Ordering floss

[mimers]

So, I took the plunge and bought the chart for HAED Hermit Baba. Eeek!

I am now about to order the fabric and floss from 1-2-3 stitch but I have a question. If the design chart says you need 1 skein, is it better to buy two? If it calls for 4 skeins, is it better to buy 5? What do you all suggest?

Thanks!! This is very exciting for me. This is the biggest project I've ever embarked on. I have thought of nothing else for the past few days and it's such a nice change! (There has been major drama in my life regarding an longtime friend).

[rcperryls]

Congratulations on taking the plunge I know you will love stitching this chart. I just go with their recommendations, especially since some of the colors will only be a few stitches. If you look at the Chart Usage Summary that tells how many skeins they suggest of each color you will also see how many stitches of that color are in your chart, so for those with a small number you definitely don't need more than 1 skein. The only reason to add a skein would be to build your stash.
I hope that when you get started you will show us lots of pictures of your work. I am very much looking forward to seeing this one grow.

Carole

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

The only thing I would add is that the floss usage chart is for stitching on 25ct with 2 threads - if you are using a different count fabric and only 1 thread of floss then your usage will be different. For example I stitch on 28ct 1 over 1 full cross or 2 over 1 tent stitch which means that if a particular colour calls for 4 skeins I only need 2 as I am using half the amount of thread. Hope that makes sense and I haven't confused you!

Happy stashing!

[mimers]

The only thing I would add is that the floss usage chart is for stitching on 25ct with 2 threads - if you are using a different count fabric and only 1 thread of floss then your usage will be different. For example I stitch on 28ct 1 over 1 full cross or 2 over 1 tent stitch which means that if a particular colour calls for 4 skeins I only need 2 as I am using half the amount of thread. Hope that makes sense and I haven't confused you!

Happy stashing!

Haha! I am a little confused. I am still debating doing the project on 25ct or 22ct. Anything bigger and the final product will be huge. I still don't quite understand the "1 over 1" or "2 over 1 tent stitch" terminology. Googling those terms still hasn't made it much easier. lol! I stitch the way most of the 14 ct counted cross stitch kits explain it in their instructions, if that makes any sense.

Thanks for the info! I will place my order today for the floss. I think I will go to Gittas to get the fabric.

[MaudL]

Hi Mimers,

When we say 2 over 1 or 1 over 1, the first number refers to the number of floss threads used in the needle, and the second number refers to the number of fabric threads each stitch goes over.
If you are used to kits over 14ct Aida, then you probably stitched 2 over 1, ie 2 floss threads in your needle with each stitch covering one block of the Aida fabric.

Now the second number really only matters when you are using non-Aida fabric, ie evenweaves or linen. For Aida, each ''thread'' is really made of 4 threads stuck together, thus making a block; your individual cross stitch will cover that one block.
For evenweaves, each individual thread is weaved individually, therefore you can choose to have your stitch cover 1 thread, 2 threads, or more.

HAED recommends to stitch 2 over 1 on 25 count evenweave, so you will have two bits of floss in your needle, and each cross stitch will cover 1 thread of the fabric weave.

I hope that makes sense and that I didn't confuse you further!

[MaudL]

Oops, forgot to add something.
I've never seen it in real life, but from reading forums and looking at sites, I am pretty sure that 22ct could be categorized as an Aida rather than an evenweave, as it is woven in blocks. So if you end up choosing a 22ct fabric, you will be going ''over1''

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

The only thing I would add is that the floss usage chart is for stitching on 25ct with 2 threads - if you are using a different count fabric and only 1 thread of floss then your usage will be different. For example I stitch on 28ct 1 over 1 full cross or 2 over 1 tent stitch which means that if a particular colour calls for 4 skeins I only need 2 as I am using half the amount of thread. Hope that makes sense and I haven't confused you!
Happy stashing!

Haha! I am a little confused. I am still debating doing the project on 25ct or 22ct. Anything bigger and the final product will be huge. I still don't quite understand the "1 over 1" or "2 over 1 tent stitch" terminology. Googling those terms still hasn't made it much easier. lol! I stitch the way most of the 14 ct counted cross stitch kits explain it in their instructions, if that makes any sense.

Thanks for the info! I will place my order today for the floss. I think I will go to Gittas to get the fabric.

Sorry for confusing you Mimers - but Maud has explained the terminology! Ignore what I said and just go with what the floss usage says - even if you go with 22ct you won't run out of floss I doubt, as your crosses will only be a tiny bit bigger on the 22ct than the 25ct. One thing you may want to consider is to do some test stitching on both counts of fabric you are considering. You will be stitching this design for a while so you will want to make sure that you are happy with the coverage and ease of stitching on a fabric. As 22ct is more like aida your stitches will not "slip" which can happen when stitching on 25ct over 1 thread of the fabric, but you just adjust your tension. Preparation with HAEDs can take a bit of time when you first start - but it is well worth it for the end product!

[mimers]

wow! Thanks for all the advice. Maud - that makes perfect sense, thank you for taking the time to explain it.

I think I am leaning toward the 22ct aida fabric as it is what I'm used to. It will make the final design on little bit bigger but I think I can handle that.

I just printed out the chart - OMG, it's 32 pages long!!!

My hubby is going to help me grid the fabric once I get it. Is it best to start the gridding lines from the center of the fabric?

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Personally when I grid I start with page one - I just measure 4 inches in from the corner of the fabric and 4 inches down (for my border allowance) and place the first gridline! Alot of stitchers just grid a page at a time otherwise they might go insane (depending if you are using a pen or thread!). If you go for gridding the lot I also find it helpful to mark in the page borders as HAED pages are not an even number of complete 10 x 10 square grids and I have miscounted before!

[Heather]

I am completely jealous of all you people on here who keep saying you're going to pop over to Gittas. I live in North York, I am going to have to rent a car (I have Zipcar) and go! I am sure I will step in there and have some kind of panic attack and then run around like a crazy person fondling all of the threads.

I am using 18 count for my HAED and I've already run out of one colour, and I think I might be running out of a couple more by the time it's all done.