I am working on bands to glue onto little tins. The pattern is supposed to meet up at the join, so I carefully worked it all out on my excel spreadsheet (haven't bought a x-stitch program yet.) A 10.5 inch band of 14 count aida cloth has 147 stitches and my design was perfect (I thought).
Much to my horror, when I finished the band, I was off by 4 threads. OMG!! I counted and recounted and found that my 10.5 inch band actually had 151 stitches. Every 3rd inch or so actually had 15 stitches, not 14 stitches.
Normally, this would not matter that much--but for my band it was critical. I changed my design to accommodate this imperfect count. I added the year in the extra spaces on my first band...hope it looks OK!
I have met the same problem once, when I used different brand 14-count Aida for the front and back of a needlebook - and they didn't match I washed the bigger piece in hot water and it shrinked just a bit so it was ok.
Agi
"The world, as a colourful knot of threads, has turned into a memory, and now you cannot be sure whether it was real." (Géza Ottlik, Hungarian writer)
Thanks all. I just ripped the last quilt square on the bottom band - just didn't like it. I'm reworking. I'm going to put these bands on recycled tuna tins. Our crazy cat will only eat tuna--and she just licks the liquid mind you--won't even EAT the tuna. Thank goodness she does eat dry food!
I made a tin for myself and it is great for holding snippets...which I always make a lot of, whether I am stitching or working with wire!!
had you not mentioned that the 2011 isn't supposed to be there I would have never thought it didn't belong! love the colors wish I was creative enough to make my own stuff like this!
Well I finished - this project took way longer than I expected. These are little snippet tins - to catch thread from embroidery or even wire snips from jewelry making. I like my little Americana quilts the best - they are different all the way around!
I used fabric glue to turn over the edges on the flower and the quilt bands.
The green and gold band I finished by straight stitches over the threads BETWEEN the holes. It was so securely bound, I just took a deep breath and cut the band out--with magnifier glasses perched over my bifocals. I am going to try a mini hardanger pillow with aida cloth using this technique.
These bands fit so snug over those "recycled" tuna tins, that I didn't have to glue them on. (Oops - I just realized that I slipped the quilt band on upside down - the quilt in front is supposed to be a prim style flag---good thing I didn't have to glue them!!)
I even found a way to use the snippets left over from this project!
Agi
"The world, as a colourful knot of threads, has turned into a memory, and now you cannot be sure whether it was real." (Géza Ottlik, Hungarian writer)
I washed the bigger piece in hot water and it shrinked just a bit so it was ok.
Many years ago cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.
There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with CHOCOLATE! 
