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I have spent part of this lovely sunny afternoon gridding up the 16 ct aida for my Chatelaine Rose Lights.

In the instructions It says to do the "centre motif first then decide where to go".

Question : is this really necessary to start in the middle of a large piece of fabric or can I do as I usually do and start at the top right and keep going. Probably doa page at a time.

I've never done a design which has the stitching chart on upteen dozen pages so am at a bit of a loss here.




Any and all suggestions welcome.

Edited to add a pic of the one I am going to do - I hope.

Thanks for your prompt replies Reta and Mabel

I have just looked at what you are about to do That is very pretty

Think i would start in the middle and make my way up to the top

But no reason why you could not start in the top corner

They usually suggest starting in the middle to avoid miscounting and running out of fabric, I think, but if you're used to starting in a corner there seems to be no reason why not to do it in this case.

From Mrs MBK's Chatelaines I seem to remember that they tend to have "symmetric quarters" radiating from a central bit, so my own instinct would be to start in the middle but that's the nice thing about needlework, two or three or more people can all tackle a project in their own preferred way and all come up with a beautiful looking piece!

PS just looked up Rose Lights and it seems to be less symmetric than most, so even less reason why you should have to start in the middle

Great to see you starting this one Sally! I would start where you feel most comfortable and with this one it would be easy to start in a corner! As Chatelaines are quite repetitive by nature just stitch where the mood takes you, whether that be doing similar elements together so you don't have to keep swapping threads, or completing one corner at a time to keep it feeling fresh!

Really looking forward to seeing your WIPs!

Thanks for that Amanda. I will see what happens when I put it in my hoop and get started.

I am certainly looking forward to working with the silks for this pretty one.

Oh Sally that's so pretty, looking forward to seeing it progress.

I agree with the other comments - whatever suits you best.

Sally that is going to be so lovely! And as Mabel said it is much less symmetrical than most of the Chats seem to be so starting in the corner should work out fine. This should be a lot of fun. Are there lots of specialty stitches in this one? I couldn't tell from the picture. Can't wait to see this one get started.

Carole

Oh what a gorgeous project this is!!! I am so happy you'll be stitching it and I definitely look forward to your progress pics of it!!

Carole - no there aren't many specialty stitches in this one. A few Rhodes and Algerian Eyelets- which thanks to Mabel I know about - seem to be about all. Satin stitch I don't consider a specialty stitch as I learned it from my Gram when I was about 7.
Will start on it later today once I have sorted the threads etc.

That will be so beautiful!!! And this one does seem like one that wouldn't matter where you started.

I am no expert but I assume since you've gridded it, you can start anywhere you want too ?

Borgessa, yes I can start anywhere and I did.

THANKS EVERYONE YOU HAVE ALL BEEN MOST HELPFUL.

I was going to try starting in the middle but it is full of beads with minimal stitching so have gone to my usual top right to start.




It is on 18 ct hand dyed aida - sort of mushroom pinkish colour from Stitches and Spice. - at least I think it is 18ct - its ages since I bought this fully kitted Chatelaine at the Craft & Quilt Fair 2 yrs ago.

Only a very tiny start so I can work out exactly the spacing at the sides of the fabric. Every time I count across the pages to get the total number its different and all are different from the figures that Martina has used. Will put it away for the night.

Great start Sally, really looking forward to watching your progress on this one!

Lovely start!! I can't wait for your progress pics. The fabric is really beautiful!

Carole

So pretty!!!!!!!

What a gorgeous piece! And lovely start already. I hope you get the counting sorted out.

That is a pretty Chat! Nice start too. I'll look forward to watching it progress

Great start! The fabric is lovely and perfect for this design.

Great start

Your on your way! It is a lovely colour. Can't wait to see more of it.