this video for us all. You should take this up professionally as you are fantastic in explaining everything. Hugs Amanda xxx
Amanda Williamson Haha if only I could make an income from it - now that would be a perfect life :) Thankyou for your kind comments and your continued support - it's very much appreciated :) x
I am a crocheter/knitting.. I've done some needle point plastic canvas and a little embroidery. Was going to make a graphghan of my mothers parents but the chart I was given gives DCM floss numbers.. Which has me considering doing it in Cross stitch.. It calls for 18 count Aida. 150 by 225 stitches wide.. How big will this turn out? Could it be enough for a pillow? Or too big or too small or what..
I have had them slip under on linen that was "loosely" woven. I had a piece of cashel linen 28 count that it slips under while stitching some lettering 1 over 1... the only time I have had an issue though is while backstitching letters. The cross stitched portion 2 over 2 was fine. :/
torimom20012002 Now you've said that, I remember I've had issues in the past with the backstitching slipping under too. Thanks for watching and happy stitching :) x
Thank you for such an informative video which you always do a wonderful job of teaching. Is there a point at which the higher the thread count you then must do instead of 2 over 1 it becomes 2 over 2? For example 18 ct can still be 2 over 1 but 28 ct becomes 2 over 2..
+xx courtr5877 Hi Hun! You can stitch any thread count anyway you like - there are no hard and fast rules. Whenever you stitch something over 2 threads, you get the same effect as stitching half the count over 1 thread.... example 28ct 2 over 2 is exactly the same as 14ct 2 over 1. And likewise, 36 ct is 18ct, 32ct is 16ct.... etc etc. You ultimately choose the fabric count to what you enjoy stitching on and also the finished size that you want to achieve. My HAED Mini Bathtime is 28ct and I'm stitching that over 1 thread (very, very tiny) but I wanted the finished size to be small, so that's why I chose that fabric. I also enjoy stitching on 28ct lugana, so it's just a personal preference for me. I'm attempting a 40ct fabric this year (the 1st time for me) and I'm stitching that over 2 but because the size is so very small, I only need 1 thread to work over 2. I see this as a definite plus because I'm using hand-dyed threads, and they will go farther this way. So to sum up your question, there really is no point that you have to decide to do it over 2 - it's up to you and what you prefer to stitch on. If you have a project that recommends 28 ct 2 over 2 threads, and you don't want to do that, you can do it on 14ct 2 over 1 instead... and it will be the exact same size. All the stitches will look the same when they're finished. The only difference will be the fabric around the edges (where you haven't stitched) will be more noticeable on a 14ct because of the larger weave of fabric, then the 28ct which has a smaller weave. I hope that makes sense hun.... it's hard to explain things like this in writing. If you need me to clarify any further, please ask :) x
Carolyn... You are so great! Even weave is still a little scary sounding but I might be willing to try it on something small! Do you have to really concentrate on counting holes (or threads) while you're working or do you get used to it? Thanks :)
Jennifer Apodaca Hi Jennifer! You do get used to it eventually, and I do occasionally still mis-count. But when you are stitching around other stitches it's pretty easy to use them as a reference point. Probably the hardest thing with even weave and linen is when you start a stitch away from your other stitches - you have to be super careful that you've counted the right amount of threads, otherwise it will put everything out! I always double check my count when I'm doing this and always cross-reference where the stitch is with something else on the design. In fact I do that with Aida too - if you cross reference often then you will pick up mistakes much earlier and need to frog less. Hope this helps :) x
hello i hope u read my message i want the white (aida) the thread same in the embroyed or have specific thread for the white?whats called of the thread? coz.i want to order in amazon..thank you
Thank you so much for your informative video! I've been cross stitching for years, and now I want a change and a new challenge. After finishing my 2 year cross stitching project, I'm starting my next large project with evenweave for the first time. On your video you talked mainly about the 28ct evenweave, I have 25ct. Does it pretty much work the same way like you described in your video? I obviously want to do this right before I start stitching. ;)
+Kilene Herold Hi! Yes it works exactly the same way, 25 count is just a little larger than 28 count. I'm sure you'll love working on even weave - most people never go back to Aida once they've tried it. Best of luck and happy stitching :) x
Areiniah MLS There is no exact substitute in Aida - you would either have to go with 11 count or 13 count.... 13 being the closest. I've never compared the two, so I wouldn't be able to give my opinion on that.
I don't understand the starting at a vertical thread part and can't see the difference between the two, they all have vertical and horizontal. How do you know which is the correct spot? They all look the same.
+Jen Howell If you stitch over one from BR to TL and up at BL to TR, the under loop could slide to the left if your stitching tension is too high. I don't think it's an issue when stitching over two as there is another opposing fabric thread crossing to stop the movement. If you stitch BR - TL - TR - BL, the loop could slide down. But if your stitch tension is high enough to make the loop slide, you would likely have nasty puckering as well.
I have a pattern this says it needs 18 count, but I only have 14 count will it still look good or do I need to go get 18 count. Now if I have to buy 18 count where can I get it by the yard???
I would like to see a video (tutorial) on stitch on afghan cloth. ( cross stitching on an Afghan). There are NO VIDEOS on the internet. Have you done a afghan, Carolyn? Aloha from Hawaii. 5/2017.
Khristine Doiron Haha I wish someone else could have told me this stuff 20+ years ago when I first started linen because the chart recommended it. I had no idea what I was doing!!! It's a miracle it actually worked :) x
Carolyn Mazzeo My first time working on anything other than aida was an evenweave for a full coverage pattern. I think it was 28 ct and I did it 2 over 1 because I didn't know you should do 2 over 2 haha. I really should bring it out and try to finish it but you can hardly get the needle though the holes with all that thread :)
The starting a stitch next to a vertical thread is done simply to visually recognize the squares. That is you look for inserting your needle to the left of a vertical or warp thread. This “habit” minimizes mistakes. However if you visually recognize horizontal threads better then you just always start to the left of a horizontal or weft thread. It’s just a recognition tool and doesn’t have anything actually to do with “losing” a stitch in the weave. I also once heard that until I recently watched Jean Farish’s video ua-cam.com/video/cIXYsx4MPek/v-deo.html Just like the issue regarding which slanted thread goes on top - just be consistent. Great video.
Your video is wonderful, but I want to correct your comment about finished size when stitching on a larger vs. smaller count fabric. You said a piece stitched 1 over 1 on 28 count will be half the size than if stitched 1/1 on 14 count. This in not true--it will be 1/4 the size. You can see the math below: If an x/1 finished piece on 14 count measures 4"x4", that's 16^2 inches. If the same piece is stitched x/1 on a 28 count, the measurements will be 2"x2" or 4^2 inches. (4^2)/(16^2) = 1/4 The same is true when stitching x/1 vs x/2. The x/1 stitch will be 1/4 the size of the x/2 stitch. Your part 2 of this tutorial explains this quite well when you mention that you'll need (4) 1/1 stitches to fill in the same area as the x/2 that was charted in the design. Length & width measurements will be half the size, but when you calculate total area, that factor increases exponentially. Thanks for your fabulous videos, & happy stitching! :-D
Ohh I don’t see how that makes sense.First stitch needs to be started next to vertical as opposed to horizontal thread ? There are a ton of vertical and horizontal ughh
Georgette Jane I'm so sorry Georgette. You're the first one to have mentioned this. One tip that might help, which works for me on quieter videos...... listen to it through earphones. When I plug earphones into my iPad it allows me to increase the volume more and then I can hear what is being said. Hopefully this works for you. Happy stitching :) x
Finally, someone who actually explained 2/2. Now i get how to stitch and count easily. Thank you. Been stitching only on aids for many decades. This opens up all the beautiful patterns I have. Thank you.
Thank you so much. I am new to flosstube and the cross stitching world. I have learned more in one week watching you and some other flosstube video's than I have the whole 10 months working on a gold collection, and teaching myself along the way.
Heidi Pease That's great to hear Heidi! There is so much information now on the internet to make things easier. I taught myself via the charts too, and it was a long process. Now you also have stitchers to answer questions you may have as you go along, which is awesome! Happy stitching :) x
Please don't ever feel like you have to apologize for your pretty hands. They are lovely whether your nail is broke or not. You are doing us the favour with your stitching tutorials. You, as always are lovely!
ann dodds Aww you're so sweet - thank you so much :) x
Wow....literally the light bulb went off in my head on how to stitch on any other fabric other than Aida. It is so clear to me after watching this video. Thank you so much. I am currently working on a project on Aida cloth....I wish I had done it on the even weave now. Thanks again for showing the difference on stitching on these different fabrics.
pamela colberg And that is the exact reason I did the video Pamela - to show people in a way they haven't seen before, and hopefully they'll understand it and give it a go. Thank you so much for letting me know, I really appreciate it :) x
Thank you, Carolyn, for showing this. I've been crosstitching on & off for as long as you have, interspersing with several years of quilting. I've never had the confidence to use anything other than Aida, but now I am willing to give it a try. I'll find a small easy project and go from there. Seeing things done in a visual median is far more helpful than pictures and instructions in books :-)
+Sandra's Stitches Oh I agree! Although I can follow written instructions, I am a VERY visual person at heart and find this a much easier way of learning new things. I hope you do give it a try, and once you do, I'm sure you'll never go back :) x
thank u ....I learned a lot :) it means a lot that you would take the time to teach what you have learned :)Most of us before flosstube only stitched alone and had to learn from reading books...I learn better from someone showing me and it is so neat to be able to watch vids like yours :)
+awakendixie Thank you very much! That was my aim, as I remember what it was like when I was learning and I had sooooo many questions, with no-one to ask. Some people also don't like asking, for fear that their question will be deemed as silly.... so I too find videos like this helpful. This hobby is something that we can continually learn from... seeing how others' do something can make life that much easier sometimes.
I'm also a visual person and I prefer to watch, rather than read. I'm so glad you enjoy the videos.
Happy stitching :) x
This is so helpful to me! I've been stitching for 27 years and have always stuck to Aida, bc the evenweaves always seemed so intimidating. I have a beautiful hand dyed fabric I want to use and the perfect pattern for it, and I kept putting it off. You've totally demystified this for me. I knew I could count on my stitching guru once again! Thank you Carolyn!
Thank you VERY much! I also have been searching Floss Tube for this information, and YOU have been the best and most informative! Great video! You are the only one who explained about the vertical thread! Also, your hands looked beautiful! Thank you again, I really appreciate you making this video!
I wanted to do something different so I got linen to stitch on thinking it would be just as easy to do as the aida fabric. I could NOT figure out what they meant by 1 over 2! But when I learned what it !want I had no idea how to count on linen! I didn't know at the time that it was 36 count! I watched a couple of UA-cam channels, they were informative, but it wasn't until I watched your channel did I FINALLY get it!! So thank you thank you thank you! I'll send a pic when I finish.😄
love love your video I am just jumping around but I'm going to start watching them from the beginning I'm amazed how much you know.. And I want to thank you for taking the time to make these to show others how to stitch in a correct way..I really feel I will learn from you..looking forward to see you in the future.. again thank you..
+carmen escamilla Aww thank you so much Carmen - that is such a lovely thing to say :) Thankfully, the internet is a wealth of knowledge and I'm still learning new things all the time. And now that we have this wonderful community, we can share or knowledge with each other and make it a more pleasurable, informed experience :)
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you and your family :) x
No she isn't. Or are you that kind of person who knows it all about someone else without ever having checked anything?
4yrs later & still watching. Brilliant Carolyn. Thoroughly explained vid. Thx so much.
It's been a few years since I first watched this, and it's still super helpful and informative. Thank you for making the effort and explaining all this. I'm sure this video will help many, many people for years to come.
Thank you so much for making this video! I was having so much trouble finding thorough and clear info about the different fabrics with visual examples!! Your video has been so helpful for this newbie :)
What an excellent video! I am in the process of teaching a friend to stitch, and will certainly show it to her. Very clear! Thanks so much!
Joyce Robertson Thank you so much Joyce - I'm glad to hear so many people have found it useful. New stitchers are so very lucky to have all these helpful videos now to explain things for them. Happy stitching :) x
Thank you, Carolyn, for taking the time and effort to post this video. You have explained and displayed so clearly that it has taken the mystery out of stitching on linen and Evenweave. I'm ready to take the plunge! ;)
Tara Ward That's awesome to hear! Thank you so much for letting me know. If you have any questions once you start, please let me know and I'll help if I can :) Happy stitching x
i agree, very well done
You're a born educator, thanks Carolyn.
Laurel Campbell Thank you so much Laurel. I couldn't reply to your comment before, so I'm glad I can now :) x
Hi Carolyn, just watched some of your videos, and they are great. I can see by all of your subscribers that they all agree. Thank you for sharing your skills and tips with us. I just bought my first Mirabilia cross stitch design "waiting for ships". I tried to do it on a 32 ct linen, but for the life of me I couldn't see the holes even with a magnifying glass and my glasses at the same time. This is actually how I found your video which describes the difference between aida, even weave and linen. I went to my craft store today and bought both even weave and aida. After a long decision I went with the Aida. I have never cross stitched on linen before, like you I have been cross stitching a long time, but just never on linen. I feel quite disappointed that I am not doing my mermaid on the linen, but am trying to console myself that I will enjoy doing the design more if I can see the holes and I am not frustrated with not being able to see properly. I suppose its also a fairly complex design to begin on linen for the first time. Have you encountered other people who find using linen difficult? Maybe I should do a small sampler on linen to get used to it. I think the pressure of wanting my mermaid to look good shook my confidence in using the linen. Its funny how what other people think can affect us, my thoughts of showing my friend, but getting the response of "why didn't you do it on linen" is bugging me. Lastly do you have a video where you show how you add the beads to a cross stitch design like Mirabilia?
+Michelle Gillett Thank you so much Michelle! It is my pleasure to share with you all - I also appreciate learning from others, and it's great that we all have the opportunity to learn new things.
I'm sorry to hear you've had trouble with the linen. I do find that linens can vary a lot (in regards to seeing the holes). I'm currently stitching Mirabilia Roses of Provence on a 32ct hand dyed Lugana (evenweave) and the holes are almost indistinguishable .... I think the dye has filled them in somewhat and it definitely makes the stitching more challenging. I've used other 32ct fabrics (Linens & Evenweaves) and I can see the holes just fine. So don't give up on linen completely (or 32ct) as you may find one in the future that you can actually see quite well.
Have you ever stitched on Evenweave before?... like Lugana etc. I always recommend to someone transitioning from Aida to other fabrics to try Evenweave before Linen. The reason being, linen can be challenging at times because of the uneven weave of thread and also those pesky little slubs that sit within it. Evenweave is a great medium between Aida and Linen as it provides you with a beautiful soft, pliable fabric (that is also available in hand-dyed colours if you like that effect), and is great for fractional stitches. Mirabilia designs do tend to have some fractional stitches in the chart, which you might find slightly more difficult on Aida. They're not impossible, but it just means you'll have to pierce the fabric and it won't look as neat as it would do done on a material where you would stitch over 2 threads, hence alleviating the need to pierce the fabric to create the stitch.
I can completely understand you wanting your Mermaid to look the best it can be. The cost of setting up these designs is no laughing matter, and the last thing you want to do is waste your money.... or even worse.... not enjoy what you are doing! After all, that's what it's all about... enjoyment!
So my recommendation to you is to try Lugana first and see how you like it.
As for the beading video... no I haven't done one, but my lovely friend McKenzie has and I actually followed her technique. Here's a link to her video: ua-cam.com/video/bzVELRtwWrI/v-deo.html
The beading technique starts at 8:28 in the video, if you want to fast forward to that section.
I hope this information has helped. If you have any further concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me.
Happy stitching :) x
as usual this is a wonderfully helpful video, I so appreciate your tutorials, the close ups make it easy to understand and your explanations are clear. thank you.
saja abdullah Thank you Saja! If only I didn't mess the first one up, the video would have been out a few weeks ago! I hope I have de-mystified the differences of the fabrics for those that felt intimidated. :) x
Best video of explaining different counts of fabrics!
oh gosh, this really explains why my embroidery was not looking like the pattern on the linen cloth. Had no idea I was supposed to do one over two (which I realize now is clearly stated in the pattern). Life saving video haha!
I would have loved to have had this video as a reference when I got into cross stitching! I remember being so confused when I encountered the terms 1 over 1 and 2 over 2, etc, on stitchers' blogs. Eventually I found a tutorial with some pictures, but this video makes it very clear. To see you actually make the stitches makes a difference!
BlimeyCatStitches That makes two of us! There weren't even blogs when I taught myself, so all I had to go on was the instructions on the chart. I'm so glad this video has helped de-mystify the process for you :)Happy stitching :) x
Excellent video! Very clear and concise. One of the commenters said you are a treasure.....you certainly are to us! Thanks so much.
Nina W Awww I'm blushing.....! I just love this community - everyone is so nice and it makes me want to share as much as I can to help others. I remember how much I struggled when I started - there was no UA-cam or Google back then! We are very lucky indeed. Happy stitching :) x
I've watched this before but have just watched it again as I'm about to start my first mirabilia and have only ever used aida before. I was concerned about the fractional stitches so think I'm going to give evenweave a try. Thank you for this video as its so helpful :-)
+Mummula Stitches My pleasure! Yes fractional stitches are much easier if done on evenweave (or linen), but they're not impossible on Aida.... they just don't look as neat, and piercing the fabric can be touch and go sometimes.
Plus in my opinion, a piece like a Mirabilia deserves to be done on a special fabric that once completed compliments the design and doesn't detract from it. Aida's large holes surrounding the design will possibly do that. But of course, that's only my opinion.... you can stitch on whatever you like to stitch on.
Happy stitching :) x
Fantastic tutorial. Thank you. I wish I'd watched this last week when i decided to stitch a Mirabelia for my Daughters birthday, bearing in mind that i had never stitched on it before. I c/s 15/20years ago and only ever worked on Aida. Found flosstube(fantastic, amazingwonderful) in April after a very Long absence. I am now on my third attempt!!! Think i've sussed it(silly meadow lady). The penny dropped yesterday (dah). I do hope you are well. Your stitching is beautiful. Thanks again☺
I have been looking for a video like this forever, thank you so much for posting, your videos are always so informative and helpful! It definitely makes the idea of stitching on linen a lot less scary ahah thank you!! :)
akaFabulous You're very welcome and I'm glad I could provide you with something you've been looking for. Linen definitely isn't scary - you just have to be a little more patient when stitching on it, but the finished effect is beautiful. Happy stitching :) x
You are the best teacher EVER!! :)
Coleen Perkins Aww you are too kind :) xxx
Thank you so much for this video! It was very helpful. :) I just got into cross stitching a few months ago and I am very addicted. I have been watching all of your videos from the beginning and look forward to catching up to your most recent! :)
+Melissa Derlein Oh that's awesome Melissa..... you are very fortunate to have a wealth of knowledge at your feet. What I wouldn't give to have access to all the information that is now at your fingertips, back when I started all those years ago. It's an extremely addictive hobby with so many benefits, and so many wonderful people in this community of ours to ask questions, or simply share your work with. I don't classify myself as an expert by any means, but if there's something that I can help you with I'm more than happy to try.... don't be afraid to ask.
Take care and happy stitching :) x
Thank you Carolyn soo much! That was very helpful. I think I'm going to transition myself to even weave and give that a go.
Colleen MA66 That's awesome Colleen! I'm sure you will love it, and hopefully it will become a favourite fabric choice for you, like it is for me :) Happy stitching x
I'd never heard of this starting either and I've been stitching for 47 years and had no bother of sliping threads, great video Carolyn xx
crossstitchbutton When I heard it last year I was shocked to think I'd been doing it all wrong! Maybe it's only a problem for really tight stitchers... although I'm a tight stitcher and never had an issue. Maybe there's more to it than that , I don't know.Thanks for watching and happy stitching :) x
Thanks for showing the stitches on both Aida and linen. I have mostly stitched on 18 and 14 ct Aida in the past, but am looking forward now to starting a project on an even weave fabric like lugana. So helpful.
Pam Reid You're very welcome Pam. Lugana is my favourite and is such a delight to stitch on. I look forward to seeing what project you decide to stitch it on. Happy stitching :) x
Thank you so much for this. It was exactly the information I needed to move on to linen. I still love my aida but this has answered all my questions.
Thank you for this video. Having the close ups of the fabric really helped me understand linen vs. even weave. To me, it looks like even weave is really just higher count Aida. Right now, I like to stitch on 22 count Aida over two - it makes stitching in hand and fractional stitches easier.
***** You're right - Aida is technically also an even weave fabric. When transitioning from Aida to higher count fabrics, even weave is the easier choice as the weave is more clearly defined than it is with linen.Thank you for watching and happy stitching :) x
Hi Carolyn, great video ! I have never seen linen before this is great thank you !
A Needlepoint In Time You're very welcome Valerie - there's a whole new world out there past Aida lol! x
Thank you soooo so much for this video! I am a relatively new cross stitcher, and you've made evenweave & linen much less mysterious. :)
j00licious That's great to hear! The first time I used linen it was because the design I wanted to stitch recommended it. I just followed the instructions given and it worked for me. I know a lot of people find these materials intimidating and I wanted to show that it's really nothing to be scared of. I hope you venture out and try these different fabrics when you feel comfortable doing so. Happy stitching :) x
Thanks.. You are a Awesome teacher... I am a 14ct Aida girl.. But I being drawn into the Evenweave and Linen world... Thanks for the hands on I learn better that way...
Happy I found this video, I didn't know how to stitch on even weave. Great video👍
Very helpful. I've been searching for this type of comparison. So glad to come across your video! Thank you!!
This helped me so much! I'm making an embroidery project for my grandma and I couldn't find anything to explain the differences. Thank you sooo much!!!!
The best! Thank for the tutorial. For z beginner like me it really gave me vital info. 😍
Starting stitch on 28ct linen last night and it was a nightmare! I never knew to cross two threads - such a relief! Thank you so much for your explanation!
Linda Vines Oh you're very welcome Linda. Linen can be a bit scary if you're not quite sure what to do. I'm so glad to help out. Happy stitching :) x
Thank you for this very informative video. I'm starting to take up cross stitching again but have never stitched on any fabric but Aida. I will stick to small projects for now but will try evenweave soon!
Jill Swank That's great to hear Jill. It's really not as scary as it looks. I hope to make a convert out of you! ;) x
Carolyn Mazzeo Well your videos are definitely helpful, I plan to watch all of them. Really enjoyed the parking video, that was a revelation to me :) And of course I want a Millennium frame and stand too but I'm getting way ahead of my skill level...whew! Anyway you have inspired me so thank you!
Jill Swank It's definitely hard watching these youtube videos and not ending up with a few "I wants" lol! Super happy to have inspired you - that's the whole reason I do these videos :) Happy stitching x
Beautiful Video Carolyn.
Thank you so much for the video. You explained it so well 👍
Thank you. That was wonderful. Haven't started to stitch yet but you make less scary.
Donna Ross Thank you Donna - I appreciate your kind comments :) x
This was very helpful! I had some ideas, but I didn't really know the exact differences between these 3. I'll shop around for some eavenweave because that seems much more appealing than aida. I don't really like the stiffness in aida. Thank you!
This video was VERY helpful! You did a great job, thank you!!
Thank you I have been looking for this very clear and again thanks . A great video
Super tutorial. Question for you. I want to make a quilt that will be used and washed. It will be cross stitched on small squares. Which fabric should I use aida, evenweave or linen? Thank you.
I'm still a beginner, and your thorough explanation and comparisons of fabric choices and stitch counts was immensely helpful. Thank you.
very helpful for those who is starting project like this. ... like me. . thnx a lot. .
I think the slipping is much more likely if you're stitching over 1. I can see why. It has made me paranoid, though, haha.
Thanks for the informative video. :) I thought I should watch it even though I've played around on all these already. You explain things really well. :) xx
Emily Chadwick Yes I guess you're right Emily - I haven't done a lot of 1 over 1 stitching on linen but I can see where it would become an issue, especially if the stitching tension is tight.
My pleasure - I think it's always nice to get other people's views on things and maybe even pick up a tip or two :) x
thank you so much for this video . i'm planning to try to stitch on Linen. honesly speaking i chose a lovely design ( Botanic Etude from "Les Brodeuses Parisiennes" ) long time ago but could't start because i have no experience stitching on linen. now i'm not so afraid thanks to you )))
Yulia Bardo It was my pleasure Yulia. I'm so happy you'll be able to stitch your piece now. There's nothing to be afraid of, just take your time and make sure you count everything twice. Before long you will get the hang of it, and stitch many more pieces on linen, I'm sure :) x
thank you ))) maybe i'll even show you when i stitch it ))) it's a lovely design and i wish it to be well done ))
Yulia Bardo Yes please, I'd love to see it :) x
I love the quality of linen but I hate that the thickness difference makes stitching more difficult ... someone suggested to me evenweave but could you recommend one that is not stiff similar to how linen is? I love the linen just I wish it was an evenweave at times
Carolyn thank you for doing this video for us all. You should take this up professionally as you are fantastic in explaining everything.
Hugs
Amanda
xxx
Amanda Williamson Haha if only I could make an income from it - now that would be a perfect life :) Thankyou for your kind comments and your continued support - it's very much appreciated :) x
Very informative and helpful! Thank you!
I am a crocheter/knitting.. I've done some needle point plastic canvas and a little embroidery. Was going to make a graphghan of my mothers parents but the chart I was given gives DCM floss numbers.. Which has me considering doing it in Cross stitch.. It calls for 18 count Aida.
150 by 225 stitches wide.. How big will this turn out? Could it be enough for a pillow? Or too big or too small or what..
I have had them slip under on linen that was "loosely" woven. I had a piece of cashel linen 28 count that it slips under while stitching some lettering 1 over 1... the only time I have had an issue though is while backstitching letters. The cross stitched portion 2 over 2 was fine. :/
torimom20012002 Now you've said that, I remember I've had issues in the past with the backstitching slipping under too. Thanks for watching and happy stitching :) x
High thread count on Evenware must be harder in eye sight?
Thank you for such an informative video which you always do a wonderful job of teaching. Is there a point at which the higher the thread count you then must do instead of 2 over 1 it becomes 2 over 2? For example 18 ct can still be 2 over 1 but 28 ct becomes 2 over 2..
+xx courtr5877 Hi Hun! You can stitch any thread count anyway you like - there are no hard and fast rules. Whenever you stitch something over 2 threads, you get the same effect as stitching half the count over 1 thread.... example 28ct 2 over 2 is exactly the same as 14ct 2 over 1. And likewise, 36 ct is 18ct, 32ct is 16ct.... etc etc. You ultimately choose the fabric count to what you enjoy stitching on and also the finished size that you want to achieve. My HAED Mini Bathtime is 28ct and I'm stitching that over 1 thread (very, very tiny) but I wanted the finished size to be small, so that's why I chose that fabric. I also enjoy stitching on 28ct lugana, so it's just a personal preference for me. I'm attempting a 40ct fabric this year (the 1st time for me) and I'm stitching that over 2 but because the size is so very small, I only need 1 thread to work over 2. I see this as a definite plus because I'm using hand-dyed threads, and they will go farther this way.
So to sum up your question, there really is no point that you have to decide to do it over 2 - it's up to you and what you prefer to stitch on. If you have a project that recommends 28 ct 2 over 2 threads, and you don't want to do that, you can do it on 14ct 2 over 1 instead... and it will be the exact same size. All the stitches will look the same when they're finished. The only difference will be the fabric around the edges (where you haven't stitched) will be more noticeable on a 14ct because of the larger weave of fabric, then the 28ct which has a smaller weave.
I hope that makes sense hun.... it's hard to explain things like this in writing. If you need me to clarify any further, please ask :) x
Carolyn... You are so great! Even weave is still a little scary sounding but I might be willing to try it on something small! Do you have to really concentrate on counting holes (or threads) while you're working or do you get used to it? Thanks :)
Jennifer Apodaca Hi Jennifer! You do get used to it eventually, and I do occasionally still mis-count. But when you are stitching around other stitches it's pretty easy to use them as a reference point. Probably the hardest thing with even weave and linen is when you start a stitch away from your other stitches - you have to be super careful that you've counted the right amount of threads, otherwise it will put everything out! I always double check my count when I'm doing this and always cross-reference where the stitch is with something else on the design. In fact I do that with Aida too - if you cross reference often then you will pick up mistakes much earlier and need to frog less. Hope this helps :) x
Thank you Carolyn! I am a newbie and just started a project on evenweave.
hello i hope u read my message
i want the white (aida)
the thread same in the embroyed or have specific thread for the white?whats called of the thread? coz.i want to order in amazon..thank you
Thank you so much for your informative video! I've been cross stitching for years, and now I want a change and a new challenge. After finishing my 2 year cross stitching project, I'm starting my next large project with evenweave for the first time.
On your video you talked mainly about the 28ct evenweave, I have 25ct. Does it pretty much work the same way like you described in your video?
I obviously want to do this right before I start stitching. ;)
+Kilene Herold Hi! Yes it works exactly the same way, 25 count is just a little larger than 28 count. I'm sure you'll love working on even weave - most people never go back to Aida once they've tried it. Best of luck and happy stitching :) x
what size needle are you using? and brand
I have stitched one thread on a 14count, and I love the look,, less bulk
Wonderful and informative, thank you.
Palette PC Thanks Bev! :) x
How do you sew satin stitch on evenweave?
What about 25 count? It's not an even number like the others for the sake of halving, so what stitch size would it correlate to in Aida?
Areiniah MLS There is no exact substitute in Aida - you would either have to go with 11 count or 13 count.... 13 being the closest. I've never compared the two, so I wouldn't be able to give my opinion on that.
I don't understand the starting at a vertical thread part and can't see the difference between the two, they all have vertical and horizontal. How do you know which is the correct spot? They all look the same.
+Jen Howell If you stitch over one from BR to TL and up at BL to TR, the under loop could slide to the left if your stitching tension is too high. I don't think it's an issue when stitching over two as there is another opposing fabric thread crossing to stop the movement. If you stitch BR - TL - TR - BL, the loop could slide down. But if your stitch tension is high enough to make the loop slide, you would likely have nasty puckering as well.
Thanks for sharing.
I have a pattern this says it needs 18 count, but I only have 14 count will it still look good or do I need to go get 18 count. Now if I have to buy 18 count where can I get it by the yard???
Wonderful video.
Cross Stitch Joil Thank you Ildy, and thank you for sharing it with your group.... that means so much to me
I would like to see a video (tutorial) on stitch on afghan cloth. ( cross stitching on an Afghan). There are NO VIDEOS on the internet. Have you done a afghan, Carolyn? Aloha from Hawaii. 5/2017.
I wish you had made this video when all I knew was aida and kits lol. :)
Khristine Doiron Haha I wish someone else could have told me this stuff 20+ years ago when I first started linen because the chart recommended it. I had no idea what I was doing!!! It's a miracle it actually worked :) x
Carolyn Mazzeo My first time working on anything other than aida was an evenweave for a full coverage pattern. I think it was 28 ct and I did it 2 over 1 because I didn't know you should do 2 over 2 haha. I really should bring it out and try to finish it but you can hardly get the needle though the holes with all that thread :)
Khristine Doiron I can just imagine - my HAED is on 28ct but I'm doing 2 over 1 tent stitch - and that's tight enough!
The starting a stitch next to a vertical thread is done simply to visually recognize the squares. That is you look for inserting your needle to the left of a vertical or warp thread. This “habit” minimizes mistakes. However if you visually recognize horizontal threads better then you just always start to the left of a horizontal or weft thread. It’s just a recognition tool and doesn’t have anything actually to do with “losing” a stitch in the weave. I also once heard that until I recently watched Jean Farish’s video ua-cam.com/video/cIXYsx4MPek/v-deo.html Just like the issue regarding which slanted thread goes on top - just be consistent. Great video.
Your video is wonderful, but I want to correct your comment about finished size when stitching on a larger vs. smaller count fabric. You said a piece stitched 1 over 1 on 28 count will be half the size than if stitched 1/1 on 14 count. This in not true--it will be 1/4 the size. You can see the math below:
If an x/1 finished piece on 14 count measures 4"x4", that's 16^2 inches. If the same piece is stitched x/1 on a 28 count, the measurements will be 2"x2" or 4^2 inches. (4^2)/(16^2) = 1/4 The same is true when stitching x/1 vs x/2. The x/1 stitch will be 1/4 the size of the x/2 stitch. Your part 2 of this tutorial explains this quite well when you mention that you'll need (4) 1/1 stitches to fill in the same area as the x/2 that was charted in the design.
Length & width measurements will be half the size, but when you calculate total area, that factor increases exponentially. Thanks for your fabulous videos, & happy stitching! :-D
thanks alot
I love love love love cross stitch
but I dont speak english very well Iam so sad ..becuse I dont understand you butI try to learn it
Ohh I don’t see how that makes sense.First stitch needs to be started next to vertical as opposed to horizontal thread ? There are a ton of vertical and horizontal ughh
فديو جميل ومفيد نرجوا ان يكون ترجمه باللغه العربيه للفائده وشكرا
Must be my computer, but I could barely hear you, even with my speakers on max. Looks like it would have been very informative.
Georgette Jane I'm so sorry Georgette. You're the first one to have mentioned this. One tip that might help, which works for me on quieter videos...... listen to it through earphones. When I plug earphones into my iPad it allows me to increase the volume more and then I can hear what is being said. Hopefully this works for you. Happy stitching :) x
Thanks!