Hello! I'm just starting out!

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:24 pm

Hello everyone, my name is Fran and I'm just starting out with cross stitch!

I have always loved being crafty (in the good sense!) but never seemed to get the result that I wanted, when I have tried sewing, knitting etc.

But I am having a lot more luck with cross stitch and I'm happy that this is the craft for me!!

I have already done three designs this year, one a heart sampler for my mum's birthday (which she loved as she is a keen stitcher too and realised how much effort went in!) and the second was a piece for the birth of my best friend's baby.

The most recent one I did was a piece for my parent's wedding anniversary, which they will receive in the post tomorrow!

I tend to sketch out designs or stitch freestyle - is this something lots of people do or do most people follow charts? I have seen some really cool designs that I love but I'm not sure whether the people are creating their own designs or not?

Looking forward to chatting with you all. I'd also be keen to know if there are any groups in/around the Plymouth area?

Fran

karen4bells · Post by **karen4bells** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:27 pm

Hello and welcome to the forum Fran!! Wow, designing your own stitching projects--that is amazing especially for someone who is just starting out. We'd love to see pictures of your works!!! I, on the other hand, usually stitch from charts!!

rcperryls · Post by **rcperryls** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:31 pm

Hello and welcome from South Carolina. I agree with Karen that starting out by designing your own or "freestyle" stitching is amazing. It would be amazing if you'd been stitching 20 years. I think most people stitch from charts. I do. The only things I have sort of done on my own are the occasional alphabet and that is usually from a chart of letters. I hope you will post pics of your work. I know that we would all love to see them.

Carole

Cecilia · Post by **Cecilia** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 5:34 pm

Hello & welcome to the forum.

Like the others have said it is amazing that you are already creating your own designs especially as you are new to cross stitich.

I have had a go at designing my own cross stitch patterns but ususally I'd buy kits or charts. However, I prefer to buy charts and buy the materials afterwards.

vanessanjf · Post by **vanessanjf** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 5:42 pm

Hello and welcome

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:30 pm

Hello ladies!

Thanks so much for your kind words!

The images below are the pieces I have done, the sampler first, then the one for evelyn and then the SR design, which I did on Sunday.
The sampler I saw in a picture and then I just replicated it pretty much by eye, making a couple of changes here and there!

Hope you all like them!
Fran

rcperryls · Post by **rcperryls** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:37 pm

very pretty. I hope that you will keep posting on the projects you do, whether your own or from a chart. I look forward to seeing them.

Carole

karen4bells · Post by **karen4bells** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:45 pm

Those are all amazing!!! I absolutely love and would stitch the hearts one!!! Very very nice!!!

calico · Post by **calico** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:52 pm

Welcome! Your designs are beautiful

I have only stitched from patterns up to this point but would love someday to design my own.
This is a great forum! You'll love it

Squirrel · Post by **Squirrel** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 11:21 pm

Welcome Fran and what gorgeous projects you have done and beautiful stitching too. What are you going to do next?

I use charts almost all the time - its much easier for me and I know they will turn out looking ok.

maeflowers · Post by **maeflowers** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 11:42 pm

Welcome to the forum- I am not on here as much as I'd like nowadays but from the past I can tell you this is an awesome forum with tons of wonderful stitchers who have great advice and are just great to talk to overall

I think it's awesome that you come up with your own designs. I always follow a chart! The one design I "made" was really a few small patterns thrown together so I didn't really create anything on my own with that. I'm impressed! Your pictures look great, looking forward to see your next project

Cecilia · Post by **Cecilia** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 12:15 pm

They're lovely designs.

geekishly · Post by **geekishly** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:16 pm

Lovely stitching and welcome to the forum!

JA Fan · Post by **JA Fan** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:22 pm

Welcome to the forum!

I too work from charts. You have done some lovely work!

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 7:57 pm

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and feedback! My mum loved the piece I did for her and my dad's wedding anniversary.

I've just started some small Christmas designs that I'll make into cards and planning for the birth of a baby in the family (not mine!) and a friend's birthday.

crosstitcher1 · Post by **crosstitcher1** » Wed Dec 26, 2012 1:14 am

Welcome to the forum.

And a WONDERFUL job of FREE-STYLE.
I use charts and LAST year was my 1st ATTEMPT of putting 3 charts together to make a baby remembrance. The receiver LOVED the project.
So that made me think of doing it AGAIN and this time it will be for our 18 yr. old grandson. In ALL the yrs. I have been stitching, 30 yrs. in 2013, I NEVER made him ANYTHING. When he was born, my sis-in-law, BEAT ME in making him a birth remembrance, and his mother BRINGS that up WHENEVER I talk about my NEXT projects. So in 2014, I will start with his.
He is a Pittsburgh Steelers' fan, so I am going to make him a afghan. My 1st in doing that 2.
It will have 1 football player in each of the 4 corners, facing each other. Across the top will be Pittsburgh and bottom will have Steelers', in 26" H x 24" W letters. Down each side there will be footballs. In the center will be the Trophy with the no. of Super Bowl wins under it. Currently 7.
Then when I was planning his, that INSPIRED me to do the OTHER members (8) of the family. The married ones, gets 1 afghan, and the singles gets their own.
I have ALREADY KITTED up each afghan with copied patterns, threads and I am in the process of buying the afghans in 2013. I will be taking a year on each as I have NEVER done one, and I want to take my time in LEARNING the process of stitching on the fabric.

HAPPY STITCHING IN STITCHING LAND.

carolanne · Post by **carolanne** » Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:16 am

WOW! you are really ambitious. But, a really nice idea.

tiffstitch · Post by **tiffstitch** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:36 pm

Re: Hello! I'm just starting out!

stitchingmae · Post by **stitchingmae** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:59 am

Re: Hello! I'm just starting out!

lilbecksxx · Post by **lilbecksxx** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 8:14 am

Re: Hello! I'm just starting out!