Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

After drooling over some of Mabel's projects, I finally decided to give this a try--not the best but better than I expected it would be. The red is using # 8 perle and the blue is #5 stitched on 25 count even weave--I definitely like the coverage of the #5 but I think I can use the #8 too--anyway, here's my first attempt

very pretty!!!!!

Very nice!

It's so nice and neat! I wouldn't have thought these were new for you!

It's pretty! I wouldn't have thought it was your first attempt.

That looks nice Karen. Cant wait to see it finished.
Keep up the great work.

Thanks--having fun trying different ideas--this is just all testing, will try doing up something soon, maybe borrow some ideas from Mabel's needle case

Wonderfully neat and colourful. well done Karen
Sally

Looking good, well done

Amazing work! Your stitches look like a pro did them
Faith

Very pretty

A good start. You might find that pearl 5 is bulky for this count, but 8 doesn't quite do it. This is where you have to invest in Caron Watercolours and Wildflowers...!

Such neat stitches. Very nice. What is the difference between a #5 or #8 versus dmc floss? Any idea? I only have dmc and have no access to a craft store. My first hardanger attempt is in my gallery.

Serinde wrote:A good start. You might find that pearl 5 is bulky for this count, but 8 doesn't quite do it. This is where you have to invest in Caron Watercolours and Wildflowers...!

My thoughts exactly! Actually I like #5 on 25ct, but then I like nice full coverage; I've even used #5 on 28ct. Nevertheless, it is ALWAYS a good idea to invest in Caron threads !

Very pretty Karen and as others have commented... very neat.

Oh, well done! Hardanger terrifies me! All that cutting...

Are you stitching a design, or are you doing isolated motifs for practice?

Fljotsdale wrote:Hardanger terrifies me! All that cutting...

There are lovely motifs out there which don't involve any cutting -- great to get started with! The Caron site has a few, courtesy of Mary Hickmott and stitched in their lovely Watercolour threads.

*scurries off to find link*

Found them!

One with no cutting at all here

And one with only a little cutting here

They come from MH's Easing Into Hardanger

Thanks so much for the links Mabel--am going to have a proper look at them!!
May have to consider the Caron threads soon--just want to make sure I get more practice first--hate to waste the more expensive threads

I could send you a few threads of each to try, perhaps enough for one of those MH motifs? Send me a PM if you'd like to try them.

Mabel Figworthy wrote:I could send you a few threads of each to try, perhaps enough for one of those MH motifs? Send me a PM if you'd like to try them.

What a very nice offer Mabel--may just be sending you a pm soon--want to practice a bit more first--and oh yea, I know you had looked for good, yet affordable, scissors for the hardanger cutting, but can't remember where you ended up getting them--do you have that info?? Thank you so much!!