Needles, part 2

Greetings.  Thank you all for such great responses regarding your needles.  I've been investigating a little further because of the other problem I've had in the last year ~ the floss sticks in the eye when I try to slide the needle closer to the end of the thread, like it's snagged on something.  Now I know why.  A size 28 needle is meant for high count linen (36-45) which requires a single strand.  I'm sticking a double strand in for my 28 count which is too much thread in that size eye, but OK for the correct size needle such as 24 or 26 for 30/32 count. Using such a thin needle on my rough linen may also account for my floss sometimes shredding.  The purpose of the needle size is to spread the fiber just enough to allow the thread to pass smoothly.  Well if my needle is too thin for the fabric, the thread is probably coming in contact with the linen fibers each and every time it passes.  I came to the conclusion that the coarse linens I prefer are the reason the gold and platinum needles didn't last long at all.  They are probably like sandpaper on the needle and wore the finish off quickly.  I've received needles from shops when purchasing linen or charts but never paid attention to the size, which I will do from now on.  For those of you interested in more information about needles, my favorite site for stitch videos,  Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread, also has informative articles on various needles and manufacturers.  Click  to be directed to her index page of numerous posts, including her article on Bohin.  She mentions in The Broken Needle post about a possible change in quality in the John James and her journey trying to find where they are now made.  August 2011 lists 5 things you need to know about embroidery needles.  Her site is loaded with great information regarding needlework and I am grateful that she has taken the time to share her knowledge with us.

I also want to mention a website that many of you are familiar with, but once again, it's new to me. 
The site is Gazette94.   When I saw this post from Kaye, I read the comments and sure enough, Terri had the answer for us as to where to find that great bird chart. Well geez, where have I been? What an array of free designs.   Santa, snowmen, houses, quaker, holiday, everything!  I'll need to spend some time browsing and maybe find a few more to add to the file of never-to-be.  It's like buying something I don't need only because I have a coupon.  Make a copy of the chart and add it to the pile because it's free.  Putz.

That's all folks!  Have a great weekend - and thanks again for your input!
I appreciate your visits and comments and want to welcome the new followers.

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Needles

Hi all!  Wow.  What a storm we had.  Very brief, but powerful enough to down trees throughout the valley.  We lost five a few years ago to a micro-burst but were spared this time.  Mark has been picking up limbs and raking twigs for several hours. 

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Needles.  Is there a real difference between current brands in design?  Do you change to a new needle after every project?  Do you have a sore hole in your middle finger from the eye end piercing through?  First time ever for me.  Most of the needles I have, and have received from others, are all DMC.  This is what I've used for years and what is available locally.  The other packs in my drawer are from Loving Touch which I'm assuming are no longer made.  Too bad - cause I like 'em. 

It's the one on the right side end, and you can see the difference from the DMC on the left.  The eye is a little wider and the hole a little shorter.  Much easier to thread and honestly, this old DMC's eye end is not blunt enough!  I actually had it pierce the skin many times leading to a really sore finger.  Yes they are really thin and my skin is really dry, but it's never happened before.  Since most of my projects are done on 28 to 32 count, I guess a size 24 is correct, but I've always preferred 26 for smooth stitching.

So these are Loving Touch size 26.  I really like the shorter wider eye and have no idea what other brand would be comparable.  Should I just move down to 24 when these are gone?  Two packs left which should last a while.  The ladies I stitched with years ago hardly ever changed to a new needle, but my sister in law changed with every project. 

I have a few that are gold plated and platinum but the eyes are really thin so they must be 28's.  Comparing the DMC size 24 to Loving Touch 26, doesn't look much different in the eye except for length.  I guess it's not a big deal but I'm still trying to rid the excess around here that I will never use. I used to have John James and liked them - but that was so many years ago I don't know if they are the same now.  I'm certainly no where near running out of needles!  But if I find something I like, I buy bunches.  Too many favorites end up discontinued or no longer carried .  I read that Bohin is popular and found several other makes online.  So what did I accomplish with this post?  Nothing really.  I have a dozen of 26 that I like, a bunch of 24's, will put away the ones I don't care for, and will add a new brand to my orders for fabric and chart.  See?  I always resolve issues during a post.  Or maybe I just wanted sore finger sympathy.
Anyone interested in the pork roast recipe can find it here.  A new treat kick for me is stirring a tablespoon of peanut butter into my vanilla Greek yogurt.  Like my favorite peanut butter pie!  Especially if you top it with ground peanuts, or chocolate syrup, or crumbled grahams, or all.  Love it.
Haven't chosen a new project yet.  I'm thinking I should try something a little larger but my patience is telling me otherwise.
We all struggle with the same decisions at times and if we make a mistake in our choice, big deal.  Picking the linen and working out color changes if needed is sometimes worse.   So I should just do it!   What's the worst that can happen?  
Have a fabulous weekend - stay safe!

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The dark side of Dorothy

I want to thank everyone for the well wishes and prayers for my sister.  They changed the date on us because of a death in the doctor's family.  Now, it is Monday.

If you notice, Dorothy was 24 years old when she stitched this sampler, far older than most of the primitive design stitchers.  Was she ill in her young life?  You would think by this age she would have mastered the needle, yet her design is still very primitive.

Backing is the perfect shade of an olive brown uncut corduroy.

 

I love her!  I still haven't received my linen order (they are located in my state) and I'm so anxious to see how dark these pieces will be. 

For those of you that asked, I will post the pork recipe tomorrow.  I need to hit the stash stack once again and spend the day in a state of confusion.   

Have a great day!

 

 

The trouble with Mary

Greetings from a warm day in PA!  Seventies today and tomorrow....then back to the 40's for the weekend.   Hope your week is starting without incident.  I'll be at the hospital all day Thursday for sis's catherization and we'll go from there.  I found out that the bad aortic valve is not an issue during this procedure and they will be checking that more closely also.  Thank you all for your concern.

I stopped at my framer's and realized under her unforgiving lights, that Mary had many dark threads showing, even though they only crossed a few linen threads.  Because of the stretching and pulling I created when trying to get those curved stem stitches positioned, and removed, and repositioned, I have a wonky center.  One side needs stretched more than the other which makes the outline way off, even though - are you sitting down - I wet her down and ran her through the dryer, twice.  Are you OK?  Linen's tough baby!!  This helped quite a bit, it's still off somewhat, and no one will notice but me.

 I brought her home to add more muslin strips.  Being 28 count and somewhat sheer, using a dark mounting board to hide the threads was not good.  She has a lot of band-aids, no?  So now I have to pin her again with my sore finger.  Reason being, my needle has been going through the skin while I'm stitching and I want to talk needles and ask for suggestions next time.

 

I knew that Dorothy would be a close call, but that I would have enough for a seam to make a pillow.  All that's left is that center motif so I'll have my full inch at the bottom. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've got to get ready for my appointment but I wanted to show you two more things.  This little guy carb-loading on the bread for the deer.

 

And one of my favorite recipes.  Cranberry pork roast. 

So easy.  So good.

That's it.  Gotta run.  Have a great day!

Stay safe - thanks for visiting.

Long-arm cross

Good day to you. How the heck are you? Having fun? Relaxed? Slightly aggitated? Confused? Flashing? Frustrated? Ranting? Looking for a fight? Ready to throw something out the window? Wanting to climb a wall and upset there are no footholds? No? Maybe it's just me. I made an appointment to see my doc this week and am hoping there actually is a pill!!! Chewable.

 Now.... I'm showing you what I've been doing for the long-arm cross stitch. Most of the horizontal bands in Dorothy call for it and I usually substitute regular cross. But there was a brief moment of calm that happened about the same time, so I tried it. I always watch online videos here for the correct methods but only found diagrams this time. Most appeared to be going the opposite direction of my stitching so I was having a difficult time, but finally came across one that clicked. I'm assuming it's correct and if not, it looks good anyway.

 Start with a regular cross, come back up at the bottom left of that stitch and go over 4 threads, come out in the same line two threads down.

 

 Go back to the prior stitch and enter at the top right, come out at the bottom right.

And just keep going!

It's makes a little braid.


And here they are.


Very easy to do.

Did I do it right??  Yes Marlene you did it right, but unfortunately your left side border is off one thread.  The question is - do we dare tell you?

The End.

 

 

Almost done!

Hi everyone.  Hope your weekend is off to a pleasant start.  After several changes, I'm finally happy with Dorothy.  The 3046 was looking too yellow on this fabric so I replaced it with 642 and 832.  I found a backing fabric that is the same odd brown with a blue and gray in the check, and a brownish red that is similar to the 632.

So this is 30 count 18th Century Rook linen, with 926, 927, 832, 642, 3023, 3021, and 632.  I'll add a green in the bottom motifs and should be finished soon. 

 

I'm still not caught up on blog reading but I have seen several that are linking to Bloglovin.   ???  I go to my dashboard to see new posts on the reading list and then click to be taken to that blog.  I don't know how the other works.  I signed up for email posts but prefer visiting the entire blog page and its layout.  Maybe everything shows up the other way too, but I'm not mobile.  Nor do I text.  I have a Tracfone ($7/month) that I use for emergencies or to call someone when I'm out to see if I can pick up anything for them.   I end up with a ton of carryover minutes because there is no way I can use 120 minutes in 3 months.  I'm too cheap to spend the kind of $$$ they want for a plan that I would rarely use, and I have no desire to have a phone that is smarter than I am.  So if Bloglovin is sent to those mobile devices that I do not use, no sense signing up.  I don't Tweet either.  Or have Facebook tracking every move I make.  Nothing wrong with social media, it's just not for me.  It amazes me to see a parent with a child in a restaurant, and the adult's eyes are glued to the phone instead of setting it aside and talking to their child.  We've seen several weekend dads that never spoke one word.   Is it more important than your kids?  If they would look up, they would see their child's sad face, so wanting some attention. 

Never mind.  I'm in one of those moods, yearning for the old days when social meant actual contact with a human instead of plastic. The interaction that teaches you to handle situations and do a better job, accept disappointment graciously, to have manners and civility, to learn about others - not just where they are going today and what they purchased.  I need a pill again, don't I.  Yep.  Must be chocolate withdrawal.  Starting over......isn't Dorothy cute???

 

Ignore my rant please, I'm too lazy to delete and begin again.

Have a great weekend!  Stay safe.

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