Experience stitchers - your opinion!

[mimers]

As you may have seen from previous posts, I am going ahead with my first HAED - Hermit Baba.

I am ordering my floss online but am hesitating on the fabric. I prefer Aida as it's what I'm used to. The suggestion from the website is 16-18 ct but that will make the final product pretty huge and I am eager to try a smaller count, like 22. I have experience working on black fabric (14 ct only).

Here's the question -- for this design, http://heavenandearthdesigns.com/index. ... ts_id=8631, given the colours, is it better to do it on a white fabric or a black fabric?

Thanks!
mimi

[Parksfarm]

Hi Mimi - I personally would use a shade of grey on that one as so much of it is grey... You shouldn't have much problem with any show thru... If it had to be black or white, I don't know. Black is a bit harder to see to stitch on but you might have show thru with white as it tends to reflect back a lot. If I'm going to use "white", I always go with an antique white to help with that... That is a neat pattern, can't wait to watch your progress!

[Arianwen]

I agree I would go with a grey, or a grey blue. Something that isn't so stark as white or black.

Perhaps something with a bit of sparkle in it?

For me it makes me think of cold crisp autumn/winter mornings if that is any help

[mimers]

Wonderful suggestions!! Thank you so much!

[Serinde]

If it's the usual HAED, no background is going to show through. You might want to think of the fabric as "undercoat" for a wall: if most of the piece is quite dark, then a soft gray might be the answer. Remember that thread colours reflect light differently depending on their background.

However, stitching a HAED on black is the way of madness.

[BizzieLizzie]

If it were me I would do it on grey fabric. Have you used 22ct before? I'm doing one of my projects 2 over 1 on 22ct hardanger and love the coverage. Looking forward to seeing pictures of your progress on this!

[destructiveernie]

I'd definately opt for something other than white but definately not black.

I think the suggestion of grey is the right one.

[Lessa54]

I agree with everyone else, grey would be a good option. Certainly don't bother with investing in a hand-dyed or sparkly fabric as with a fully stitched design, you won't see any of the beauty of those types of fabric.

[rcperryls]

Grey makes sense to me. None of the fabric will show, but stitching on anything really dark would be very hard, I would think, for this design.

Carole

[mimers]

I have never stitched on anything other than 14ct, Aida (white or black), so this is all very new territory for me.

Thank you for all the suggestions regarding grey fabric. I was going to order online, but I think I need to go to a store and see the fabric (linen vs aida vs hardanger vs lugana!!) before deciding what to get. From all my research it seems hardanger or lugana would be best? And I think I have decided on 22ct. I will try to get to Gittas tomorrow morning - another wonderful poster recommended that store to me. So exciting!!!

[LadyS]

I think a 22ct grey hardanger might be an excellent choice for you. The fabric will be similar to Aida without the finished size being so big. 25ct Lugana is probably the most popular HAED choice (two of mine are on that) but it's indeed very tiny stitches and a lot of people don't like that.

[mimers]

I just got off the phone with someone at Gittas store. They also recommended the 22ct Hardanger, but they don't have grey, only white and ivory. Hmm... Darn it! I guess I may have to go with that then, as I'm nervous about buying fabric online.

[Serinde]

Use ivory?

[carolanne]

If you are doing it on 22ct and using 2 strands, coverage shouldn't be a problem at all. So, white or ivory should be fine. black is just asking for a headache.

[mimers]

Thanks! I got the fabric today and it's tan coloured. I think it'll be perfect. Can't wait to start!!

[CayenneCat]

Would you mind posting how different it is stitching on 22 count fabric compared to 14 count fabric (once you start stitching)?

I'm hoping to start my first HAED soon, and I've never stitched on anything smaller than 18 count. I'd love to hear your experiences with 22 count, and with starting your first HAED.