Here is what it look like when I started....
After 5 hours stitching....
I started this summer 1998 and I don't know why I never finished it. I immediately fell in love with it all over again and can't wait to stitch again next week. Actually...it will be really hard not to pick it back up this weekend, but I already have two designs in my rotation so I will have to resist the urge!
I have been struggling for a couple of weeks with La D Da's "Bushel & Peck". I saw this stitched on 18 ct. lambswool over 2 at a not so LNS and feel in love with their model. The design is 110 x 147 stitches so the fabric I am working on is pretty large! It is so "course" it has been very hard to hold and stitch freehand. I tried a large hoop, but found that very hard to hold and I couldn't keep the fabric taut. Well....I think I found my solution tonight. I have Q-snaps that I have never liked using in the past...just too awkward to hold, I don't use a frame, and the fabric would lose it tautness, even with scrap fabric between the snap and fabric. I see that so many stitchers use the Q-snaps ...so what was I doing wrong? I decided to search for some tips last night and saw on Vonna's blog that she used felt between the stitching and the snap. I decided to try it tonight on my SB since that is a big piece of fabric. Oh my....what a difference it made. I couldn't believe how taut the fabric was and it kept the tautness the entire evening. I could have bounced a quarter off of it. I can't wait to try them tomorrow on the La D Da. If it works as well, I do believe my needles will be flying!
Thanks for looking and happy stitches this weekend....
Great progress on your UFO. It will be a beautiful piece when it is finished.
ReplyDeleteThanks for passing on that tip about using felt in the q-snaps. I will have to give it a try.
Doesn't the felt make a huge difference? I was struggling with a piece of difficult linen on my Q-Snaps a couple years ago and Vonna told me about adding felt...voila! Problem immediately fixed.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, This UFO is great and I too just found Q-snaps. I'd been using a wood hoop but learned from my LNS that oils in your hands can be absorbed into the wood and then transfered to the fabric and since I've been using a lot of hand dyed fabric and can't wash it when I'm done that freaked me out! So, I just purchased my first Q-snaps and love them! Not sure if the newer ones are different but I haven't had to use the felt trick yet. (I think I may pick up a few pieces though just in case - don't want to get in a Q-snaps bind ;-)!! Hope you have a good weekend and can't wait to see more progress on this and your other pieces!! Mere
ReplyDeleteGreat progess! I love Q-snaps! I do still use hoops some, I go back and forth between the two. I really love the q-snaps for small projects because it is so easy to deal with the fabric with the q-snap!
ReplyDeleteGreat work on the UFO!! And congratulations on finding an answer to your problem. I think I am going to have to add Vonna's blog to my list. I have heard so many wonderful things about her.
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ReplyDeleteMakes a world of difference doesn't it?! :)
ReplyDeleteYour progress is stunning!
Hello Karen,
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog..(from another blog..) I like your work - I totally love your Herb Gatherer, it look soo sweet!!!! What will it look like when it's finished? I am curious, will follow your blog,
Greetings from Holland,
Susan