Gridding

[Debbydap1]

How many of you grid your fabric before you start. I have always just found the center spot and started counting from there. Gridding your fabric is new to me but seems like you will have less frogging incidents if you grid? Thoughts? I've looked at the product they sell for doing this and it is EXPENSIVE. Then I had the thought about fishing line 1800' for $11.00 seems so much more affordable. Has anybody used fishing line and what pound test to you use?? Also does it come in colors?

Thanks in advance

[Lori0]

I use fishing line. 8lb test in red. red because it will work on light and dark color fabric. I believe it comes in smaller and different colors. I found the 8 lb works better for me and I only have to buy one. 300 yds per spool.

[rcperryls]

I grid all of my HAED projects as I stitch these on 25 or 28 ct fabric and it is much easier to keep track of my stitches and I make less counting errors (though I certainly still make more than enough) and can catch them more quickly when I do. I use the Dritz Mark B Gone Marking Pen and have always found it easy to use. There are other brands also but this is usually the easiest one for me to find. Walmart carries it as do most of the big craft stores.

Carole

[Debbydap1]

Thanks so much for the tips. I think I will try them both and see which one works for me. Good to know Wal-Mart carries the pen, that fishng line comes in red and what pound test to use. Thanks again now to go shopping!

[DahliaDoll]

Sounds like something I should try with an upcoming project. Most of mine are too small to really bother with gridding.

[Rose]

I have never taken the extra time that is involved with gridding. To me gridding is something others do but my impatients to get to the stitching is my motivation.

[Debbydap1]

Rose I am very impatient too. I like to jump right in but then I was thinking with the frogging I do it might be worth it to take the extra time to grid....I want to try it...did I mention that I am impatient

[MaggieM1750]

I use the washable pens as well. But I don't necessarily make a grid. Sometimes it's a grid. Sometimes it's where something should start, or stop. Think fence line, or edge of a house, tree, window, etc.
I've heard of others that use Sulky metallic sewing machine thread. Just like with the fishing line, you'll see it on any fabric, and you can't sew through it.

Like Rose, I'm too impatient to sew a grid, which is why if I do anything, I'll draw my markings.

[Mystonique]

I grid on the big things but don't bother on the small (under a page) stuff.

I use thread in a contrasting colour - I have used fishing line but always have spare thread on hand.

[Allyn]

I don't grid -- not because I'm impatient. I'm not. I tried gridding once. I dutifully went to the store and bought a spool of red fishing line and gridded the section of the fabric where I was going to start. As soon as I stitched up to the first gridded line, it annoyed me so much having something in the hole that I wanted to put the needle in that I tore it all out. Working on fabric that isn't gridded has never been a problem for me, so introducing something that served to annoy me seemed counter-productive.

That being said, I would encourage you to try it. I can see the benefits of doing it even though it doesn't agree with me. If it agrees with you, you'll be the happier for it, I think.

[curly sue]

I've never done gridding as I have only done smaller pieces. The idea of a partial grid or marking particular parts does appeal to me. I think I'll give it a try, as it is so easy for me to make counting mistakes.

[bookknurd]

I grid on pieces like HAEDs because as a cross-country stitcher, I'm often jumping all over the place. While I have heard of people successfully doing this without gridding, they are obviously counting ninjas, whereas I am not.

I tried pens, but didn't like them for some nonspecific reason. I have since switched to fishing line, which I haven't worked with enough to decide if I like it. It doesn't quite lay flat enough for me, but so far that's the only issue I have. I might look into the Sulky metallic thread.

[Leroy_B]

I first learned about gridding and parking the thread and later waste knot as well as many other tips and tricks that was linked from the good people in this forum. BTW thanks everyone for opening new alternate ways to make the hobby fun. Here's one link that has a lot of info http://www.scarletquince.com/index.php" target="_blank" target="_blank. I began as a cross country stitcher, find the middle and work accordingly counting, marking of what I completed on the chart. I find it to be confusing at times always counting and keeping track. It has caused to make for a lot of errors. So then just recently I was at a quilt shop to pick up some Thread Heaven and while there the owner mentioned she has washable marking pens to grid the cloth. I bought a fine point white and a blue pen. Last night I marked some of the grid areas on black aida to try it out. Now I realize why the charts are in blocks of 10. Wish the instructions on the back of these kits (Dimensions) explains that alternate method. Here's what I found, pro and con. On the good side I'm able to take a lot of the tedious counting out and increased productivity covering a lot of area. On the down side which I should have little concern, I'm working the 10x10 block and find that I've carried my floss a longer distance to work the color rather than finish it off on the back side snip it and start the next block as a new area. It will get covered by other strands to finish the blocked grid. Something I'm just testing out on the back which all others were very clean on the back. Next one I'll mark with the washable pens then grid with fishing line depending on if the line is in my way as I stitch avoiding it or how well the line drawn with a ruler stays within the 10x10 grid hoping I don't go off course by one line. I might make a cardboard template of 10 to mark the cloth. Still planning ahead but do want to increase worked area with less confusion.

Here's a link on youtube to help with Easy Count Guideline http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33P22qFLKWI" target="_blank

[purvislets]

I've only recently started gridding. I'm usually a start-in-the-center stitcher, but for this Thomas Kinkade kit I decided to give gridding a go since the entire surface of the fabric would be stitched.

I gridded the first page with a blue Clover marking pen and the second page using monofilament fishing line. They both have their goods and bads. The pen was nice because you could stitch right over it no problem, but it does have to be washed out. Mine was on for a very long time and washed out without leaving any stains, but I disliked having to wash the project before it was completely finished.



The fishing line can be easily removed as a section is finished which I like a lot better. However, even though it is a very thin line I still find I'm having to kind of stitch around it so that my stiches will lay flat.



For the next page, I'm thinking of going back to the pen but instead of fully gridding I may just put little crosses where the grids intersect so that the whole page isn't covered. Kind of like a combo from what the fishing line looks like when I gridded with it, but only using the pen instead.

[Leroy_B]

Nice example of gridding, purvislets. Showing that and explaining makes it much easier to understand. Nice job on both example and your work.

[purvislets]

Nice example of gridding, purvislets. Showing that and explaining makes it much easier to understand. Nice job on both example and your work.

Thank you so much! It's definitely been a learning experience. That's one of the things I love about this craft... you constantly learn new techniques and adjust it to your personal preferences. Hopefully I can find a gridding technique that I truly enjoy one of these days.

[bookknurd]

purvislets, what kind of fishing line did you use?

[purvislets]

purvislets, what kind of fishing line did you use?

It's a 4lb red monofilament line that I got at either Gander mountain or Walmart. I can't remember the exact brand and it's unfortunately been packed away in a box somewhere and I'm not sure exactly where. The 4lb was the smallest that I could find. If you are getting the fishing line, make sure to get monofilament because the needle can't pierce it and it won't fray.

I did try 6 or 8 lb to mark the end of a page once but found it too bulky to stitch around effectively. I am using 18 count aida fabric though, so a lower count fabric may take a thicker line just fine.

[mouselady]

This has been so helpful! I know I need to grid my next project because the one I am doing now would be so much easier if it were gridded. But I just want to confirm one thing. If I use fishing line, I can stitch right over it and remove it at the end? That was really confusing me and actually one reason I haven't gridded so far. Just wasn't sure how I got rid of it.

[MaggieM1750]

I wouldn't stitch over it.
If you do, your sort of holding it down with your stitches and it will make it more difficult to remove at the end. And at the same time, when you do remove it, your threads will be looser because of the little bit extra needed when covering the fishing line. I wouldn't leave it in at the end of a project because I imagine you'll be able to see it, even if it were clear.

So, either pull out as you go. Or push the fishing line off to the side with the tip of your needle as you are going into a hole. And pull it all out when you are done, or at least done with that section.