Needleminders

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So, a needle minder is a handy tool to have while working on your   cross-stitch piece. They are available in a wide range of styles, colors and prices, and can be very collectible as well. I myself own couple of them; this one is on my wish list next.

The minders are attached by “sandwiching” the fabric between the decorative top magnet and the plain backing magnet. Main purpose of the needle minder is to hold your pre-threaded (that’s a real time saver!!) or any extra embroidery needles securely in a place while you stitch. But an awesome add on is that the magnet itself won’t pierce or puncture your embroidery fabric. However, before you attach it to your fabric just wash the magnet and test it that it doesn’t leave any marks (it never happened to me before, but better safe than sorry).
Using a needle minder allows you to pre-thread several needles and “park” them, which keeps them handy and ready for use while working on your cross-stitch piece. They can also keep your needle safe if you need to stop working on it and set it aside for few moments, as the magnets will hold the needles in place.

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Just make sure to remove the needles and the needle minder from the fabric before putting it away when you’re done for the day as they might come off while stored in a bag and you might loose your needles.

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Needle minders can be used while working on any type of needlework, including all types of embroidery, needlepoint or cross-stitch. They’re also known as Needle Keepers, as they’re keeping your needle safe.

Q snap vs. Hoop

Q snap or a hoop, one might wonder?
There is quite a few pros and cons for either of them but at the end it all depends on what works for you the best.
When I learned embroidery and single stitching years ago I used hoop and I loved it, but recently I’ve purchased a Q snap and I must say I love it even more.

If we’re talking controlling tension… then hoop might be a better bet as you can easily do that but what I found out is that not all of the wooden hoops are good in quality and quite often you can find a round mark on your work that will take forever to clean up (if you manage to do it in any case).

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My favorite size to work with is 7” hoop its big enough but not too big and it fits in your hand easily.






On the other hand, Q snaps… are just too cute. As hoops they also come in various sizes.

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My favorite one so far is 11” q snaps but I’ve just ordered 6” & 8” as well. Beauty of them also is that they’re interchangeable so you can easily create a size that fits your current project best.






What I like the BEST is the ability to make it personalized…. Look how cute this is…

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A matching Double zip bag to store you project while not working and a q snap cover… This particular set resides in South Africa....









Until we "meet" again.... keep on stitching

Cross Stitch - Get Hooked!

When I first started doing cross-stitch I didn't realized how addictive this hobby would be. The desire to finish one color to move onto the next, seeing the picture take shape, it was just wonderful. I truly allowed every spare minute of my day to be taken up with picking up my Aida and working on it.

Aida is the name given to the cloth you use for cross-stitch and it comes in different sizes and counts, obviously depending on what your pattern requires.

This really is a hobby anyone can do. I had no instruction from anyone, and picked it up as I went along. Maybe my early works don’t have the polish of my later works but it’s all trial and error.

When my MIL brought a beautifully cross-stitched birth sampler for our little girl I was hooked. I’ve immediately decided to make something special for my daughter and her cousin, born just 12 hours apart. Even though lovely Forever Friends bears are not both girls with just changing the different color of a hat from green to purple & on the other one to pink I managed to make both similar yet unique.

I also did some kits in the meantime and would say for a beginner that should be the first thing to start with to see how you feel about it. In the kit there is usually a pattern (if its counted cross stitch) or the pattern itself might be printed on the fabric (stamped cross stitch), all the required threads, a needle, the Aida and easy instructions.

Be warned though, before long you will be picking up patterns when you see them, have boxes and boxes (and boxes) of threads and enough Aida that you could run an on-line business selling your spares.

Birth samplers are the best gifts one can give to their friends and family and if you can make them in nursery colors and theme your gift will be looked at and adored for many years to come. It’s a unique handmade present made with loads of love.

Your works of art can be framed at the framers, or you can do it yourself once you learn the technique of lacing. Will talk about the methods soon in one of our next post.

I often buy threads, Aida, cross-stitch magazines or cross-stitch patterns even when I have no idea when am I going to be able to start a new pattern. If you like it, buy it. It doesn’t take up much room, and I get frustrated when I’m ready to start a cross-stitch to find I don’t have a pattern to suit my mood, or the occasion.

Until the next time,

Keep on stitching.