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So I decided to add a second HAED to my current WIP. I found Fleur de Lys from their tapestry collection that I really like. I am going to France in May so I wanted something French inspired and you can;t get more French than that.

http://heavenandearthdesigns.com/index. ... ts_id=2582" target="_blank

It calls originally for 40 ct silk gauze. 1. Silk makes me think very expensive. I have really, except for my recent failed evenweave attempt, only ever stitched on Aida, 18 count is my go to fabric but I would be willing to try something else. 2. 40 ct?!?! I feel like my eyes will be dead after this. Any suggestions? I think 18ct will be too big to use but what about something else, I would like to keep away from evenweave for now after my recent attempts. I have never used a gauze before so that is intriguing me.

What about 20 or 22ct? While not always called aida at these counts most often they are more similar to an aida fabric than an evenweave fabric.

I was looking at a 22 ct. But then I was also eyeing some Laguna. Of course I am contemplating torturing myself just a little more. A HAED tapestry isnt enough for me obviously lol.

You said evenweave didn't work for you, so that leaves out Lugana. Lugana is an evenweave. If the model is 40 ct over one and you do it on 22 ct hardanger (which is aida) it'll be twice the size of the model -- which is fine as long as you realize how big it will be. The design is only 300x200 so even in 22 ct, that's only approx 13.5" x 9".

Yea I know the Laguna is evenweave, but for some reason I kept going back and looking at it. I dont think my evenweave was a good one, I got it at Michaels and I felt it seemed awfully fragile. But now I like the idea of the 22 ct. I think that may be what I end up going with it. Its a good size (I dont want it too small either!), not too big....