The Stitch and Frame Shop: June 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

The summer is just flying by!

Where did June go? I can't believe that tomorrow is already July 1st. This summer really is flying by. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and maybe able to take some time off. My family and I will be on vacation next week. We are taking the kids to DC. They have never been and we are all looking forward to it (despite the heat). Needless to say, I will not be blogging next week. I will have some catching up to do when I blog again on July 14th.

I might not have my clothes packed yet but I do have a cross stitch project ready to take. My vacation project this year is "Sweet Land of Liberty" from Heartstring Samplery. Hopefully, I will be able to get it finished while on vacation.

Need some new project ideas? Take a look to see some new designs that will be arriving in the shop soon.

COMING SOON

From Silver Creek Samplers

I really like all 3 of these designs. My favorite is "Seeds of Freedom".

Garden Bliss

Shadow of Your Wings

Seeds of Freedom

From Shakespeare's Peddler

What a beautiful sampler!

Sweet Temper Sampler

From Mirabilia

Another beautiful lady from Nora.

Queen Mariposa

From Cross Winged Collection

Simply beautiful.

Sweet Summer Days

From The Victoria Sampler

Mystic Christmas

Button Up for Christmas #4

Gingerbread Cupcakes

From The Sweetheart Tree

Seven new designs! I love the 3 "Teenie Tiny Halloween" designs. Stitched all together, I think they would make a really nice bell pull.

Itty Bitty Kitty - At the Beach Teenie Tiny Halloween I

Teenie Tiny Halloween II Teenie Tiny Halloween III

USA Square (kit)

Wishes For You - Happiness Wishes For You - Love

(kit) (kit)

"Happiness" and "Love" are the 1st and 2nd in the new Wishes

For You series. There will be a total of 8 designs in the series.

COMING IN SEPTEMBER

The 2014 Special Christmas Issue

from Just Cross Stitch

Taking pre-orders!

RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW!!

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STITCHING TIPS

AND

TECHNIQUES

Needles - which ones do you need?

Tapestry Needles work best for cross stitch. They are a blunt tipped needle with a long eye designed to hold multiple strands of floss. The blunt tip also helps to prevent splitting fabric threads. They are sized with larger numbers for thinner needles. Size 26 and 28 needles are thinner than size 22 and 24.

A size 24 needle would be the right size for 14ct. Aida and a size 26 or 28 would be a good choice for 28ct. or even smaller count fabrics.

Always make sure that the needle you are using is straight and the tip is undamaged. A needle should slide effortlessly through the fabric, not pull at it or tear it. They do wear out so replace them as needed.

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The Stitch and Frame Shop will be CLOSED

Friday July 4th!

Have a fun and safe holiday!

Monday, June 23, 2014

"Something Wicked" comes this August!

In August, Samsarah Design Studio will be releasing "Something Wicked" (a new 3 part Halloween Mystery Sampler). I know it's only June, almost July, but it's never too early to start stitching seasonal designs. See below for more details about this sampler and other "goodies" that will be arriving in the shop soon.

COMING IN AUGUST!

From SamSarah Design Studio

"Something Wicked"

Here is what I know about this mysterious sampler...

* It is stitched on 32ct. Petit Point Natural with Brown Polka Dots.

* The design size for the entire piece is 119w x 186h.

* 29 skeins of Weeks Dye Works floss will be needed to complete the sampler.

*A bonus design will also be included. It has a stitch count of 50 x 153 and

is stitched on 30ct. Peoria Purple from Weeks Dye Works.

* The first part will be released on August 1st with the remaining two releasing on Sept. 1st

and October 1st.

COMING SOON!

(before August)

From Imaginating

I love the "garden cuties" but I so want to stitch the mermaid for my niece (mermaids are her favorite).

Gardens Bloom Garden Cuties

Snail and Caterpillar

One Upon a Dinosaur

Once Upon a Mermaid

From The Nebby Needle

What a beautiful sampler. I really love the pincushion.

Oh My Stars!

From Pickle Barrel Designs

A wonderful design for a special teacher.

Teaching Passion

From Stacy Nash Primitives

Love everything about this pincushion, especially the colors.

Sisters Three Pinkeep

From Plum Street Samplers

Two gorgeous new samplers!

Ann Barson Loughbro 1837

Crowned Bird Sampler

From My Big Toe

"Hens and Chicks" might not be something everybody loves but I do. This will be a great gift for some good friends of mine who just happen to have hens. Can you say cluck, cluck:)

Hens and Chicks

Not How Many You Finish

Christmas Pinkies IV

Building Blocks - Power

From By the Bay Needleart

What beautiful flowers.

My Secret Garden

From Little House Needleworks

Four new designs from Little House. Wow, they are all so GREAT. "Old Glory" might just be my vacation project. LOVE it!!

Calendar Girl - July Old Glory

Robin's Song

Seaside Summer Alphabet

This design comes with a full skein of Belle Soie Silk

and buttons.

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STITCHING TIPS

AND

TECHNIQUES

How to determine design size!

To determine the size of a design, you take the stitch count and divide by the count fabric that you want to use. For example, you want to see how big a design will be on 14ct. and the stitch count is 140 wide by 112 high.

140 divided by 14 = 10

112 divided by 14 = 8

Your design size will be 10" wide by 8" high.

Of course this size does not allow extra fabric for finishing. Now add 6 to both the width and height. This will give you 3 extra inches of fabric around the design.

10 + 6 = 16

8 + 6 = 14

After adding 6, you will need a piece of fabric 16" by 14".

Now, if you want to work on a smaller count fabric over two threads, the concept is the same except after dividing by the stitch count, you then multiply by 2.

For example, you want to stitch on 32ct. over two threads and the stitch count is

80 wide by 96 high.

80 divided by 32 = 2.5

2.5 x 2 = 5

96 divided by 32 = 3

3 x 2 = 6

Your design size is 5" wide by 6" high. You still need to add for extra fabric. So, the size of fabric needed is 11" by 12".

Remember, if you are having problems and need help figuring out a size, call the shop. We will gladly help you figure it out.

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Have a great week!

Monday, June 16, 2014

A quick peek!

It's only June 16th and boy is it hot!! You would think that the heat would hold off until July or August. I shouldn't be complaining about the heat now because I know it will only get hotter (I'll complain then too!).
I much prefer cooler weather.

Need a new project to work on while enjoying some indoor AC? Take a look at some new designs that will be arriving soon.

ON THE WAY!

From Blackbird Designs

Another beautiful sampler in the Loose Club series. At this point, I don't have a favorite anymore. I love them all!