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cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?



 
 
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  #31  
Old March 1st 17, 06:30 PM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
Joan Erickson
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Posts: 417
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

On 2/23/2017 1:31 PM, Arliss Link wrote:

Inserting myself in the conversation here - Zweigart and Wichelt are probably the best manufacturers of Aida. I don't stitch on Aida anymore. I love linen - Belfast (32) or Cashel (28) from Zweigart and Lugana, also from Zweigart.

Arliss (in North Dakota, same as Joan, but in a completely different area) (Hi, Joan!)

Wow! You popped in on us! Hi stranger!


--
Joan

See my pictures he http://ndjoan.shutterfly.com/pictures

If worries can cure your sickness, prolong your life, or replace
happiness, then go ahead and worry! If they can't, why worry?

Enjoy every moment of your life...there is no second chance.

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  #32  
Old March 4th 17, 02:14 PM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
Rich[_3_]
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Posts: 48
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

Thanks Violet, I will look at the aida at Strawberry Sampler next time
I am there.

For a while I only stitched on 28 count, but now I am usually using 32
count. I think the smaller stitches look better on the birds and big
cats that I like to do.

On the subject of eyesight, I always tell the eye doc that I do
needlepoint (a lot of people don't know what cross stitch is) and need
to be able to see up close. Stitching is a little different than
reading a book or newspaper. I have progessive lens' and I love them.

Rich

On Tue, 28 Feb 2017 07:33:40 -0800 (PST), Violet Stitches
wrote:

Update of thread: stitching on different fabrics with bad eyes
------------------------------------------------------------

I ordered a bunch of fabrics online which arrived a couple days go and spent some time experimenting with stitching on them. If anyone else is having eye trouble this post might help you.


Aida: I ordered various fabrics from 14ct to 20ct. These fabrics were very high quality from Picture This Plus and Wichelt...they were wonderfully soft, hand-dyed, and a couple had some lovely opalescent sparkle. Surprisingly I found the lower count Aida (14-16) more difficult to stitch on as the treads are father apart and it's easy to get your needle caught "between" threads (if that makes any sense). As Rich said, I also found it harder to place the needle in the right spot when coming from the back of the fabric.

However the higher counts of Aida (18-20) I was very impressed with. They were about the same as stitching on any even weave except easier on the eyes. As far as looks go, it's really not that different looking from linen IMHO. I'm so glad someone here suggested higher count Aida to me!


Linen: Oddly enough I find stitching on 32ct linen to be easier than 28ct. I think the larger holes in the 28ct are playing some tricks on my eyes, perhaps because I can see through the linen and the shadows underneath my lap stand confuse the eye. 32ct linen is pretty much the only one I can comfortably stitch on, as the higher counts (40ct especially) are simply impossible for me between my bad eyesight and my wrecked hands.


So there you go...if any one is having trouble with their eyes I do encourage you to check out 18-20ct aida. There can be a bit of a stigma about sewing on aida, but the quality of the fabric has really gone up these days...it's not the cheap, cardboard stiff fabric of the past. Give it a try!

  #33  
Old March 4th 17, 04:42 PM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
Violet Stitches
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Posts: 57
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?


Hey Rich. I too have progressive lenses, but for some reason they aren't quite good enough for stitching. I've had eye docs tweak my lenses several times but it's still not quite right. I might try Mag Eyes...stitchers on Flosstube seem to really like them.

http://www.mageyes.com/mageyesplus.htm
  #34  
Old March 4th 17, 09:08 PM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
Shirley
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Posts: 87
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

On 04/03/2017 15:42, Violet Stitches wrote:

Hey Rich. I too have progressive lenses, but for some reason they aren't quite good enough for stitching. I've had eye docs tweak my lenses several times but it's still not quite right. I might try Mag Eyes...stitchers on Flosstube seem to really like them.

http://www.mageyes.com/mageyesplus.htm


I have had Mag eyes now for many years and still use them. My sight is
not as good due to developing cataracts, which are not ready for removal.
Still at 81 one can expect eyes to lose some of their sharpness.
I have recommended Mag eyes to many friends and they love them.

Been on this ng since 1996 and still read it everyday.
When I get time off from looking after my invalid DH I still do a bit of
bead work and card making.
Hugs
Shirley

--
Shirley
www.allcrafts.org.uk
  #35  
Old March 4th 17, 11:52 PM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
[email protected]
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Posts: 659
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

On Sat, 4 Mar 2017 20:08:22 +0000, Shirley
wrote:

On 04/03/2017 15:42, Violet Stitches wrote:

Hey Rich. I too have progressive lenses, but for some reason they aren't quite good enough for stitching. I've had eye docs tweak my lenses several times but it's still not quite right. I might try Mag Eyes...stitchers on Flosstube seem to really like them.

http://www.mageyes.com/mageyesplus.htm


I have had Mag eyes now for many years and still use them. My sight is
not as good due to developing cataracts, which are not ready for removal.
Still at 81 one can expect eyes to lose some of their sharpness.
I have recommended Mag eyes to many friends and they love them.

Been on this ng since 1996 and still read it everyday.
When I get time off from looking after my invalid DH I still do a bit of
bead work and card making.
Hugs
Shirley


I felt quite distressed the other day, I was in a shop called Winners
and there was this lovely beaded cushion. Had to have been hand work
and it was less than $20 and I had to wonder how much the woman (most
probably a woman or girl) had been paid
  #36  
Old March 5th 17, 04:47 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
Joy Beeson
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Posts: 134
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

On Sat, 04 Mar 2017 08:14:01 -0500, Rich
wrote:

I have progessive lens' and I love them.


I put dollar-store reading glasses on over my prescription glasses for
threading needles and so forth. It makes my niece giggle, but I can
darn black on black.

I never buy less than 3.5, except for the folders I carry to read
ingredient labels. I was so delighted to get folders without paying
for custom work that I wasn't too picky, and 3.0 is strong enough for
the six-point purple-on-navy type that food labels use.

--
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/
The above message is a Usenet post.
I don't recall having given anyone permission to use it on a Web site.


  #37  
Old March 5th 17, 03:26 PM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
Violet Stitches
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Posts: 57
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

On Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 2:08:16 PM UTC-6, Shirley wrote:
On 04/03/2017 15:42, Violet Stitches wrote:

Hey Rich. I too have progressive lenses, but for some reason they aren't quite good enough for stitching. I've had eye docs tweak my lenses several times but it's still not quite right. I might try Mag Eyes...stitchers on Flosstube seem to really like them.

http://www.mageyes.com/mageyesplus.htm


I have had Mag eyes now for many years and still use them. My sight is
not as good due to developing cataracts, which are not ready for removal.
Still at 81 one can expect eyes to lose some of their sharpness.
I have recommended Mag eyes to many friends and they love them.

Been on this ng since 1996 and still read it everyday.
When I get time off from looking after my invalid DH I still do a bit of
bead work and card making.
Hugs
Shirley

--
Shirley
www.allcrafts.org.uk


Thanks for letting me know the MagEyes worked for you too...I finally ordered a pair on Amazon.

I've tried putting a pair of cheap bifocals *over* my glasses, but then both glasses start sliding down my nose and I still can't see a thing. I'm only 43! Perhaps once my eyes stop changing and get to a "settled" point, I'll get my regular glasses perfected to the point where I can stitch with just those again. I had no idea what I was in for with middle aged eyes (or middle age in general).
  #38  
Old March 5th 17, 03:35 PM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
Violet Stitches
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Posts: 57
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

I felt quite distressed the other day, I was in a shop called Winners
and there was this lovely beaded cushion. Had to have been hand work
and it was less than $20 and I had to wonder how much the woman (most
probably a woman or girl) had been paid


This happens a lot to me too. My mother is a ceramic artist and can't believe how cheaply they can sell ceramics at stores. People have no idea the time and effort that goes into this stuff.

Awhile ago I was considering opening an etsy store, but the bottom line is I can't charge enough to make a profit for my materials and TIME. The other day I did buy a beautiful needlebook from a hand stitcher on etsy. The quality of the materials and her design were *outstanding*. It was $24 (expensive for a needlebook) but I can't believe she made much of a profit considering the time she put into it.
  #39  
Old March 5th 17, 04:04 PM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
[email protected]
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Posts: 659
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

On Sun, 5 Mar 2017 06:35:02 -0800 (PST), Violet Stitches
wrote:

I felt quite distressed the other day, I was in a shop called Winners
and there was this lovely beaded cushion. Had to have been hand work
and it was less than $20 and I had to wonder how much the woman (most
probably a woman or girl) had been paid


This happens a lot to me too. My mother is a ceramic artist and can't believe how cheaply they can sell ceramics at stores. People have no idea the time and effort that goes into this stuff.

Awhile ago I was considering opening an etsy store, but the bottom line is I can't charge enough to make a profit for my materials and TIME. The other day I did buy a beautiful needlebook from a hand stitcher on etsy. The quality of the materials and her design were *outstanding*. It was $24 (expensive for a needlebook) but I can't believe she made much of a profit considering the time she put into it.


This is the trouble and some people can't see what they are looking at
- I was at a craft fair one Xmas and one stall had incredibly
beautiful stained glass pieces, the couple of women ahead of me were
carrying on about the price, further down was another stall with
plastic stained 'glass' at a fraction of the price. Clearly simply
melted and poured into moulds! There see! That's much more
reasonable. I felt depressed that they were unable to spot the total
difference in quality.
  #40  
Old March 10th 17, 04:17 AM posted to rec.crafts.textiles.needlework
Violet Stitches
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Posts: 57
Default cross stitch lovers: to grid or not to grid?

In case anyone is curious about the MagEyes, I thought I'd update you on what I think about them. I'm so impressed! They don't grip my head too hard like other headband style magnifiers, and so they didn't give me a headache at all. This is the first "around the head" style I've been able to wear without getting a migraine.

I'm also impressed that they didn't give me any eyestrain, even after a couple hours of stitching. I haven't been able to watch TV while stitching for years...other forms of magnifiers made it impossible to switch between the the close vision of stitching to the distance vision of TV. Since the MagEyes sits several inches away from your regular glasses, it only magnifies your work...you can easily look up and focus on the TV or people. I watched two episodes of Big Little Lies while stitching and had zero eyestrain. This is worth a bit of celebration!

They have several different lenses you can fit into the head frame. I've found the #2 & #4 lenses most useful for stitching as the magnification is moderate. I also have the #5 & #7 lenses which are quite strong and they're great for seed beading, but I find them a bit too much for stitching.

The only downside: they do look a little weird on your head, and I think I might be a bit self conscious stitching in public with such a contraption on my head. Fortunately I mostly stitch at home.

If anyone is having eye troubles, I do really recommend the MagEyes...I wish I'd discovered them years ago.


PS No, I'm not affiliated with the company.
 




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