Mrs MBK's SAL 16 Nov - HAED QS Dragonfly

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

After much hesitation I have decided so start my own SAL. I have found it so encouraging and inspiring (and expensive !) to look at all of your SALs so I thought it only fair that I start my own. If it is OK with everyone I would like to use this thread to show the pieces that I will be stitching for the remainder of this year. As you can see from my sig I have a few HAEDs that I want to work on, so I will do 2 BAPs on a rotation with a few smalls mixed in for sanity reasons!

Here is Starry Night with Tardis charted by the amazing Skitzzzzz - I know several of you are stitching this one. Here is my progress after starting on 13 May (it was a Friday so I hope this is not an omen!):



I'm using 18ct magic guide aida, as the design is quite dark I won't need to worry about washing the lines out (I am still a bit scared of washing my cross stitch!).

I hope to start HAED QS Believe next month once I have decided what fabric to use. I may stick to 18ct as I would like it to be a bit bigger. I've ordered a fabric sample pack from Donna at Cross Stitch Heaven to decide what fabric to use for my 3 bigger HAEDs. I can't tell you the amount of threads I have read on here and other forums giving the pros and cons for different fabric and thread combos and tent stitch and full crosses! Decided the best way was to sample all combinations myself!

I expect next month I will have a few Qs about Krenik as I have never used it before and will need to on Believe - if anyone else has stitched this design I would be interested in your views on whether to use the fine braid or just the blending filament (as others have done).

Thanks everyone - you are all inspirational!

[Lili]

wonderful start!

[karen4bells]

great start on a very nice design!!

[vanessanjf]

Fantastic!!!!

[Nachstenliebe]

Great work so far on Starry Night!!!
Faith

[MaggieM1750]

I expect next month I will have a few Qs about Krenik as I have never used it before and will need to on Believe - if anyone else has stitched this design I would be interested in your views on whether to use the fine braid or just the blending filament (as others have done).

I am not sure which colors you need.. but if your just doing some test stitches, I can certainly mail you a bit of each for you to play with. I have a few different silver and golds.. but not sure what is #4 braid and what is blending filament. PM me your address if your interested.

[flosaxby]

Wow. That's looking brilliant! I think you're stitching a lot quicker than me!


Flo

[destructiveernie]

Your braver than me, I avoid anything that requires anything more than basic threads.

[rcperryls]

Great start. I look forward to seeing your other works as you do them. Let us know what you decide about fabrics. I am getting my first HAED in the mail soon (not sure why I did it that way. wont' again) so am very interested. I am thinking 18 pt but also may try my first evenweave.

Carole

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Thanks for all your support guys!

MaggieM - that's very kind of you, but wouldn't want to trouble you with postage to the UK!

Let us know what you decide about fabrics. I am getting my first HAED in the mail soon (not sure why I did it that way. wont' again) so am very interested. I am thinking 18 pt but also may try my first evenweave.

Normally I'm an evenweave/linen stitcher - but over 2 not over 1 which is the bit that is freaking me out about evenweaves for HAED. I worry about the stitches 'disappearing' when stitched over 1. So if any of you that stitch over 1 wish to tell me your secrets I am all ears. I did read a thread where Mabel (font of all stitching wisdom ) mentioned a techinque which would involve doing each x individually rather than ///// then \\\\\ - do all you 'over 1s' stitch that way?

[destructiveernie]

I'm doing my HAED 2 over 1 on 25ct and doing each x individually rather than ///// and then back \\\\\\\\\\.

My only reason for this is I figured it would be easier if I had a visit from the , no trying to remember which way I went with the stitches.

[caitief]

That looks great! That is my next project that I am making for me...but I need to finish Christmas presents first.

Yours is coming along so nicely! I am trying to figure out where I want to start mine. I also need to figure out how to blow up the pattern a little since when I printed it out it was way too small!

[Rose]

Super start!!!!!

[LadyS]

Great start! I'm slowly kiting up to start on my own Starry Night, but without Tardis.

[MaggieM1750]

Thanks for all your support guys!
MaggieM - that's very kind of you, but wouldn't want to trouble you with postage to the UK!

Normally I'm an evenweave/linen stitcher - but over 2 not over 1 which is the bit that is freaking me out about evenweaves for HAED. I worry about the stitches 'disappearing' when stitched over 1. So if any of you that stitch over 1 wish to tell me your secrets I am all ears. I did read a thread where Mabel (font of all stitching wisdom ) mentioned a techinque which would involve doing each x individually rather than ///// then \\\\\ - do all you 'over 1s' stitch that way?

Eh.. postage to the UK is only $1. Really, its nothing. Offer is open if you change your mind later. As for stitching over 1 on evenweave.. I am doing this on my Cardinal Ball. I think its 25ct? Maybe 28?? I ripped the tag off an can never remember. And I had trouble with how to start this guy. I think I started and stopped 4 different times. Tryed it in one spot.. threads disappeared.. tried it again 1 square over.. only to have trouble there too. Then I scoured this site.. and looked up how to do a tent stitch (or maybe someone sent me a YouTube video link) and I FINALLY got it!
A B C D
E F G H
Start your needle up through the hole at B
Bring it down at E
Up at C
Down at F
Up at D
Down at G....
The front of your fabric has the bottom leg of your full cross (looks like a regular half stitch)
The back of your fabric has long diagonal lines, not the usual --- or ||||
When I was ready to cross, I do just the usual half stitch
So if I ended going down at G
Up at C (The diagonal thread on the back will anchor your thread so it doesn't slip)
Down at H
Up at G
Down at B
Up at F
Down at A

And this is also the reason I have Kreinik #4 braid and blending filament, and also Petite Treasure Braid. Thread testing to see what would work best.. I decided on blending filament so it didn't look bulky but I still got the shimmer.

[Busy_B]

Here is my progress after starting on 13 May (it was a Friday so I hope this is not an omen!):

I hope to start HAED QS Believe next month once I have decided what fabric to use.

My grandfather always believed that Friday the 13th was a lucky day. It was ironic that when I was pregnant with our first child we decided that if it was a boy the middle name would be my grandfather's name. Well, Conner Arthur was born on Friday the 13th.

I have QS Believe in my stash to do at some point in time, too. I think Charmagne (?) was working on this one a while ago.

[tiffstitch]

Great start!

[skitzzzzz]

looks fab and thankyou for the nice comments i love the colours in this

[nachosmiley]

Great start on this the colours look stunning!! Can't wait to see the next update

MaggieM thanks for the tips it must have taken ages to type that little lot in! I'm getting close to starting my own big project which I'll be stitching over 1 for the first time too, and your advice will be invaluable methinks.

[mauveme]

Great start. Mine is saddly sitting in a drawer. Have one more project todo before I start again.,.