STITCHING and AMERICAN IDOL

I figured out another way to stitch a little faster...more for convenience really. Using a magnet strip I stuck on the side of my table (and added little circle ones just because)... I thread a couple of needles already with the same color I'm stitching with.

As I've said in earlier blogs, I'm trying to stitch by color. So... as you can see, I'm stitching this particular shade so my needles are all ready to go as soon as I run out on this current needle I'm stitching with. Sort of like "layaway needles-ready-to-go". Hope that makes sense. At least this way, I only stop to thread needles once per color. 

I got the idea from my stitchy friend Michelle. Such a smart girl. I learn lots from her. Met her only thru our facebook group and I already consider her invaluable in my stitching progress.

Yes, I'm watching American Idol. Heck, what can you expect? We have a PINAY there. Go Jessica!

Slow going... It's been more than 2 weeks and this is all I've to show. Sigh... snails move faster than I do. 

Getting a groove on

Ok, I've been stitching every night on my QS Mermaid's Treasure. And I have to say, I am LOVING it. I guess it's because I love the color violet and all its shades. Plus, I found a 'groove' or 'flow that I'm liking.

I am doing waste knots to start.  Happily snipping away when the threads have been stitched over, underneath the fabbie. And, I finally figured out a nice way of stitching by color.

I choose one symbol on my pattern, then I highlight it on my paper (pattern). Then on my fabby, I use my washable marker to 'dot' the places where those stitch/symbols are. So after I've done that for all of "that" symbol on my page, I just stitch away without looking at my pattern. There's basically a little prep work before every color but hey, I'm making improvements!

Right now, I like marking the fabbie either in the morning or early in the evening so that when it's time to chat or settle in front of Skype to talk to my Panda, I can just stitch away without bothering to "count" squares and figure out coordinates on my cloth.

Hope that makes sense to somebody other than myself. Haha!

I do have to admit that I seem to have jumping needles... they jump from my hand or project a lot. I think I lost 3 within the past 2 weeks. So.. I've developed a new system for me. 

Another tip for some of you... I bought a few magnetic strips. (thinner than a usual ruler and pure magnet.) It's really cheap. You can get it from your local penny store or craft store. I've double sided taped it to areas I like to stitch at... the side of my table nearest my bed... on my floor stand, on my thread boxes. They're very handy when I want to park my needles.  AND!!! I just realized that my lamp is made of metal. LOL! So I've attached my little black round magnets to it too. So I can park needles there as well. Heck. Now all I have to do if I need needles is look at my magnets. I'm sure to have parked at one of those places. 

Beats me having to sit on one of them. 

Update on QS Mermaid's Treasure as of March 3, 2012

Update on Fairy Idyll as of March 3, 2012

Here's a sample of me with my marked fabby. AND using double sided needles. 

Speaking of my double sided needles (as shown in pic above). I remember being so excited when I ordered them. And I have to admit, while your thread is FRESH. Meaning, you just started stitching with that particular batch (threaded on your needle), it's amazing how fast you can go! BUT!!! before you reach more than halfway on the length of thread you have on your needle, the thread has frayed so much it separates. Literally falls apart. The idea behind double sided needles is smart. You do end up sewing faster. But it plays havoc on your threads. VERDICT? Don't waste your money on them like I did.

QS MERMAIDS TREASURE

Confession time. I have to admit, I found The Chess Match daunting. Maybe it's my 28ct fabbie. I swear my eyes were straining to death. Anyway, I have decided to put it down for awhile. (Take note... for awhile...not permanently). And instead, I am going to tackle Sara Butcher QS Mermaid Treasure.

So far, I've had 3 nights to stitch on it... and it's going good. Relaxing even. So long as I remember not to stress about the back.

A group of local stitchers here in the Philippines decided to do a MARIMAR SAL. Basically, you get to pick ANY mermaid pattern and stitch it. I picked the QS Mermaid Treasure. The rest are mostly doing the mirabilia mermaids. I wasn't going to join until my Panda encouraged me and said joining a local group might help me improve. And so I did.

My QS Mermaid Treasure is being stitched on a 14ct white aida, 2 over 1, full cross. And I've decided to use my Qsnaps since my Fairy Idyll will remain on my floor stand. I intend to visit her every weekend. So basically... I'm doing rotation between the two.

Trying to use this technique... I tie a knot on my threads... enter my cloth from afar.. and start stitching... effectively stitching over the travelling thread underneath and so I can snip off the knot after a bit. Does that make sense?

I would usually start with a loop which I tug under then with my end threads, I would turn the scroll/qsnap over and insert through the rest of the backing. But this time, I decided to try the other way. Is there a term for what I'm doing?

I'm also stitching by color. After I've gridded the cloth, I decided to stitch by page, by color. So now I'm stuck on lavender. I just realized this pattern has a LOT of purple shades. Thank heavens I like the color!! And I'm using different highlighters to mark my pattern per day. So I can see how much I've stitched by the day.

Am I anal enough to count the number of stitches I make in a day? No... I don't think I am. I'm just happy to see the days color spread... meaning, I stitched a lot.

Well, good luck to me! Hope I can stick this one out. I was really going to put down Chessmatch and was eyeing my Flying Swans storykeep....but then this SAL came along. So... Mermaid's Treasure it is.

HAED QS Mermaid Treasure by SARA BUTCHER

As of Feb 23, 2012

Joining the cross stitch facebook groups has helped me a LOT in improving as a stitcher. Heck. Prior to facebook and the HAED site, I only knew ONE way of stitching. That's 2 over 1, full crosses. Whatever my elementary teacher taught me and whatever DMC Phil taught as well. Now, my scope is wider. And I'm less scared to tackle big projects.

All I have to remember is ONE STITCH AT A TIME and... F*CK the back, just ENJOY.

And I am.