stitching over two

[NinjaBetty]

Okay I'm going to attempt to make this question clear but who knows with me eh? So I have never stitched over two and I see some beautiful patterns stitched over two such as the miras and lavender and lace etc. etc. How on earth does the counting work. I mean let's say I'm stitching and the next stitch is two stitches away, do I count over two or would I count four? I'm so lost on how to count for this and it's driving me crazy. I feel utterly ignorant for not knowing how to figure this out. I know someone will be able to help me out here. I mean I get the stitching over two but what if the border is ten stitches away? Do I count ten or twenty? Waaah yes I will cry.

I see such beautiful hand dyed fabric that I would love to try over two but I just don't understand the counting Please tell me I"m not hopeless and that I can do this. Thanks for any advice, tips, hangman's noose etc.

[Talinellana]

For each stitch you have to count you count 2 threads in the fabric. So if you have a 10 cross-stitches to count you'd need to count 20 threads in the fabric because each cross goes over two threads in the fabric. 10 x 2 = 20 threads in the fabric, of course this only really applies to evenweaves and linen, generally if you're stitching on Aida you'll always stitch over 1

Can't wait to see what you end up stitching!

[fccs]

Stitching over two is really easy. You cross two threads to make a leg of each x. If you want to work a stitch that is two away on the chart, you would be counting four threads instead of two. The bottom leg of my x crosses the vertical thread, so as I stitch, if my x starts over a horizontal thread, I know I have miscounted.

Here's a link to a good video from one of our own.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eF-Bhv_hR90" target="_blank" target="_blank

(You can see from the link that it's the mobile version since I'm on my iPad.)

[kimkat_tkl]

When working over two, I'm continuously thinking 'skip one hole'.

What this means for a single cross:
Come up through hole at bottom left of cross, skip a hole on diagonal, down next hole on diagonal (to form / )
Skip one hole down, come up next hole down for bottom right of cross, skip a hole on diagonal and then down the next diagonal hole (to form \ )

[NinjaBetty]

Thank you so much everyone for explaining. I had the stitching over two concept down but the counting part I just couldn't get straight in my head. Now I understand it better. I will definitely have to get some pretty fabric now for my miras to do them justice.

[NeedleAndFork]

Thank you so much everyone for explaining. I had the stitching over two concept down but the counting part I just couldn't get straight in my head. Now I understand it better. I will definitely have to get some pretty fabric now for my miras to do them justice.

Gridding helps a LOT to get the hang of stitching over 2. Depending on the piece I might fully grid, or just grid an outline of each page just so I have something to use as reference points so that when you have to start something 15 stitches away, and there is a grid line 4 stitches away.. you know you have to go 11 past the gridline.. or to the next grid line and then 1 more stitch for a total of 4+10+1.. and the only real counting you'll be doing there is 1 stitch or two threads, rather than having to count 30 threads which is really easy to lose track of.

Another thing I do to help with counting, especially over 2 is use my 'counting needle' .. it's simply a size 26 needle that I made a tail for by threading beads onto a bit of cfloss and looping through the eye so the needle can't fall through the fabric. When I need to count I use it to count and then drop the needle into the correct hole so the beads keep it in place and then count from a different direction back to the counting needle as a reference to make sure I'm going to stitch in the right place. It never hurts to do a double check, and inevitibly if I make a mistake whlle stitching it's always at a time when I didn't bother to do the check.

[Mabel Figworthy]

One thing that helps in many types of counted work is too look at the fabric thread next to where your needle comes up.

This may be a bit difficult to explain in words but woven fabric has threads going horizontally and vertically. When you bring up your needle for the first part of your first cross stitch, look at the hole you are in. If you were to go diagonally top left from there, would you be going over a horizontal or a vertical? Say for the moment that it is a vertical. Well, if you're stitching over two then ALL your stitches (so whenever you go down a hole or come up in one) will have a vertical in that position.

wait. *scuttles off to find a usable picture*

[Mabel Figworthy]

Does this help?



If the first hole you use has an upright/vertical next to it, then ALL the holes you will be using will have too.
So if you come up in a hole with a horizontal next to it, you know you've miscounted by one thread (or three, or five).

(If you miscount by an even number of threads this won't help, but I find that most mistakes in counting over two are by one, and then it is an excellent "early warning device")

[NinjaBetty]

ohhhh yes that helped a lot, thank you so much

[rcperryls]

I had a terrible time counting over two on evenweaves when I started and once I had the vertical vs horizontal thread concept figured out, stitching over two became amazingly easier. Still a little tricky if my eyes don't focus right, but I might try NeedleAndFork's counting needle idea.

Carole

[fccs]

I had a terrible time counting over two on evenweaves when I started and once I had the vertical vs horizontal thread concept figured out, stitching over two became amazingly easier. Still a little tricky if my eyes don't focus right, but I might try NeedleAndFork's counting needle idea.

Carole

The vertical/horizontal thread concept is definitely essential to successful over two stitching. I often use counting pins and they've become very useful in keeping the dreaded frog away (but sometimes that little troublemaker still manages to weasel his way in). I think another trick of over two stitching is good lighting and a good magnifier (at least for my eyes).

NinjaBetty, what I would suggest before tackling a big project is maybe stitching up a little ornament or something small to get the hang of it if you're a little nervous about trying it.

[NeedleAndFork]

I had a terrible time counting over two on evenweaves when I started and once I had the vertical vs horizontal thread concept figured out, stitching over two became amazingly easier. Still a little tricky if my eyes don't focus right, but I might try NeedleAndFork's counting needle idea.

Carole

Since I just took a picture of my needles when playing with my camera.. here's a pic of the counting needle since I don't know how well I actually described it..



It's not the best picture, but you can kinda see how it's made.. some floss threaded through the eye of the needle and then beads on each side to form a loop to use as a handle. It also makes it easier to grab when needed.

[Carole]

I do like the counting needle. Much safer than just sticking one in the fabric and hoping it stays there

I may have to nick your idea and make myself one.

[Allyn]

I don't want to say this diagram is 'wrong,' but in order to avoid having floss slide under the fabric threads and disappear, the Xs should always start one hole over like this:


If you start the cross like this:

...your stitches will slip between the fabric threads because that vertical thread is ineffective in holding your stitch in place.


After some practice, your eye starts to "see" the Xs by focusing on that cradle of the vertical and horizontal threads on top.

[NinjaBetty]

Oh now that makes a lot of sense with that diagram Allyn. Thanks for posting that. I will definitely have to practice a bit because I'm all in a tizzy now about doing this properly lol.

[NeedleAndFork]

I do like the counting needle. Much safer than just sticking one in the fabric and hoping it stays there

I may have to nick your idea and make myself one.

That's exactly why I made it. It's also helpful for using to unpick stitches - it gives me something to hold on to beyond just the needle itself.

[stitchingmae]

If you are asking how we count spaces to the next stitch. I myself find myself (band nerd here) counting 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 with every "and" being the hole I skip. I tend to count holes instead of threads it is easier for my mind that way. If I have misunderstood the question or confused you more. Please just ignore this!!