Don't look for sense in the order these tips are presented, there is none to be found. In my defense I was pretty ill while planning it out. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
I've found that the biggest thing that slows me down is making mistakes, so I try to do the things that prevent me from making big mistakes. I measure & re-measure my fabric, I grid my fabric, use highlighters, re-read my pattern, count & re-count, pay attention etc... Not making mistakes makes cross stitching more enjoyable as well.
Very good point! This is also why I stick to doing half stitches first, just makes it so much faster to notice any mistakes and frogging doesn't seem quite as arduous 😅
Running each new thread through some beeswax first is a Godsend in preventing tangled thread! I never worry about tangles anymore. Sure, they still happen from time to time, but they're not bad enough or time consuming enough that I worry about it. (And believe me, I'm one of those bull-headed OCD types that would rather spend 20 *actual* minutes untangling the knot than cutting and starting a fresh thread (thereby admitting defeat), so I DO understand!!)
Haha, I feel so seen! Honestly I need to get myself some of that wax, although I'll have to attach it to a necklace or something otherwise it would definitely get lost down the sides of my increasingly chaotic crafting couch. But that's a whole other problem 😅Thanks for the tip!
You said it best when you said, "if you are stitching to relax, then relax!" I stitch slowly but I stitch because I like the design and I'm in no hurry to get it done. I also found that running my floss over a damp sponge before stitching helps keep it from tangling. I'm going to start railroading, so thanks for that tip!
Ooh a damp sponge sounds like my favourite kind of tip, the kind that costs nothing to try! Thanks for that one, definitely going to give it a whirl. And yes absolutely, if you're happy stitching slowly away then that's all you can really ask from from a hobby, imo.
I'm absolutely an Aida-feely kinda dude And in true old skool fashion, I print my designs out and "dot" the stiches I've done with one of those eraser-able pens (pilot frixion in my case) Also I totally am with you on the rail-roading, small projects yes, big projects heck no! I have become a little obessed with your video's. Your advice is awesome and your vibes? Amazing! Please do not stop with these type of vids. We do like your silly face, I promise.
I still love using a paper chart and highlighting as I go. I do use a tablet for full coverage pieces because I was going cross-eyes and insane trying to work from paper charts that are completely full of symbols. Guess I’m an old skool dude in that regard as well. Kevin
Absolutely love the beginning of this video when you talk about the pressure be productive. You nailed what I was feeling: pressure to do better and more. I felt myself instantly relax a bit. That alone makes this video a treasure. Thank you for understanding and for being self aware. 💕
Oh honestly, absolutely bugger that. It's a fun hobby! Plenty of pressures on us in life without adding more for no reason. I should make a companion video called "Stitch slowly and don't give af" 😂
Thought I would offer 2 more time savers. The first is: I use a water erasable marker to mark a one-color area that I'm going to stitch. I use a dot-dot-dot pattern for small spaces, or a straight-line method (directly thru the squares) for bigger spaces (not filling it in). When finished you will have to rinse your project in water, so beware of colors that might bleed. Good idea to check before you use them. I found out the hard way when I bought some Classic Color Works instead of DMC. Be especially careful if using reds or blues. Second: I use 12 needles at a time, each with a different color threaded in it, stick them in a pin cushion or piece of smooth styrofoam (write numbers on the foam), and it saves me doing a lot of threading and unthreading when changing back and forth between colors. Hope these help.
I just started cross stitch. Its like therapy to me. I find it very relaxing. It helps with my sleeplessness, something productive to do. I just finished my first one
Thank you for all the great tips. I'm a stamped cross stitcher for about 9 months. I do r.r., only because I am in no hurry, and also love using the tent stitch on black background of a full coverage. Love my qsnap, too. Erma California ❤
my first ever cross stitch which i’m working on rn is like this huge 2’ x 1’ or smth and the first ring section thing i did took me around 3.5-4 months and then the second ring of it i did took like 2 months so yea practice rlly rlly rlly truly does make you a lot faster. that and also sacrificing your sleep and selling your soul to the cross stitching gods. that has also helped me ❤
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD last year as a 43 year old perimenopausal woman. I took up cross stitching as a way to teach myself to be more patient and careful. I get really lost in the process because it’s soothing. It’s a HUGE challenge to deliberately slow down and make mindful stitches. Thank you for reminding us that we don’t NEED to go faster, that we should just enjoy the process. That said, I’ll use these tips to get better organized. Thank you ❤❤❤
Big slow down for me is a) when I'm actually stressed about something else and don't know it yet. I make mistakes when flustered and mistakes cost. B) too much kit. Sometimes I get all excited and I have something set up on a big frame - but then getting out the frame\light\scissors\pattern tablet ingnof floss. . . . By that point I've mentally decided to do something else. Big tip from me is not packing away your setup too much. Leave projects out, clamp lights available and everything easier to grab.
I always cut my floss too long I think. I get knots all the time, but I'm starting to understand how to avoid them better. I realize if I am cross stitching with a longer piece of floss, that letting it dangle and unwind itself helps it stay untangled. I find with the long floss that it somehow ends up twisting a little, which changes the look of the stitch and makes knots more common. But this can be fixed by either letting it dangle, or using a smaller piece of floss. I also cracked up at the last tip of "don't cross stitch" but I did that on one of my bookmarks. I cross stitched only one direction so the white on the background comes through and it looks so cool
I've seen people do half stitches for say, the background of a piece and then full stitches for the main focus, so like you said it lets the background fabric show through. It's a really neat effect! So I guess because you're feeling lazy and want to stitch faster isn't the only reason to try that one 😅 Definitely feel you on the knots, I think I fell into that trap of too long floss for a long time but now that I've got everything pre-cut it doesn't happen as much. Still need to do the occasional dangle, but it's a lot better than it was!
I just started stitching about a month ago and am completely addicted! I just wanted to drop a line to let you know how much I love you and your channel! I've shared it with a friend of mine who also just started stitching. Thanks so much for being your hilarious self! (Tabatha from Canada)
I love cross stitching but unfortunately, I don't spend the time as I used to as I am now halfway through a history degree. So to keep my hand in I have found doing small projects is a good compromise and it helps me to switch off so I can sleep and not think about what I have just read. Looking forward to your next video xx
I learned how to thread my needle SUUUPER fast and easily in one of Handwork Maniac's Flosstube videos (#13)... It has changed my life. I'm not sure how common this method is... but it was definitely new to me!
Thank you! I heard about it quite early on (halfway through my first cross stitched chicken, in fact) and always assumed everyone was doing it. But turns out this is a big reason I was so much slower than most stitchers! The rest is laziness 😅
I’ve just discovered you and I love your videos! Really looking forward to catching up on all of them. I’ve been doing needlework (needlepoint and cross stitch) for almost 50 years, but I can always learn something new! I’ve actually learned some valuable tips from your videos that I’ve watched so far. I also do graphic design, jewelry and wire-wrapping, crochet, knitting (though I mostly make knots!) sewing, costume design, and just learned to use a bead loom, which I love because I can convert cross stitch patterns! So excited that I’ve found you! Thank you for sharing!
Oh wow that's quite the list. One of us, haha! I don't even know what a bead loom is but rest assured I shall find out and probably want to learn it 😂 Welcome to the channel!
I almost didn't watch this cuz I've seen a handful of these videos and I thought I knew what you were gonna say, but I said "what the heck" and I clicked it. So glad I did. I'm a newbie and I only do stamped cross stitch, but still I learned so much. I'm gonna re-watch it and gonna subscribe! I love your presentation style and your fun attitude. Can't wait top listen to more!
New here - just subscribed! Thank you. It's been years since I have stitched - have the bug again. Appreciate the no stress - ok to be process type. I'm dying to know what you use all the yarn for? I weave loomette squares. LOL They are making me itchy for that, again, too. Will be watching all your videos. Hey guys - it's OK to be me. :)
@@TheGiddyStitcher I ended up with two. And I love them both for their own reasons….. lol! I got floor and lap stand. I use the floor stand for small count. And I use the lap for large projects. I went with both Frank A Edmunds stands for both. The lap stand is the type that sets over your lap, not one you sit on! Hope it helps!
Another great video! 😀 I wish I could stitch faster so I can do more projects. but laziness wins out every time. I never railroaded until finding flosstube in 2020, but now I do and, even though I am sometimes doubtful that it helps my stitches look better, I'm afraid to stop. I really want to try stitching in hand, but I just love my Qsnaps and worry I'm too old (hand cramps are real!). So I loved ALL of these suggestions but I'm probably going to ignore them all anyway. 😂Just always nice to "visit" with you.
@@TheGiddyStitcher So I'm here with a mea culpa. First, I've been continuing to think about the things you talked about since I watched it. Second, I realized that I could do half stitches 1 over 1 on 25 count with Sulky for projects I'm making for my kids (and therefore feel less excitement about since I didn't choose them). And, third, I have this amazing linen that is SO soft and I can't get it straight on the Qsnap and is still hard to work with even on the Qsnap. I suddenly realized I could try stitching in hand and use the sewing method. So there you go. I guess you CAN teach an old (well, middle aged) dog (well, hope not) new tricks. 😂
@@heathercaiger774 Haha, you've been INFLUENCED! Seriously though I heard Sulky is a bit thicker per strand than DMC, right? So that sounds like a good shout on the 25ct and I'll be looking out for progress pics! Curious to hear how the sewing method works out too. It's so much faster but I can only really get into the groove of it in one direction so end up doing my first lot of half stitches, then turning the whole piece around to go back the other way. Whatever works, right? :D
Just found this tonight! When it comes to larger patterns, pre-gridded aida cloth helps me to keep track of where I am. I also use a guide line if I can't find a cloth big enough for my project. I haven't heard of pattern keeper, I'll have to look into that one
Oh, Pattern Keeper is a gamechanger for big projects but it does depend if your pattern is compatible, hopefully they can expand compatibility in future. Pre- gridded fabric is such a good tip too! I tried gridding manually and it wasn't for me so I tend to forget it exists, haha , whoops! 😅
I don’t get tangles in my thread. When I separate the thread, I do let it hang and unwind. When I cross stitch, when my needle goes to the back, I anchor the thread with my other hand, pressing it against the cloth away from the direction of the next stitch. I don’t know if this is clear, but I don’t know how else to describe it!
I’ve tried the sewing method but just couldn’t get the swing of it. I do love stitching in hand though. It’s kind of like reading an actual book versus reading on a tablet. I love the tactile sensation of the fabric in my hand BUT it does slow me down. I have three stands at the moment. 😂😂😂 Each one has a WIP on it AND they are ALL currently in my living room! 😂 Good thing I live alone - well my dog is here too but nobody else to complain about all my stitching stuff scattered about the house. Thanks for all the tips!!! Kevin
Hah, this is a well-timed comment because I am in fact trying to read a real paper book for once atm (mostly for the smell) but it's SO inconvient compared to ebook...its a constant dilemma. So yeah, can absolutely see that applying to stitching styles too :D
Hello, dear lady. Greetings from Bulgaria! I have found you channel about two or three days ago. I watch a couple of your videos for cross stitch. I feel the courage to buy a q snap ( I am wondering about it for a year and a half). Can you make a video for what kind of instruments you use for stiching (needles, scissors, threader ......)? I will be very grateful about it :) Have a nice evening!
I will definitely add that video idea to the list, thank you, somehow I'd never thought of taking it back to basics like that but it would be interesting to talk about which tools are essential, where it's worth going for branded versus cheaper options, etc etc. Thanks again and I hope you love your q-snap as much as I love mine! 🥰
I didn't know there were names for all these techniques until I watchd this video LOL so thank you i guess I will now try to figure out what railroading is????
Ooh you've hit a nerve there, haha, I bought a ton of it last year with grand plans of making chunky crochet accessories for a craft fair. But then I chickened out of doing a craft fair, and now it's just there on the shelf waiting for me to come up with a new plan and quietly judging me 😅
Pattern Keeper is bloody fantastic! I've only recently discovered it myself and now im obsessed! Sadly the pattern I'm currently doing is a printed paper chart and I'm really disappointed I can't find a PDF of it. I did find the pattern by another seller in PDF form but there's some differences between the 2 charts, the one in Pattern Keeper has some "confetti" stitches that won't fit in with the rest of the colour block.
Ack yes I'm currently stitching from a paper pattern and it's the worst after relying on PK for so long! I did manage to take photos and import it to PK that way, but I miss the searching and accurate percentage so much. The struggle is real 😭
Most smart phones will scan a document and turn it into a PDF. Otherwise, you can take the pattern to a print location and scan it on one of their machines, save to a thumb drive, then import it to your computer. I think you can even e-mail it to yourself from their machines.
I have always handsewn and thought I just did it wrong but now validation after cross stitching for twenty years! I need to watch other videos especially on starting and ending floss. Is knotting a big no no?
If it's enjoyable and results in a thing you like looking at, there is no wrong imo! With the knotting thing, I know some people don't like doing it because it doesn't technically lie as flat but it's definitely not going to get you shunned or anything. Personally I avoid it just because I'm lazy so prefer loop start, but it's one of those personal preference things really.
If you are using a stand, get double pointed needles and have one hand on each side of the fabric. No more turning the needle. Make sure to grid large projects. It will save so much time in counting. If you are doing a smaller project and hooping, put the work area closest to the stitching hand so the hand doesn't have to travel as far. For less knots you can pull each strand from the skein, then group them back together. This reduces the twists within the strand that tries to tangle. If you just split the floss, keep tension on the third point so it doesn't double back on itself. Then let each section untwist itself by clipping a weight to the end, hold it up, and let it spin.
These are such good tips, thanks so much for sharing! I'm still hinting strongly about a stand so we'll have to see what Santa brings, maybe I'll add double pointed needles to the wishlist too just in case 😄
Honestly I think like most things it just comes down to personal preference. I like doing the half stitches first because (among other reasons) it's quicker to spot mistakes and have less to frog once you do, but someone who is more competent than me and makes no mistakes in the first place probably wouldn't care about that :D
I'd add that using the loop method to start threads is my preferred method. For ending threads I've been using a method where you end on the front in an area that will be covered up, so I never have to flip my work. I use a frame and lap stand.
Yes! Loop start is an absolute gamechanger. I love the sound of that ending technique too, definitely going to have to try that one out. Thanks for the tip! 😄
I found a way to loop start from the front as well so I never have to flip my work over, especially useful when I have my 36" Millennium frame in use on a stand.
Thanks for the tips. I guess I am more a process stitcher and only wish I stitched faster so I could do more projects. I'm still not sure what railroading is. I tried sewing in hand and did not like it. I can stitch two handed now though after practicing it when using my lap stand. I only use the stand with my scroll frames.
I will maybe work a proper railroading demo into another video because admittedly this one was more of a casual mention. But I still don't recommend it unless you're stitching for someone really picky! 😆 I have one of those sit-on stand things that I always forget about. Thought it was going to change my life. But it's quite badly designed and doesn't leave much room for your hands round the back so never gets used 😔
@@TheGiddyStitcher I set mine on my lap which doesn't make my cat happy. I could also put it on a table. It's also adjustable. It took some getting used to but I like it now. Found the seller/maker in a Facebook group.
1) I'm so tired I'm totally gonna end up watching this again tomorrow like it's brand new. 2) I definitely want to try the sewing method and railroading (speed doesn't particularly matter to me, but efficiency does). 3) Can you talk a bit more about half stitch and/or having multiple colours on the go at one time (like in autumn pattern)? I've never tried either and would love to know more about both processes.
Sweet, extra watch minutes for me 😉 Sewing method is great but railroading I can definitely live without! Then again I do get jealous of how good some people's stitches look up close on camera so I guess only have myself to blame there 😅 Honestly with it being my first full coverage I've gone through a few techniques on the autumn one and landed on a sort of mishmash that makes no sense but seems to work for me. I'm recording an update on that project for next week so will make sure to go into lots more detail then!
Great tips! I have a list of cross stitch projects I want to do - none of them started because they’re all too big AHAHA. I think I’ll start with TINY patterns - so stitching less instead of stitching faster XD
Quick gratification projects are SO GREAT for motivation, that's a solid plan imo. And then you can trick your suddenly motivated brain into starting the big ones 😆
Definitely depends on your project I think. Too small and you'll be having to move the fabric in the Q-Snap all the time, but too large and it'll be a hassle to hold. Mine is the 8x8" one which is really convenient and works great because I'm stitching over 1 on 28ct fabric so that's a lot of room. 8x8" and 11x11" are the most common "first Q-Snap" sizes, for what that's worth.
@@TheGiddyStitcherI hesitated on pulling the trigger. I’m an old school stitcher - paper patterns and a magnetic board. I wasn’t sure I would be able to figure out how to use PK and I was afraid to invest in a tablet only to find out I couldn’t figure out PK. My only regret is that I didn’t pull the trigger sooner. It’s a joy.
I have a standing tabletop hands free hoop, I don't know what I'd do without it, I'm never going back to holding one again lol the best part is that it's made up of two sizes of hoops :-)
I know that feeling exactly! Honestly though, I still find plenty of use for them on bigger projects or different fabrics so it's all good, just think of it like having options now! :D
I stitch to relax but going slow frustrates me. The faster I can finish the more fun projects I can do. I learned to cross stitch many years ago then got away from it. I was around no one to craft with me at that point. I would loosen my hope enough that I could do the sew stitch in the hope lol. Then I started skipping the hope because moving it was a bother. Oh I do sew method on Aida cloth also. As you work the Aida becomes softer and easier to do it that way. Having no one to stitch with allowed me not know there were rules. Although recently watching videos I am learning tricks I had never heard of. Having not learned the rules until now I just say I will do what has always worked for me.
Hear, hear! To your point about not knowing the rules, I think that's a big advantage to a certain type of learner (both of us apparently) and applies with so many other things too. Like, I'm a self-taught web developer and would just think up a problem then figure out a way to solve it, only later finding out that the way I was doing it wasn't generally considered to be something that would work. It's very freeing to have nobody tell you "nope you can't do that"! Anyway. Everyone's got their own preferences, speed, techniques. I like to help people see other points of view but at the end of the day, whatever works for each of us in this hobby that is all about having fun!
@@TheGiddyStitcher yes you are right to show all points of view when teaching. How can you try different ways of doing things if you have not seen there are choices to try? Keep doing what you are doing.
I am guilty of long floss. I was actually going to ask around if anyone had tips for avoiding knots. I'm working on the Peppermint Purple SAL and it kicks my butt sometimes.
Don't worry we're definitely all guilty of it despite definitely all knowing better 😂 One other tip would be that some people use...I've just woke up and am blanking on the name..."thread gloss" or "thread conditioner" I think it is. I've never tried it so didn't want to go recommending something I can't vouch for but I'm sure some video out there has a brand recommendation that helps reduce tangles even more! I feel you on tangles in the PPSAL, blackwork is so delicate and it's also extra tempting to use long threads there for whatever reason 🙈
@@TheGiddyStitcher by the way, I posted my first few rectangles in the Facebook group and tagged you in the comments with credit for showing me the pattern.
I use thread magic for sewing. Its a little more expensive than beeswax but i got mine at hobby lobby a few years ago and it isn’t even a quarter used. I’m not sure how it would effect embroidery floss but it might be worth trying.
I hate using any sort of frame 🙈 I do full coverage, 150+ colours, still haaaaate using frames. I frequently have older folk telling me I'm doing it wrong and then I show them pictures of my finished projects and they look just fine to me :) (and usually them)
Pff if you're enjoying it you are so not doing it wrong. Frames are for me but they're not for everyone, absolutely nothing wrong with that! Random judgey people can bog off imo 😂
I just can't get into the sewing method but yeah, probably because I need to use a hoop. (Because I go insane after more than a letter of free hand stitching). Never thought that's why it doesn't work for me 😅
I... have never seen someone do full stitches at a time for cross stitching... I learned to do it by way of rows of stitching at a time, left to right then back right to left. I wouldn't have ever even considered it as it just seems wasteful in both time and floss. But yeah, I am definitely guilty of the "using too long floss because I hate changing strands so frequently" and then spending that same amount of time undoing knots. The sewing method, however... that looks like it has potential, lol.
Erin, I believe that doing rows of the 1st leg, then crossing over them on the way back is called the Danish method. I think that crossing each stitch as you go is called the English method. I do find that Danish conserves floss/thread. However, some patterns can benefit from crossing over each as you go. I have seen beautiful effects with variegated threads when crossing each stitch as you go (English). One other effect of using too long of a strand of thread is that the tread becomes more twisted, which I find makes the stitches not lay as flat and pretty. You have to drop the needle more to let those twists unwind. Maybe you want to drop the needle more so that you don't get tangled as frequently?
I have to be honest, I'm not actually sure what the current best options are for iOS as they're changing all the time. If you have Facebook, any of the Pattern Keeper related groups on there have frequent discussions and will be able to recommend something I'm sure!
I'm personally veryyyy AGAINST rail roading 🤣 never done it, never tried it, could not be bothered. My life changed when I learned to stitch in hand. Even if the fabric is quite starched, it just goes faster. I still use my q snaps for big projects. But yeah.
See I've found the exact opposite and for me even smaller projects go faster if I can be bothered to put them in the q-snap! It's probably something to do with the fact that I do my stitching curled up in the corner of the couch at a weird angle like a cat 😅
Don't look for sense in the order these tips are presented, there is none to be found.
In my defense I was pretty ill while planning it out. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
😮)0&😊&0⁹
I've found that the biggest thing that slows me down is making mistakes, so I try to do the things that prevent me from making big mistakes. I measure & re-measure my fabric, I grid my fabric, use highlighters, re-read my pattern, count & re-count, pay attention etc... Not making mistakes makes cross stitching more enjoyable as well.
Very good point! This is also why I stick to doing half stitches first, just makes it so much faster to notice any mistakes and frogging doesn't seem quite as arduous 😅
Depending how bit the mistake is I just leave it in 😂 sometimes no one will ever know
Running each new thread through some beeswax first is a Godsend in preventing tangled thread! I never worry about tangles anymore. Sure, they still happen from time to time, but they're not bad enough or time consuming enough that I worry about it. (And believe me, I'm one of those bull-headed OCD types that would rather spend 20 *actual* minutes untangling the knot than cutting and starting a fresh thread (thereby admitting defeat), so I DO understand!!)
Haha, I feel so seen! Honestly I need to get myself some of that wax, although I'll have to attach it to a necklace or something otherwise it would definitely get lost down the sides of my increasingly chaotic crafting couch. But that's a whole other problem 😅Thanks for the tip!
You said it best when you said, "if you are stitching to relax, then relax!" I stitch slowly but I stitch because I like the design and I'm in no hurry to get it done. I also found that running my floss over a damp sponge before stitching helps keep it from tangling. I'm going to start railroading, so thanks for that tip!
Ooh a damp sponge sounds like my favourite kind of tip, the kind that costs nothing to try! Thanks for that one, definitely going to give it a whirl. And yes absolutely, if you're happy stitching slowly away then that's all you can really ask from from a hobby, imo.
You don't have any problem with the damp thread tightening as it dries? Seems like even a little moisture would loosen it a bit.
Haha using Dave as the stand was hilarious! 🤣 I'm a relaxed stitcher but the video was still very interesting! 🥰
I am too but sometimes, you know, there's a gift stitching deadline or something 😆 I shall let him know his sacrifice was not in vain!
Using a thread conditioner on your floss can help immensely, and pulling your floss through slowly allows twisting to relax.
Your Dave-Stand was hilarious 😂
He was a... STAND IN!
I'm absolutely an Aida-feely kinda dude
And in true old skool fashion, I print my designs out and "dot" the stiches I've done with one of those eraser-able pens (pilot frixion in my case)
Also I totally am with you on the rail-roading, small projects yes, big projects heck no!
I have become a little obessed with your video's. Your advice is awesome and your vibes? Amazing!
Please do not stop with these type of vids. We do like your silly face, I promise.
I still love using a paper chart and highlighting as I go. I do use a tablet for full coverage pieces because I was going cross-eyes and insane trying to work from paper charts that are completely full of symbols.
Guess I’m an old skool dude in that regard as well. Kevin
@KT-sq2ml honestly I kinda should start doing that yea
Mix it up for smaller and bigger pieces so I can zoom in
Smart dude thanks!
Where will get cloth
Hey I have more enthusiasm than actual skill!! Yay to not being the only one
Woohoo! And there's absolutely no shame in it either! (Maybe there should be, but shhhh 🤫)
Absolutely love the beginning of this video when you talk about the pressure be productive. You nailed what I was feeling: pressure to do better and more. I felt myself instantly relax a bit. That alone makes this video a treasure. Thank you for understanding and for being self aware. 💕
Oh honestly, absolutely bugger that. It's a fun hobby! Plenty of pressures on us in life without adding more for no reason. I should make a companion video called "Stitch slowly and don't give af" 😂
Thought I would offer 2 more time savers. The first is: I use a water erasable marker to mark a one-color area that I'm going to stitch. I use a dot-dot-dot pattern for small spaces, or a straight-line method (directly thru the squares) for bigger spaces (not filling it in). When finished you will have to rinse your project in water, so beware of colors that might bleed. Good idea to check before you use them. I found out the hard way when I bought some Classic Color Works instead of DMC. Be especially careful if using reds or blues. Second: I use 12 needles at a time, each with a different color threaded in it, stick them in a pin cushion or piece of smooth styrofoam (write numbers on the foam), and it saves me doing a lot of threading and unthreading when changing back and forth between colors. Hope these help.
Water soluble pens or tailor's pencils/chalks are wonderful 😅
I just started cross stitch. Its like therapy to me. I find it very relaxing. It helps with my sleeplessness, something productive to do. I just finished my first one
Thank you for all the great tips. I'm a stamped cross stitcher for about 9 months.
I do r.r., only because I am in no hurry, and also love using the tent stitch on black background of a full coverage.
Love my qsnap, too.
Erma
California ❤
my first ever cross stitch which i’m working on rn is like this huge 2’ x 1’ or smth and the first ring section thing i did took me around 3.5-4 months and then the second ring of it i did took like 2 months so yea practice rlly rlly rlly truly does make you a lot faster. that and also sacrificing your sleep and selling your soul to the cross stitching gods. that has also helped me ❤
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD last year as a 43 year old perimenopausal woman. I took up cross stitching as a way to teach myself to be more patient and careful. I get really lost in the process because it’s soothing. It’s a HUGE challenge to deliberately slow down and make mindful stitches.
Thank you for reminding us that we don’t NEED to go faster, that we should just enjoy the process. That said, I’ll use these tips to get better organized. Thank you ❤❤❤
Big slow down for me is a) when I'm actually stressed about something else and don't know it yet. I make mistakes when flustered and mistakes cost. B) too much kit. Sometimes I get all excited and I have something set up on a big frame - but then getting out the frame\light\scissors\pattern tablet
ingnof floss. . . . By that point I've mentally decided to do something else. Big tip from me is not packing away your setup too much. Leave projects out, clamp lights available and everything easier to grab.
I always cut my floss too long I think. I get knots all the time, but I'm starting to understand how to avoid them better. I realize if I am cross stitching with a longer piece of floss, that letting it dangle and unwind itself helps it stay untangled. I find with the long floss that it somehow ends up twisting a little, which changes the look of the stitch and makes knots more common. But this can be fixed by either letting it dangle, or using a smaller piece of floss. I also cracked up at the last tip of "don't cross stitch" but I did that on one of my bookmarks. I cross stitched only one direction so the white on the background comes through and it looks so cool
I've seen people do half stitches for say, the background of a piece and then full stitches for the main focus, so like you said it lets the background fabric show through. It's a really neat effect! So I guess because you're feeling lazy and want to stitch faster isn't the only reason to try that one 😅
Definitely feel you on the knots, I think I fell into that trap of too long floss for a long time but now that I've got everything pre-cut it doesn't happen as much. Still need to do the occasional dangle, but it's a lot better than it was!
I adore your videos, please never change!
You have no idea how much this just made me smile. Thank you! I'm definitely too old and set in my ways to change much now so no worries 😂
@@TheGiddyStitcher consider me relieved! 😉
Thank You! I just yanked my project out of the hoop and started sewing it instead. Game changer. Wow!
Haha, excellent, happy to help! 😄
I definitely tend to use too much floss and get a tangle. Never thiught about doing just half stitches! What an idea!❤❤
I just started stitching about a month ago and am completely addicted! I just wanted to drop a line to let you know how much I love you and your channel! I've shared it with a friend of mine who also just started stitching. Thanks so much for being your hilarious self! (Tabatha from Canada)
Aw thank you so much, that's lovely of you to say!
I love cross stitching but unfortunately, I don't spend the time as I used to as I am now halfway through a history degree. So to keep my hand in I have found doing small projects is a good compromise and it helps me to switch off so I can sleep and not think about what I have just read. Looking forward to your next video xx
Definitely a good strategy! There's a lot to be said for smaller regular finishes in terms of motivation.
Oh my goddess best vid in the history of TH-cam!
Haha I'm not sure that's an accurate statement but I'll take it anyway, thanks 😆
I learned how to thread my needle SUUUPER fast and easily in one of Handwork Maniac's Flosstube videos (#13)... It has changed my life. I'm not sure how common this method is... but it was definitely new to me!
Ooh! Consider me intrigued, I hate threading needles! 😱
Went and checked it out. Ta for the tip. 🌼
Ah, that's already how I thread needles. Good tip though, it's definitely a lot faster than others I've seen! Thanks for sharing 🥰
Stitched for 20 years and I was todays old I found out about railroading, I need to look this up :D - Lovely video !
Thank you! I heard about it quite early on (halfway through my first cross stitched chicken, in fact) and always assumed everyone was doing it. But turns out this is a big reason I was so much slower than most stitchers! The rest is laziness 😅
I’ve just discovered you and I love your videos! Really looking forward to catching up on all of them. I’ve been doing needlework (needlepoint and cross stitch) for almost 50 years, but I can always learn something new! I’ve actually learned some valuable tips from your videos that I’ve watched so far.
I also do graphic design, jewelry and wire-wrapping, crochet, knitting (though I mostly make knots!) sewing, costume design, and just learned to use a bead loom, which I love because I can convert cross stitch patterns!
So excited that I’ve found you! Thank you for sharing!
Oh wow that's quite the list. One of us, haha! I don't even know what a bead loom is but rest assured I shall find out and probably want to learn it 😂 Welcome to the channel!
Your instructions are very clear. Thank you.
I almost didn't watch this cuz I've seen a handful of these videos and I thought I knew what you were gonna say, but I said "what the heck" and I clicked it. So glad I did. I'm a newbie and I only do stamped cross stitch, but still I learned so much. I'm gonna re-watch it and gonna subscribe! I love your presentation style and your fun attitude. Can't wait top listen to more!
Well thank you for being bored enough to click 😆
@@TheGiddyStitcher 😆
OMG your human stand made me giggggggggle!
You'd think he'd have taken the hint for Christmas, after all that. But alas 😂
New here - just subscribed! Thank you. It's been years since I have stitched - have the bug again. Appreciate the no stress - ok to be process type. I'm dying to know what you use all the yarn for? I weave loomette squares. LOL They are making me itchy for that, again, too. Will be watching all your videos. Hey guys - it's OK to be me. :)
This and your confetti 🎊 stitches vid are great.👍 Thanks.
I adore your vibe, thanks, I was looking for a method for most effective way to save a floss and halfs are still the best
Thank you! And absolutely, you can't beat just doing half the stitches 😄
I got a stand last year for Christmas, and it certainly helped for more involved projects. Certainly needs to be on your list! ❤
Ooh what kind did you go for? I am well down the rabbit hole of floor stand research right now :D
@@TheGiddyStitcher I ended up with two. And I love them both for their own reasons….. lol! I got floor and lap stand. I use the floor stand for small count. And I use the lap for large projects. I went with both Frank A Edmunds stands for both. The lap stand is the type that sets over your lap, not one you sit on! Hope it helps!
@@MelHLind3373 Thanks! That's a new brand to me so will definitely put it on the "to investigate" list :D
Another great video! 😀 I wish I could stitch faster so I can do more projects. but laziness wins out every time. I never railroaded until finding flosstube in 2020, but now I do and, even though I am sometimes doubtful that it helps my stitches look better, I'm afraid to stop. I really want to try stitching in hand, but I just love my Qsnaps and worry I'm too old (hand cramps are real!). So I loved ALL of these suggestions but I'm probably going to ignore them all anyway. 😂Just always nice to "visit" with you.
Well I applaud your honesty, if nothing else 🤣
@@TheGiddyStitcher So I'm here with a mea culpa. First, I've been continuing to think about the things you talked about since I watched it. Second, I realized that I could do half stitches 1 over 1 on 25 count with Sulky for projects I'm making for my kids (and therefore feel less excitement about since I didn't choose them). And, third, I have this amazing linen that is SO soft and I can't get it straight on the Qsnap and is still hard to work with even on the Qsnap. I suddenly realized I could try stitching in hand and use the sewing method. So there you go. I guess you CAN teach an old (well, middle aged) dog (well, hope not) new tricks. 😂
@@heathercaiger774 Haha, you've been INFLUENCED!
Seriously though I heard Sulky is a bit thicker per strand than DMC, right? So that sounds like a good shout on the 25ct and I'll be looking out for progress pics!
Curious to hear how the sewing method works out too. It's so much faster but I can only really get into the groove of it in one direction so end up doing my first lot of half stitches, then turning the whole piece around to go back the other way. Whatever works, right? :D
I watched this video before starting my biggest project yet. I had never done the sewing method before and it really did double my speed
Was looking for some cross stitch tips and found your channel! Thank you for the tips! Your a funny gal! 😊
Aw thank you! :D
Just found this tonight! When it comes to larger patterns, pre-gridded aida cloth helps me to keep track of where I am. I also use a guide line if I can't find a cloth big enough for my project. I haven't heard of pattern keeper, I'll have to look into that one
Oh, Pattern Keeper is a gamechanger for big projects but it does depend if your pattern is compatible, hopefully they can expand compatibility in future. Pre- gridded fabric is such a good tip too! I tried gridding manually and it wasn't for me so I tend to forget it exists, haha , whoops! 😅
I don’t get tangles in my thread. When I separate the thread, I do let it hang and unwind. When I cross stitch, when my needle goes to the back, I anchor the thread with my other hand, pressing it against the cloth away from the direction of the next stitch. I don’t know if this is clear, but I don’t know how else to describe it!
You make me smile 😊
My work here is done! 😁
I’ve tried the sewing method but just couldn’t get the swing of it. I do love stitching in hand though. It’s kind of like reading an actual book versus reading on a tablet. I love the tactile sensation of the fabric in my hand BUT it does slow me down.
I have three stands at the moment. 😂😂😂 Each one has a WIP on it AND they are ALL currently in my living room! 😂
Good thing I live alone - well my dog is here too but nobody else to complain about all my stitching stuff scattered about the house.
Thanks for all the tips!!! Kevin
Hah, this is a well-timed comment because I am in fact trying to read a real paper book for once atm (mostly for the smell) but it's SO inconvient compared to ebook...its a constant dilemma. So yeah, can absolutely see that applying to stitching styles too :D
your version of a stand is amazing. thank lord for those who help us.... laughing really hard.
I know right. Every time I ask if he has five minutes to help with a silly video thing I can see the terror in his eyes 😂
@@TheGiddyStitcher no, honey, that's love. enjoy
Good video. I laughed when you had the guy stand in as a stand!😂
This is the first video of you I watched and you’re hilarious and helpful too!! I subscribed immediately!
Ah thank you so much! That's made my day 🥰
Hello, dear lady. Greetings from Bulgaria! I have found you channel about two or three days ago. I watch a couple of your videos for cross stitch. I feel the courage to buy a q snap ( I am wondering about it for a year and a half). Can you make a video for what kind of instruments you use for stiching (needles, scissors, threader ......)? I will be very grateful about it :) Have a nice evening!
I will definitely add that video idea to the list, thank you, somehow I'd never thought of taking it back to basics like that but it would be interesting to talk about which tools are essential, where it's worth going for branded versus cheaper options, etc etc. Thanks again and I hope you love your q-snap as much as I love mine! 🥰
I didn't know there were names for all these techniques until I watchd this video LOL so thank you i guess I will now try to figure out what railroading is????
I am intrigued... with the same white/cream wool in the background. What are you going to make?
Ooh you've hit a nerve there, haha, I bought a ton of it last year with grand plans of making chunky crochet accessories for a craft fair. But then I chickened out of doing a craft fair, and now it's just there on the shelf waiting for me to come up with a new plan and quietly judging me 😅
Pattern Keeper is bloody fantastic! I've only recently discovered it myself and now im obsessed!
Sadly the pattern I'm currently doing is a printed paper chart and I'm really disappointed I can't find a PDF of it. I did find the pattern by another seller in PDF form but there's some differences between the 2 charts, the one in Pattern Keeper has some "confetti" stitches that won't fit in with the rest of the colour block.
Ack yes I'm currently stitching from a paper pattern and it's the worst after relying on PK for so long! I did manage to take photos and import it to PK that way, but I miss the searching and accurate percentage so much. The struggle is real 😭
Most smart phones will scan a document and turn it into a PDF. Otherwise, you can take the pattern to a print location and scan it on one of their machines, save to a thumb drive, then import it to your computer. I think you can even e-mail it to yourself from their machines.
I have always handsewn and thought I just did it wrong but now validation after cross stitching for twenty years! I need to watch other videos especially on starting and ending floss. Is knotting a big no no?
If it's enjoyable and results in a thing you like looking at, there is no wrong imo! With the knotting thing, I know some people don't like doing it because it doesn't technically lie as flat but it's definitely not going to get you shunned or anything. Personally I avoid it just because I'm lazy so prefer loop start, but it's one of those personal preference things really.
If you are using a stand, get double pointed needles and have one hand on each side of the fabric. No more turning the needle.
Make sure to grid large projects. It will save so much time in counting.
If you are doing a smaller project and hooping, put the work area closest to the stitching hand so the hand doesn't have to travel as far.
For less knots you can pull each strand from the skein, then group them back together. This reduces the twists within the strand that tries to tangle. If you just split the floss, keep tension on the third point so it doesn't double back on itself. Then let each section untwist itself by clipping a weight to the end, hold it up, and let it spin.
These are such good tips, thanks so much for sharing! I'm still hinting strongly about a stand so we'll have to see what Santa brings, maybe I'll add double pointed needles to the wishlist too just in case 😄
Double-pointed needles??? Now there's an interesting innovation.
All excellent tips! Great job Dave, have you ever considered doing theatre?
I can confidently say that any sort of public performance is Dave's second greatest fear. It's amazing he agrees to pop up in videos really 😅
I clicked on this bc of the title, and now I am forever loyal to this channel XD
Love this video, useful info and also humour :) subscribed!
Woohoo! Welcome! And now bear with my while I reply to your approximately 1 billion comments since last night 😂 (love the energy)
@@TheGiddyStitcher oops sorry I didn't realise I'd left so many! I got carried away watching xD hahaha how embarrassing!
Been wondering if and why it's better to do full stitches at a time, or do half stitches one way and then come back and finish the stitches 🤔
Honestly I think like most things it just comes down to personal preference. I like doing the half stitches first because (among other reasons) it's quicker to spot mistakes and have less to frog once you do, but someone who is more competent than me and makes no mistakes in the first place probably wouldn't care about that :D
Just found you Love the videos And you are awesome
I'd add that using the loop method to start threads is my preferred method. For ending threads I've been using a method where you end on the front in an area that will be covered up, so I never have to flip my work. I use a frame and lap stand.
Yes! Loop start is an absolute gamechanger. I love the sound of that ending technique too, definitely going to have to try that one out. Thanks for the tip! 😄
I found a way to loop start from the front as well so I never have to flip my work over, especially useful when I have my 36" Millennium frame in use on a stand.
Cut your floss shorter. Yep. I needed that!
Honestly *I* need that and I'm the one saying it 😂
Thanks for the tips. I guess I am more a process stitcher and only wish I stitched faster so I could do more projects. I'm still not sure what railroading is. I tried sewing in hand and did not like it. I can stitch two handed now though after practicing it when using my lap stand. I only use the stand with my scroll frames.
I will maybe work a proper railroading demo into another video because admittedly this one was more of a casual mention. But I still don't recommend it unless you're stitching for someone really picky! 😆
I have one of those sit-on stand things that I always forget about. Thought it was going to change my life. But it's quite badly designed and doesn't leave much room for your hands round the back so never gets used 😔
@@TheGiddyStitcher I set mine on my lap which doesn't make my cat happy. I could also put it on a table. It's also adjustable. It took some getting used to but I like it now. Found the seller/maker in a Facebook group.
Thank you Happy New Year
Belated Happy New Year back at you! 😄🥳
Where can I buy a Dave stitching stand?
1) I'm so tired I'm totally gonna end up watching this again tomorrow like it's brand new. 2) I definitely want to try the sewing method and railroading (speed doesn't particularly matter to me, but efficiency does). 3) Can you talk a bit more about half stitch and/or having multiple colours on the go at one time (like in autumn pattern)? I've never tried either and would love to know more about both processes.
Sweet, extra watch minutes for me 😉
Sewing method is great but railroading I can definitely live without! Then again I do get jealous of how good some people's stitches look up close on camera so I guess only have myself to blame there 😅
Honestly with it being my first full coverage I've gone through a few techniques on the autumn one and landed on a sort of mishmash that makes no sense but seems to work for me. I'm recording an update on that project for next week so will make sure to go into lots more detail then!
Great tips! I have a list of cross stitch projects I want to do - none of them started because they’re all too big AHAHA. I think I’ll start with TINY patterns - so stitching less instead of stitching faster XD
Quick gratification projects are SO GREAT for motivation, that's a solid plan imo. And then you can trick your suddenly motivated brain into starting the big ones 😆
Bro please PLEEAAASEEE gimme the pattern you introduce at 7:33 🥺🥺🥺🥺
Thank you just discovered your channel
What good idea!
I have yesterday decided to zig zag stitch around my work, as I am a newbie and qsnaps I am still confuzzled what size to buy
Definitely depends on your project I think. Too small and you'll be having to move the fabric in the Q-Snap all the time, but too large and it'll be a hassle to hold. Mine is the 8x8" one which is really convenient and works great because I'm stitching over 1 on 28ct fabric so that's a lot of room. 8x8" and 11x11" are the most common "first Q-Snap" sizes, for what that's worth.
6:03 Never!!! 😂😂 I try to find a length that doesn't get too tangled but I refuse to cut it shorter. 😂😂
Pattern Keeper is a game changer.
100% the best cross stitch investment I ever made beyond my first beginner kit.
@@TheGiddyStitcherI hesitated on pulling the trigger. I’m an old school stitcher - paper patterns and a magnetic board. I wasn’t sure I would be able to figure out how to use PK and I was afraid to invest in a tablet only to find out I couldn’t figure out PK. My only regret is that I didn’t pull the trigger sooner. It’s a joy.
I have a standing tabletop hands free hoop, I don't know what I'd do without it, I'm never going back to holding one again lol the best part is that it's made up of two sizes of hoops :-)
Ah that sounds brilliant! I'm still hinting lol, I'll get one one day 😂
I like your tips thank you 😊
I need tent stitch / petit point content. The stitching bandwidth is flooded with cross stitch, but I can't find anyone talking about tent stitch.
Number 3 change my stitching life. Never going back. Shame I had just brought loads of hoops and stands
I know that feeling exactly! Honestly though, I still find plenty of use for them on bigger projects or different fabrics so it's all good, just think of it like having options now! :D
I stitch to relax but going slow frustrates me. The faster I can finish the more fun projects I can do. I learned to cross stitch many years ago then got away from it. I was around no one to craft with me at that point. I would loosen my hope enough that I could do the sew stitch in the hope lol. Then I started skipping the hope because moving it was a bother. Oh I do sew method on Aida cloth also. As you work the Aida becomes softer and easier to do it that way. Having no one to stitch with allowed me not know there were rules. Although recently watching videos I am learning tricks I had never heard of. Having not learned the rules until now I just say I will do what has always worked for me.
Hear, hear! To your point about not knowing the rules, I think that's a big advantage to a certain type of learner (both of us apparently) and applies with so many other things too. Like, I'm a self-taught web developer and would just think up a problem then figure out a way to solve it, only later finding out that the way I was doing it wasn't generally considered to be something that would work. It's very freeing to have nobody tell you "nope you can't do that"!
Anyway. Everyone's got their own preferences, speed, techniques. I like to help people see other points of view but at the end of the day, whatever works for each of us in this hobby that is all about having fun!
@@TheGiddyStitcher yes you are right to show all points of view when teaching. How can you try different ways of doing things if you have not seen there are choices to try? Keep doing what you are doing.
Keep up the great videos. ❤👏❤👏❤
Thank you Kathy! 🥰
I am guilty of long floss. I was actually going to ask around if anyone had tips for avoiding knots. I'm working on the Peppermint Purple SAL and it kicks my butt sometimes.
Don't worry we're definitely all guilty of it despite definitely all knowing better 😂
One other tip would be that some people use...I've just woke up and am blanking on the name..."thread gloss" or "thread conditioner" I think it is. I've never tried it so didn't want to go recommending something I can't vouch for but I'm sure some video out there has a brand recommendation that helps reduce tangles even more!
I feel you on tangles in the PPSAL, blackwork is so delicate and it's also extra tempting to use long threads there for whatever reason 🙈
@@TheGiddyStitcher by the way, I posted my first few rectangles in the Facebook group and tagged you in the comments with credit for showing me the pattern.
@@victoriavega9694 Ooh! I never go on FB these days but will have to go check it out. Thank you for the tag :)
I use thread magic for sewing. Its a little more expensive than beeswax but i got mine at hobby lobby a few years ago and it isn’t even a quarter used. I’m not sure how it would effect embroidery floss but it might be worth trying.
@@crystal8160 O.M.G. I finally gave in and bought Thread Magic. Where has this voodoo been all my life?!
I'd never seen that Freddy Mercury meme! That's hilarious.
Hope you get your Christmas wish. 🌸
Thanks! I think you'll agree it was approached with both subtlety and taste 😄
I hate using any sort of frame 🙈 I do full coverage, 150+ colours, still haaaaate using frames. I frequently have older folk telling me I'm doing it wrong and then I show them pictures of my finished projects and they look just fine to me :) (and usually them)
Pff if you're enjoying it you are so not doing it wrong. Frames are for me but they're not for everyone, absolutely nothing wrong with that! Random judgey people can bog off imo 😂
I just can't get into the sewing method but yeah, probably because I need to use a hoop. (Because I go insane after more than a letter of free hand stitching). Never thought that's why it doesn't work for me 😅
We can do a half cross stitch????
You can do anything you want! That's the big secret 😆
Loved it❤
omg the freddie mercury meme ;D
I know 😂
I... have never seen someone do full stitches at a time for cross stitching... I learned to do it by way of rows of stitching at a time, left to right then back right to left. I wouldn't have ever even considered it as it just seems wasteful in both time and floss. But yeah, I am definitely guilty of the "using too long floss because I hate changing strands so frequently" and then spending that same amount of time undoing knots. The sewing method, however... that looks like it has potential, lol.
Erin, I believe that doing rows of the 1st leg, then crossing over them on the way back is called the Danish method. I think that crossing each stitch as you go is called the English method. I do find that Danish conserves floss/thread. However, some patterns can benefit from crossing over each as you go. I have seen beautiful effects with variegated threads when crossing each stitch as you go (English). One other effect of using too long of a strand of thread is that the tread becomes more twisted, which I find makes the stitches not lay as flat and pretty. You have to drop the needle more to let those twists unwind. Maybe you want to drop the needle more so that you don't get tangled as frequently?
is there any apps like pattern keeper for iOS
I have to be honest, I'm not actually sure what the current best options are for iOS as they're changing all the time. If you have Facebook, any of the Pattern Keeper related groups on there have frequent discussions and will be able to recommend something I'm sure!
Nice tips, ta 🍎
You're very welcome!
Are you related to Steph from Doodledate?
Well I have no idea who that is but will have to look them up now. Not that I'm aware! 😅
7:03 Wait, I thought THIS was rail-roading. I need to educate myself.
Its not a contest its for joy if it not a contest and rushing through it it shows
Went back to the like button at least three times. You know what, I'll jsut subscribe to make up for not being able to like 3 times!
I suppose that will do just fine! Haha, thank you :D
p.s. I totally just got a stand for *this* Christmas!
I'm personally veryyyy AGAINST rail roading 🤣 never done it, never tried it, could not be bothered.
My life changed when I learned to stitch in hand. Even if the fabric is quite starched, it just goes faster. I still use my q snaps for big projects. But yeah.
See I've found the exact opposite and for me even smaller projects go faster if I can be bothered to put them in the q-snap! It's probably something to do with the fact that I do my stitching curled up in the corner of the couch at a weird angle like a cat 😅
@@TheGiddyStitcher yes, it does 🤣 normally if I want speed I stitch at my desk. If I curl up I will scroll and watch instead of stitching 👀😅
Why would you want a stand when you've got a Dave??? 🤪🤓
A stand seems long-term cheaper to maintain! 😆
WAIT just doing half stitches is a legit technique?? I have to look into that
It is! Blew my mind too at first but you know what, sometimes it's all you need!
pattern keeper needs to make an ios app i've been waiting for so long and there's no other app like it 😭
Right there with you. My old Android tablet died years ago now, the iPad would be so much better than using my phone!
Old lady hobby? Wow, comments like that make me think you have contempt for this art form.