Ramble on! Its all very interesting & informative. You've inspired me to go back to my cross stitch but so much has changed. When I first started there was no such thing as hand dyed fabrics or threads. It's opened up a whole new world for me.
I'm so glad you are picking up your stitching again! There is so much choice in materials and charts nowadays, the world is your oyster - although it can be overwhelming at times :)
I just love your videos! It always feel like we're sitting together and we're sharing our joy of all things cross stitch. I know you can't hear me, but I have a tendency to squeal at some point in each of your videos...when something you're showing becomes one of my must haves. :) As always, thanks for a lovely update.
Constance Thread I like to feel that I am chatting to all the lovely stitchers out there that love stitching as much as me - just like if we had our own little stitching group at an LNS :).
Hi Amanda, Just thought I would put a comment to this video... I am currently trying to get up to date with all your video's and wanted to tell you just how much I am enjoying them. It is lovely to hear someone so enthusiastic about our hobby, and your knowledge blows me away! I really love being able to see products that I might not normally see too (I'll be hunting down those notions bags for sure, they look fabulous!) I am looking forward to seeing the bright design come to life in future videos too - the colours really pop on the black fabric. Tonight whilst I am watching your videos, I am also stitching, so you have become my unofficial stitching buddy ;-) It's great listening to you talk too, as I don't get to hear the British accent too much any more ( I emigrated from England to Australia almost 10 years ago) so please don't apologise for your video's being too long - I could listen for hours! :-D Happy stitching! Gayle :-)
Thank you so much for your kind comment Gayle! I'm glad you have enjoyed my videos, I find it funny to think that a few stitchers dotted all over the world watch me as they stitch :).
OMG! Did you hear my audible GASP when you showed the ThreadPickerz silks on black? I really did! I have used ThreadPickerz silks before and they are so very lovely! I can't wait to see your work on the Twisted rainbow using them! Also, I wanted to thank you for the links you post. Frankly I just wasn't getting the point of Daffodils until I clicked on the link and saw the chart - now I get it. LOVE it! And you have also inspired me to look at your Primitive Hare Red Riding Hood design. Unfortunately they seem to be on vacation so I can't buy the chart...yet! As you can tell I quite love your videos and your stash enabling! Keep them all coming! Teresa
Thank you Teresa! I gasped when I opened the envelope and saw those silks, especially when I laid them on the black fabric! Dafodils is a much better looking design in context ha ha - at 6% complete you don't get a grasp of it with my stitching :). Yes, Isabella (The Primitive Hare) is on holiday, her charts aren't instant download like some sellers as she prefers to individually watermark them with the buyer's name for added copyright protection - so remember to check back :)
Just want to say I love your videos and I have been watching your videos over the weekend. It is officially your fault that I now have a wish list on HEAD which I had never heard of before watching you! I have learnt so much from you and look forward to learning more. Thanks for sharing the knowledge :) xx
Just found your channel, thank you so much for linking all the Facebook groups and stores, it's very useful, I'm a beginner stitcher, with a very small stash and those clubs look like so much fun! :)
You are such an enabler, I have never tried hand dyed threads or fabrics but you make them look so pretty and I just really want to buy some. currently looking at the monthly fabric clubs on both crafty kitten and Jodyri designs. but at the moment the fear of what I would stitch on them is holding me back but a few more of your videos and I will cave they are just so pretty!
Yes I am a terrible enabler ha ha! It's only recently that I joined a FOTM club, before that I used to buy hand dyed fabrics as and when a project required it. You can stitch anything on hand dyed fabrics, perhaps you have a project in your stash, or one you want to start in the future that you could pick a hand dyed fabric for to start you off? I love playing around with the fabric viewer....... :)
MrsMilkybarKid Ok so I have decided the pattern I will stitch with my first buys of silk thread and hand dyed fabrics and that is AANs Tea pattern. its only 2 colours so wont be too expensive but its beautiful. And I blame you entirely! Now just need to spend the time deciding on the colours but ive done it and im blaming you when my OH complains that I have too much stuff :P
Don't apologise for the long videos! We love watching long videos! I like to catch up on my subscriptions whilst stitching, so long videos are great. :) Great progress on your designs! I know how you feel about your BAP. It just takes so long for visible progress sometimes! But it'll be worth it in the end. I have two BAPs on the go and I'm not entirely sure what possessed me. I was trying to find a QS in the sale but all of the ones I looked at I preferred the bigger chart. Also, I love that you love tea! So do I! I think I have about as many varieties as you in my house. :) I think I'll be stitching Silver Moon Tea for the Mira SAL to pay homage to that fact (not 100% decided still, though!). I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on your new start once that's up! I love the look of your other sampler by that designer! I think it's probably something I'd like to stitch in the future (colours!!), as I've been looking for a sampler to add to the wishlist. :) And you're not alone. I find I have quite an eclectic taste in what I want to stitch too! So many pretty things! Great video! I always enjoy watching your updates. :) x
Hi Amanda, Love your wips, you've got amazing taste. Love how your HAEDSare coming on. Your new twisted band sampler is going to be wonderfully colourful. Sorry it's taken me so long to watch this video, my dog has got a slipped disk and needs a lot of care. Keep the long videos coming, your videos really make my day.
Thank you Lorraine! No need to apologise at all - I know you've had a lot on your plate, I hope your fur baby is responding well to your care. It is stressful (not to mention expensive!) when these things happen but I hope you are still finding time to stitch as it helps! x
Amazing WIPS! I am in awe of your speed. I think I was one of the few that didn't get in on the HAED sale this time. Love the Hannah Lynn's and your right about the Wall designs, love her art, don't think I could be able to stitch one.
Another great video! I totally get loving the prim and really colorful stuff. I'm gonna sound weird but sometimes I just get my silks out and touch them. Makes me happy lol. I love love the twisted rainbow silks on the black. That's going to be gorgeous! They have a new pattern coming out I want. Shades of blue (go figure !) thanks for all the enabling lol !
I'm so glad there is someone else out there like me Christy - silk fondling and all :). I love Nicole's designs and I am anxiously awaiting and hoping there will be a purple/violet/lilac design in the Shades series:). Nicola is awesome isn't she! I'll be stitching A Flamestitch for my Scarlet Letter chart (in AVAS of course!) but I anticipate that there will be a few more in my stash before too long!
Love your videos!! I too bought the rainbow thread pack from Eileen......... Plus some other threads.... Opppps!!! Lol I am planning on doing the twisted band sampler though... The one you already completed!! Excited to see what the next one will look like.
I love the long videos...I always make it all the way through! And fortunately/unfortunately, I find that I'm turning into a hand dyed thread AND hand dyed fabric horder! At least I know I'm in good company :) I can't wait to see your rainbow band sampler stitched up!
I love your long videos. I finished knitting the collar of my sweater while watching tonight. I am proud to say I only bought two more HAED charts. I was very tempted by others, of course. I have a new rule though. No new charts with more than 300 stitches in width or height until I finish one of my big projects.
Thanks Bev! You are very wise to limit the stitch counts on your HAED charts for the mo - especially as you are stitching an Aimee Stewart bookshelf! It is hard though as I am drawn to so much of the artwork - but realistically working on 1 BAP really is my limit! So what charts did you get...... :)?
love the colours of the silk they will be fun to stitch with,I like to stitch with vintage colours but also like a splash of colour every so often,it would be boring to stitch with the same colour palette all the time
Your video might have been 55 mins long but it took me an hour and half to watch with all of the interruptions from the kids. I finally got to finish it after bathing DS 4yo. I love your progress. Mini HAED is so beautiful. I love Primitive Hare too. I am just as eclectic in my tastes! What I like about HAEDs are they are a bit different and I think allow me to let my hair down a bit. Tell me if I am right - if your HAED gridding you just grid the horizontal rows and not the vertical lines. Thanks for sharing your technique.
Thanks Jan - an hour of peace must be a hard thing to find when you are a busy mum! I love HAEDs for similar reasons - my taste in art is very eclectic too, so I like that I can stitch very bright and happy pieces along side darker more emotive pieces. As for gridding - you can do just horizontal, just vertical or both, entirely up to whatever works for you. I used to grid both horizontally and vertically when I started stitching HAEDs, but now I've stitched a few I find the horizontal gridlines are enough for me. You might want to start off with both and as you stitch more of the piece you will naturally find out what works best for you - first HAEDs are often (annoyingly sometimes!) a learning curve :).
Great WIPs! I think I may have my hands on that believe chart...ahhhh gonna grab it while I ca even though it will be a longg while before Istart but don't wanna loose the chart haha. Now that Nora's count LoL I may be joining in with you all in January depends on how mnpany of my current WIPs I get finished haha. I can work on 5 each month 1 each week and then one on the weekends. So as long as I can finish three by JAN I should be good.
Oooooo great news on the HAED chart Mae, glad you tracked it down! It will be fun to have you in the Mira/Nora (lol) SAL, don't pressure yourself to finish your WIPs - just join in when you can I say ........see how I like to bend my own rules ha ha ha!
Loved watching this. Love love love everything! Can't wait to start stitching Little Red Riding Hood myself, but I can't stitch it until I start and finish her Little Women design. aaaargh to many pojects! Love the Tea time sampler, but again I need to do the Cherry Blossom one first. Double aaargh. Loved your freebies and your own stash additions. Trying hard not to buy the silks but resistance may be futile. But amazingly I didn't buy anything from the HAED sale! Yep I was surprised too. Lol. Thanks for showing the threads...due to a postal mishap, I didn't get mine. Oh well, these things happen. Definitely will be putting the Poison thread on my list for September. Ayshxo
Thanks Aysh! The cherry blossom sampler is on my wishlist - love it! You should be very proud of yourself for resisting the HAED sale. Shame about your threads going missing - your postie obviously took a shine to them :(. So many designs - tell me about it!! Keep updating on IG - need to see Gigi unfold on that gorgeous fabric you chose for her - long live #flosstube :).
Those threads are gorgeous against the black! I definitely need to get a few of the HAED QS's. I currently have 5 HAED BAPs in my stash but would like a smaller one to put in my rotation. At the moment though I'm working on a custom chart of my family crest sat next to my husband's family crest with details of our wedding underneath. It is my first ever project on Linen/Evenweave. So I am stitching over 2 on 28 count Cashel Linen in an Ecru colour. I will have to check out that twisted rainbow sampler though...the colours are divine!
Thank you Chelsea! Really tempted to just start QS Tin Girl right now, but am trying to remain strong and not start her until after Mini Watching is done :)
Thanks for another great video. I haven't watched them in order (oh no!), but I'm making my way through them and loving every minute. Just for the record, I'm enjoying your new blog, as well. As far as your eclectic taste, I like stitching things all across the spectrum, so I don't think you're weird at all. Well, no weirder than I am, anyway.
Thank you! I only belong to one fabric and thread club, although there are plenty to choose from! Normally with hand dyed fabric I like to choose them with set pieces in mind to stitch - I make an exception with Michelle's fabric at Jodyri Designs though. Sometimes it's just nice to support small Needlecraft businesses :).
Lovely progress on your WIPS! I need to figure out some kind of rotation. Sometimes I feel like such a weird and boring stitcher for not using hoops or frames or parking or being particularly into HAED charts .. oh well. Should I get Instagram? Ugh, I can't decide but I feel like I'm missing out. Fantastic video as always - I'm working on my first biscornu right now and managed to get all the backstitching done while watching :) McKenzie
MacKenzie I could write an essay in response to your comment, but will keep it to: you are not weird - if you are weird that makes me weird, if it makes you feel better! You boring? I do not think so - if anything I am in total admiration of you for being an in hand stitcher! If you think about it it's us that use all the frames,hoops, stands etc that are weird - you do the most natural thing in the world, pick up fabric and a needle and get on with stitching, I wish I could do that! As for the HAED thing, I know PLENTY of stitchers that aren't into them (my very own sister being one of them) and you know me - I don't follow the crowd with my stitching, I'm all about the individual and I love your taste in stitching! As for Instagram, for selfish reasons I would love it if you were on there - but totally get it if you feel more social media would be too much of a time waster or draining for you! I much prefer IG to FB, for many reasons - particularly the lack of drama :). I update all my stitching on there - it will never replace videos, I love to see and hear the enthusiasm and passion of stitchers - but let's face it videos take a lot more time and effort (well if you are stupid enough to make them hours long :)) and I like with IG stitchers can quickly see my progress and like and comment if they wish and I. An do the same for them. Can't wait to see your biscornu - details please. Now what was that about not writing an essay .............?!
You are the sweetest, I swear I didn't mean to go fishing for compliments. Sometimes I think TH-cam brings out any insecurities I have about my stitching. Biscornu details are on the way! Maybe I will have to go for Instagram after all... McKenzie
Really really really enjoyed this video! Your WIPs are coming along well. The colours for the twisted rainbow are gorgeous. I think the black fabric was a good choice. I can't wait to see you stitch it. Great stash. I wondered if you could possibly invite me to the official Facebook HAED group? I tried to search fir it but I couldn't find it so I'm guessing it's a closed group. I am looking forward to next month's update. xx
Thanks Kerry! The official HAED FB group is a secret group - you need to go to the main HAED business page and send them a message saying you want to join the group along with your email address :).
Great progress and haul! I'm currently working on a project that is very much like a HAED, and I am parking. Could you do a video of how you park your threads? I'm curious as to how other stitchers tackle parking.
Thank you! You will see in my comment to bluenosebabyshow above that I doubt I will ever do a parking video! I also explain in that comment how I park - some stitchers do it my way some don't but it works for me :). If you have a read of that comment and want me to clarify anything let me know - but I doubt very much a parking video from me would help anyone :).
Oops! I should start reading the other comments before I post haha. Thanks for the info! I like to hear how other people do things just to see if I can improve on my techniques. I have been carrying my threads too far (up to 4-5 blocks of 10x10 blocks) when I park and end up with various bumps on my work. I think I'll try ending my threads sooner to avoid this problem on the rest of my project. I got too caught up in the "I must finish this column first" mentality instead of parking my threads closer to the current block I was working on...
oh, come on! everyone loves a good sale! I'm lucky enough to not have caught the HEAD bug yet, but as for the rainbow twisted bands and reproduction samplers.. oh boy, oh boy. poor me. I have more charts than I can remember. oddly enough, being the control freak that I am, I wouldn't like to get random mystery stash every month but I'm a sucker for mystery SALs and Clubs, etc. heaven knows what goes on in my mind to justify this behaviour but that' me! :D love that FPS Tea sampler, having had enough British influence growing up I a. make my tea the loose leaves way b. obsess over the infusion time c. like to have options that I switch to according to the season and the time of the day d. spend way more than I should on tea and coffee (because I'm also Italian, for goodness' sake!) e. have that chart on my wishlist :)
Well the HAED bug picked up and left me last year, after stitching them for a few years with several finishes.......big patterns, just cross stitch in DMC wasn't cutting it for me - just took me a while to come to that conclusion lol (but one day I might pick one up again, it's the artwork I'm a sucker for!). We have a whole cupboard dedicated to tea in our house (there's a pic on IG somewhere) - no teabags cross the threshold here :). I'm really looking forward to stitching FPS Tea Time and displaying it in a suitable place! I've also got the Tempting Tangles tea and coffee samplers on my wish list.........
Wow - those rainbow silks are just stunning against the black fabric aren't they? I have been ogling them via the Northern Expressions blog for a whole :). I feel a should definitely congratulate you on only buying one item from sewandso - such restraint :). I seem to spend hours on there these days, but now I have all these beautiful hand dyed fabrics and threads websites bookmarked too so it's a wonder that I ever manage to do anything else but gaze at things I really really need!
I love your wips! Now, I have a question that will branch out to more questions. lol I never heard of the term tenting. What is it? When do you use it? What fabrics do you use it on? How do you do it? Are there any tutorial sites/videos that are informative? Do you stitch with one or two threads. Will it leave parts of the fabric exposed? If it's quicker and easier than the full cross stitch, then I'm all for it.
katiestitch60 I talk about tent stitching in my #9 HAED hints and tips video - if you go to about 32:50 minutes in you might find a few answers to your questions. I only do this for my HAED designs over 1 on 28ct which are all full coverage. A lot of HAED stitchers choose tent stitch as when you work it on higher counts you cannot tell the difference between that and full crosses. If you have any more questions just ask, I will be happy to help :).
'Josephine Wall has the most confetti' *sigh* I have nearly every one of her charts in my wish list...It's definitely the first project of mine from HAED. Maybe my way of stitching will make it feel not so nasty :-/ Hopefully.
I thought of you when I said that Cher :) - most HAED stitchers would put her work at the top of their "most confetti" list, but it doesn't matter as long as you enjoy stitching her work :)
MrsMilkybarKid I wish they would warn you of these 'trophies' certain patterns and designers have. Lol. I'm not sure it would have made much difference though, as I absolutely adore her charts ... and the way I stitch (one colour at a time) any chart is full of confetti for me. Hopefully my WIP updates aren't too boring, as you can't actually see the design forming until I'm nearly done. Ah well, my OCD is happy ... so I'm happy xx
xx If only it was as easy to 'know' something as it is to follow it. My personality seems to be about pleasing others. It's why I like to pose myself challenges in which I'm kept 'accountable' by promising certain things ... aka daily progress updates :)
How do you stitch HAED on your ipad? What program do you use? You like it better than paper charts? Can you show us your tips for getting rid of paper altogether??!!??
I haven't stitched from a paper chart in two years :). I talk about it in my #2 and #15 videos but I use the GoodNotes app to annotate and enlarge my charts as well as Dropbox to store all my PDF chart for safe keeping :).
That back looked as good as the front! lol Do you have a stitching schedule or do you stitch every day or just whenever you can? You get a lot done. I shouldn't watch enabling videos but I can't help myself. But I'm much better at resisting than I used to be, but occasionally cave in. :)
Thanks collbn! Notice I didn't show you the back of Dafodils - it is quite hideous. I don't have a stitching schedule - that would be too much like hard work! I just stitch as and when - in fact I haven't stitched for the past 4 days, my fingers are getting twitchy now! I'm very good at enabling others - but I'm not very easily enabled myself (famous last words) - if I see a chart I like it goes on the wishlist so I can think about whether I really want it or not :).
Another great video as always. I hope you didn't jinx yourself when you talked about breaking both your arms. Haha. I have a question about the variegated floss. Can you still use the loop method to start? If you folded a thread in half, the colors wouldn't line up. I don't know if that makes sense the way I am asking, but maybe you know what I mean. Thanks for sharing so much knowledge with us. :) I am looking forward to your video at the end of August.
Of course you make sense Jennifer! In answer to your question, no you can't use the loop method with variegated threads, for the reason you mentioned as the colours wouldn't line up :( - but I think it's a small price to pay :).
I wish I had of watched this video before I started :( I am piercing my thread alllll the time that I used for gridding. I'll have to try and find something that doesn't do that for my next project!!
Yes Cher, I talked more about that issue in my HAED Hints and Tips video which I put together with new HAED stitchers in mind. There are a few types of thread you can use for gridding which cannot be pierced (need to be a monofilament thread) and some stitchers even use very fine fishing line!
MrsMilkybarKid I remember you mentioning it ... but I think I was in such a daze I didn't understand the reason why. Lol. It's also annoying the price and limited availability here (as I'm sure you can relate) I might have to look at fishing line for my next project if I can't find any monofilament thread. I'm already trying to decide what my next WIP will be, have the fabric ... I've been bitten by the bug!!
What does BAPs stand for? I started Van Gogh's Starry Night by Purple Stitching on Etsy. It has 118 colors. That's the only one I'll be working on for awhile.
I am debating on starting the mini watching it fly. and I was curious what you are stitching her on. the recommended 25 count linen? how big is your cloth? I am new and trying to research scrolls and whatnot. are you stitching her with a scroll frame? if so, what brand?
+hello you I finished Mini Watching it Fly almost 18 months ago, but she is stitched on 28ct Brittney/Lugana 2 over 1 in continental tent stitch. I use easy clip rotating hand frames which you can see in video #2 on my channel and the video where I review the Lowery stand - video #15 I think, it was quite a while ago that I made them! HTH
Hi Amanda, I have watched all your videos and I love them all. I don't make videos on youtube because I am only 16 and quite camera shy but I have a blog. Your videos on Chatelaines and HAEDs have interested me and I hope to stitch Oracle by Ruth Sanderson as soon as I can get all her floss. I was wondering if you could do a video on parking threads I have seen a few but I still don't understand it. Thanks! Sarah
Hi Sarah, thank you for posting a comment, love to here from other stitchers! As for parking - I have avoided doing a proper video on it as I too find videos on parking confusing and I am a parker! Stitchers have different methods for parking, there is not one set method. I just naturally found myself parking on a project - just parking a few threads to get used to the idea, and it just grew from there. When I have stitched all of a single colour in a 10x10 block I look at the 10x10 directly below and to the right - if that colour is used in one of those blocks I park my thread ready in place for that colour stitch. If that colour isn't used in either of those blocks, I finish the threads off on the back as per usual. When I have completed all the stitches in a block, I move on to the next block in the row, stitching using all the parked threads first and then filling in the spaces with new colours - continuing to park threads used in adjacent blocks as I go. I always mark my parked threads on my chart in a different colour so I don't get confused. I stress that my way works for me - other stitchers do it differently. If you need me to clarify further please let me know and I will do my best to help :)
Thanks Amanda that makes more sense, my blog address is bluenosebabyandbobins.blogspot.co.uk/ I haven't posted in ages since I had my GCSE exams but I will post more often now that they're over :)
Ahhh GCSEs I remember them well, though it was a few years since I took mine *cough* - I have a niece the same age as you :). I see we have a project in common with Celtic Spring, look forward to seeing your Happy Dance on her :).
Ramble on! Its all very interesting & informative. You've inspired me to go back to my cross stitch but so much has changed. When I first started there was no such thing as hand dyed fabrics or threads. It's opened up a whole new world for me.
I'm so glad you are picking up your stitching again! There is so much choice in materials and charts nowadays, the world is your oyster - although it can be overwhelming at times :)
I just love your videos! It always feel like we're sitting together and we're sharing our joy of all things cross stitch. I know you can't hear me, but I have a tendency to squeal at some point in each of your videos...when something you're showing becomes one of my must haves. :)
As always, thanks for a lovely update.
Constance Thread I like to feel that I am chatting to all the lovely stitchers out there that love stitching as much as me - just like if we had our own little stitching group at an LNS :).
Hi Amanda,
Just thought I would put a comment to this video... I am currently trying to get up to date with all your video's and wanted to tell you just how much I am enjoying them. It is lovely to hear someone so enthusiastic about our hobby, and your knowledge blows me away! I really love being able to see products that I might not normally see too (I'll be hunting down those notions bags for sure, they look fabulous!)
I am looking forward to seeing the bright design come to life in future videos too - the colours really pop on the black fabric.
Tonight whilst I am watching your videos, I am also stitching, so you have become my unofficial stitching buddy ;-) It's great listening to you talk too, as I don't get to hear the British accent too much any more ( I emigrated from England to Australia almost 10 years ago) so please don't apologise for your video's being too long - I could listen for hours! :-D
Happy stitching!
Gayle :-)
Thank you so much for your kind comment Gayle! I'm glad you have enjoyed my videos, I find it funny to think that a few stitchers dotted all over the world watch me as they stitch :).
Hi Amanda, just spent a happy hour watching/listening to your video whilst stitching on my Fire Dragon! Thank you x
Happy to oblige Mandy - look forward to seeing your update on Fire Dragon too!
OMG! Did you hear my audible GASP when you showed the ThreadPickerz silks on black? I really did! I have used ThreadPickerz silks before and they are so very lovely! I can't wait to see your work on the Twisted rainbow using them! Also, I wanted to thank you for the links you post. Frankly I just wasn't getting the point of Daffodils until I clicked on the link and saw the chart - now I get it. LOVE it! And you have also inspired me to look at your Primitive Hare Red Riding Hood design. Unfortunately they seem to be on vacation so I can't buy the chart...yet! As you can tell I quite love your videos and your stash enabling! Keep them all coming! Teresa
Thank you Teresa! I gasped when I opened the envelope and saw those silks, especially when I laid them on the black fabric! Dafodils is a much better looking design in context ha ha - at 6% complete you don't get a grasp of it with my stitching :). Yes, Isabella (The Primitive Hare) is on holiday, her charts aren't instant download like some sellers as she prefers to individually watermark them with the buyer's name for added copyright protection - so remember to check back :)
I really love the length of your videos as it gives me something to watch and listen to whilst stitching within having u keep changing videos etc
Thank you - happy to entertain you while you stitch :)
Just want to say I love your videos and I have been watching your videos over the weekend. It is officially your fault that I now have a wish list on HEAD which I had never heard of before watching you! I have learnt so much from you and look forward to learning more. Thanks for sharing the knowledge :) xx
Thank you! Blame me for the enabling - everyone does :)!
Great update! And how exciting to have your very personal thread and fabric!
I know! Although my husband says it's really named after him :).
Just found your channel, thank you so much for linking all the Facebook groups and stores, it's very useful, I'm a beginner stitcher, with a very small stash and those clubs look like so much fun! :)
You are very welcome - always happy to enable my fellow stitchers!
I really like that you do long videos!! :-) I can't wait to see your rainbow on black stitch.
Thank you so much - I can't wait to start my Twisted Rainbow either :)
You are such an enabler, I have never tried hand dyed threads or fabrics but you make them look so pretty and I just really want to buy some. currently looking at the monthly fabric clubs on both crafty kitten and Jodyri designs. but at the moment the fear of what I would stitch on them is holding me back but a few more of your videos and I will cave they are just so pretty!
Yes I am a terrible enabler ha ha! It's only recently that I joined a FOTM club, before that I used to buy hand dyed fabrics as and when a project required it. You can stitch anything on hand dyed fabrics, perhaps you have a project in your stash, or one you want to start in the future that you could pick a hand dyed fabric for to start you off? I love playing around with the fabric viewer....... :)
MrsMilkybarKid Ok so I have decided the pattern I will stitch with my first buys of silk thread and hand dyed fabrics and that is AANs Tea pattern. its only 2 colours so wont be too expensive but its beautiful. And I blame you entirely! Now just need to spend the time deciding on the colours but ive done it and im blaming you when my OH complains that I have too much stuff :P
Oooo great choice Rachael! Feel free to blame me - I'm sure your husband is not the first to curse my enabling skills :).
Don't apologise for the long videos! We love watching long videos! I like to catch up on my subscriptions whilst stitching, so long videos are great. :)
Great progress on your designs! I know how you feel about your BAP. It just takes so long for visible progress sometimes! But it'll be worth it in the end. I have two BAPs on the go and I'm not entirely sure what possessed me. I was trying to find a QS in the sale but all of the ones I looked at I preferred the bigger chart.
Also, I love that you love tea! So do I! I think I have about as many varieties as you in my house. :) I think I'll be stitching Silver Moon Tea for the Mira SAL to pay homage to that fact (not 100% decided still, though!).
I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on your new start once that's up! I love the look of your other sampler by that designer! I think it's probably something I'd like to stitch in the future (colours!!), as I've been looking for a sampler to add to the wishlist. :)
And you're not alone. I find I have quite an eclectic taste in what I want to stitch too! So many pretty things!
Great video! I always enjoy watching your updates. :) x
Thanks Emily! I love Silver Moon Tea too for the same reasons :)
Hi Amanda,
Love your wips, you've got amazing taste. Love how your HAEDSare coming on. Your new twisted band sampler is going to be wonderfully colourful.
Sorry it's taken me so long to watch this video, my dog has got a slipped disk and needs a lot of care.
Keep the long videos coming, your videos really make my day.
Thank you Lorraine! No need to apologise at all - I know you've had a lot on your plate, I hope your fur baby is responding well to your care. It is stressful (not to mention expensive!) when these things happen but I hope you are still finding time to stitch as it helps! x
Amazing WIPS! I am in awe of your speed. I think I was one of the few that didn't get in on the HAED sale this time. Love the Hannah Lynn's and your right about the Wall designs, love her art, don't think I could be able to stitch one.
Thanks Miss Mell!
Another great video! I totally get loving the prim and really colorful stuff. I'm gonna sound weird but sometimes I just get my silks out and touch them. Makes me happy lol. I love love the twisted rainbow silks on the black. That's going to be gorgeous! They have a new pattern coming out I want. Shades of blue (go figure !) thanks for all the enabling lol !
Oh and I forgot...I can't wait to see what scarlet letter you decide on. I follow nicola's blogs and she's so talented. Beautiful stuff;)
I'm so glad there is someone else out there like me Christy - silk fondling and all :). I love Nicole's designs and I am anxiously awaiting and hoping there will be a purple/violet/lilac design in the Shades series:). Nicola is awesome isn't she! I'll be stitching A Flamestitch for my Scarlet Letter chart (in AVAS of course!) but I anticipate that there will be a few more in my stash before too long!
Love your videos!! I too bought the rainbow thread pack from Eileen......... Plus some other threads.... Opppps!!! Lol I am planning on doing the twisted band sampler though... The one you already completed!! Excited to see what the next one will look like.
Thanks Dee - you will love stitching the Twisted Band sampler it is so much fun and Eileen's silks are lush :)
Very nice progress on your wips. I think it's awesome to have an eclectic taste, not weird at all. :)
Thank you cross stitch Joil - I'm glad so many of us feel the same way, if it dies turn out that we are weird at least we are all weird together :)
I bought that whole HAED series in the 50% sale. Those charts are amazing!
Yes I love them too!
Your WIPS are beautiful! Great haul!!
I love the long videos...I always make it all the way through! And fortunately/unfortunately, I find that I'm turning into a hand dyed thread AND hand dyed fabric horder! At least I know I'm in good company :) I can't wait to see your rainbow band sampler stitched up!
Thank you! Yes anything hand dyed can become quite the addiction - but you are among friends here :)
I love your long videos. I finished knitting the collar of my sweater while watching tonight. I am proud to say I only bought two more HAED charts. I was very tempted by others, of course. I have a new rule though. No new charts with more than 300 stitches in width or height until I finish one of my big projects.
Thanks Bev! You are very wise to limit the stitch counts on your HAED charts for the mo - especially as you are stitching an Aimee Stewart bookshelf! It is hard though as I am drawn to so much of the artwork - but realistically working on 1 BAP really is my limit! So what charts did you get...... :)?
I bought Unicorn Star by Sandra SanTara and Yesterday's Gone by Molly Harrison
Ooooo nice choices - had to look them up!
lol it is a long video but I'm here till the end. TFS, loved your pieces, fabric, and threads...
Lol, thanks for watching Judy :)
love the colours of the silk they will be fun to stitch with,I like to stitch with vintage colours but also like a splash of colour every so often,it would be boring to stitch with the same colour palette all the time
Exactly Shellstitch! I love my vintage/prim style colours but love my brights too!
thanks for keeping me company :) loved this video x
Thank you for bearing with me and watching :)
Your video might have been 55 mins long but it took me an hour and half to watch with all of the interruptions from the kids. I finally got to finish it after bathing DS 4yo. I love your progress. Mini HAED is so beautiful. I love Primitive Hare too. I am just as eclectic in my tastes! What I like about HAEDs are they are a bit different and I think allow me to let my hair down a bit. Tell me if I am right - if your HAED gridding you just grid the horizontal rows and not the vertical lines. Thanks for sharing your technique.
Thanks Jan - an hour of peace must be a hard thing to find when you are a busy mum! I love HAEDs for similar reasons - my taste in art is very eclectic too, so I like that I can stitch very bright and happy pieces along side darker more emotive pieces. As for gridding - you can do just horizontal, just vertical or both, entirely up to whatever works for you. I used to grid both horizontally and vertically when I started stitching HAEDs, but now I've stitched a few I find the horizontal gridlines are enough for me. You might want to start off with both and as you stitch more of the piece you will naturally find out what works best for you - first HAEDs are often (annoyingly sometimes!) a learning curve :).
Great WIPs! I think I may have my hands on that believe chart...ahhhh gonna grab it while I ca even though it will be a longg while before Istart but don't wanna loose the chart haha. Now that Nora's count LoL I may be joining in with you all in January depends on how mnpany of my current WIPs I get finished haha. I can work on 5 each month 1 each week and then one on the weekends. So as long as I can finish three by JAN I should be good.
Oooooo great news on the HAED chart Mae, glad you tracked it down! It will be fun to have you in the Mira/Nora (lol) SAL, don't pressure yourself to finish your WIPs - just join in when you can I say ........see how I like to bend my own rules ha ha ha!
Lol
Loved watching this. Love love love everything! Can't wait to start stitching Little Red Riding Hood myself, but I can't stitch it until I start and finish her Little Women design. aaaargh to many pojects! Love the Tea time sampler, but again I need to do the Cherry Blossom one first. Double aaargh. Loved your freebies and your own stash additions. Trying hard not to buy the silks but resistance may be futile. But amazingly I didn't buy anything from the HAED sale! Yep I was surprised too. Lol.
Thanks for showing the threads...due to a postal mishap, I didn't get mine. Oh well, these things happen. Definitely will be putting the Poison thread on my list for September. Ayshxo
Thanks Aysh! The cherry blossom sampler is on my wishlist - love it! You should be very proud of yourself for resisting the HAED sale. Shame about your threads going missing - your postie obviously took a shine to them :(. So many designs - tell me about it!! Keep updating on IG - need to see Gigi unfold on that gorgeous fabric you chose for her - long live #flosstube :).
Those threads are gorgeous against the black! I definitely need to get a few of the HAED QS's. I currently have 5 HAED BAPs in my stash but would like a smaller one to put in my rotation. At the moment though I'm working on a custom chart of my family crest sat next to my husband's family crest with details of our wedding underneath. It is my first ever project on Linen/Evenweave. So I am stitching over 2 on 28 count Cashel Linen in an Ecru colour. I will have to check out that twisted rainbow sampler though...the colours are divine!
Thanks Chloe - your crest piece sounds really interesting I would love to see it! I see you have already checked out the Twisted Rainbow sampler :)
Great stash! I want Good witch really bad..projects are beautiful! :-)
Thank you Chelsea! Really tempted to just start QS Tin Girl right now, but am trying to remain strong and not start her until after Mini Watching is done :)
Thanks for another great video. I haven't watched them in order (oh no!), but I'm making my way through them and loving every minute. Just for the record, I'm enjoying your new blog, as well. As far as your eclectic taste, I like stitching things all across the spectrum, so I don't think you're weird at all. Well, no weirder than I am, anyway.
Thanks Cheryl - glad to know I'm not alone! I'd have to watch the videos in order, otherwise I'd see things finished before they were started lol!
Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog too!
Love your videos! Lots of great tips, I think I have to start subscribe to some fabrics and threads thanks to you :)
Thank you! I only belong to one fabric and thread club, although there are plenty to choose from! Normally with hand dyed fabric I like to choose them with set pieces in mind to stitch - I make an exception with Michelle's fabric at Jodyri Designs though. Sometimes it's just nice to support small Needlecraft businesses :).
Lovely progress on your WIPS! I need to figure out some kind of rotation. Sometimes I feel like such a weird and boring stitcher for not using hoops or frames or parking or being particularly into HAED charts .. oh well.
Should I get Instagram? Ugh, I can't decide but I feel like I'm missing out.
Fantastic video as always - I'm working on my first biscornu right now and managed to get all the backstitching done while watching :)
McKenzie
MacKenzie I could write an essay in response to your comment, but will keep it to: you are not weird - if you are weird that makes me weird, if it makes you feel better! You boring? I do not think so - if anything I am in total admiration of you for being an in hand stitcher! If you think about it it's us that use all the frames,hoops, stands etc that are weird - you do the most natural thing in the world, pick up fabric and a needle and get on with stitching, I wish I could do that! As for the HAED thing, I know PLENTY of stitchers that aren't into them (my very own sister being one of them) and you know me - I don't follow the crowd with my stitching, I'm all about the individual and I love your taste in stitching! As for Instagram, for selfish reasons I would love it if you were on there - but totally get it if you feel more social media would be too much of a time waster or draining for you! I much prefer IG to FB, for many reasons - particularly the lack of drama :). I update all my stitching on there - it will never replace videos, I love to see and hear the enthusiasm and passion of stitchers - but let's face it videos take a lot more time and effort (well if you are stupid enough to make them hours long :)) and I like with IG stitchers can quickly see my progress and like and comment if they wish and I. An do the same for them. Can't wait to see your biscornu - details please. Now what was that about not writing an essay .............?!
You are the sweetest, I swear I didn't mean to go fishing for compliments. Sometimes I think TH-cam brings out any insecurities I have about my stitching.
Biscornu details are on the way! Maybe I will have to go for Instagram after all...
McKenzie
:) - just uploading the last of my planned videos - you are name dropped in there, but not just for your stitching :)..........
Really really really enjoyed this video! Your WIPs are coming along well. The colours for the twisted rainbow are gorgeous. I think the black fabric was a good choice. I can't wait to see you stitch it. Great stash. I wondered if you could possibly invite me to the official Facebook HAED group? I tried to search fir it but I couldn't find it so I'm guessing it's a closed group. I am looking forward to next month's update. xx
Thanks Kerry! The official HAED FB group is a secret group - you need to go to the main HAED business page and send them a message saying you want to join the group along with your email address :).
Ok. Thanks. I'll do that. xx
Great progress and haul! I'm currently working on a project that is very much like a HAED, and I am parking. Could you do a video of how you park your threads? I'm curious as to how other stitchers tackle parking.
Thank you! You will see in my comment to bluenosebabyshow above that I doubt I will ever do a parking video! I also explain in that comment how I park - some stitchers do it my way some don't but it works for me :). If you have a read of that comment and want me to clarify anything let me know - but I doubt very much a parking video from me would help anyone :).
Oops! I should start reading the other comments before I post haha. Thanks for the info! I like to hear how other people do things just to see if I can improve on my techniques. I have been carrying my threads too far (up to 4-5 blocks of 10x10 blocks) when I park and end up with various bumps on my work. I think I'll try ending my threads sooner to avoid this problem on the rest of my project. I got too caught up in the "I must finish this column first" mentality instead of parking my threads closer to the current block I was working on...
No worries! Lots of people often ask the same questions and I usually just repeat myself - but parking was too complicated to explain again lol!
oh, come on! everyone loves a good sale!
I'm lucky enough to not have caught the HEAD bug yet, but as for the rainbow twisted bands and reproduction samplers.. oh boy, oh boy. poor me. I have more charts than I can remember.
oddly enough, being the control freak that I am, I wouldn't like to get random mystery stash every month but I'm a sucker for mystery SALs and Clubs, etc. heaven knows what goes on in my mind to justify this behaviour but that' me! :D
love that FPS Tea sampler, having had enough British influence growing up I a. make my tea the loose leaves way b. obsess over the infusion time c. like to have options that I switch to according to the season and the time of the day d. spend way more than I should on tea and coffee (because I'm also Italian, for goodness' sake!) e. have that chart on my wishlist :)
Well the HAED bug picked up and left me last year, after stitching them for a few years with several finishes.......big patterns, just cross stitch in DMC wasn't cutting it for me - just took me a while to come to that conclusion lol (but one day I might pick one up again, it's the artwork I'm a sucker for!). We have a whole cupboard dedicated to tea in our house (there's a pic on IG somewhere) - no teabags cross the threshold here :). I'm really looking forward to stitching FPS Tea Time and displaying it in a suitable place! I've also got the Tempting Tangles tea and coffee samplers on my wish list.........
oh dear, I can't remember off the top of my head how these two look like. investigating will be dangerous, I know, but I'll still dare.. :D
AAAHHH!! what is that coffee C!!
you know that actually Nina has a linen called Roasted Coffee Beans?! oh dear. oh dear!
Wow - those rainbow silks are just stunning against the black fabric aren't they? I have been ogling them via the Northern Expressions blog for a whole :). I feel a should definitely congratulate you on only buying one item from sewandso - such restraint :). I seem to spend hours on there these days, but now I have all these beautiful hand dyed fabrics and threads websites bookmarked too so it's a wonder that I ever manage to do anything else but gaze at things I really really need!
Thank you Nic - I thought I showed great restraint too ;) - which makes up for all the other times I didn't ha ha!
I love your wips! Now, I have a question that will branch out to more questions. lol I never heard of the term tenting. What is it? When do you use it? What fabrics do you use it on? How do you do it? Are there any tutorial sites/videos that are informative? Do you stitch with one or two threads. Will it leave parts of the fabric exposed? If it's quicker and easier than the full cross stitch, then I'm all for it.
katiestitch60 I talk about tent stitching in my #9 HAED hints and tips video - if you go to about 32:50 minutes in you might find a few answers to your questions. I only do this for my HAED designs over 1 on 28ct which are all full coverage. A lot of HAED stitchers choose tent stitch as when you work it on higher counts you cannot tell the difference between that and full crosses. If you have any more questions just ask, I will be happy to help :).
Thank you. I'll go and rewatch #9 HAED VIDEO.
'Josephine Wall has the most confetti' *sigh* I have nearly every one of her charts in my wish list...It's definitely the first project of mine from HAED. Maybe my way of stitching will make it feel not so nasty :-/ Hopefully.
I thought of you when I said that Cher :) - most HAED stitchers would put her work at the top of their "most confetti" list, but it doesn't matter as long as you enjoy stitching her work :)
MrsMilkybarKid I wish they would warn you of these 'trophies' certain patterns and designers have. Lol. I'm not sure it would have made much difference though, as I absolutely adore her charts ... and the way I stitch (one colour at a time) any chart is full of confetti for me.
Hopefully my WIP updates aren't too boring, as you can't actually see the design forming until I'm nearly done. Ah well, my OCD is happy ... so I'm happy xx
The most important thing is to enjoy your stitching Cher, then it means you are doing it right :) x
xx If only it was as easy to 'know' something as it is to follow it. My personality seems to be about pleasing others. It's why I like to pose myself challenges in which I'm kept 'accountable' by promising certain things ... aka daily progress updates :)
How do you stitch HAED on your ipad? What program do you use? You like it better than paper charts? Can you show us your tips for getting rid of paper altogether??!!??
I haven't stitched from a paper chart in two years :). I talk about it in my #2 and #15 videos but I use the GoodNotes app to annotate and enlarge my charts as well as Dropbox to store all my PDF chart for safe keeping :).
That back looked as good as the front! lol Do you have a stitching schedule or do you stitch every day or just whenever you can? You get a lot done. I shouldn't watch enabling videos but I can't help myself. But I'm much better at resisting than I used to be, but occasionally cave in. :)
Thanks collbn! Notice I didn't show you the back of Dafodils - it is quite hideous. I don't have a stitching schedule - that would be too much like hard work! I just stitch as and when - in fact I haven't stitched for the past 4 days, my fingers are getting twitchy now! I'm very good at enabling others - but I'm not very easily enabled myself (famous last words) - if I see a chart I like it goes on the wishlist so I can think about whether I really want it or not :).
Another great video as always. I hope you didn't jinx yourself when you talked about breaking both your arms. Haha. I have a question about the variegated floss. Can you still use the loop method to start? If you folded a thread in half, the colors wouldn't line up. I don't know if that makes sense the way I am asking, but maybe you know what I mean. Thanks for sharing so much knowledge with us. :) I am looking forward to your video at the end of August.
Of course you make sense Jennifer! In answer to your question, no you can't use the loop method with variegated threads, for the reason you mentioned as the colours wouldn't line up :( - but I think it's a small price to pay :).
I wish I had of watched this video before I started :( I am piercing my thread alllll the time that I used for gridding. I'll have to try and find something that doesn't do that for my next project!!
Yes Cher, I talked more about that issue in my HAED Hints and Tips video which I put together with new HAED stitchers in mind. There are a few types of thread you can use for gridding which cannot be pierced (need to be a monofilament thread) and some stitchers even use very fine fishing line!
MrsMilkybarKid I remember you mentioning it ... but I think I was in such a daze I didn't understand the reason why. Lol. It's also annoying the price and limited availability here (as I'm sure you can relate) I might have to look at fishing line for my next project if I can't find any monofilament thread.
I'm already trying to decide what my next WIP will be, have the fabric ... I've been bitten by the bug!!
What does BAPs stand for?
I started Van Gogh's Starry Night by Purple Stitching on Etsy. It has 118 colors. That's the only one I'll be working on for awhile.
BAP stands for "Big Assed Project" :).
Hi. Thank you for video. Thank you for what your are doing. I have one question.
Do you make girding for Chateline's designs?
Thank you Julia! No the only designs I ever grid for are Heaven and Earth Designs.
I am debating on starting the mini watching it fly. and I was curious what you are stitching her on. the recommended 25 count linen? how big is your cloth? I am new and trying to research scrolls and whatnot. are you stitching her with a scroll frame? if so, what brand?
+hello you I finished Mini Watching it Fly almost 18 months ago, but she is stitched on 28ct Brittney/Lugana 2 over 1 in continental tent stitch. I use easy clip rotating hand frames which you can see in video #2 on my channel and the video where I review the Lowery stand - video #15 I think, it was quite a while ago that I made them! HTH
Hi Amanda, I have watched all your videos and I love them all. I don't make videos on youtube because I am only 16 and quite camera shy but I have a blog. Your videos on Chatelaines and HAEDs have interested me and I hope to stitch Oracle by Ruth Sanderson as soon as I can get all her floss. I was wondering if you could do a video on parking threads I have seen a few but I still don't understand it. Thanks! Sarah
Hi Sarah, thank you for posting a comment, love to here from other stitchers! As for parking - I have avoided doing a proper video on it as I too find videos on parking confusing and I am a parker! Stitchers have different methods for parking, there is not one set method. I just naturally found myself parking on a project - just parking a few threads to get used to the idea, and it just grew from there. When I have stitched all of a single colour in a 10x10 block I look at the 10x10 directly below and to the right - if that colour is used in one of those blocks I park my thread ready in place for that colour stitch. If that colour isn't used in either of those blocks, I finish the threads off on the back as per usual. When I have completed all the stitches in a block, I move on to the next block in the row, stitching using all the parked threads first and then filling in the spaces with new colours - continuing to park threads used in adjacent blocks as I go. I always mark my parked threads on my chart in a different colour so I don't get confused. I stress that my way works for me - other stitchers do it differently. If you need me to clarify further please let me know and I will do my best to help :)
Ooooo forgot to ask - what is your blog address?
Thanks Amanda that makes more sense, my blog address is bluenosebabyandbobins.blogspot.co.uk/ I haven't posted in ages since I had my GCSE exams but I will post more often now that they're over :)
Ahhh GCSEs I remember them well, though it was a few years since I took mine *cough* - I have a niece the same age as you :). I see we have a project in common with Celtic Spring, look forward to seeing your Happy Dance on her :).