Two special little girls. *Problem solved? 19th Feb '10*

[~threadbear~]

At last I'm able to start my dogs project!

This is the picture that the wonderful Nic turned into a pattern for me. (Thanks Nic! )


So this is a project very dear to my heart, as alot of you know, my beloved staffy isn't well and we could lose her at anytime. She is 3 next month and the vet says anytime we get after she's 3 is a bonus. As to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, we have been told it is likely she has that inherited brain disease that is inflicting all that breed, although to what degree remains to be seen.

So as you can guess, this project is a special one, I want so much to get it right and have something special to remember them both by.

I made a start today but now I need opinions before I go any further please.
I let hubby make final decision on fabric colour and he went with the 'forget me not' blue ... a fitting name really don't you think?
Anyhow, I have made a start, it is 28ct which I am doing over one. The problem is, I have made a start in two threads over one,fantastic coverage but feels a bit bulky. Will that make is harder to stitch as I do more? I'ver never done a large project on evenweave before so I don't know if this is just normal and is how it should feel / look.
Do I swap to one over one ...the coverage isn't perfect though, so would that annoy me?

Two pictures to help you help me decide please.

2 over 1


1 over 1


All help and opinion very gratefully recieved. This has to be right.

[agi]

I can't see in the picture that the coverage is not good with one thred. I am sure as you go along the overal effect will be just fine. And with two it really might be difficult to stitch.

I think I would go with one, because if you are not enjoying stitching it then the result can be as beautiful as you want you will not like it.

Maybe this is just me but in stitching I feel I have to enjoy the process so as to be able to enjoy the end product.

[crazycat]

id go with one too as the other looks like it could get quite hard

[~threadbear~]

I'll try and get a better picture of the one over one later. You can see some blue through it in places, and I'm just worried to be in the same position as I was on the Autumn ATC, where I felt the coverage with one wasn't enough.
Then again, it's easy to stitch with just one thread.
I don't mind it being difficult though if that's going to be the best way ... I just want to be sure it turns out right, or I'll never be happy with it.

If two turns out to be too bulky once there is alot of stitches in that'll be a problem as well.
I was wondering as well if anyone who's done a HAED would know how it's likely to go, as they're done on high counts over one, but I dont know what amount of threads you use.

[agi]

I was thinking the same, I mean about HEAD stitchers. I seem to remember that Carolyn complained of too bulky stitches and she had to start all over again. But don't know which count she used.

[SusanF]

I've been using 25 count Lugana for my HAED (which I've started again at last - piccies soon!!), but found it too bulky using 2 threads over one. I also found one thread over one looked a bit 'wishy washy'. I ended up using two threads and working in tent stitch instead of cross stitch and have been very happy with the results so far. I love the photograph btw. It'll be great to see this WIP coming along.

[~threadbear~]

What's tent stitch Susan?

[Fljotsdale]

Well, I've not done a HAED - yet! - but the 2 over 1 looks very stiff and bulky. And yes, the 1 over 1 does look too thin, even though the photo doesn't show it clearly.

Myself, I'd be inclined to try a larger patch of 1/1 to see if it looks better when the area is larger. Otherwise, I think Susan's suggestion is a good one.

And I'm really sorry your lovely dogs appear to have such a short time ahead of them.

[agi]

Tent stitch: http://www.flowerstorm.net/disa/Crafts/stitch-tent.html" target="_blank

[SusanF]

That's a very clear guide Agi. T'Bear, it's basically just the first half of a cross stitch! I've been using continental tent stitch as this supposedly stops the fabric from warping (ordinary tent stitch can do this). I work from left to right on one row and right to left on the next. When going from right to left the stitch goes from top right to bottom left along that row and when working along a row from right to left the stitch goes from bottom left to top right. (Goodness that really does sound much more complicated than it actually is )

I know not everyone likes using this stitch, but it's definitely worth a test try at it. Here's a close-up of how it looks:

[Jilly]

It is difficult TB, try a little of both, look at them from the distance you plan to view the finished piece from when completed, take your time to decide, also try it under different lights, often things show up a lot under the stitching lamp, but are less noticeable with normal lighting

[Rose]

I really can't give you a good opinion as to one strand or two because I do not stitch on the evenweave. So if I don't know what I am talking about, I better button the lips.

But I do want to say this will be so so so much fun to watch.

[charmagne_capalad]

I had to share some of my thoughts here with TB....I loved good coverage...and I used to stitch using 4 strands on 14ct Aida. It's really bulky but the ends results is really worth it...the colors are more vivid....and it's lovely to look at even in a short distance.

...I've tried using 2 strands in my current WIP Golden Pair which is also in 14ct...as I want to try how it would look....It really doesn't have good coverage...as the white fabric keeps showing especially with dark colored threads...I regret not using 4 strands but kept on going since I dont want to start all over again.

So, I would vote for the 2 over one...as it gives the BEST coverage...and this special project of yours really deserves the BEST!

Take care ...and would really await your progress on this one!

[wendywombat]

Whenever I use evenweave I use 2 threads of Floss over 2 threads of fabric, which gives the same effect as 2 threads of floss over 1 'block' of 14 Aida!
Not much help! but there you go!!


BTW, What lovely dogs!! Well worth the effort!!

[Serinde]

Two strands over 1 on 28 ct is going to be quite a challenge I think. Even HAED are only (!) 25ct, and they reckon the result is stiff like a tapestry.

If the single floss thread gives you good coverage and you are happy that the background doesn't show behind the blacks and browns, I'd go for that. Second choice would be 2 strands in continental stitch (which is like half cross, except you stitch on the angle rather than straight up and down; uses more thread, but good coverage).

[nicgoss]

Ohhhh you've nearly started - yipppeeeee!!!!

My HAED is on 22ct hardanger and I've done it 2 threads over 1 in full stitches. It took a bit of getting used to but i'm pleased with the effect now and when I take it out of the frame it is as stiff as a board (quite satisfying in a strange way! )

Over 27ct, I'm not too sure! Personally i'm not overally keen on the tent stitch, but that's just me. Wish I had some to try out to give more advice. The coverage on the 1 thread over 1 looked fine from the picture though! Sorry I can't be more help!!

[~threadbear~]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Well as I'd already start the 2 over 1 I decided to 'trial' it a bit, reminding myself I could always frog if I decided against it .... famous last words! I did do quite a big block of work, but it was really hard to fit others colours into the main one in that area ... I decided I wasn't happy, so I went onto the HAED site and noticed there that once they get to 25ct and over most seem to plump for 1 over 1.
This gave me the perfect excuse to frog ... if it was good enough for Haeds, it was good enough for the doggies ...

Frogging was the biggest pain ever! it was so tiny and so tight and had to be sooooo careful not to harm fabric. Took me hours!

It's all out now though and I'm now starting again at a much less ambitious 1 over 1 on 28ct.
Hope to have an update picture in a few days, nothing much to show yet, except a pile of frogged broken bits of thread.

Ahem, Well moving swiftly on .................

[Rose]

Well TB all I can say is that it is better to now rather then have to bin the entire fabric because you were half way and could not finish.

[~threadbear~]

Yeah, you are totally right Rose. Now it's done and I've started again I don't mind, but at the time I thought I was never going to finish frogging it ever!!

Onwards and hopefully upwards now!

[~threadbear~]

So I've got a bit done tonight. It doesn't look loads but it felt quite satisfying to see stitches back on the fabric!
Again a night picture, so you can't see the fabric colour. I'll have to remember to try and update during the day rather than at night.

So here we are, first picture.



Not much really I know, but it just feels like I've at least started now!