Cross Stitch Fabrics Explained

Posted on March 23, 2011 by admin

3603611399 2f7179f69c e1304391748935Cross stitch fabric is durable and strong to withstand tight cotton fibers pulling it at. The four main types of cross stitch fabric are Jobelan, Lugana, linen, and Aida.

Of all the fabrics, the most popular one is probably Aida. It’s the easiest fabric to learn cross stitch on, since it’s stiff and the holes are bigger. Aida also comes in different counts: 14, 16, 18, etc. The counts refer to the number of holes per inch of fabric. The bigger the number, the more difficult it is to see the holes and the more advanced the design.

Linen is another popular fabric for cross stitch projects. The counts are much higher, usually around 28 or 32 per inch. With linen, however, you can skip holes and use it just like Aida fabric. It’s more freeform. Since there are more holes, it’s easier to create custom designs that don’t look “pixelated” like Aida fabric. It’s also easier to get your needle through linen because there are no thick criss-crossed fibers to push against. Another benefit of linen is that the cross stitch looks smoother and more refined in the frame. Aida has a very thick, patterned fabric that can look too rough behind a delicate design.

The only downside to linen is that it doesn’t feel very smooth against your hands. Aida is made of cotton, but linen has flax in it. There are, however, some expensive brands of linen that are softer. One example is Jobelan, which is actually a mixture of Aida and linen. It’s fairly inexpensive when compared to true linen.

Zweigart Lugana fabric is another type of cross stitching fabric that is good for all projects. It’s made from viscose and cotton and comes in 20, 28, or more stitches per inch. It’s best for advanced sewing experts, since it can be difficult to see the holes and count them.

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Embroidery Machines Compared: Simplicity, Brother, Singer

Posted on March 8, 2011 by admin

machines compared1Embroidery machines are able to quickly create designs using only thread, a needle, and a pattern. Some of the best sewing brands include Simplicity, Brother, and Singer. These are well-known companies that have been around for decades, so their quality is assured. Like sewing machines, embroidery machines tend to be priced similarly. Hybrid sewing/embroidery machines are usually priced higher, although eBay offers reasonable sales.

Simplicity SE3 Embroidery Machine

The only function on this machine is embroidery. You can’t use it for sewing purposes, but it does everything else. The biggest design you can make is four by four inches. The best part is that there is a whole collection of free designs you can pick, including numbers and letters in different fonts. It’s the perfect tool for adding a little design to a towel, shirt, or other fabric piece. It costs about $500 and has a 25 year warranty on the parts alone.

Brother Embroidery-and-Sewing Machine

Another embroidery machine that gets rave reviews online is manufactured by Brother. It’s a hybrid sewing/embroidery machine for multiple purposes. It’s very similar to the Simplicity machine reviewed above – the price is the same, and it also has a 25 year warranty. It contains over 70 various designs, five different letter fonts, and saves up to 12 of your personal designs in its memory. Not only that, but it can sew on buttons, too!

Singer Futura CE-250 Sewing and Embroidery Machine

Priced at almost $700, this machine will do almost anything related to sewing and embroidery. There are over 100 different stitch types, automatic needle threader, five different fonts, and even a button sewer. In order to use it for an embroidery project, you need to connect it to your computer and use the included software program. The designs are then uploaded into the embroidery machine and it starts to create the project.

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Getting Started with Cross Stitch: Tools of the Trade

Posted on February 22, 2011 by admin

4033092035 a0a3a0e10d1 e1304392762853If you are just starting out with cross stitch as a hobby, you are first going to need certain items. Every hobby requires the right tools, and cross stitch is no different. The items listed here are pretty much essential to have, but there are a few “non-essentials” throw in if you want to buy everything at once. The best deals are found online, usually through eBay. Search for your term followed by “lot” if you’re looking to buy a large haul.

1. Fabric is obviously essential to have. The best type of cross stitch fabric for beginners is called “Aida.” That is what is included with most cross stitch kits. Linen is another type of fabric to use, but it’s better for more advanced stitchers.

2. Needles are another necessary item. You are going to need a tapestry needle, a cross stitch needle with a dull point, some smaller needles, and a crewel needle in a size 10. Look for variety packs for the best value. Needles are one of those things that manage to disappear pretty quickly!

3. Embroidery hoops are those round, wooden frames that hold your fabric taut. They come in all sizes, so get a pack of them for different projects. Beginners will probably need smaller hoops for smaller projects.

4. Scissors and floss are another must-have. Floss is the name for the colored, cotton thread used in cross stitch. They come in all colors, so look for a bulk pack that includes everything. As far as scissors go, find some embroidery scissors and thread snips, which help you get really close to the tiny thread ends that hang off your fabric.

4. Cross stitch patterns are found in craft stores, online, and in library books. Kits also come with pre-printed designs with all the instructions. Start by working with simple patterns with a few colors, and work your way up to more advanced projects.

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Cross Stitch Kits for Kids

Posted on February 7, 2011 by admin

Children as young as five are capable of learning how to cross stitch by hand. Everything is bigger with children’s cross stitch kits: The fabric holes are larger, the plastic needle is big and blunt, and the patterns are simple. One benefit of teaching the art of cross stitch at an early age is that the child learns how to focus and improve his or her small motor skills. As long as he or she can count up to 20, cross stitching is possible. It only takes a few years of practice on children’s kits to work one’s way up to more advanced patterns.

Best Cross Stitch Kits for Children

The Dimensions Cross Stitch Company has several different designs for kids. The designs are small and simple – a dolphin, kitty, or frog, for example. These kits are best for children who have had some experience with cross stitch or sewing, or who are at least 10 years old. They might be a little advanced for a younger child. Prices for these cross stitch kits range from $5 to $6 and include the fabric, needle, hoop, and thread.

Disney also creates some very simple patterns for the younger set. A five or six year old that is good at counting and concentrating could easily finish one of these projects. Designs to choose from include a flower, heart, and butterfly. The kit includes everything you need, including a plastic frame to display it.

“Kid Stitch” is a third company that offers easy patterns. For less than $5, your child will get a simple pattern, fabric, cotton floss, hoop, needle, and instructions. The finished products are about three inches around, which might take about a week to finish. The designs are cartoonish, but do not include a frame like some other kits.

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Accessories for an Embroidery Machine

Posted on January 21, 2011 by admin

Back in the day, women and young girls spent painstaking hours hunched over scraps of fabric illuminated by dim candles. That was the only way to create intricate patterns on clothes and blankets. Technology has now made it possible to create those same patterns using a machine – an embroidery machine. It only takes a few minutes for one of these amazing creations to spit out a perfectly-sewn design on a piece of cloth. To get started, you are going to need these tools listed below.

1. Mini Iron

A tiny iron is helpful for ironing out fabric before embroidery and doing appliqué work. Big irons are too bulky for little pieces of fabric. For less than $10, you are really going to appreciate this item.

2. Lint Brush & Oilers

Embroidery machines get little pieces of fabric and dust stuck inside them, so a small lint brush will help to keep the machine clean and working for many years. Machine oil is helpful for those times when the metal parts get stuck.

3. Extra Hoop Screws

For some reason, these screws always seem to disappear when you need them most. Have extra screws handy for your hoops.

4. Replacement Bobbin Cases

These are good if you tend to lose the little pieces in your machine.

5. Stitch Rippers

Better than scissors; stitch rippers offer precise thread removal without damaging your fabric. There are manual stitch rippers and electric ones.

6. Cutting Mats & Cutters

Blades and cutting mats are necessary for measuring out fabric lengths and slicing them cleanly. The mats are made out of heavy-duty plastic and have measuring tools printed on them.

7. Markers or fabric pencils

Ordinary pens and markers aren’t good for fabric or embroidery projects. A disappearing ink marker is best for sewing projects.

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