What wonderful projects. I absolutely love your possible UFO, The Country Girl. Such a sweet design. I hope you decide to pick her up some day :) Thanks for sharing all of your work, and I look forward to following your progress.
Sharon B thank you, Sharon. She is sweet, and I do have a habit of coming back around to finish projects I have worked on in years so there's still hope for her ☺
Hi Hannah, with the Maia kit and stitching fractionals on Aida, in the past I have used just a normal needle with a sharp end. It feels different but it will push through the cloth with zero issues. You just have to be careful you don't drag your needle along the back of holes looking for the one to come up in as the sharper needle can catch on threads. I hope this helps, it works for me. I love seeing your very eclectic range of projects on all types of fabric and different threads. You are a Master stitcher with a capital M. Whilst watching this I just kept thinking of the saying ' Go big or go home !' Thanks for sharing, looking forward to any content you wish to share into the future. Happy stitching.
Alis Stitching Studio thanks for the suggestion Ali ☺ Maia do provide a sharp (crewel?) needle in their kits, as well as a tapestry needle, for that purpose. And I don't mind if there's only a few fractionals, as in Red Mermaid, but there are so many in Sakura that it completely drains my enthusiasm. I really just need to stop dithering, get over myself and mark a working copy of the chart so the basketweave is easier to manage! It's very kind of you to call me a master. I've been thinking recently on a similar topic - how does one determine whether they are beginner/intermediate/advanced, what are the criteria? I'd like to make a skills matrix and see where I have less experience, out of interest and to maybe be more conscious when choosing future projects. But everyone is so self-effacing, no-one wants to call themselves advanced, and there are so many different areas of interest... All that to ask, what do you consider makes an advanced stitcher?
Just in case no one else has said, the white marks on your black fabric will come off - I just wiped mine very gently with a damp cloth and they were gone. Never came back. I use felt between my q-snaps and clamps now. I'm not sure if it's the clamps making the marks or if the pressure causes the sizing in the fabric to show up - but it comes off so that's good :D I've got some gigantic projects I want to do, and I'm going to try the q-snap style quilting frame for mine. They're not as expensive as a wooden one, and also if you know someone good with tools, you could make your own and buy some clamps to use on it for super cheap!
Thank you for your comment! I've had recommendations to spot clean with mild detergent so I'll try just a damp cloth first, thank you so much for the suggestion! I thought it was too optimistic to hope that alone would work, but I'm happy to hear it does! That's such an interesting point, that it could be the sizing. I've got other types of frames that presumably provide the same tension and haven't noticed that with the same black fabric but now I'm intrigued! I've not heard of the qsnap style quilting frames, but I like the idea of DIYing it - luckily I'm pretty handy myself so it should be no problem. I intended to make one out of wooden dowel anyway but just haven't got around to it.
God, so many lovely Afremov designs to choose from, after doing a search thanks to your video! (There's actually a song by Leonard Cohen, Dance me to the End of Love, if you like that type of music :-) ). I've also been eyeing that 4-seasons tree since I got back to stitching 2 years ago, I just haven't been brave enough, hehe. Hugs and blessings!
I know it's so dangerous, I fell right down the rabbit hole after discovering Zolotoe Runo's Afremov kits. I'll have to show the others at some point, when I eventually get a chance to record again! Thanks again for watching and commenting :)
Hannah, you have just a beautiful range of work.. Just beautiful... I agree with others. Use tent stitch in the direction of your top thread and it will stop it sitting proud and thick enough to cover the fabric. Cheers from Australia
Hi Deb, thank you so much for your comment. I can't believe I never thought of that idea before but it is a wonderful suggestion. Unfortunately I think #8 braid is ruined for me, at least with that project, but I'll definitely keep it in mind for the future!
Dear lady your Red mermaid is divine ...so much so that when I showed her to a very dear friend she was immediately ordered for my Christmas present....and she shall be on the frame as soon as she arrives...thankyou...super wip parade also ..from lancashire ♡♡
Anne Robinson hi Anne! Oh, your wonderful friend ☺ and letting you start your present early! Has she arrived yet? She's a delight to work on. I almost don't want to finish her because I enjoy her so much!
Thank you, Annette! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Life's got a bit busy and so I've hardly stitched since I made the video, but I'll come back with another one when I can
So many beautiful WIPs!! Andrea from I Heart Cross Stitch sent me here and I'm glad she did. I've just been discovering the Eastern European kits myself over the past year and am overwhelmed with them all - so pretty!! I'm with Andrea that Red Mermaid is simply amazing.
Lisa's stitching and such thank you, Lisa! I love your videos and Andrea's, so it's great fun to know you're watching and enjoying mine 😊 I've got a bit addicted to them, I just love their style! I also want to get into shovchik which is the Russian needlepoint, or counted canvas to us, but finding where to buy the charts is proving trickier.
You are a natural at speaking on videos. Your needle work is lovely and the projects beautiful! I have a suggestion on how you might frame up your massive black project for stitching. You might try looking for a quilt (scroll frame) and stand. They are very similar to cross stitching frames and stands and you might find one wide enough.
Cindy Jurek thank you. That's a great idea! I'll keep an eye out, although I've got plans to make some of my own frames anyway so it could go either way. Still, I like your thinking!
Yes, please keep making videos. Really enjoyed your wip parade. I don't have any help to offer except to suggest putting a piece of doubled-up felt in the clamp of your Lowary to help hold the Q snap. Or I've heard putting moleskin on the clamp as well. I also put felt under my Qsnap clamps and my knockoff ones to protect the fabric and increase tension. I've seen people use muslin etc. 😊
I will make more, once the frustration of making this one recedes in the memory! Flipping technology. Does the felt help clamp the qsnap in the lowery? I'll have to give it a go, although I have a suspicion that my knock-off is just rubbish, that the side rotates within the corners and there's no hope for it except to clamp the corner somehow. I've got some pieces of felt and some muslin/calico/something for making dressmaking toiles so I'll have to experiment. First though, to try and get rid of those white marks!
Thanks Leslie! I still can't help second guessing my colour choice and I wonder if I'm even now going to end up changing it, but it's nice to hear that it looks ok to other people :)
Hi Hannah, great videos. I've got a lowery stand and use qsnaps and millennium frame in mine all the time. I added some fake mole skin adhesive sticker things to protect my frames. I have found that it helps give a bit of extra grip. Also, I tighten mine up very well so that there is very little/no rolling or flopping of the frame. Hope you get it sorted. Best wishes
Thanks for your comment. I've not heard of self-adhesive moleskin before but what a clever idea! I don't have expensive frames so I'm not concerned about the lowery clamp marking the side-bars but I can see how you'd want to protect a millenium frame. I think the rolling is an issue with my fake qsnaps because the corner connectors aren't tight enough, but I'll have to play around a bit. I've got lots to keep me out of trouble in the meanwhile though :)
Pamela Nesler thank you, Pamela! Glad you enjoyed the videos. Life's got a bit busy but I hope to get something else out soon, although I've not got much progress to show
Gorgeous projects! Love your choices, divine Red Mermaid, in love with her. The #8 braid, could you just use tent/half stitch with it or would that still be too bulky. I missed a bit of what you said because I had to go capture a spider, maybe you already tried that. I was working on a project that the metallic was too bulky full cross and tried the half, it worked fine as I used it the same way as my top stitches and it looked ok. Are you going to frame your four piece project in four frames? I think it would look cool as long as the frame was sort of bland, a matte finish on a thin metal frame probably painted to match the fabric. Happy stitching! 👏🏼👏🏼💖 With the red fabric, what if you used a sharp needle for the areas with many quarter and three quarter stitches on the Aida.
Oh, now that is a genius suggestion! Trying tent stitch hadn't occurred to me at all, and wouldn't have. You clever thing, you! I'll have to give it a try but I'm optimistic. Hope the spider liberation was successful! The quadriptych finishing is a tricky one. The cut of fabric provided doesn't leave much space between the panels, I don't think there would be enough fabric to cut them apart and frame them separately. I don't really want to buy extra fabric, otherwise I should have started the whole thing on a higher count from the beginning. I did see someone who'd framed it in a custom frame that followed the outlines of the panels so it was an irregular shape - tricky to explain, but I reckon if I found the right moulding it wouldn't be impossible to make a similar frame. Or, recreate the same effect in a wall hanging, where the small fabric allowance between panels wouldn't be an issue. So several possibilities! I tried the sharp needle with the fractionals on aida, the kit came with one for that purpose, but I just really don't get on with it - not when I know how much easier it is on evenweave!
Just watched this. You are a gorgeous creature! This is four years old... and now I'll hop to the present and I'm going to bet you've finished none. 😳😊
Morning) really liked all your WIPs) 💙💚💛💜 try using the needle for beading (it is suuuper thin) for quarter stitches on sakura. It really helps me to do nice backstitch on Aida and fractionals
Thank you Anastasia! Also thanks for your suggestion. The kit comes with a sharp needle for the same purpose, I just really don't enjoy doing it :(. I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do instead, as I don't really like the alternative red Jobelan I bought. I might have to try dyeing some fabric, if I can find 32ct cotton evenweave anywhere!
I'm only catching this 3 years later but enjoyed the video. It;s a shame that you seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth, would have enjoyed an update :)
Hello Hannah!! Another great video!! I enjoyed watching your WIP parade, especially the Red Mermaid. I completely understand your love for her. I'm absolutely obsessed with that design now and will be buying it very soon. Regarding the Kreinik, I would sell it and use the money to buy the number four braid. I hope you are well. Happy stitching!
I Heart Cross Stitch haha enablement achievement unlocked! I thibk it's a tie between red mermaid, solar flare and ivory blush as to which project I've enabled the most people to start 😁 you're absolutely right, I need to get the #4 braid. Maybe I'll sell the #8 with the pattern, or do you think it would be a good giveaway prize?
Hi Hannah, Yany Stitcher gave you a shout out and I am so glad she did - I love your videos and your work is gorgeous. I too love hardanger and Mirabilias and I have The Shamrock Sampler in my stash ready to go - so nice to see it on Flosstube. I am with you about 'specialty 'stitches; in fact I never heard the term until I started watching Flosstube a couple of years ago. I am now retired and was taught embroidery in school and have been a crafter all my life and I only ever heard them called "embroidery stitches" of which cross stitch is just one. Would you mind recommending a custom framer here in the UK ? I checked a few a while ago but found them quite expensive and I as far as I could see there was no option to upload a picture. Perhaps you could have your Grandma on Flosstube some time ? Courtney ECR did a lovely video with her Grandma about a year ago. Looking forward to your next video.
Hi Mary, thank you for watching and commenting! I'm so behind on flosstube I'm still back in August, but hopefully I'll get to Yany's video soon and can thank her for the shoutout - I love that about the flosstube community! The last time I used the online custom framer was 10 years ago, but I'm pretty sure it was Bevian www.3dframing.co.uk and they were great. I'd have to check my emails from back then to make sure. Their website does have the "custom frame designer" tool which is where you upload the picture and their prices look very reasonable. I got an uncount mount (without aperture) to use as the base upon which I laced my fabric so as to add too much depth and it worked really well. I just wish I could give you a more recent recommendation! Unfortunately with Grandma living so far away there aren't many opportunities but I do know she has seen at least some of one of my videos and enjoyed it, so I'll be sure to ask her if the opportunity arises!
Really enjoy your videos and your stitching and project selections are gorgeous! Wondering if you have looked at Heaven and Earth Designs? They carry several of Afremov's designs. Happy stitching and looking forward to your next video!
Hi Donna, thanks for your comment! I have looked at HAED but for some reason their selection of Afremov artwork just doesn't appeal to me as much as those chosen by Zolotoe Runo to chart - plus I have a snowball's chance of finishing the smaller Zolotoe Runo kits :D Artecy also has a huge selection of Afremovs, some of which I particularly like but I already have so many!
Your WIPs are just gorgeous!! I was backstitching a piece while watching your video when I heard you say you were trying out backstitching two instead of one, so I switched over and you are definitely right, the stitches are a lot neater that way and it is definitely faster, THANK YOU for that tip! Have a great stitching day!!
What serendipitous timing! So glad the tip worked for you :) Other stitchers commented on instagram that they often go over more than 2 blocks to get even smoother outlines, but you don't want stitches that are too long otherwise the tension can get a bit loose and they might snag - something else for you to experiment with :)
You are one busy lady. I can't believe you have so many WIPS. I do love the red haired mermaid. Beautiful. You really do lovely work. Thanks for the flosstube.
I think it ended up at around 20 WIPs - not the most I've heard of, but certainly plenty to keep me busy! Thanks for watching and commenting, I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Hello! I was wondering as I am fairly new - would you tell me what you mean it is difficult to put a project on your frame? I only know about hoops, q-snaps and scroll rods ( I don't know much about scroll rods). How do you use a regular frame to stitch on? I am trying to find the best set up for myself. Would you let me know which is your favourite stitching set up?
Hello! Gosh, sorry for the really slow response! I'm dredging the memory banks here but I think you're referring to where I was discussing the issues I had with Butterfly Fairies and the knock-off qsnaps? I had a couple of issues there: 1) The tension kept loosening itself. I added felt between the fabric and clamps to give them a bit more grip which helped, but the tubes would still rotate within the corner connectors and so loosen the tension. 2) The clamps left white marks all over my black fabric. These managed to wash out with some gentle detergent, but it didn't fill me with joy! 3) I use a lowery floor stand to hold my stitching so I can stitch two-handed, but the clamp is designed to accept side-bars with flat top and bottom. With the round sides of the qsnaps, it kept slipping in the clamp and drooping towards the floor. Not the fault of the qsnap, it's just not appropriate to use with my floor stand. My preferred set up is to use Elbesee Easy Clip scroll frames with my lowery stand. They are simple and cost-effective scroll rod frames. The top and bottom rods are cylindrical and attach to the top and bottom of the fabric. These are clamped on each end by the side "stretcher" bars, which hold the two scroll rods separated to form a rectangle. You then rotate the scroll rods away from each other to take up the slack in the fabric and then tighten the clamps on the side stretchers to keep them in place and maintain the tension. This is the basic principle behind most scroll frames. The Elbesee Easy Clip frames use plastic clips to attach the fabric, which make it super easy to switch out projects (compared to some scroll frames which require you to sew your project onto the scroll rods). The clamping system is alright but not brilliant, so I replace it in my side stretchers and it's been working like a charm for me for the last couple of years. If you've any more questions, please ask! I'll add it to my "videos to record" list, but I don't want to make any promises as to when that might happen as I've really struggled to record in a timely manner thus far :D
Since you only have a little done on the art deco I would just change the fabric out. I've never worked with the 8 braid though can't say for sure if that's gonna help
Andrea Strom thank you Andrea for your comment. You're right, changing fabric would be the easiest thing to do. And yet, I'm resisting for some reason - I think I have been put off the #8 braid and just don't want to work with it, even on a fabric which it would be fine for. I'll have to mull it over for a bi. Thank you though, you've helped me clarify my thinking even if I don't follow your advice ☺
Carlen Mazzo did that piece in black it was beautiful! you should go see hers. She also did the mirabilia Dragon. The dragon was very large and it was beautiful.
I'm a huge fan of Carolyn's, she was one of the first flosstubers I ever watched! Which was the piece in black she also did? It's been a while since I watched her videos but you've tempted me to go back :)
I stumbled upon your channel quite by chance, and I loved seeing all of your work! Those are some gorgeous designs you are working on. I don't make flosstube videos (well... Not yet anyway), but I do make timelapse videos of my work. But who knows, one day I might join the flosstube community for real :-) Until then, I've definitely sub'bed to your channel and can't wait to see progress updates on some of the pieces. :-)
Hi Cathrina, thank you for your comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. How do you create your timelapse videos? Flosstube can always use more content creators, but it wouldn't exist without people watching so you're already a vital part of the community! I hope to record an update soon!
I will be looking forward to your update. It's very simple to do timelapse videos; every time I've finished a thread or a colour a take one or two photos from approx. the same angle each time. In the end you'll have a video of a cross stitch project slowly growing :-)
Ah that's far too disciplined for me - I get so involved in the stitching I'd forget all about stopping to take regular pictures. Taking one every day for instagram is as much as I can manage at the moment! I bet they are beautiful though, I'll have to take a look!
Thank you SO much for your videos. I enjoy seeing what you're working on and hearing of your difficulties and impressions of the process. I would welcome tutorials. I'd be interested in seeing how you use your laying tool. Also in a parking tutorial. Could you tell us a little about yourself...what your full time job is? I think you can tell that I find your work beautiful!!
Thank you, Maxine. I worry that I ramble on about it all a bit much sometimes, so it's nice to hear you enjoy that part! A laying tool demonstration is definitely on the list, just got to iron out those technical difficulties. I've also planned to show some time-saving techniques I use - I often get asked how I stitch so fast, and I'd love to share. Parking is part of that, and since I use parking in several different ways I'll have to think a bit more on how I can best demonstrate what I do and why. I'm so excited to (hopefully) help other stitchers! I did actually record a bit about what I do for a living, but it's not a simple answer and it's evolving, so I ended up not including it - it would have made an already long video even longer. Instead, I'll try and share a bit more about myself each video, and next time I do a WIP update I'll try and explain my employment situation.
Thanks for your reply!! No need to reveal alot about yourself just to satisfy curiosity! Your talents are so wide ranging that I wanted to know how you employ them. I look forward to your next videos!
Finished work and I am just finishing watching your second video now and as you show all your many WIP’s and those WIP’s that you started one day after the other day I am starting a new start and I'm loving starting but I know my mind will go into stress mode because I am not finishing and if you count this new start I now have right WIP’s which I know is nothing compared to you, but I actually can't go over ten WIP’s. I don't believe I ever have. Anyway, love all your stitching. It is just all so amazing and you just stitch so much and get so much done on each piece.
Hi Ivy! Please don't think that just because I start a bazillion things it's necessarily a good idea - it stresses me out too! But I just can't help myself. If you know that you have a certain limit and that's what works for you, then stick with it. When everyone starting doing the skin of their mirabilia one over one I decided to give it a try as it was "the thing to do". Well, I hated it so much it made me stop stitching completely, until I realised that following the crowd wasn't worth ruining my enjoyment of my hobby and went back to 2 over 2 as charted.
hanmayde that is a great example. I'm finding all the time that I seem to be way out of the crowd when it comes to my stitching. Glad you realized that it was the one over one skin that was giving you the problems and that you love the charted way better
Just found your channel and by far are the BEST EVER . Your projects are amazing I love them all. I am surprised that you have only done a few videos. Please keep doing more. Your accent is catching and easy to listen to. I have you on while I am stitching, cooking, cleaning and even brushing my teeth, my husband thinks I am crazy.
Thank you for sharing your talent and your personality. I just found out after visiting your website that you are the one who created the chart cropper which I recently used. It was a godsend for me. I got the link from Dena "halfstitch cross stitch" and was going to tell her to thank you, once I caught up in her videos. However, I can now that you myself, thank you for saving me from hours of figuring out what I could do to change my work area.
Florence Slaunwhite hi Florence, and thank you! I'm so happy to hear it's been used by someone - I put it online and have been to busy to think much about it since. I'll have to thank Dena for spreading the word - was it in one of her videos? I'm so behind on flosstube I'm still in July! If you have suggestions for other similar tools that would help you out do please let me know and I'll do my best to get it up quickly. I've plans for a fabric calculator and count conversion tool soon
I'm so happy I finally got up to your video in my watch list!! I love the projects you choose - so many pretties!! I have a thought on those double 3/4 stitches. When I picked up a 14ct pattern again one time after working on smaller counts for a long time, I realized just how scanty fractional stitches look on 14ct. I can see how a 3/4 stitch would help solve that problem and keep the fabric from showing through. You stitch so quickly, you might be able to finish that ornament this year! You could try framing your hardanger piece backed on some colored mat board. I think goldfishie even finished her piece like that. Your video came across very nice and polished. Any technical difficulties you might have experienced was nicely edited out. It was a lovely video to watch! I look forward to seeing an actual update video whenever you decide to make one. :)
Haha I love how you get frustrated if you're a week or so behind on flosstube, whereas I'm STILL in August and it's taken me a month to reply to your comment (thank you, by the way!) :D It's something I've not thought about much before, just doing fractionals how I always did them, but it's something I really want to play around with a bit more and your point about coverage is a really interesting one. I should experiment! If I'd got the ornament out after filming the video I might have done, but suddenly it's less than a month until Christmas and life has been a bit mad, plus a deadline is the kiss of death for my stitchy bug. I've got other ideas for presents for him and other things I've already stitched and just need to frame so next year is fine! Definitely going to use coloured mat board if I frame it, which I assume I will (we actually call it mount board in the UK, but thanks to all the US flosstubers I call it mat board and confuse everyone here :D). But I think I'd need to pick out a frame before decided on the colour maybe. I'm so bad at FFO-ing, I think I've done 2 this entire year. Technical issues are part of why I haven't done an update yet, but I've just got a new camera! Now all I need is a chunk of time when the house is quiet, but with builders in the house all day, me out at work all evenings and family events every weekend... I need a time turner!
I've recently been focusing my priorities more on my housework and family, so I'm slowly coming to terms with being behind on Flosstube. It's actually kind of freeing to not be rushing to try to catch up. I'm probably almost 2 weeks behind at the moment, but that's okay. I'm also occasionally unsubscribing a few folks that I've never really clicked with in order to fully maximize the time I do have to watch a few videos. That should help me from getting avalanched with new videos. :) I hope you have fun stitching when you can this season. And I'll be happy to see a new video whenever you're able to sort everything out. No pressure during this busy time of year - I know how hard it can be to find time. I think I've finally done enough videos that I can wing them a little bit and not need a lot of prep time, but I definitely needed to rehearse things in my head and write notes for the first 25 videos or I would feel frazzled and unprepared. Take your time and it'll be fun when you're ready. :)
well you don't exactly shy away from big projects ;) love a lot of them but my absolute favorite are the maia geisha's! don't think i saw those before. Maybe the kreinik will come in use someday on a canvaswork piece, but you can always try and sell it if you want it out of your life :)
Never a truer word. What can I say, it's a personality defect :D Happy to be able to introduce something new to the community! Unfortunately I think they might be out of print now though. They are big favourites of mine too, which is why I've been so frustrated over the fabric. But I just need to stop whining and get on with it, as soon as I start stitching I'll fall in love with it again (at least for a few days, until the next shiny project distracts me!). That's a good idea, saving the #8 for counted canvas, although I think out the door is where I need it to go :)
Another fabulous video! I am soooo in love with the Maia Geishas! I hope you sort it out and find a way to stitch them without distorting the fabric... What about doing the full Xs first? And then stitching the background with 1 strand full crosses instead of half stitches?
Those are some great suggestions! I don't think changing the order would work as there's so much more background than full stitch foreground so there would be no avoiding the skewing just doing normal half cross or tent stitch. 1 strand full cross is interesting but I've already started basketweave so I'm going to persevere with that for a little while when I next pick it up. If after a little bit that isn't working for me I'll definitely give 1 strand full cross a go :)
halfstitch cross stitch wow, thank you! I love your videos, so it tickles me to know you've watched mine 😊 I've not had much time to stitch or watch flosstube this week but hopefully that'll change, or it might be some time before a progress update
Hello Hannah! You have very beautiful and neat works. I wish You further success. A small clarification: "RTO" - it is a Russian company producing products for embroidery (as well as the company "Золотое Руно")
Thank you, Marina! How bad was my pronunciation of Золотое Руно (terrible, or just really bad?) ;) That's so interesting - I had originally thought RTO was Russian but on the back of my kit it gives the address of RTO as Tallinn, Estonia and says "Made in EU". Did it originate in Russia and move to Estonia, do you know?
No, the RTO company is a Russian company, located in Moscow. Here is their official website - rto-mos.ru/. Most likely, on the back of the set specified office RTO in Estonia where you can buy the their product. About the pronunciation, frankly, not very good. You need to talk - ZolotOe rUno
Marina legko oh how confusing! Well, thank you for clearing that up. I'm surprised it says made in the EU though. I'll make sure to correct myself next time I dhow that project. Oh dear, I don't think I'll get it right. Maybe I'll call it Golden Fleece from now on ☺
Hi Hannah. I am 3/4 way through but gave up and is now officially UFO status. I hate the #8 braid - way too bulky. Definitely opt for the thinner one if you can. My mistake was the shop owner talked me into antique white 32ct Belfast but it should have been straight white. It made the piece look 'wrong'. It really needs the bright white to make it pop properly. So wrong fabric choice together with too think metallic was a killer.
Hi Lilla, thank you for your comment. I'm so sad to hear about your UFO but I sympathise completely - luckily I realised I hated it pretty quickly. Would you ever restart it or has it just completely ruined the project for you? I've received some great suggestions about using the #8 braid but only doing half crosses in the same direction as the top leg of my full crosses to help reduce the bulk. Maybe that would let you soldier through the last quarter?
hanmayde Maybe one day but there are so many projects to do that are not tainted with frustration. I think it is done for a long time but thanks for the suggestion. I will use it on another project! By the way, I showed my daughter Red Mermaid and she promptly bought it. She is now happily stitching away on it. Such a great find. 😀
Fair enough! How lucky we are that there's so many gorgeous designs to choose from! That's so cool that your daughter is into stitching. It's such a wonderful piece to stitch. I have a feeling RTO have seen a boost in sales of that kit since my video :D
Hi Hannah loved your Red Mermaid so much I ordered it, I have never done a cross stitch like it. I am a bit concerned that the navy blue aida in the kit is nearly black not like your photos at all, I don't understand the dmc project cards how on earth do you know which colour to use, I hope you can help me?
Hi Laura, congrats on getting Red Mermaid, she's delightful :) It can all be a bit daunting, especially if you've not tackled anything like it before. What kinds of projects have you stitched? Have you done other kits before, or stitched from charts and/or magazines? Just so I can have an idea how best to explain things. I'm not sure what ti say about the aida being nearly black, mine was certainly navy. Perhaps the best thing to do there is to get in touch with RTO? If they've included the wrong fabric I'm sure they'd send you out another piece (mind you, my piece was really small!). There should be contact info, on the back of the packet I believe. Another option would be to buy some Navy fabric. Sewandso.co.uk is my go to destination for fabric, and they sell Zweigart aida and evenweave in Navy (and Zweigart navy aida is what *should* have been included in your kit). As for the thread cards, they deliberately don't provide the colour numbers (like 310 = dmc black) to prevent people from pirating the kits. But you should still have a symbol key in the kit which assigns a number to each symbol. This number is printed on the thread cards next to the appropriate colour thread. For example on the first thread card, the first thread will be labelled '1'. Look up that number in the key to see which symbol corresponds to that colour. (I actually write the symbol next to the colour on the thread card so I don't need to keep referring to the key.) The next slot on the thread card will be labelled '2' and so on. The same colour might be in multiple slots of the thread card, if a lot of that colour is required in the kit. In this case, the key will show a range of numbers next to the symbol. For example, if DMC 762 was provided in slots 7, 8, and 9 on the thread card, the symbol for 762 would show '7-9' next to it. I hope that helps, but it's much easier to demonstrate that type so if you're still confused let me know and I'll record a quick video for you. Feel free to shoot me any other questions, and happy stitching! x
Thank you so much for your quick reply Hannah. To be on the safe side I just ordered navy 28ct 19 by 27 it will be easier to do the 3/4 stitches I am used to doing just haed type cross stitches. I hope I can get my head around the pattern, I usually work from my laptop, I will scan the pattern and work from paint.net so I can zoom in and mark the pattern with colours at a low opacity because my eyes are quite bad. Thanks again .
@@faerie247 good shout, I wish I'd swapped for evenweave. There aren't too many fractionals but it will help as you say. I did exactly the same, scanned the chart in and transferred the images to my phone. I don't mark my charts so just used the regular photo app but sounds like you've already got a system that works for you ☺ highlighting will probably help a lot in the hair, that was a bit of a struggle without, but as you're a HAED stitcher you'll have no problem! Enjoy, and if I can help at all I will. If you get stuck with the thread colours I'll use my colour card to identify the DMC numbers for you x
Beautiful wips! I agree the Red mermaid is gorgeous!! Love her! The Fantasia kit from DMC was beautiful hope you get the feeling for stitching it back 🤗
Stitching Becca thank you. So many WIPs competing for my attention - I want another finish soon but then I'll be sad that they're done. Your hopes have not been in vain though! I've not had much stitching time this week, but when I did I picked up the Fantasia project to get a break from working on aida. I'll update IG later ☺
Thank you Kristen, I'm so glad you enjoyed them. Life has conspired to make opportunities to record another video scarce but I hope to do another one soon :)
Stunning work. Love your videos. I am anxiously awaiting #3. K's Creations(www.kscreations.com) offers scroll rods up to 50 inches wide. I use their stainless steel floor stand that is very much like your Lowery stand. If you can't locate these in the UK this is an option for you.
Thank you for your lovely comment! I'm anxiously awaiting the chance to record #3 but life has had other ideas thus far. Thanks for the link and recommendation, I'll check them out but I don't know if they'll be available in the UK. Honestly though, I just need to make some time to make my own scroll rods, it wouldn't be hard I've just got other things going on. Some day!
Such a great video! Loved all your projects especially Orange River and how does your garden grow.l'm now going to watch your first video and look forward to more.l paticularly love the way you address problems you've encountered, very useful😊
Thank you Mariam, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I love to share solutions to problems, that's the part I find most useful about other people's videos, so I'll try to keep doing that :)
Yasmine Cherfi thank you, Yasmine! Wow, you must have really enjoyed it ☺ is your Afremov wip from artecy? I had never seen Afremov's work before seeing that Zolotoe Runo kit at the craft show, but like you I'm a huge fan now. Which Zolotoe Runo kits do you have? I hadn't thought to do a stash video, I might be ashamed at facing the obscene quantities! I'm sure I can at least show some relevant stash when the opportunity presents, like when I finish Romantic Walk I can show my other Afremov kits. Though remember, when you can't resist starting one, that you did request it 😉
Loved seeing all your gorgeous wips! How about for the art Deco mirabilia, start again but on the lower count fabric? Then the no.8 threads won't go to waste and it's probably cheaper/more budget friendly to purchase different fabric than to buy all the spools of no.4 :)
Thank you! That would have been a good decision, but I took the plunge and bought the no 4 braids when I found I had a bit more spending money than expected one month. I haven't actually picked up that project again yet, but hopefully a second wind will come around soon. I'm sure I'll be able to work the number 8 threads into a hardanger or counted canvas project somehow, or maybe make some cording for fully finishing a project (if I ever get around to it!)
Your projects are just amazing! I am almost speechless to think of all you have accomplished. It's so fascinating to see so many projects I've never seen before - that's what so much fun - to see what other people are doing and what appeals to them. Looking forward to future videos. And... your cat is beautiful.
Thank you, Sally! I get a thrill every time someone says I've shared something they've never seen before :) And Paddy thanks you for the compliment - it's just as well he's so beautiful, for being such a nuisance when I'm trying to stitch! :D
Lovely wip parade, it's made me want to stitch a mermaid project now! Hello from North Yorkshire by the way. With the Elements piece would it be cheaper to restart on 28ct using those metallics you already have? Restarting is a pain (been there done that) but better than fighting with the fabric/threads all the way through? Love Strictly too by the way 😀
Louise Burgundyice hi Louise! Yorkshire is a wonderful place 😊 I love mermaids, can you tell? Which mermaid would you go for? You're absolutely right, restarting is probably the quickest, easiest and cheapest thing. But I don't really want to, and I think it's because I've just been put off the #8 braid, at least for this project. It doesn't make much sense but I don't think I'll ever stitch it if I try and stick with the #8. Someone else suggested trying tent stitch with the #8 on the 32ct which I might try just to see what happens, but even so... Stitchers' problems, hey? I don't watch strictly much now, but that's more because I'm just not an appointment TV viewer. When I do catch it though it's wonderful to watch. I wish I'd joined the society and taken the lessons, but alas!
Fabulouser and fabulouser! I could spend the evening listening to you.I am a newbie and fiddling with small stuff - blown away by the size and intricacy of your work. Can't wait for your next chapter.
Thank you, Bonita! I definitely have enough finishes to do an evening-long video, and some have asked for a finish parade. But, my phone couldn't even handle recording this video with grace, so you'll just have to be satisfied with smaller doses of me ;) I started out small too, I've just always been an overachiever! The small ones are great practice and you'll be working your way up before you know it. I'm happy to try and answer any questions you have, just shout
Great video 🙂 I love the mermaid design by R.T.O - it's coming along beautifully. You almost enabled me to maybe buying it but I hate backstitching & fractional stitches 😢 so I guess she's not for me, which is ok lol. Looking forward to your next video 👍🏻 Happy Stitching!
stitchybutterflyk84 thank you. She's gorgeous though! There's not many fractionals or much backstitching, and she's surely worth pushing through it? But if not you can at least enjoy her vicariously - I get the feeling a few more people will be stitching her soon 😉 thanks for watching and commenting!
I have watched both of your podcasts and enjoyed them very much. Would you mind telling us your Age? You do phenomenal work and I can only imagine what your future holds for you. I look forward to seeing more of your work.
Thank you Sherry, I'm glad you've enjoyed the videos so far. I'm 29, but as I said in the first video, Grandma got me started young and I've kept it up on and off all this time.
Another wonderful video, so glad you came back. I also do not like photos taken of myself, but maybe someday I can buck up the courage to make flosstube videos! Love all your WIPS!!
Xstitchingfool thank you! The wonderful thing is that noone's looking at me really, we're all here for the stitching. So whilst I'd prefer it if I looked a bit better and my hair behaved and I didn't have perpetual sniffles, the stitching would outshine me anyway and that's how it should be 😊 I hope you do someday, but even if you don't flosstube only works if people are watching so you are a vital part of the community already!
It's incredible how talented you are. I have really enjoyed seeing all your amazing wips, although I have very different tastes in patterns! Looking forward to your next videos :)
Francesca thank you Francesca, that's very kind! Isn't that the great thing about flosstube, that the passion we share for needlework transcends the particulars of the projects we work? Thank you for watching and commenting ☺
Thank you :) Isn't she just? I can't wait to get her finished and up on the wall. Still a fair bit of work to do on her though so I'm not giving myself a deadline - I find that's the fastest way to put me off a project!
Thank you. I really enjoyed the RTO kit, except for the fabric stinginess, and would definitely stitch another of theirs. What pattern are you working on?
Thank you, Joanne! Do you mean the colours in Orange River? They are lovely colours, but I'm a big fan of blue so I can't wait to get into the blue water and sky areas - they'll be set off so beautifully against the reds and oranges :)
I am absolutely amazed at the work you do. I really enjoy watching your videos and I hope we see more. I am working on a full coverage piece and you have boasted my desire to continue working on them because the end result is lovely!!
Thank you, Elisa! I need to figure out a different way to record videos, maybe get a proper camera (my phone can only handle 6 minutes at a time, and the battery goes flat even when it's charging!). But I have plans for more :) That's one of the wonderful things about flosstube, how we can inspire each other to persevere when the going gets tough. I haven't actually done many "proper" full coverage pieces - I'd consider Romantic Walk to be the first that I started, and I still haven't finished it (although there are a couple that were close enough to full coverage I suppose). What piece are you working on?
Tough day at work, so was happy to see this in my feed today! Your wips are gorgeous, especially the mermaid with the red hair and the romantic walk one. I didn't know Lesley Teare had her own website, you have definitely enabled me with that African beauty pattern, it's gorgeous 😊
I'm sorry to hear about your tough day. If this video helped take your mind off it, well then it was worth all the frustration to get it recorded! Thank you, they are both my favourites too. I think. Except all the others, of course. :D Yes it's great that she's got PDF downloads! I've got tonnes of her charts thanks to my magazine subscriptions but the more recent ones make their way onto her website pretty quickly, plus it's nice to support her directly. I probably shouldn't take such joy in enabling others, but I really do!
Thanks, Liana! Yes, I do seem to like those big projects. You're right, the backstitch can be a right pain but it looks wonderful at the end so I just try and grit my teeth. It's the fractionals that are killing me at the moment!
Thanks Brooke! Life got even crazier than I expected, but now that the holidays are over I'm hoping to get back on track and get a new video up. Hope you like long ones!
Loved your video, and your wips 😍 I'll admit, with your love of specialty stitches I just assumed you would have a few chatelaines on the go as well haha! Thanks for coming back! I'm similar that I tend to jump right in for the love of the design without considering the size of it. I'm stitching Afremov's the loneliness of autumn, charted by artecy, and had a few of the same struggles. I have not seen the kits you have though, so I'm off to look at those!
Melissa Eggleston thanks, Melissa! Surprisingly, I've not done a single Chatelaine. I only discovered them relatively recently thanks to flosstube and have been tempted but have a dilemma. I love the centres of the mandalas, but am not such a fan of the borders. Perhaps it would help to see more of the stitched models as opposed to the website mockups, but to spend that much money and time I need to love all of the design and I haven't found that so far. The blue mandala (Moroccan lace is it? I forget the name) has me the most tempted, but I've also got to be budget conscious at the moment. So I'm stitching from stash I already have as much as possible and lucky for me I have lots of gorgeous WIPs, kits and charts to keep me happy for quite some time ☺ did you manage to find the Zolotoe Runo kits? They have several Afremov designs and I believe are smaller than artecy or HAED. I'm still honing my approach but discovering parking, row by row in particular, was an absolute godsend. How do you work yours?
hanmayde blue Moroccan lace is gorgeous. I'm a member of the chatelaine support Facebook group, and there is definitely a huge difference in the stitched versions and the mock ups. I have hydrangea autumn fog, and am still working up the nerve to start haha! My artecy is very slowly going, although I do enjoy the small blocks of color. I haven't been able to get comfortable with parking yet, but it would be a great project to master that technique with! I have found quite a few Afremov's I love, and love that it's a kit. I need to think about it, because sometimes I think I'd be better off if I just purchased the print 😂 I'm a slow stitcher, and full coverage isn't my favorite.
Loved your wip parade. Ever so beautiful are your masterpieces. Love love ❤️ your hardanger piece. I'm speechless. Those stitches are ever so beautiful. I've only just begun hardanger. I recently purchased a Judy Dixon pattern as I really loved yours. Not sure when I will start it. I do at one point want to purchase the pattern you did. Please keep making videos. Tutorials would be wonderful. Happy stitching
Thanks, Kelly. I realised I forgot to say the name of the hardanger piece (it's called Malaka). I only started hardanger last year, and once you've got the hang of it going bigger is more a test of patience than skill as it can get pretty repetitive :D Which Judy Dixon did you get? The drawn thread work in Ivory Blush is technically basic, just put together so exquisitely. I've got to iron out those technical issues for the tutorials, but I've got a couple of ideas. Be sure to let me know if there's a tutorial you'd like me to do!
Treasured moments by Judy Dixon. I had did stitching with a smile 1st tutorial which was just a small square coaster size. Then she recently did a tutorial on a bigger piece. The bigger piece was much easier. As far as tutorials maybe some of the specialty you did in your 2 hardanger.
Thank you Norma! I swear it's less courage and more naivete - e.g. I didn't know beforehand that on black was supposed to be hard, evenweave harder and metallic even harder still, I just saw the Tallulah design from video #1 and loved the finished piece and had to stitch it. Same goes with all the others - I fall in love with the design and don't think about difficulty, just that I want to do it and will figure it out somehow! :) I hope I get to record again soon, 2 months is too long!
Beautiful, mine arrived today but the fabric looks even smaller then yours image size 25.5x36 cm on 14 Aida could you let me know your fabric size please thank you 😊
I bought some more fabric, larger size and I have already started red mermaid , my query was I felt that the fabric was a lot smaller then yours and I just wanted to check against your size fabric . I didn't like the way her head was cut off so I add more hair ...
That's how I have always done my fractional stitches when there are two symbols, even if there is a backstitch across them. And yes, I do the long stitch and then the short one. I've found the coverage is much nicer and smoother when I do that.
Sarah Greiner that's really interesting, thanks for sharing! I learnt fractionals from the UK magazines and they didn't show that method, as I recall. It's given me another tool for the toolbox ☺
It just made sense to me to do, nobody ever actually told me to do 1/4 stitch and 3/4 stitch. And I liked the coverage and just went with it. It really made the Mardi Gras Mask piece I did for my sister look great. There were very strange angled stitches and tons of blending filaments in that. (I had to pause the video to do some other things so sorry this bit is a bit late) I would caution you to be careful about Witchykit Designs. The reason is they have way, way too many illegal patterns. Far too many of their pieces are licensed with other designers. It's an ongoing problem that the other designers are aware of, but they can't get them (witchykit) shut down. I haven't seen the one you've started elsewhere, so I don't know the artist, but my guess is that the artist has no idea their work has been charted :( (witchykit doesn't list the artist name in the listings)
Sarah Greiner oh no! If they aren't properly licensed that's terrible, I feel duped. But I can't find any further information on it. Has someone taken legal proceedings against them?
Oh my word what gorgeous beautiful, beautiful pieces. Gorgeous! Red-haired mermaid...wow! Dawn dish detergent, they save wild animals with it when oils get on it, and since plastics are derived from petroleum products I would have a go with a tooth brush and some diluted Dawn for the lines on the black fabric if rinsing doesn't work first.
Thank you, Vonna :) Thanks for the tip about Dawn! I'm in the UK and we don't have Dawn but I imagine Fairy washing up liquid is pretty close. Your comment sent me off googling about detergents and surfactants, bringing back my A Level chemistry days - fascinating stuff! I've actually got some Orvus WA Paste which (alongside being used as shampoo for white horses) is a detergent used by quilters. I got it for wet finishing my woven textiles, when that was my craft du jour. Another possibility to try :) Before I do anything though I need to check the fabric colour-fastness - imagine if all of that black bled.... eek!
So last night I had some insomnia and came across your video. Don't tell anyone, but I sometimes lull myself to sleep with a really long Flosstube video, and this one is over an hour. Well. Ahem. I did not go to sleep. I found you and your projects so riveting that I not only watched this video, but your first as well. And I cannot wait to see more from you. You have lovely taste, and I just adored everything. xo
Hahaha that is one of the nicest back-handed compliments I've ever received :D thank you so much. And to think I was worried that my videos were too long. Seriously though, thank you so much, it's a joy to share with likeminded people. I'm sorry the wait for #3 has been so long but hopefully it'll be worth it, when it eventually arrives!
I am so very sad that I only just found your channel! You have some of the most beautiful stitching I have ever seen on FlossTube
What wonderful projects. I absolutely love your possible UFO, The Country Girl. Such a sweet design. I hope you decide to pick her up some day :) Thanks for sharing all of your work, and I look forward to following your progress.
Sharon B thank you, Sharon. She is sweet, and I do have a habit of coming back around to finish projects I have worked on in years so there's still hope for her ☺
Hi Hannah, with the Maia kit and stitching fractionals on Aida, in the past I have used just a normal needle with a sharp end. It feels different but it will push through the cloth with zero issues. You just have to be careful you don't drag your needle along the back of holes looking for the one to come up in as the sharper needle can catch on threads. I hope this helps, it works for me. I love seeing your very eclectic range of projects on all types of fabric and different threads. You are a Master stitcher with a capital M. Whilst watching this I just kept thinking of the saying ' Go big or go home !' Thanks for sharing, looking forward to any content you wish to share into the future. Happy stitching.
Alis Stitching Studio thanks for the suggestion Ali ☺ Maia do provide a sharp (crewel?) needle in their kits, as well as a tapestry needle, for that purpose. And I don't mind if there's only a few fractionals, as in Red Mermaid, but there are so many in Sakura that it completely drains my enthusiasm. I really just need to stop dithering, get over myself and mark a working copy of the chart so the basketweave is easier to manage!
It's very kind of you to call me a master. I've been thinking recently on a similar topic - how does one determine whether they are beginner/intermediate/advanced, what are the criteria? I'd like to make a skills matrix and see where I have less experience, out of interest and to maybe be more conscious when choosing future projects. But everyone is so self-effacing, no-one wants to call themselves advanced, and there are so many different areas of interest... All that to ask, what do you consider makes an advanced stitcher?
Just in case no one else has said, the white marks on your black fabric will come off - I just wiped mine very gently with a damp cloth and they were gone. Never came back. I use felt between my q-snaps and clamps now. I'm not sure if it's the clamps making the marks or if the pressure causes the sizing in the fabric to show up - but it comes off so that's good :D I've got some gigantic projects I want to do, and I'm going to try the q-snap style quilting frame for mine. They're not as expensive as a wooden one, and also if you know someone good with tools, you could make your own and buy some clamps to use on it for super cheap!
Thank you for your comment!
I've had recommendations to spot clean with mild detergent so I'll try just a damp cloth first, thank you so much for the suggestion! I thought it was too optimistic to hope that alone would work, but I'm happy to hear it does! That's such an interesting point, that it could be the sizing. I've got other types of frames that presumably provide the same tension and haven't noticed that with the same black fabric but now I'm intrigued!
I've not heard of the qsnap style quilting frames, but I like the idea of DIYing it - luckily I'm pretty handy myself so it should be no problem. I intended to make one out of wooden dowel anyway but just haven't got around to it.
God, so many lovely Afremov designs to choose from, after doing a search thanks to your video! (There's actually a song by Leonard Cohen, Dance me to the End of Love, if you like that type of music :-) ). I've also been eyeing that 4-seasons tree since I got back to stitching 2 years ago, I just haven't been brave enough, hehe. Hugs and blessings!
I know it's so dangerous, I fell right down the rabbit hole after discovering Zolotoe Runo's Afremov kits. I'll have to show the others at some point, when I eventually get a chance to record again! Thanks again for watching and commenting :)
Hannah, you have just a beautiful range of work.. Just beautiful... I agree with others. Use tent stitch in the direction of your top thread and it will stop it sitting proud and thick enough to cover the fabric. Cheers from Australia
Hi Deb, thank you so much for your comment. I can't believe I never thought of that idea before but it is a wonderful suggestion. Unfortunately I think #8 braid is ruined for me, at least with that project, but I'll definitely keep it in mind for the future!
Hello! fellow stitcher here...As soon as you held up the Red Mermaid i paused video and searched for it and ordered it! lol Absolutely amazing!!!!!
You stitch beautifully! All of your projects look lovely.
Thank you, Sandy!
Dear lady your Red mermaid is divine ...so much so that when I showed her to a very dear friend she was immediately ordered for my Christmas present....and she shall be on the frame as soon as she arrives...thankyou...super wip parade also ..from lancashire ♡♡
Anne Robinson hi Anne! Oh, your wonderful friend ☺ and letting you start your present early! Has she arrived yet? She's a delight to work on. I almost don't want to finish her because I enjoy her so much!
Very enjoyable video! Your needlework is beautiful and I look forward to seeing updates on your projects.
Thank you, Annette! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Life's got a bit busy and so I've hardly stitched since I made the video, but I'll come back with another one when I can
Really love your projects, just so amazing. Looking forward to see all your progress on those projects. Thank you for showing them to us! Claudia
Thank you Claudia, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I hope to get a progress update recorded soon, two months is too long!
So many beautiful WIPs!! Andrea from I Heart Cross Stitch sent me here and I'm glad she did. I've just been discovering the Eastern European kits myself over the past year and am overwhelmed with them all - so pretty!! I'm with Andrea that Red Mermaid is simply amazing.
Lisa's stitching and such thank you, Lisa! I love your videos and Andrea's, so it's great fun to know you're watching and enjoying mine 😊 I've got a bit addicted to them, I just love their style! I also want to get into shovchik which is the Russian needlepoint, or counted canvas to us, but finding where to buy the charts is proving trickier.
I love the yellow in your papillon creations piece!!! It's perfect!
Thank you, Zoe. I have a tendency to doubt my decisions, so it's great to have assurances from someone else!
You are a natural at speaking on videos. Your needle work is lovely and the projects beautiful! I have a suggestion on how you might frame up your massive black project for stitching. You might try looking for a quilt (scroll frame) and stand. They are very similar to cross stitching frames and stands and you might find one wide enough.
Cindy Jurek thank you. That's a great idea! I'll keep an eye out, although I've got plans to make some of my own frames anyway so it could go either way. Still, I like your thinking!
Yes, please keep making videos. Really enjoyed your wip parade. I don't have any help to offer except to suggest putting a piece of doubled-up felt in the clamp of your Lowary to help hold the Q snap. Or I've heard putting moleskin on the clamp as well. I also put felt under my Qsnap clamps and my knockoff ones to protect the fabric and increase tension. I've seen people use muslin etc. 😊
I will make more, once the frustration of making this one recedes in the memory! Flipping technology. Does the felt help clamp the qsnap in the lowery? I'll have to give it a go, although I have a suspicion that my knock-off is just rubbish, that the side rotates within the corners and there's no hope for it except to clamp the corner somehow. I've got some pieces of felt and some muslin/calico/something for making dressmaking toiles so I'll have to experiment. First though, to try and get rid of those white marks!
Love the yellow!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Leslie! I still can't help second guessing my colour choice and I wonder if I'm even now going to end up changing it, but it's nice to hear that it looks ok to other people :)
Hi Hannah, great videos. I've got a lowery stand and use qsnaps and millennium frame in mine all the time. I added some fake mole skin adhesive sticker things to protect my frames. I have found that it helps give a bit of extra grip. Also, I tighten mine up very well so that there is very little/no rolling or flopping of the frame. Hope you get it sorted. Best wishes
Thanks for your comment. I've not heard of self-adhesive moleskin before but what a clever idea! I don't have expensive frames so I'm not concerned about the lowery clamp marking the side-bars but I can see how you'd want to protect a millenium frame. I think the rolling is an issue with my fake qsnaps because the corner connectors aren't tight enough, but I'll have to play around a bit. I've got lots to keep me out of trouble in the meanwhile though :)
Wonderful WIP parade
So nice to see your work, I just found you and subscribed- looking forward to more! Thanks!
Pamela Nesler thank you, Pamela! Glad you enjoyed the videos. Life's got a bit busy but I hope to get something else out soon, although I've not got much progress to show
Gorgeous projects! Love your choices, divine Red Mermaid, in love with her. The #8 braid, could you just use tent/half stitch with it or would that still be too bulky. I missed a bit of what you said because I had to go capture a spider, maybe you already tried that. I was working on a project that the metallic was too bulky full cross and tried the half, it worked fine as I used it the same way as my top stitches and it looked ok. Are you going to frame your four piece project in four frames? I think it would look cool as long as the frame was sort of bland, a matte finish on a thin metal frame probably painted to match the fabric. Happy stitching! 👏🏼👏🏼💖 With the red fabric, what if you used a sharp needle for the areas with many quarter and three quarter stitches on the Aida.
Oh, now that is a genius suggestion! Trying tent stitch hadn't occurred to me at all, and wouldn't have. You clever thing, you! I'll have to give it a try but I'm optimistic. Hope the spider liberation was successful! The quadriptych finishing is a tricky one. The cut of fabric provided doesn't leave much space between the panels, I don't think there would be enough fabric to cut them apart and frame them separately. I don't really want to buy extra fabric, otherwise I should have started the whole thing on a higher count from the beginning. I did see someone who'd framed it in a custom frame that followed the outlines of the panels so it was an irregular shape - tricky to explain, but I reckon if I found the right moulding it wouldn't be impossible to make a similar frame. Or, recreate the same effect in a wall hanging, where the small fabric allowance between panels wouldn't be an issue. So several possibilities! I tried the sharp needle with the fractionals on aida, the kit came with one for that purpose, but I just really don't get on with it - not when I know how much easier it is on evenweave!
hanmayde 2
Just watched this. You are a gorgeous creature! This is four years old... and now I'll hop to the present and I'm going to bet you've finished none. 😳😊
Morning) really liked all your WIPs) 💙💚💛💜 try using the needle for beading (it is suuuper thin) for quarter stitches on sakura. It really helps me to do nice backstitch on Aida and fractionals
Thank you Anastasia! Also thanks for your suggestion. The kit comes with a sharp needle for the same purpose, I just really don't enjoy doing it :(. I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do instead, as I don't really like the alternative red Jobelan I bought. I might have to try dyeing some fabric, if I can find 32ct cotton evenweave anywhere!
I'm only catching this 3 years later but enjoyed the video. It;s a shame that you seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth, would have enjoyed an update :)
Hi, just wanted to know where do u get the red mermaid from please? She's so beautiful, I kept going back to just look at her!
Hello Hannah!! Another great video!! I enjoyed watching your WIP parade, especially the Red Mermaid. I completely understand your love for her. I'm absolutely obsessed with that design now and will be buying it very soon. Regarding the Kreinik, I would sell it and use the money to buy the number four braid. I hope you are well. Happy stitching!
I Heart Cross Stitch haha enablement achievement unlocked! I thibk it's a tie between red mermaid, solar flare and ivory blush as to which project I've enabled the most people to start 😁 you're absolutely right, I need to get the #4 braid. Maybe I'll sell the #8 with the pattern, or do you think it would be a good giveaway prize?
from penzance cornwall love cross stitch,
Hi Hannah, Yany Stitcher gave you a shout out and I am so glad she did - I love your videos and your work is gorgeous. I too love hardanger and Mirabilias and I have The Shamrock Sampler in my stash ready to go - so nice to see it on Flosstube. I am with you about 'specialty 'stitches; in fact I never heard the term until I started watching Flosstube a couple of years ago. I am now retired and was taught embroidery in school and have been a crafter all my life and I only ever heard them called "embroidery stitches" of which cross stitch is just one. Would you mind recommending a custom framer here in the UK ? I checked a few a while ago but found them quite expensive and I as far as I could see there was no option to upload a picture. Perhaps you could have your Grandma on Flosstube some time ? Courtney ECR did a lovely video with her Grandma about a year ago. Looking forward to your next video.
Hi Mary, thank you for watching and commenting! I'm so behind on flosstube I'm still back in August, but hopefully I'll get to Yany's video soon and can thank her for the shoutout - I love that about the flosstube community!
The last time I used the online custom framer was 10 years ago, but I'm pretty sure it was Bevian www.3dframing.co.uk and they were great. I'd have to check my emails from back then to make sure. Their website does have the "custom frame designer" tool which is where you upload the picture and their prices look very reasonable. I got an uncount mount (without aperture) to use as the base upon which I laced my fabric so as to add too much depth and it worked really well. I just wish I could give you a more recent recommendation!
Unfortunately with Grandma living so far away there aren't many opportunities but I do know she has seen at least some of one of my videos and enjoyed it, so I'll be sure to ask her if the opportunity arises!
Really enjoy your videos and your stitching and project selections are gorgeous! Wondering if you have looked at Heaven and Earth Designs? They carry several of Afremov's designs. Happy stitching and looking forward to your next video!
Hi Donna, thanks for your comment! I have looked at HAED but for some reason their selection of Afremov artwork just doesn't appeal to me as much as those chosen by Zolotoe Runo to chart - plus I have a snowball's chance of finishing the smaller Zolotoe Runo kits :D Artecy also has a huge selection of Afremovs, some of which I particularly like but I already have so many!
Your wok is incredible how long did it take you to do the red mermaid shes awesome. Amy mcgarry
Your WIPs are just gorgeous!! I was backstitching a piece while watching your video when I heard you say you were trying out backstitching two instead of one, so I switched over and you are definitely right, the stitches are a lot neater that way and it is definitely faster, THANK YOU for that tip! Have a great stitching day!!
What serendipitous timing! So glad the tip worked for you :) Other stitchers commented on instagram that they often go over more than 2 blocks to get even smoother outlines, but you don't want stitches that are too long otherwise the tension can get a bit loose and they might snag - something else for you to experiment with :)
You are one busy lady. I can't believe you have so many WIPS. I do love the red haired mermaid. Beautiful. You really do lovely work. Thanks for the flosstube.
I think it ended up at around 20 WIPs - not the most I've heard of, but certainly plenty to keep me busy! Thanks for watching and commenting, I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
Hello! I was wondering as I am fairly new - would you tell me what you mean it is difficult to put a project on your frame? I only know about hoops, q-snaps and scroll rods ( I don't know much about scroll rods). How do you use a regular frame to stitch on? I am trying to find the best set up for myself. Would you let me know which is your favourite stitching set up?
Hello! Gosh, sorry for the really slow response!
I'm dredging the memory banks here but I think you're referring to where I was discussing the issues I had with Butterfly Fairies and the knock-off qsnaps? I had a couple of issues there:
1) The tension kept loosening itself. I added felt between the fabric and clamps to give them a bit more grip which helped, but the tubes would still rotate within the corner connectors and so loosen the tension.
2) The clamps left white marks all over my black fabric. These managed to wash out with some gentle detergent, but it didn't fill me with joy!
3) I use a lowery floor stand to hold my stitching so I can stitch two-handed, but the clamp is designed to accept side-bars with flat top and bottom. With the round sides of the qsnaps, it kept slipping in the clamp and drooping towards the floor. Not the fault of the qsnap, it's just not appropriate to use with my floor stand.
My preferred set up is to use Elbesee Easy Clip scroll frames with my lowery stand. They are simple and cost-effective scroll rod frames. The top and bottom rods are cylindrical and attach to the top and bottom of the fabric. These are clamped on each end by the side "stretcher" bars, which hold the two scroll rods separated to form a rectangle. You then rotate the scroll rods away from each other to take up the slack in the fabric and then tighten the clamps on the side stretchers to keep them in place and maintain the tension. This is the basic principle behind most scroll frames.
The Elbesee Easy Clip frames use plastic clips to attach the fabric, which make it super easy to switch out projects (compared to some scroll frames which require you to sew your project onto the scroll rods). The clamping system is alright but not brilliant, so I replace it in my side stretchers and it's been working like a charm for me for the last couple of years.
If you've any more questions, please ask! I'll add it to my "videos to record" list, but I don't want to make any promises as to when that might happen as I've really struggled to record in a timely manner thus far :D
Since you only have a little done on the art deco I would just change the fabric out. I've never worked with the 8 braid though can't say for sure if that's gonna help
Andrea Strom thank you Andrea for your comment. You're right, changing fabric would be the easiest thing to do. And yet, I'm resisting for some reason - I think I have been put off the #8 braid and just don't want to work with it, even on a fabric which it would be fine for. I'll have to mull it over for a bi. Thank you though, you've helped me clarify my thinking even if I don't follow your advice ☺
Carlen Mazzo did that piece in black it was beautiful! you should go see hers. She also did the mirabilia Dragon. The dragon was very large and it was beautiful.
I'm a huge fan of Carolyn's, she was one of the first flosstubers I ever watched! Which was the piece in black she also did? It's been a while since I watched her videos but you've tempted me to go back :)
Just awesome. Orange River is beyond words. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Lise! I'm taking a break from Orange River at the moment, but luckily I've got lots of other beautiful WIPs to work on :)
Stunning, beautiful work. Thankyou for sharing.
Linda Hadden thank you, Linda. I'm glad you enjoyed it ☺
great video again love your projects they are so beautiful and you are truly talented
god bless
debby duarte
Thanks, Debby!
I stumbled upon your channel quite by chance, and I loved seeing all of your work! Those are some gorgeous designs you are working on. I don't make flosstube videos (well... Not yet anyway), but I do make timelapse videos of my work. But who knows, one day I might join the flosstube community for real :-) Until then, I've definitely sub'bed to your channel and can't wait to see progress updates on some of the pieces. :-)
Hi Cathrina, thank you for your comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. How do you create your timelapse videos? Flosstube can always use more content creators, but it wouldn't exist without people watching so you're already a vital part of the community! I hope to record an update soon!
I will be looking forward to your update. It's very simple to do timelapse videos; every time I've finished a thread or a colour a take one or two photos from approx. the same angle each time. In the end you'll have a video of a cross stitch project slowly growing :-)
Ah that's far too disciplined for me - I get so involved in the stitching I'd forget all about stopping to take regular pictures. Taking one every day for instagram is as much as I can manage at the moment! I bet they are beautiful though, I'll have to take a look!
Thank you SO much for your videos. I enjoy seeing what you're working on and hearing of your difficulties and impressions of the process. I would welcome tutorials. I'd be interested in seeing how you use your laying tool. Also in a parking tutorial. Could you tell us a little about yourself...what your full time job is? I think you can tell that I find your work beautiful!!
Thank you, Maxine. I worry that I ramble on about it all a bit much sometimes, so it's nice to hear you enjoy that part!
A laying tool demonstration is definitely on the list, just got to iron out those technical difficulties. I've also planned to show some time-saving techniques I use - I often get asked how I stitch so fast, and I'd love to share. Parking is part of that, and since I use parking in several different ways I'll have to think a bit more on how I can best demonstrate what I do and why. I'm so excited to (hopefully) help other stitchers!
I did actually record a bit about what I do for a living, but it's not a simple answer and it's evolving, so I ended up not including it - it would have made an already long video even longer. Instead, I'll try and share a bit more about myself each video, and next time I do a WIP update I'll try and explain my employment situation.
Thanks for your reply!! No need to reveal alot about yourself just to satisfy curiosity! Your talents are so wide ranging that I wanted to know how you employ them. I look forward to your next videos!
Finished work and I am just finishing watching your second video now and as you show all your many WIP’s and those WIP’s that you started one day after the other day I am starting a new start and I'm loving starting but I know my mind will go into stress mode because I am not finishing and if you count this new start I now have right WIP’s which I know is nothing compared to you, but I actually can't go over ten WIP’s. I don't believe I ever have. Anyway, love all your stitching. It is just all so amazing and you just stitch so much and get so much done on each piece.
Hi Ivy! Please don't think that just because I start a bazillion things it's necessarily a good idea - it stresses me out too! But I just can't help myself. If you know that you have a certain limit and that's what works for you, then stick with it. When everyone starting doing the skin of their mirabilia one over one I decided to give it a try as it was "the thing to do". Well, I hated it so much it made me stop stitching completely, until I realised that following the crowd wasn't worth ruining my enjoyment of my hobby and went back to 2 over 2 as charted.
hanmayde that is a great example. I'm finding all the time that I seem to be way out of the crowd when it comes to my stitching. Glad you realized that it was the one over one skin that was giving you the problems and that you love the charted way better
Just found your channel and by far are the BEST EVER . Your projects are amazing I love them all. I am surprised that you have only done a few videos. Please keep doing more. Your accent is catching and easy to listen to. I have you on while I am stitching, cooking, cleaning and even brushing my teeth, my husband thinks I am crazy.
Thank you for sharing your talent and your personality. I just found out after visiting your website that you are the one who created the chart cropper which I recently used. It was a godsend for me. I got the link from Dena "halfstitch cross stitch" and was going to tell her to thank you, once I caught up in her videos. However, I can now that you myself, thank you for saving me from hours of figuring out what I could do to change my work area.
Florence Slaunwhite hi Florence, and thank you! I'm so happy to hear it's been used by someone - I put it online and have been to busy to think much about it since. I'll have to thank Dena for spreading the word - was it in one of her videos? I'm so behind on flosstube I'm still in July! If you have suggestions for other similar tools that would help you out do please let me know and I'll do my best to get it up quickly. I've plans for a fabric calculator and count conversion tool soon
Yes, it was one of her videos, she left a link to. I will try to find which one.
I'm so happy I finally got up to your video in my watch list!! I love the projects you choose - so many pretties!!
I have a thought on those double 3/4 stitches. When I picked up a 14ct pattern again one time after working on smaller counts for a long time, I realized just how scanty fractional stitches look on 14ct. I can see how a 3/4 stitch would help solve that problem and keep the fabric from showing through.
You stitch so quickly, you might be able to finish that ornament this year!
You could try framing your hardanger piece backed on some colored mat board. I think goldfishie even finished her piece like that.
Your video came across very nice and polished. Any technical difficulties you might have experienced was nicely edited out. It was a lovely video to watch! I look forward to seeing an actual update video whenever you decide to make one. :)
Haha I love how you get frustrated if you're a week or so behind on flosstube, whereas I'm STILL in August and it's taken me a month to reply to your comment (thank you, by the way!) :D
It's something I've not thought about much before, just doing fractionals how I always did them, but it's something I really want to play around with a bit more and your point about coverage is a really interesting one. I should experiment!
If I'd got the ornament out after filming the video I might have done, but suddenly it's less than a month until Christmas and life has been a bit mad, plus a deadline is the kiss of death for my stitchy bug. I've got other ideas for presents for him and other things I've already stitched and just need to frame so next year is fine!
Definitely going to use coloured mat board if I frame it, which I assume I will (we actually call it mount board in the UK, but thanks to all the US flosstubers I call it mat board and confuse everyone here :D). But I think I'd need to pick out a frame before decided on the colour maybe. I'm so bad at FFO-ing, I think I've done 2 this entire year.
Technical issues are part of why I haven't done an update yet, but I've just got a new camera! Now all I need is a chunk of time when the house is quiet, but with builders in the house all day, me out at work all evenings and family events every weekend... I need a time turner!
I've recently been focusing my priorities more on my housework and family, so I'm slowly coming to terms with being behind on Flosstube. It's actually kind of freeing to not be rushing to try to catch up. I'm probably almost 2 weeks behind at the moment, but that's okay. I'm also occasionally unsubscribing a few folks that I've never really clicked with in order to fully maximize the time I do have to watch a few videos. That should help me from getting avalanched with new videos. :)
I hope you have fun stitching when you can this season. And I'll be happy to see a new video whenever you're able to sort everything out. No pressure during this busy time of year - I know how hard it can be to find time. I think I've finally done enough videos that I can wing them a little bit and not need a lot of prep time, but I definitely needed to rehearse things in my head and write notes for the first 25 videos or I would feel frazzled and unprepared. Take your time and it'll be fun when you're ready. :)
well you don't exactly shy away from big projects ;) love a lot of them but my absolute favorite are the maia geisha's! don't think i saw those before. Maybe the kreinik will come in use someday on a canvaswork piece, but you can always try and sell it if you want it out of your life :)
Never a truer word. What can I say, it's a personality defect :D
Happy to be able to introduce something new to the community! Unfortunately I think they might be out of print now though. They are big favourites of mine too, which is why I've been so frustrated over the fabric. But I just need to stop whining and get on with it, as soon as I start stitching I'll fall in love with it again (at least for a few days, until the next shiny project distracts me!).
That's a good idea, saving the #8 for counted canvas, although I think out the door is where I need it to go :)
Another fabulous video! I am soooo in love with the Maia Geishas! I hope you sort it out and find a way to stitch them without distorting the fabric... What about doing the full Xs first? And then stitching the background with 1 strand full crosses instead of half stitches?
Those are some great suggestions! I don't think changing the order would work as there's so much more background than full stitch foreground so there would be no avoiding the skewing just doing normal half cross or tent stitch. 1 strand full cross is interesting but I've already started basketweave so I'm going to persevere with that for a little while when I next pick it up. If after a little bit that isn't working for me I'll definitely give 1 strand full cross a go :)
Thoroughly enjoyed your WIP parade! So many beautiful pieces! Looking forward to seeing your progress on your projects you are currently stitching!
halfstitch cross stitch wow, thank you! I love your videos, so it tickles me to know you've watched mine 😊 I've not had much time to stitch or watch flosstube this week but hopefully that'll change, or it might be some time before a progress update
Hello Hannah! You have very beautiful and neat works. I wish You further success. A small clarification: "RTO" - it is a Russian company producing products for embroidery (as well as the company "Золотое Руно")
Thank you, Marina! How bad was my pronunciation of Золотое Руно (terrible, or just really bad?) ;) That's so interesting - I had originally thought RTO was Russian but on the back of my kit it gives the address of RTO as Tallinn, Estonia and says "Made in EU". Did it originate in Russia and move to Estonia, do you know?
No, the RTO company is a Russian company, located in Moscow. Here is their official website - rto-mos.ru/. Most likely, on the back of the set specified office RTO in Estonia where you can buy the their product.
About the pronunciation, frankly, not very good. You need to talk - ZolotOe rUno
Marina legko oh how confusing! Well, thank you for clearing that up. I'm surprised it says made in the EU though. I'll make sure to correct myself next time I dhow that project.
Oh dear, I don't think I'll get it right. Maybe I'll call it Golden Fleece from now on ☺
Hi Hannah.
I am 3/4 way through but gave up and is now officially UFO status. I hate the #8 braid - way too bulky. Definitely opt for the thinner one if you can. My mistake was the shop owner talked me into antique white 32ct Belfast but it should have been straight white. It made the piece look 'wrong'. It really needs the bright white to make it pop properly. So wrong fabric choice together with too think metallic was a killer.
Hi Lilla, thank you for your comment. I'm so sad to hear about your UFO but I sympathise completely - luckily I realised I hated it pretty quickly. Would you ever restart it or has it just completely ruined the project for you?
I've received some great suggestions about using the #8 braid but only doing half crosses in the same direction as the top leg of my full crosses to help reduce the bulk. Maybe that would let you soldier through the last quarter?
hanmayde Maybe one day but there are so many projects to do that are not tainted with frustration. I think it is done for a long time but thanks for the suggestion. I will use it on another project!
By the way, I showed my daughter Red Mermaid and she promptly bought it. She is now happily stitching away on it. Such a great find. 😀
Fair enough! How lucky we are that there's so many gorgeous designs to choose from!
That's so cool that your daughter is into stitching. It's such a wonderful piece to stitch. I have a feeling RTO have seen a boost in sales of that kit since my video :D
I think they're insects. Could be wrong. Your work is gorgeous! So many beautiful projects!
beautiful WIPS. The red haired piece is so pretty and the mermaid on the sea lilly linen is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
Cindys cross stitch another mermaid fan ☺ thank you for watching and commenting, I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!
Hi Hannah loved your Red Mermaid so much I ordered it, I have never done a cross stitch like it. I am a bit concerned that the navy blue aida in the kit is nearly black not like your photos at all, I don't understand the dmc project cards how on earth do you know which colour to use, I hope you can help me?
Hi Laura, congrats on getting Red Mermaid, she's delightful :)
It can all be a bit daunting, especially if you've not tackled anything like it before. What kinds of projects have you stitched? Have you done other kits before, or stitched from charts and/or magazines? Just so I can have an idea how best to explain things.
I'm not sure what ti say about the aida being nearly black, mine was certainly navy. Perhaps the best thing to do there is to get in touch with RTO? If they've included the wrong fabric I'm sure they'd send you out another piece (mind you, my piece was really small!). There should be contact info, on the back of the packet I believe. Another option would be to buy some Navy fabric. Sewandso.co.uk is my go to destination for fabric, and they sell Zweigart aida and evenweave in Navy (and Zweigart navy aida is what *should* have been included in your kit).
As for the thread cards, they deliberately don't provide the colour numbers (like 310 = dmc black) to prevent people from pirating the kits. But you should still have a symbol key in the kit which assigns a number to each symbol. This number is printed on the thread cards next to the appropriate colour thread. For example on the first thread card, the first thread will be labelled '1'. Look up that number in the key to see which symbol corresponds to that colour. (I actually write the symbol next to the colour on the thread card so I don't need to keep referring to the key.) The next slot on the thread card will be labelled '2' and so on. The same colour might be in multiple slots of the thread card, if a lot of that colour is required in the kit. In this case, the key will show a range of numbers next to the symbol. For example, if DMC 762 was provided in slots 7, 8, and 9 on the thread card, the symbol for 762 would show '7-9' next to it.
I hope that helps, but it's much easier to demonstrate that type so if you're still confused let me know and I'll record a quick video for you.
Feel free to shoot me any other questions, and happy stitching! x
Thank you so much for your quick reply Hannah. To be on the safe side I just ordered navy 28ct 19 by 27 it will be easier to do the 3/4 stitches I am used to doing just haed type cross stitches. I hope I can get my head around the pattern, I usually work from my laptop, I will scan the pattern and work from paint.net so I can zoom in and mark the pattern with colours at a low opacity because my eyes are quite bad. Thanks again .
@@faerie247 good shout, I wish I'd swapped for evenweave. There aren't too many fractionals but it will help as you say. I did exactly the same, scanned the chart in and transferred the images to my phone. I don't mark my charts so just used the regular photo app but sounds like you've already got a system that works for you ☺ highlighting will probably help a lot in the hair, that was a bit of a struggle without, but as you're a HAED stitcher you'll have no problem! Enjoy, and if I can help at all I will. If you get stuck with the thread colours I'll use my colour card to identify the DMC numbers for you x
Love the fact you've linked a lot of the designs - thanks! Currently working on my save the stitches as I watch this!
wow so many stunning projects i have never seen before! i added a few to my wishlist. great video, can't wait to see more
Thank you Orietta! I've watched your videos for a long time. It's fun to be able to introduce new things to other stitchers :) thanks for commenting.
Beautiful wips! I agree the Red mermaid is gorgeous!! Love her! The Fantasia kit from DMC was beautiful hope you get the feeling for stitching it back 🤗
Stitching Becca thank you. So many WIPs competing for my attention - I want another finish soon but then I'll be sad that they're done. Your hopes have not been in vain though! I've not had much stitching time this week, but when I did I picked up the Fantasia project to get a break from working on aida. I'll update IG later ☺
Carolyn Mazzo.
Really enjoyed your first two videos! You’re such an accomplished needleworker and I can’t wait to see what you do in the future
Thank you Kristen, I'm so glad you enjoyed them. Life has conspired to make opportunities to record another video scarce but I hope to do another one soon :)
Stunning work. Love your videos. I am anxiously awaiting #3. K's Creations(www.kscreations.com) offers scroll rods up to 50 inches wide. I use their stainless steel floor stand that is very much like your Lowery stand. If you can't locate these in the UK this is an option for you.
Thank you for your lovely comment! I'm anxiously awaiting the chance to record #3 but life has had other ideas thus far. Thanks for the link and recommendation, I'll check them out but I don't know if they'll be available in the UK. Honestly though, I just need to make some time to make my own scroll rods, it wouldn't be hard I've just got other things going on. Some day!
Such a great video! Loved all your projects especially Orange River and how does your garden grow.l'm now going to watch your first video and look forward to more.l paticularly love the way you address problems you've encountered, very useful😊
Thank you Mariam, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I love to share solutions to problems, that's the part I find most useful about other people's videos, so I'll try to keep doing that :)
Hiya, wonderful video! I'll confess, I watched it TWICE (I'm going to call it a study break!) :p I just loved all your WIPs so much
Yasmine Cherfi thank you, Yasmine! Wow, you must have really enjoyed it ☺ is your Afremov wip from artecy? I had never seen Afremov's work before seeing that Zolotoe Runo kit at the craft show, but like you I'm a huge fan now. Which Zolotoe Runo kits do you have? I hadn't thought to do a stash video, I might be ashamed at facing the obscene quantities! I'm sure I can at least show some relevant stash when the opportunity presents, like when I finish Romantic Walk I can show my other Afremov kits. Though remember, when you can't resist starting one, that you did request it 😉
Loved seeing all your gorgeous wips! How about for the art Deco mirabilia, start again but on the lower count fabric? Then the no.8 threads won't go to waste and it's probably cheaper/more budget friendly to purchase different fabric than to buy all the spools of no.4 :)
Thank you! That would have been a good decision, but I took the plunge and bought the no 4 braids when I found I had a bit more spending money than expected one month. I haven't actually picked up that project again yet, but hopefully a second wind will come around soon. I'm sure I'll be able to work the number 8 threads into a hardanger or counted canvas project somehow, or maybe make some cording for fully finishing a project (if I ever get around to it!)
Your projects are just amazing! I am almost speechless to think of all you have accomplished. It's so fascinating to see so many projects I've never seen before - that's what so much fun - to see what other people are doing and what appeals to them. Looking forward to future videos. And... your cat is beautiful.
Thank you, Sally! I get a thrill every time someone says I've shared something they've never seen before :) And Paddy thanks you for the compliment - it's just as well he's so beautiful, for being such a nuisance when I'm trying to stitch! :D
Your so sweet,love your work happy stitching xx
Thank you for watching and commenting, so glad you enjoyed it!
Lovely wip parade, it's made me want to stitch a mermaid project now! Hello from North Yorkshire by the way. With the Elements piece would it be cheaper to restart on 28ct using those metallics you already have? Restarting is a pain (been there done that) but better than fighting with the fabric/threads all the way through? Love Strictly too by the way 😀
Louise Burgundyice hi Louise! Yorkshire is a wonderful place 😊 I love mermaids, can you tell? Which mermaid would you go for? You're absolutely right, restarting is probably the quickest, easiest and cheapest thing. But I don't really want to, and I think it's because I've just been put off the #8 braid, at least for this project. It doesn't make much sense but I don't think I'll ever stitch it if I try and stick with the #8. Someone else suggested trying tent stitch with the #8 on the 32ct which I might try just to see what happens, but even so... Stitchers' problems, hey? I don't watch strictly much now, but that's more because I'm just not an appointment TV viewer. When I do catch it though it's wonderful to watch. I wish I'd joined the society and taken the lessons, but alas!
Your stitching is absolutely beautiful! Enjoyed your video so much! Thanks so much for sharing..
Thank you Lynda, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It's a pleasure to share, hopefully I'll manage to record again soon!
Fabulouser and fabulouser! I could spend the evening listening to you.I am a newbie and fiddling with small stuff - blown away by the size and intricacy of your work. Can't wait for your next chapter.
Thank you, Bonita! I definitely have enough finishes to do an evening-long video, and some have asked for a finish parade. But, my phone couldn't even handle recording this video with grace, so you'll just have to be satisfied with smaller doses of me ;) I started out small too, I've just always been an overachiever! The small ones are great practice and you'll be working your way up before you know it. I'm happy to try and answer any questions you have, just shout
Great video 🙂
I love the mermaid design by R.T.O - it's coming along beautifully. You almost enabled me to maybe buying it but I hate backstitching & fractional stitches 😢 so I guess she's not for me, which is ok lol. Looking forward to your next video 👍🏻
Happy Stitching!
stitchybutterflyk84 thank you. She's gorgeous though! There's not many fractionals or much backstitching, and she's surely worth pushing through it? But if not you can at least enjoy her vicariously - I get the feeling a few more people will be stitching her soon 😉 thanks for watching and commenting!
I have watched both of your podcasts and enjoyed them very much. Would you mind telling us your Age? You do phenomenal work and I can only imagine what your future holds for you. I look forward to seeing more of your work.
Thank you Sherry, I'm glad you've enjoyed the videos so far. I'm 29, but as I said in the first video, Grandma got me started young and I've kept it up on and off all this time.
Another wonderful video, so glad you came back. I also do not like photos taken of myself, but maybe someday I can buck up the courage to make flosstube videos! Love all your WIPS!!
Xstitchingfool thank you! The wonderful thing is that noone's looking at me really, we're all here for the stitching. So whilst I'd prefer it if I looked a bit better and my hair behaved and I didn't have perpetual sniffles, the stitching would outshine me anyway and that's how it should be 😊 I hope you do someday, but even if you don't flosstube only works if people are watching so you are a vital part of the community already!
It's incredible how talented you are. I have really enjoyed seeing all your amazing wips, although I have very different tastes in patterns! Looking forward to your next videos :)
Francesca thank you Francesca, that's very kind! Isn't that the great thing about flosstube, that the passion we share for needlework transcends the particulars of the projects we work? Thank you for watching and commenting ☺
Hi Hannah, all that I can say is wow, wow, wow!! Gorgeous projects! Red Mermaid - oh my, she's stunning.
Thank you :) Isn't she just? I can't wait to get her finished and up on the wall. Still a fair bit of work to do on her though so I'm not giving myself a deadline - I find that's the fastest way to put me off a project!
Wonderful wip parade, I'm about to start another RTO chart myself (I've stitched one) the red mermaid is beautiful! Happy Stitching 🙂
Thank you. I really enjoyed the RTO kit, except for the fabric stinginess, and would definitely stitch another of theirs. What pattern are you working on?
hanmayde I am going to be stitching the RTO kit called 'my cup of tea'. It's a very pretty pattern and I am looking forward to starting it soon.
The colors in your first piece are gorgeous! All your wip's are beautiful. Loved your video!!!
Thank you, Joanne! Do you mean the colours in Orange River? They are lovely colours, but I'm a big fan of blue so I can't wait to get into the blue water and sky areas - they'll be set off so beautifully against the reds and oranges :)
I am absolutely amazed at the work you do. I really enjoy watching your videos and I hope we see more.
I am working on a full coverage piece and you have boasted my desire to continue working on them because the end result is lovely!!
Thank you, Elisa! I need to figure out a different way to record videos, maybe get a proper camera (my phone can only handle 6 minutes at a time, and the battery goes flat even when it's charging!). But I have plans for more :)
That's one of the wonderful things about flosstube, how we can inspire each other to persevere when the going gets tough. I haven't actually done many "proper" full coverage pieces - I'd consider Romantic Walk to be the first that I started, and I still haven't finished it (although there are a couple that were close enough to full coverage I suppose). What piece are you working on?
Tough day at work, so was happy to see this in my feed today! Your wips are gorgeous, especially the mermaid with the red hair and the romantic walk one. I didn't know Lesley Teare had her own website, you have definitely enabled me with that African beauty pattern, it's gorgeous 😊
I'm sorry to hear about your tough day. If this video helped take your mind off it, well then it was worth all the frustration to get it recorded! Thank you, they are both my favourites too. I think. Except all the others, of course. :D Yes it's great that she's got PDF downloads! I've got tonnes of her charts thanks to my magazine subscriptions but the more recent ones make their way onto her website pretty quickly, plus it's nice to support her directly. I probably shouldn't take such joy in enabling others, but I really do!
Such beautiful wips and big ones! I also like Maia kit but their backstitch is a nightmare! Happy stitching!
Thanks, Liana! Yes, I do seem to like those big projects. You're right, the backstitch can be a right pain but it looks wonderful at the end so I just try and grit my teeth. It's the fractionals that are killing me at the moment!
So beautiful! The Orange river, my favorit! The red mermaid, love it! Up to the next video!
Thank you, Christel. They are two of my favourites too, but who am I kidding - I love most of my projects!
Please please please make more videos! I really enjoy watching you and seeing your lovely needlework.
Thanks Brooke! Life got even crazier than I expected, but now that the holidays are over I'm hoping to get back on track and get a new video up. Hope you like long ones!
That was meant to say "wips". 🙄😁
Oh what beautiful WIPS! thank you for sharing.
You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed them :)
Loved your video, and your wips 😍 I'll admit, with your love of specialty stitches I just assumed you would have a few chatelaines on the go as well haha! Thanks for coming back! I'm similar that I tend to jump right in for the love of the design without considering the size of it. I'm stitching Afremov's the loneliness of autumn, charted by artecy, and had a few of the same struggles. I have not seen the kits you have though, so I'm off to look at those!
Melissa Eggleston thanks, Melissa! Surprisingly, I've not done a single Chatelaine. I only discovered them relatively recently thanks to flosstube and have been tempted but have a dilemma. I love the centres of the mandalas, but am not such a fan of the borders. Perhaps it would help to see more of the stitched models as opposed to the website mockups, but to spend that much money and time I need to love all of the design and I haven't found that so far. The blue mandala (Moroccan lace is it? I forget the name) has me the most tempted, but I've also got to be budget conscious at the moment. So I'm stitching from stash I already have as much as possible and lucky for me I have lots of gorgeous WIPs, kits and charts to keep me happy for quite some time ☺ did you manage to find the Zolotoe Runo kits? They have several Afremov designs and I believe are smaller than artecy or HAED. I'm still honing my approach but discovering parking, row by row in particular, was an absolute godsend. How do you work yours?
hanmayde blue Moroccan lace is gorgeous. I'm a member of the chatelaine support Facebook group, and there is definitely a huge difference in the stitched versions and the mock ups. I have hydrangea autumn fog, and am still working up the nerve to start haha! My artecy is very slowly going, although I do enjoy the small blocks of color. I haven't been able to get comfortable with parking yet, but it would be a great project to master that technique with! I have found quite a few Afremov's I love, and love that it's a kit. I need to think about it, because sometimes I think I'd be better off if I just purchased the print 😂 I'm a slow stitcher, and full coverage isn't my favorite.
Loved your wip parade. Ever so beautiful are your masterpieces. Love love ❤️ your hardanger piece. I'm speechless. Those stitches are ever so beautiful. I've only just begun hardanger. I recently purchased a Judy Dixon pattern as I really loved yours. Not sure when I will start it. I do at one point want to purchase the pattern you did. Please keep making videos. Tutorials would be wonderful. Happy stitching
Thanks, Kelly. I realised I forgot to say the name of the hardanger piece (it's called Malaka). I only started hardanger last year, and once you've got the hang of it going bigger is more a test of patience than skill as it can get pretty repetitive :D Which Judy Dixon did you get? The drawn thread work in Ivory Blush is technically basic, just put together so exquisitely. I've got to iron out those technical issues for the tutorials, but I've got a couple of ideas. Be sure to let me know if there's a tutorial you'd like me to do!
Treasured moments by Judy Dixon. I had did stitching with a smile 1st tutorial which was just a small square coaster size. Then she recently did a tutorial on a bigger piece. The bigger piece was much easier. As far as tutorials maybe some of the specialty you did in your 2 hardanger.
Love your wipe. Wish I was as courageous as you to try new things. Hope you post again soon!
Thank you Norma! I swear it's less courage and more naivete - e.g. I didn't know beforehand that on black was supposed to be hard, evenweave harder and metallic even harder still, I just saw the Tallulah design from video #1 and loved the finished piece and had to stitch it. Same goes with all the others - I fall in love with the design and don't think about difficulty, just that I want to do it and will figure it out somehow! :) I hope I get to record again soon, 2 months is too long!
Beautiful, mine arrived today but the fabric looks even smaller then yours image size 25.5x36 cm on 14 Aida could you let me know your fabric size please thank you 😊
Hi Diana, sorry for the slow reply. Hopefully it's not too late to help you. What project is it you're looking for the fabric size on?
I bought some more fabric, larger size and I have already started red mermaid , my query was I felt that the fabric was a lot smaller then yours and I just wanted to check against your size fabric . I didn't like the way her head was cut off so I add more hair ...
That's how I have always done my fractional stitches when there are two symbols, even if there is a backstitch across them. And yes, I do the long stitch and then the short one. I've found the coverage is much nicer and smoother when I do that.
Sarah Greiner that's really interesting, thanks for sharing! I learnt fractionals from the UK magazines and they didn't show that method, as I recall. It's given me another tool for the toolbox ☺
It just made sense to me to do, nobody ever actually told me to do 1/4 stitch and 3/4 stitch. And I liked the coverage and just went with it. It really made the Mardi Gras Mask piece I did for my sister look great. There were very strange angled stitches and tons of blending filaments in that.
(I had to pause the video to do some other things so sorry this bit is a bit late)
I would caution you to be careful about Witchykit Designs. The reason is they have way, way too many illegal patterns. Far too many of their pieces are licensed with other designers. It's an ongoing problem that the other designers are aware of, but they can't get them (witchykit) shut down. I haven't seen the one you've started elsewhere, so I don't know the artist, but my guess is that the artist has no idea their work has been charted :( (witchykit doesn't list the artist name in the listings)
Sarah Greiner oh no! If they aren't properly licensed that's terrible, I feel duped. But I can't find any further information on it. Has someone taken legal proceedings against them?
Oh my word what gorgeous beautiful, beautiful pieces. Gorgeous! Red-haired mermaid...wow! Dawn dish detergent, they save wild animals with it when oils get on it, and since plastics are derived from petroleum products I would have a go with a tooth brush and some diluted Dawn for the lines on the black fabric if rinsing doesn't work first.
Thank you, Vonna :) Thanks for the tip about Dawn! I'm in the UK and we don't have Dawn but I imagine Fairy washing up liquid is pretty close. Your comment sent me off googling about detergents and surfactants, bringing back my A Level chemistry days - fascinating stuff! I've actually got some Orvus WA Paste which (alongside being used as shampoo for white horses) is a detergent used by quilters. I got it for wet finishing my woven textiles, when that was my craft du jour. Another possibility to try :) Before I do anything though I need to check the fabric colour-fastness - imagine if all of that black bled.... eek!
So last night I had some insomnia and came across your video. Don't tell anyone, but I sometimes lull myself to sleep with a really long Flosstube video, and this one is over an hour. Well. Ahem. I did not go to sleep. I found you and your projects so riveting that I not only watched this video, but your first as well. And I cannot wait to see more from you. You have lovely taste, and I just adored everything. xo
Hahaha that is one of the nicest back-handed compliments I've ever received :D thank you so much. And to think I was worried that my videos were too long. Seriously though, thank you so much, it's a joy to share with likeminded people. I'm sorry the wait for #3 has been so long but hopefully it'll be worth it, when it eventually arrives!