Question about floss weight/ply!

[neptuna]

I sure hope this is the right place to post a question!

I'm super new to cross-stitching, and I was actually planning on beginning with a stamped pattern. In the instructions, it emphasizes that I should use 3-ply cotton floss (it comes in 6-ply) unless otherwise instructed. I separated my 6-ply floss into 3-ply threads but I found that with such thick floss, it was hard to see my Xes and so I was messing up a little more often.

My question is, what is the rhyme or reason behind the suggestion of floss-weight, and would it hurt my piece to go with 1-or-2 ply threads instead, at least while I'm a beginner, so I can clearly see each full stitch as an X and it doesn't blend together into a tiny floss dot?

Thanks in advance!

[MaggieM1750]

I am not familiar with stamped patterns. But.. one of the things with stitching is that if you think it looks better with 2.. then use 2. I wouldn't use 1.. that doesn't stand off the fabric enough.
That being said.. whether you are using 2 or 3.. make sure that when you are separating threads, that you strip each thread individually, then put it back together. Not, taking 3 from the 6 and using what is left over. It helps your thread lay better, more even, and helps prevent knots.

Posting a photo would help- because even with 3 threads, your X's shouldn't look like tiny dots.

Here is a discussion we recently had with someone else starting out and having trouble. Take a look if any of it can be of help to you

Welcome to the forum. You've picked a fantastic new hobby.

[Serinde]

Three ply shouldn't be too bulky, and it's probably suggested so that the stamped piece looks a bit retro. It'll also cover the stamped crosses really well (one ply won't do that).

When you separate your plies from the whole 6 strands, make sure to take your 3 strands, separate them from one another, and then recombine them. Works better that way, as Maggie says -- smoother, and your xs may be a bit clearer.

[neptuna]

Thank you for your replies!

Turns out I've been doing everything wrong! I did not individually separate each ply and then put them back together, and I am also pretty confident that my tension is a problem as well. I'll post a picture, but the last 2 rows are rows I did after fixing the ply-issue and my tension.

Stamped patterns seem difficult because they're harder to get exactly on the X rather than just putting it through the holes of aida cloth. A friend of mine is going to teach me how to stitch in person, but I figured I'd give it a go with the stamped pattern just because it's all full stitches and nothing too complicated. They're difficult to get even.

Thank you MaggieM for recommending that thread to me, it helped a lot!



Like I said before, the bottom two rows are after I fixed the things I was doing wrong, and although they're small, they look considerably more X-y.

[rcperryls]

The bottom two rows definitely are an improvement. One of the problems seems to me to be that you are trying to cover the printed x's instead of using the holes in the cloth as your guide. This keeps your stitches from sitting next to each other since the stamped crosses don't look like they are always right next to each other. I'm not nearly as good as other members at explaining things, so I would suggest that you look at some of the tutorials that are available until your friend can meet with you (or someone who explains things better gets a chance to reply). I've always found this one Needlework FAQ has a lot of good basic information. This one, Basic Stitches Used in Cross Stitch is also pretty good. There are a lot more available if you do a web search. Nothing will be as good as the in person learning that you will get from your friend. She'll be able to see what you are doing and can give you directions on how to make your stitching smoother. You might want to think about trying a simple cross stitch that isn't stamped but gets you to learn a bit about counting. There are some beginner kits that are available. And never stop asking questions.

Carole

[Rose]

Since you are not that far along I would remove all of the stitches and try using just 2 ply. The 3 ply looks way to bulky. I think the fewer threads would do wonders. Also when doing stamped patterns you are not going to get the smooth flow from stitch to stitch. There are bound to be spaces between many of the stitches that is just the way that stamped work is.

[neptuna]

rcperryls, thanks for the response! I actually did buy a beginner kit from a craft store nearby, but it turned out to use 18-count aida cloth. Do you consider that a little too small for a beginner? I was so disappointed! It was only a couple dollars, so it's not like I wasted much money, but I was disappointed nonetheless. Even my friend who was teaching me told me to look for a kit with bigger (probably 14-count) squares. She has a ton of stitching supplies, so she will be making me a "custom" kit more suited for a beginner.

Also, you mentioned that I should use the holes in the cloth as my guide -- the photo I took is of extremely close up, but in real life it's almost impossible to see the holes in the cloth. They are super microscopic, it's like a solid fabric cloth! So I don't think I understand what you mean by using the holes in my cloth as a guide. That's why I think I may have better luck with aida cloth of a manageable size.

Rose, thanks for your input as well. I actually did remove all of the stitches once before, right when I was around this point because I thought I accidentally used 6 stitches by doubling the thread (but it turned out I actually didn't, haha). Since you seem to know a bit about stamped patterns, would you say that it may not be a very good place to start for a beginner?

[NeedleAndFork]

I actually did buy a beginner kit from a craft store nearby, but it turned out to use 18-count aida cloth. Do you consider that a little too small for a beginner? I was so disappointed! It was only a couple dollars, so it's not like I wasted much money, but I was disappointed nonetheless. Even my friend who was teaching me told me to look for a kit with bigger (probably 14-count) squares. She has a ton of stitching supplies, so she will be making me a "custom" kit more suited for a beginner.

I'm one who doesn't think that fabric count necessarily has anything to do with being a beginner or not. If you can see the holes in the fabric, then you can stitch it. Number of colors and amount of confetti (many many colors all mixed up in a small area) are more my gauge of how easy or difficult a pattern is. The same pattern stitched on 14 count is going to be much 'chunkier' than on 18 count since the stitches are larger. On 14 count you'd probably use 3 strands of floss to get god coverage, on 18 count you'd use 2, and the end result will be much more delicate.

[destructiveernie]

I think you need to start with aida, doesn't matter what count, the 18ct you have would be fine. I think to start you just need something with proper defined holes which the aida will have.

I think the stamped pattern you have would give an experienced stitched a headache never mind a beginner.

[Rose]

Rose, thanks for your input as well. I actually did remove all of the stitches once before, right when I was around this point because I thought I accidentally used 6 stitches by doubling the thread (but it turned out I actually didn't, haha). Since you seem to know a bit about stamped patterns, would you say that it may not be a very good place to start for a beginner?

I would not say as a beginner you can not do the stamped kit but they are a bit harder to deal with. The print on the fabric can be a bit frustrating. As for the 14 count being better for a beginner I totally agree. I know that others have said any aida is fine to start with but as a beginner the 14 ct can make you feel more relaxed and you can figure out your tension a bit easier. I have been stitching for over 25 years and I still like and use 14ct for the majority of my work. I have never found the fabric making a pattern look chunky, so much as the actual pattern. I am sure that you can work on both the aida and the stamped as long as you get the right # of plys and also the proper tension. Good luck and keep us updated with your progress.

[curly sue]

Back in the mid-1970's, I went from doing regular stamped embroidery to a stamped cross stitch. I just covered the x's. I didn't know about counted xs at the time. Mine turned out somewhat messy and I didn't do any others. It was several years before my sis taught my dd and I counted xs. I think the fabric in your kit is lovely, and your more recent stitches are looking much better.

I recently ran across a blog where a lady is doing free hand xs....no counting, no stamping, although she may draw an outline or two. She uses it for primitive style work.

I think you will enjoy the counted xs!

[cairee]

I think you need to start with aida, doesn't matter what count, the 18ct you have would be fine. I think to start you just need something with proper defined holes which the aida will have.

I think the stamped pattern you have would give an experienced stitched a headache never mind a beginner.

this

that stamped pattern is something that would drive me crazy, and Ive been stitching for 20 years. the 18ct kit would be a good starter, 14 ct is also a good beginners fabric but 18 is not so fine that its difficult.