So is that really a quarter stitch

[anashenwrath]

I just stitched my first quarter stitch! Because my instructions are very vague, I had no idea what this stitch was--they didn't give instructions for it! The pattern looked like it was defying physics, haha!

I looked it up, and I think I got it, but it still seems odd.

I go through the middle of my Aida fabric? Is that right? You can barely see the floss showing through, it's so tiny. What's the point behind these stitches, just out of curiosity?

Thanks all!

[Heather]

I just stitched my first quarter stitch! Because my instructions are very vague, I had no idea what this stitch was--they didn't give instructions for it! The pattern looked like it was defying physics, haha!

I looked it up, and I think I got it, but it still seems odd.

I go through the middle of my Aida fabric? Is that right? You can barely see the floss showing through, it's so tiny. What's the point behind these stitches, just out of curiosity?

Thanks all!

I had a lot of 1/4 stitches on my last pattern... they were used for very delicate facial features, making half the stitch red and half the stitch peach for where the rest of the face met the mouth. In most cases, backstitching was also required directly across the point where both 1/4 stitches met (in the hole you create in the centre of the square) to highlight it even more. Some were so tiny or white that I couldn't tell if I'd done it already or not and I ended up doing them twice.

In my experience, once you've stitched the surrounding area you'll see why it works.

Edited to add: on my chart they would show one square but instead of having one symbol filling the whole square they would have one tiny symbol in the bottom left corner and one tiny symbol in the top right corner. The first 1/4 would go from the bottom left hole (that's already there) into the center of the square where you have to make your own hole... and the second 1/4 would go from the top right hole into the center of the fabric again. In most cases they followed the original ////, but looked like ////,'/// if they makes any sense at all Never more than 2 1/4 stitches in one square for my older chart.

[rcperryls]

Sounds like you did it right. the point of the stitch is to make the design look less "boxy". not sure what the right term is. A lot of times it has a slanted back stitch also so that the finished piece has a more realistic look or a more curvy rather than straight line look to it.
Sometimes you will see 2 quarter stitches in the same square which is to smooth the transition between colors. Depending on the fabric count it can be easy or difficult to do.
I you are stitching over 2 than the 1/4 stitch would be over 1 square and not coming up in the middle of the fabric. Hope that isn't too confusing. This website Counted Cross Stitch Tutorialwhich someone on this forum mentioned one time, has a section on fractionals and other explanations which are helpful. No. 12 explains 1/4 stitches pretty well. Hope it helps.

Carole

[Rose]

As the ladies say it is just to give the pattern a smoother look. I like fractional stitches, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 when I am stitching and sometimes I add them just so the finish looks better. (yes I do most of my stitching on aida fabric.)

PS. Disney patterns love fractional stitches.

[anashenwrath]

Thank you so much for the explanations!

I feel like my quarter stitches ended up looking very sloppy. Now that I know that a) I'm doing them right, and b) how important they are, I'm going to try to find more patterns with them so I can practice!

@rose: maybe I'll look into some easy beginner Disney patterns so I can get more experience; thanks for the tip!

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Quarter stitches are a lot easier when you stitch them on evenweave! The hole is already there so you don't have to 'make' one when you stitch over 2 threads of fabric like you do with aida. That's why I rarely stitch on aida - unless its HAEDs as they are full crosses only.

[anashenwrath]

@Mrs Milkybar: thanks for the information. I was sure aida would be best for me as a beginner, but I see what you mean. Trying to sneak the needle in the aida is tricky. One website I was reading suggested using a smaller needle for 1/4 stitches. Maybe I'll try that.

Wait, HAED designs are all full crosses?! Those super gorgeous, someday-I'll-be-good-enough-to-try patterns are full crosses??? How is that even possible? that gives me so much hope that one day I can try one, lol!

[rcperryls]

HAEDs are full x stitches. What makes them a bit tricky is that they use a lot of colors and so you find that you are switching threads around a bit. There are all kinds of sizes of patterns and some freebies also. the QS (Quick Stitch) designs are usually (I think) smaller. there is no back stitch, no fractionals and no blended threads which some people don't like. What an HAED takes a lot of I think is patience. But be warned it is an addiction from which you are unlikely to recover. Not that I want to.

Carole

[anashenwrath]

That's just so amazing to me. I never even heard of HAED until I saw so many people here mentioning it. I went to their website and my jaw hit the floor.

Obviously I'm nowhere near good enough to tackle one yet (I don't even know how to carry over floss!) but it's exciting to think that I already know how to make the stitch they use!

i look forward to being addicted with the rest of you!

edit: just for fun, I looked at one of the free patterns (didn't realize they existed). Yeahhhhh, I'm going to need about another year or 10 of experience before this is possible. even with only x stitches.

[-SunshineGirl-]

You dont need to be super experienced to stitch a HAED, just be patient enough to stick with it! I have not stitched for years and only easy projects before I am starting my HAED, it does not have as many colours as many others (fairy sisters it is called) but since it is only full x Im sure it will b fine