Fabric help please

[Ajdstitch]

Are there no fabrics in 23 or 24 count? I am finding it hard to push the needle through from behind the work- I am stitching 2 threads(blends) over 1 on 25 count Lugana evenweave.i did my first bap this way but I think I did it on linen evenweave and I don't remember it being as hard as this.my next picture was on 28ct using 1 over 1 and that was lovely to do.i have a sample of 22ct hardanger but I find it just as hard to get the needle through on that, the holes seem no bigger and the fabric scratches the dmc thread. I know there is another 22ct Oslo, has anyone used this , I think it is also a hardanger but mercerised, has anyone tried both the 22cts? I don't want to go too large as I like my sts as small as possible so my pic looks like a painting.i have tried doing tent st on the 25 ct but the coverage is no good.any help appreciated.i may also post this in the haed forum as they suggest 25ct for their patterns.

[fccs]

Could you try a smaller needle to see if that helps?

[MaggieM1750]

I too think it's more a needle issue than a fabric issue. I've never seen 23 or 24 ct fabric.
I use 22 ct hardanger fabric quite a bit and have never had trouble with it.
I use a tapestry needle, size 26 most often.
Sometimes switch and use a sz 28 (a bit thinner than a 26)

[rcperryls]

Hello and welcome to our forum. We have had many discussions on this issue. I also started a piece, an HAED, using 2 over 1 on 25 ct and actually finished a little over six pages but the needle was getting harder and harder for me to pull through the fabric. It wasn't fun. It was hard work. I also did one tent stitching on 25 ct and did not love the coverage, but do like using ins thread on 25 ct, but then discovered that my favorite is tent stitching 2 over 1 on 28 ct fabric. I have also stitched on 22 ct Hardanger fabric using 1 thread and got good coverage there. I prefer using a size 28 needle also. That makes a difference in the ease of stitching.
So much of it depends on your own style of stitching. I hope you find what works for you.

Carole

[Allyn]

I'm curious, too, what size needle you're using. I wouldn't think 2 over 1 on 25 ct lugana should give you that much trouble.

And just an FYI, you don't *have* to stitch 2 over 1 when doing blends on 25 ct. You can stitch 1 over 1 -- do the bottom half of the stitch in one color and the top half of the stitch in the other color. The eye will still blend the colors and you won't have as much bulk. The blending will skew to the top color so make a determination on which color goes where based on your design. This doesn't really work on counts higher than 25, though, because not enough of the bottom stitch shows.

[Ajdstitch]

Thanks all, I think the haed's are single colours so you can use the loop method of starting and so have less thread on the back. Has anyone done a haed on 25ct using2threads over 1 using the tail method of starting? I think the problem is the tails on the back ,the top corner where I am starting has 14 different symbols used in the first 100st square and the tendency of the pattern is for the sts to be going down so I am having to end through the back of those sts instead of the section I have completed.i was having to put the needle through the front to make a hole.i was using a 26 needle, I will try with the 28.

[Ajdstitch]

Hello and welcome to our forum. We have had many discussions on this issue. I also started a piece, an HAED, using 2 over 1 on 25 ct and actually finished a little over six pages but the needle was getting harder and harder for me to pull through the fabric. It wasn't fun. It was hard work. I also did one tent stitching on 25 ct and did not love the coverage, but do like using ins thread on 25 ct, but then discovered that my favorite is tent stitching 2 over 1 on 28 ct fabric. I have also stitched on 22 ct Hardanger fabric using 1 thread and got good coverage there. I prefer using a size 28 needle also. That makes a difference in the ease of stitching.
So much of it depends on your own style of stitching. I hope you find what works for you.

Carole

Carole, thank you for the welcome! Did you use 2 threads on your haed, or did you use the loop method with one long strand of thread doubled?

[rcperryls]

I use the loop method whenever I can. But since I cross country stitch rather than parking threads there can be a lot of starting and stopping. I keep my needles threaded so after the first use of the particular strand(s) I also have tails which need to covered. I increases the bulk on the back, but I haven't found that a problem when I am tenting or stitching one over one.

Carole

[NeedleAndFork]

Thanks all, I think the haed's are single colours so you can use the loop method of starting and so have less thread on the back. Has anyone done a haed on 25ct using2threads over 1 using the tail method of starting? I think the problem is the tails on the back ,the top corner where I am starting has 14 different symbols used in the first 100st square and the tendency of the pattern is for the sts to be going down so I am having to end through the back of those sts instead of the section I have completed.i was having to put the needle through the front to make a hole.i was using a 26 needle, I will try with the 28.

I use 28 count for my HAEDs and stitch with 1 strand over 1. The backs are nearly impossible to weave ends through to start and stop, so I start and stop mine from the front using an 'away waste knot' without the knot. Depending on what I'm working on I either start off to the side of the area I'm working on, or below it, and once I've stitched over the tails, I trim them from the front (though you could always turn your work over and pull them through and trim from the back).

This method works best if you're parking rather than cross country stitching though. But I find it's the best method for stitching with so many colors - I've had 10x10 squares on my HAED with 40 colors in it, and had no problems with this method. It isn't for everyone though - some people find that the ends drive them nuts. They don't bother me any. Here's a quickie pic of my WIP that shows the ends started from the front.