HAED: Fairy Sisters

[-SunshineGirl-]

I am starting my first cross stitch project in years once the mail man comes with my fabric and floss. I think he is holding it hostage in his van, because I reckon it should have been here a week ago and I cannot wait for it to arrive.

Why did I go for a HAED for my first design to stitch? Because I am not to fond of small cutesy designs, and I knew I would have to get a design I absolutely LOVED if I was going to go for it. So I decided to throw caution to the wind, buy my favourite HAED and get started! That was nearly 3 weeks ago.

I ordered my fabric, floss, needles and a q-snap frame and then the waiting started. One week later I got the needles and q-snap frame, but since so many skeins of the same colour were needed the floss and fabric was sent a week later. That is a week and a half ago now! I am (not so) patiently waiting for them to appear, and running out to check the mail the second the mail man leaves. EMPTY ! Every day so far, and there are only two more days this week! Next week I am away as I study part time, and the plan was to bring my work with me to work on in the evenings, but my hope that this will be possible is fading quickly.

I thought I would set up the SAL in the hopes that the mail man would bring something for me tomorrow, and knowing me I will not have time to set this up when I have gotten my stash, because then

This is how Fairy Sisters will look when finished:


I will update when I have gotten my fabric and post pictures when I get some stitching done!

[rcperryls]

Beautiful design. I hope your materials arrive soon because this will wonderful to follow.

Carole

[Parksfarm]

Love this one! Hope your stuff arrives soon so you can start on it!!

[karen4bells]

What a nice design. I hope you get the needed items so that you can start on this very soon!!!

[Raine]

I hope your delivery arrives soon! It's like waiting for the phone to ring. Time crawls.

[vanessanjf]

Gorgeous design

[Juel]

An amazing design =) I love the colors on this one =)
Fingers crossed that your stash will turn up in time!

[Squirrel]

How frustrating to still be waiting for the postman to arrive with your stash.
Your HAED is gorgeous and is going to be so lovely. Hope you can start it all real soon

Sally

[-SunshineGirl-]

Stash has arrived! Very excited and busy sewing around the edges of the fabric and putting in gridding for the pages, luckily no other gridding to do as the fabric is pre-gridded (25ct magic guide) .

I am loving the pattern even more now that I have seen the floss, I love the colours, and cant wait to get started!

I will also do some test stitching to see how 2 over 1 will feel vs 1 over 1. Due to the pattern being so dark I think it is very likely I will end up doing 2 over 1 full crosses to make sure there is no white showing through. Pictures of stash and possibly test squares tomorrow.

[Fljotsdale]

the colours! Purple... mmmmmmmmmm!




Note to self: must find something small and purple to.

[-SunshineGirl-]

I cannot make up my mind if I like tenting 2 over 1 or full crosses 1 over 1 better. Coverage is good for both, but I cannot decide which I like the look of better.

I think I preferred tenting, as I could do a loop start, and I had no troubles getting back in holes that were getting full. I realise that from a distance the look is going to be very very similar, and I am the only one that will ever see the work up close with a magnifying glass (so much easier to stitch when things look bigger)

The little crosses of full crosses 1 over 1 is very pretty, and I know I will LOVE the look both close up and at a distance. It is slower to stitch, and finishing the crosses isnt all that easy. Also cant use a loop start.

Aaaaaaah I have to make up my mind so I can get started!! I think I will be happy with the end result any way, and both look good, I just have to decide if I like crosses better because that is what I thought I would be doing and that tenting is new to me. I prefer tenting to x when working with it, it is just the final look of the piece close up I am thinking about.

[Squirrel]

Glad your stash has arrived and you can get ready to start.

I've never done small count fabrics so can't help you with which would look best but I am sure that you will settle on the one which is right for you.

Sally

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Looking forward to you starting this one! I completely understand you dilemma re tent v full cross! I am still on the fence on this one - been trying to decide what to do when I start my HAED BAP. The coverage looks fine on 1 over 1 full cross and 2 over 1 tent on 25 count. One voice tells me to go with the tent stitch it will shorten the stitching time on your piece - the other voice just likes the appearance of full crosses close up! I'm currently stitching a HAED SK on 28ct using tent stitch and my sister (another stitcher) said she couldn't tell the difference. Maybe its just the fact that I KNOW its not full crosses that is affecting my judgement? I'd be interested to see what you decide!

[-SunshineGirl-]

Mrs Milkybar Kid: That is excactly what Im thinking. I know its not full crosses, and I do love the appearance close up, but I don see the difference at a distance and tenting will shorten stitching time... It is so difficult! I will do some more stitching, do some light stitches in the middle of the dark stitches I already have to see if I still like the tent stitches as I am leaning towards them...

[rcperryls]

I understand you dilemma. There are plenty of times when I wish I had taken more time in testing my LOTR to decide if the tent stitch or 1 over 1 would have worked. But the problem for me was all the black and the coverage was really poor. The other colors would have been fine. No question when doing my current HAED because it is on 18ct and really does require a 2 over 1 for coverage. The fabric is softer though and so easy to use that it is going very fast. 25ct is slower because it just takes longer to get the needle in and out of the holes.
I am interested in what you decide and can't wait to see your first update here. That is a wonderful design.

Carole

[LadyS]

I thought about that one a lot too, and ended up going for tent stitches, and will do so again! Coverage is pretty good 2 over 1 on 25 ct, and you can't really tell it's not a full cross.

[meerkat]

I love the colours in this design,it is a lovley piece. Look forward to progress

[XandraS]

This is a lovely piece, look forward to seeing it stitch up

[-SunshineGirl-]

I have started. About 400 stitches done, tenting 2 over 1 in the dark navy blue colour. Even if I had done some test patches I am now not pleased with the look. The fabric shows through too much.

I have tried full crosses 2 over 1, but that is a no go, it is not enjoyable to stitch and with a HAED I think that is important.

So I am thinking I should change fabric. I'm considering 28ct, to allow me to tent. But I am totally unsure of what to do. Don't know what other alternatives I have. I was really enjoying stitching when I was tenting, but when I look at it now I can see that it will not look good when finished with this amount of white spots showing through.

[Busy_B]

Sorry to hear that the fabric is not working out for you! I started a new HAED last weekend on 28 ct mushroom colored fabric. I'm tenting 2 over 1. There are a few small spots where I can see the fabric, but they should basically disappear when it is off the q snap and washed. We are our own worst critics when it comes to our own work. Maybe, if you're going to change your fabric, you would want to try a different color than white so it isn't so obvious where the fabric peeks through? Maybe a tan, dove gray, or another neutral/light color?