What is the best way to be sure your colour choices actually go together before starting to stitch? I've heard of doing a floss toss to make sure the floss and Aida go together. And I think I remember a way to check that all the colours have the same tone using a black and white filter on your phone but I've forgotten the details and can't find my original source online... Help?

Greatly enjoy the challenge and the look of variegated thread! Stitched with DMC 115 using both English and Danish methods, some thoughtful planning, and happy accidents. Stitched 2 over 2 with self-dyed 32 count linen. Pattern is from Daily Pattern Post (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1449781945/) but credit to HappyMoodPoint for the original pattern.

TL;DR:

Two questions.

1. Stitched area will be (9.4″ w x 17.5″ h / 23.9 cm w x 44.5 cm h). Thinking of using (20" w x 26" h / 50.8 cm w x 66 cm h) or (17" w x 23" h / 43.2 cm w x 58.4 cm h if the former seems excessive) qsnap frame. If I'm looking to do it in one hoop, are either of those the right sizes?
2. I am looking for a good floor frame to use for a project with large qsnaps (20" w x 26" h / 50.8 cm w x 66 cm h) or (17" w x 23" h / 43.2 cm w x 58.4 cm h). **Any suggestions or warnings?**

Long-term cross stitcher/embroider, but planning out my first big project (The Raven Queen by Mirabilia with some color adjustments), and I think it's time to pull the trigger on a floor stand.

I know it's a bit ambitious given the size (stitched area is 9.4″ w x 17.5″ h / 23.9 cm w x 44.5 cm h), but I'm thinking of doing it in one hoop. I think it'll be easier for the beading, which is even worked into the border of this design, so I think I will need it all flat in one place eventually anyway. (Plus, I'm thinking of doing monofilament gridding, which I also would rather do all at once.)

I ran the numbers for how much space to account for extra fabric using Yarn Tree's calculator and think I'll be doing either a (20" w x 26" h / 50.8 cm w x 66 cm h) or (17" w x 23" h / 43.2 cm w x 58.4 cm h if the former seems excessive) qsnap frame.

1. This is where my first question comes in - if I'm looking to do it in one hoop, are either of those the right sizes?

I did some research and think I have a good feel for potential options (Lowrey and various knockoffs, Needlework System, Edmund's Universal, Daylight, K's Creations), but am a bit stuck because of the size of the qsnap I'm planning to work with.

• I almost immediately pulled the trigger on the Lowery cause it seemed to check all the boxes but when I realized that the single side clamp may not be enough to support the big frame, I decided to do more research.
• By far, the sturdiest looks to be the Needlework System 4 with Qsnap Holder, but the price tag on that one - while not a dealbreaker - is a real deterrent. It also looks like it would be harder to move around, and takes up a bit more space. But I love that it has two arms instead of one. It does mean that that Qsnap holder can only go up to a 17" / 43.2 cm frame, but if that is large enough for my stitch (see first question above), that's not a problem.
• Edmund's Universal Craft stand looks to be like a wooden Lowery, with a bit less adjustability, but with the potential of adding a second arm. I haven't looked into it too much yet. The price tag is obviously attractive, but that also makes me a little hesitant when others are so much more expensive. I don't want it to break on me after being used for a year or two.
• I liked the look of the Daylight stand a lot - the clamp looks more grooved which seems like it would hold a qsnap better than Lowrey and the light attachment is neat - but I'm worried it wouldn't be sturdy enough for the frame. And, unlike the Lowrey, its base are just the two legs instead of a plate that you could stack things on as counterweights.
• The K's Creations Stow-Away Portable Floor Stand Elite seems like a decent option (two clamps and goes big!), but doesn't look to have as much adjustability as I'd probably like/need. It also is a bit pricey if not found on sale.
• Similar to Lowrey, Edmund's, and Daylight, K's Creations Metal Floor Stand's sturdiness is what's giving me pause.

This leads me to the rest of my questions:

• Should I avoid any of these frames given the size of my project?
• Conversely, would any of these frames be particularly good for this kind of project?
• If you have experience with any of the frames above and large projects (especially large qsnap projects), please share!

I've never used the qsnap before hoops have always done the job. I've also got a wooden scroll frame from my punch needle phase. My new project is 14x21 and my scroll frame seems like it needs a perfect fit to work. What size qsnap should i get for this purpose?? Thanks so much in advance :)

I haven't cross stitched in a few years. The last time I did, I was still wearing contacts and was using some magnifying glasses. Since then, I've started wearing glass all the time. What are some good options for magnifiers that aren't glasses?

i keep all my supplies in a old fab fit fun box..which i then keep under my bed 💀 i kinda hijacked it from my sister (including all her old supplies as well, i’m a lil thief)

it just makes me giggle anytime i go to get stuff.

anyone else have an “odd” storage system?

Pattern: Pansy by DMC https://www.dmc.com/US/en/products/pansies

Frame: Hobby Lobby

Pattern source: self drafted

Hi all! Excuse that this isn’t ironed yet, but here is my first attempt at creating my own pattern. The flowers are supposed to be gorse, as it is supposed to be a “cure for hopelessness”. Just looking for any advice on how to improve the pattern on the whole—maybe I just need better fabric and floss, as these are from a cheap Amazon kit. Also wondering if I should use more than two strands at once. Any guidance welcome!

Basically as titled! Sorry if this is an ignorant question. Planning on doing blackwork on a printed DMC Aida, started marking it and got a bit worried.

Thank you all in advance:)

Does anyone use grime gaurds and are they useful? I normally wash my finished project but I've bought some dyed fabric and I don't really want to risk washing them after in case they run (even if pre-washed) would grime gaurds help at all?

I bought some 22ct Loop and threads “Aida” from Michaels. But the weave is hardanger, not Aida. Yet the material is stiff like most Aida.

It’s actually very nice for small-scale 1x1 in-hand projects I can take with me when I travel. I don’t have stitch slipping problems like with evenweave, despite the fact that it seems like I should (because the horizontal and vertical fabric fibers don’t “lock” together like Aida).

Anyway - is this stiffness normal for hardanger fabric, or is it just because this is some cheap fabric pretending to be Aida? I actually quite like it for my purposes.

Four strands on plastic canvas works surprisingly well, until you go down a hole for the fourth time and there's suddenly 16 strands in a hole. I might have pushed a bit too hard.

My little boys Reception (or Kindy) teacher is leaving for maternity today. I'd been planning to stitch this up since the beginning of the school year but life and other wips just got in the way. Stitched in 3 days!

Pattern - Teacher appreciation by CatsInSpaceArt on Etsy!

Unconventional X Stitch has just launched some patterns of Omar Rayyan's artwork for those of you that didn't get to/want to purchase through HAED. Contessa with Squid has really been tempting me!

Cheers!

Unless you are willing to see 3 weeks worth of work go down the drain in an instant.

Tears were shed.

😭