Looking for some advice.

[mae1984]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here on this forum, and actually new to cross stitching as well!
Just to introduce myself, I'm Mindy, I'm 25 married and a mum of a beautiful 18 month old girl. I was born and lived most of my life in London, but I'm abroad now for a little while.
I've been thinking of taking up a new hobby - I have alot of free evenings when my husband is at work and Ella is asleep and I find that i'm either doing the laundry, washing up, cleaning, cooking etc etc or jsut crashing out in front of the tv... and well, I'd like to have some time to relax and do things for me! And cross stitching looks like something I'd enjoy, it seems like a peaceful sort of hobby!

So I'd like to buy a kit, and I quite like the look of these http://www.sewandso.co.uk/ran2358-0.html" target="_blank but i don't know what to look for in a starter kit, I don't want to get something too ambitious and then fail to complete it... or not even start!

Any advice for a first kit would be really really appreciated,

Thanks,
Mindy

[Sagadon]

I started off doing Christmas ornament kits. June/July is the perfect time to start on them as little additions to presents. They came with everything: needle, floss, hoop, backing, and tree hangers. I found them at my local hobby shop for about $25 CAN.

Usually they come in a large 8x11.5 package, and will have you make 6-8 ornaments on a single piece of material. It worked out quite well for me! This one looks like the one I did, and this other one looks good too.

[freelady]

I started by making small card size pictures from a magazine. I bought a piece of cloth and some floss from Hobbycraft as well as a mag that had some flowers I thought I'd like to do. They were easy and I've never looked back.

The main thing is to find something that you love. You will be more likely to keep going if you are getting pleasure from seeing it.

and I won't add that you are likely to become as addicted as we all are!!

[kell]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the wonderful world of cross stitch! Those kits look gorgeous - I'd say if you really love the pictures then go for it - you'll have the incentive to persevere with them and finish them.

I just checked them out on the Bothy Threads website and they use whole cross stitch, half cross stitch, backstitch and occasional French knots, so they don't have loads of speciality stitches that might put off a newbie, but you might want to practice things like French knots before adding those bits to the actual piece (I'm totally rubbish at them and have a habit of substituting beads for them instead!).

Of course, whatever projects yuo decide on, you can start a stitch along thread and get loads of encouragement from everyone here who will undoubtedly cheer you on as you progress. Best of luck!

[kerbear879]

The first thing I ever did was a dimension golds cross stitch (yeah jump right in!) It really didn't take long to get the hang of it and the kits usually have pretty good instructions. I think you would be okay with getting one of those kits especially if you like the pattern! I think cross stitch is the best hobby and it is very relaxing..it's almost theraputic for me and I actually crave it when I haven't stitched in a long time. I hope you will enjoy it as much as all of us! Welcome to the forum!

[mags]

Hello

My advice would be to do something that YOU really want to do and have a purpose in mind for the finished product as that will spur you on to complete it.

My first cross stitch project was not totally chosen by me and is rather bigger than I would have liked and is still unfinished, and perhaps a smaller project to start off with would have been better for me.

If you stick around here you are sure to get plenty of advice and encouragement and we look forward to seeing what you choose.

[Sagadon]

Here's the best piece of advice I received when I first started my project:

I always use the loop start and it is especially useful when doing confetti stitches.
Get a length of thread, double it and thread the needle with the two loose ends. When you do your first stitch, pass the needle through the loop and Bob's your Auntie.

[Lisa]

hey and welcome!

this may seem really random but have posted on the craft and hobbie forum on babyworld?? the post seems like one ive read on there if so i'm LPMS who made the thread about HAEDs

those kits seem great for a starter, or have a look for some card kits, or the little mouseloft kits, very small kits, mainly aimed at kids, but they good be a good starter point.

[Busy_B]

Welcome! I think the others have given you some good advice with what to choose for a first project. You can also go to the Tips and Tricks section on the home page and go to the suggestions for a newbie thread. There's some good ideas there on how to get started and everything. Definitely start a SAL thread when you start so we can cheer you on. Don't hesitate to ask questions! Someone is always here to help.

[Rose]

I have not done one of those but they do look like they would be good for a beginning project lots of the same colors in blokes so you are not changing colors to many times. If this is the type of pattern you are drawn to then that is the best place to start.

This is a great place to find advice and encouragement as we are devoted to stitching and we love to see other peoples patterns. Hope that you will drop in often and let us know how you are progressing.

[nettie]

Welcome yes cross stitch is one of the most relaxing past times you could ever start! This is a great forum to belong to I hope you come here often. As for chossing your first project I'm not the best to give advice really as I picked a fairly complicated one and it is still unfinished!

[Lizzy]

Hi and welcome. Hope you have fun and enjoy your new hobby

[~threadbear~]

Hi Mindy,
Welcome to the forum. I started off doing small cards, but the first 'big' project I attempted and did on my own was my AOY design in my gallery.
I think it's best to try something fairly straightforward to start with like that, and as the others said, start a thread for it in the SAL section so we can cheer you on and help you out if you get stuck at all.

[sewing4kix]

I agree about starting small with Christmas ornaments. One of the greatest motivators for me to complete my projects is knowing they will be given as gifts. Be sure to look over your color chart and special instructions so there will be no surprizes half way through! Good luck and happy stitching!

[maggs]

Welcome to the forum

If you want to start crossstitching, why do you not by a magazine with a free gift pattern on the front. They give all the instructions and at the back of the magazine it also tells you about the different type of stitches. This may be a good starting point and also give you some good reading at the same time.

[frankattleborough]

I have read through the posts, and people are very surprised that a mere male does cross stitch. Two pieces of advice though for you, first as others have said, start with something small and something which will give you an interest. I started with a coat of arms 6ins x 4 ins of my family name. Second and I think most important, use a frame for your work in order to keep it square, I have seen many pieces of work which have been done by ?experienced stitchers that have finished up diamond shaped!!

My last project was 17ins x 14ins (it was only just started by my late wife) and the current one is 12ins x 10ins, another that she had said she wanted to do, so both of these gave me an incentive.

Happy stitching