cross stitch anyone??

[MarthaB]

:) hi, I love to do cross stitch, and have done so for over 30 years, anyway, I am always on the lookout for free cross stitch pattern on the net, I came across this site where they give these gorgeous teddybear cross stitch patterns away free for us to download, also I came across a pattern of uncle sam, but this is little boy dressed as uncle Sam, gorgeous, anyway if any of you like these patterns, just pm me, and I will sent it to you.
Also I have lots more, if you are after anything in particular, I may have it, just let me know,
martha

[tigger_gal]

I do cross stitching... I have found several sites where you can print up printed cross stich patterens.. I also like the counted patterns. I made my grandmother a humming bird quilt. Now I am making my friend a quilt.

[SharonA]

I love to do embroidery...cross stitch or otherwise. I find it difficult to sit down at a sewing machine and sew. It makes me very nervous. But I can do embroidery all day long. Go figure... :rolleyes:

[MarthaB]

:) I only ever do the counted cross stich, I had tried the printed patterns once, and didn't like it at all.
I have so many cross stitch patterns, I need another lifetime to finish it all.
martha

[Rosalie]

Cross stitching can be so relaxing. Have you ever done a photo with cross stitching?
I have a wonderful little DMC program where you scan in a image of whatever you like and it prints out the pattern and th floss needed.
Hillz gave me a beautiful mothers day card and I wanted to do something with it, so I think I will cross stitch it!

[MarthaB]

:) that sounds interesting Rosalie, from what I have seen, most of those don't even use a lot of different colours, I suppose you could the photo in black and white, or sepia.

[traceann]

My cross stitching helped me quit smoking the first time around - can't smoke and stitch, lol. Ex husband got me smoking again, lol. Now getting ready to quit again, since I finally got the Wellbutrin-situation straightend out! And just recently got all my stitching supplies sorted out and organized -- getting ready for the big quit!! LOL

Hugs!

[MarthaB]

:) yes I still smoke, but not at the same time as stitching, it's too hard to do LOL.
I have found some gorgeous patterns with geisha girls, I have always wanted to do one, and now I have quite a choice.
I can't help myself, everything I see and like I have to save it, I also found some nice patterns for a wedding, with phrases, do you know if there is such a thing as counseling for cross stitch addicts? haha kinda like AA meetings for alcoholics.
martha

[traceann]

There should be CSA, lol. I have a pattern addiction myself, I love the pattern books, ugh. I have a ton with cats, and a bunch with country-style angels... I think I have only done one out of them, lmao!!! But I at least like to have them...just like my cookbooks, I have a ton, but rarely use them to try anything out of them. Would rather make up my own from the stuff I have read in them!! LOL

[DanaF]

Can anyone tell me how to post a new thread? Thanks.

[tigger_gal]

Rosalie.. thats so cool.. I would love to know how to do a photo.

Dana... when you open a topic... on top you will see a button to click that says new post

[Rosalie]

Tigger,I got the computer program free with a craft magazine some time back so, it probably wouldn't be expensive to buy. With it you scan whatever or import some other image on your computer. When you set up the new pattern you tell it how many stitches wide and long that you want the image to be.
I haven't actually sewn anything with it yet, but it is a lot of fun to play around with.

[tigger_gal]

kewl thanks alot :)

[Rosalie]

I mentionaed in an earlier post they I was going to make a cros stitch pattern out of a card that my daughter gave me. Well, I am about to start stitching. I printed out the pattern and with it a floss chart.
Spotlight have the threads on special so I got the lot . I also shouted myself this organizing system of rods for the threads and plastic folder sheets to store them in and one of those magnetic boards to hold the pattern and underline the line you are stitching.
So I am all ready to start. Hahaaa! Where DO I start? I've only ever really done ones with the picture already printed onto the cloth..easy peasy.

Do I just start at the top left corner or is there some other process for getting started?
Martha, you're the expert here.... :help:

[MarthaB]

:) Rosalie, ALWAYS start in the middle, NEVER at the top, you work out the middle of the pattern, you start to count how many stitches you have vertical and horizontal,http://crossstitch.about.com/od/beginners/a/howreadpat.htm, here is a site you can look through, it's for beginners, if you need any more help, just let me know.
Martha :)

[Rosalie]

Thanks for the advice and the site Martha. I thought there would be some rule to get you going in the right direction.

[quiltz]

Hi all,
Since I happened to see this thread about cross stitch, I wonder if anyone would be interested in some old cross stitch magazines? I have a pile of them from the 80's. I would be happy to mail some to a good home.

Any takers? Some of them are quite interesting and I'm hoping to get them out of here before I get too interested in them .... because I can't do Xstitch any more due to nerve damage in my hand :mad:

PM me if you would like some .... Liz

[MarthaB]

:) Hi LIz, that is so nice of you to offer, I live in Australia, to far to post, and I really have a enough patterns to keep me busy for life, I hope some one will reply, and they will go to a good home..
Martha :)

[shvlnose]

Hello I'm new here!
I was diagnosed about a year ago. My favorite pain distraction is cross stitching. I did an 11"x14" piece for my mother in law (a tropical/sea turtle pattern) and I'm now working on one of a similar size for my birth mother (an Egyptian sampler by Teresa Wentzler).

Have any of you used PC Stitch Pro? It's one of those programs for creating your own designs which you can also use to scan a photo and it will give you stitch chart. My husband is supposed to be getting this for me, but I'm wondering if anyone has used the product, how easy was it to use... all that stuff.

Basically just wanted to say 'Hi' and throw my hat in the ring as I also love cross stitching.

Oh... and for those who are new to the counted cross stitch thing... though it flies in the face of how you are "supposed" to do it, for my large pieces, I start in the upper left hand corner and work my way across and down. I find it easier than starting in the middle and then trying to count 5 1/2 inches worth of stitches over and up (too easy to loose count and make a mistake). Just make REALLY sure that you have measured your pattern size and cloth correctly or you can end up at the bottom of a project and running off of the fabric.

Ok. Well that's about it...so, Hello everyone!
Aly

[MarthaB]

Hi Aly and :welcome: , It's good to see another cross stitcher, I hope i'm not going to offend you by saying this, but I would never suggest anybody start a cross stitch pattern anywhere near the top of the pattern, I have been crosstiching for 32 years now, and have made lots and lots of patterns, so I really do know what I am talking about, maybe you have been lucky so far, but I have seen to many people do it the way you do, and it very rarely turns out right, if people ask me how to do the cross stitching, I rather tell them the right way to do it, because that way I know I am not at fault if things don't turn out the right way, truly I don't wish to offend you in any way, but there definately is a ''right way'' to do cross stitching.
Martha :)

[shvlnose]

Oh, not offended at all. It's just how I've had to do it - I've had to pick out hundreds of stitches because I messed up the alignment.

I'm actually really interested... So when you're doing a large piece and you have to count from the center to the upper left quadrant, say 50 stitches over and 70 up, how do you keep track? When I do it, I make mistakes and it ends up not lining up. OR, do you start from the lower right portion of the quadrant and then work up and to the left? If so, how do you continue one line of stitches to the line above (since the needle would go down in the same hole it would be coming up in)? I can't seem to make it work right.

Advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[MarthaB]

:) Hi there, first of all I want to ask you is did you buy your cross stitch as a package? I mean did it include the material, cotton, threadsorter and so forth?
Are you working on aida cloth or linen??
If it came with the pre-cut material then you have that sorted, and all you need to do is to find the middle of your material and the paper patern which by the way is usually done already, they put arrows on either side of the pattern, and vertically too, all you have to do is follow the line and you should find the exact middle, on the actual material itself you have to find out how many holes there are on the top line across, and then vertical, then you count down and across the same amount as the paper pattern, and you should find the middle.
Make sure all your stiches go the same way otherwise it's going to look messy.http://crossstitch.about.com/od/beginners/a/howreadpat.htm
here is a page to show you how to get started, if you need more help just let me know.
Martha :)

[Rosalie]

Hello Aly :welcome: Its great to meet another crafter.
I have used a DMC pattern maker program to prepare a cross stitch pattern. It was a relatively cheap program so may not have as many features as some of the more expensive ones.
It is very easy to use and manipulate. With this one you tell it how many stitches wide and long you want the piece and then how many colours you want to use. You can even preview at this stage to see how the different numbers of floss will affect the finished look.
I have never done a counted cross stitch before (apart from a small three inch square that I never finished anyway)
I have all the bits and pieces read to start but I can't seem to get up the nerve. If I haven't started then I can't mess it up? LOL

Martha, I thought I had it straight in my head how to start but now I'm not so sure. I've checked out the site but I guess I'm having a dislexic day!
So.. I find the middle of the aida cloth. Then if the colour there starts further back on that line, I count back and then fill in that colour? Now if I have to keep going in the same direction, would I keep going down and to the right?
When I've filled that quadrant, where do I go? If I go back to the centre and work to the left and down the stitches will be going the wrong way, won't they?
Wooo... now I'm getting woozy. I don't want to get it wrong. Being a scorpio, I hate having to pull things out and am more likely to chuck the whole project... :help:

[shvlnose]

I have done both pre-packaged products and patterns where I purchased my own material and floss. Until recently all I had worked on was Aida cloth. I am currently working on my first linen project - I was really intimidated by the idea, but it's not that bad.

I checked the pattern an my large sea turtle project and it actually recommended starting in the upper left corner - not the cener. This was the first time I had a pattern maker do that, but I found it so much easier that I've done several that way since.

I understand about finding the center of the fabric but I guess my question would be, when you say "on the actual material itself you have to find out how many holes there are on the top line across, and then vertical, then you count down and across the same amount as the paper pattern," how do you do that and not make a mistake when you're counting 120 stitches over, and 95 stitches down (the sea turtle was 240x190)? My problem is that in the past, I've ended up mis-counting by 1 or 2 and then as I fill in the upper left portion of the pattern my edges don't line up and I have to pick out a lot of stuff. :bonk:

Rosalie - Thank you for the report on the software! I'm pretty excited to try it out. My husband is a great hobby photographer, so there are some of his pictures that I think would translate beautifully to cross stitch. And... don't let the counting thing detour you. Go for it! You'll do fine. If you want some practice before you start something that is actually important to you, try some of the pre-packaged "weekend-er" kits. They are designed to be completed in a "weekend" so they tend not to be super complicated or overly large, but there are some really pretty ones out there.

[traceann]

Hey Aly!!! Wanted to add my :welcome: to another cross stitcher to our crazy board here, lol.

I love CS too, but haven't picked up a needle in ages, lol. I hate having to find center and start there, lol. I found a way around that....lol....a huge piece of material and a small design!! LMAO!! I have only done one larger project and it was just for me anyway, but I still love it. Must get it framed some day... But anyhoo, I stick with stuff that's small and manageable, lol. I like instant gratification, want to see it done and quickly!!! hee hee. But, I will find center if I have too.....dang it..... ;)

Hugs!
:)

[quiltz]

I haven't done any counted cross stitch for years ....but my favorite thing was using waste canvas and putting designs onto tee shirts .... easy and fun to do.
Liz

[dancemomof2]

OK crafty people, it's time for online help!!!!!!!!!! Or a craft corner were i can buy your crafts so I don't have to over stress learning. :)

[MarthaB]

:) I find it so hard to believe that it's so hard for you all to find the centre of a pattern?? I make lots of little ones to put on my cards and I don't bother counting anymore with those, I do make sure I have enough material cut to stitch it on, but then I fold it in half, fold it in half again, open the material and you should see the light fold marks, and you should see the middle on that, I lighty mark that with a pencil, and you are done.
It is hard tro try to explain it like this, maybe once I get my camera, I can take photo's to show you how to do it!
Once again I must say, that patterns do not start at the top, never, I have never come across a pattern what says you have to start at the top.
Aly If you want to do it that way that fine, but if the girls ask me for advise I cannot tell them to start at the top, because that is NOT the way it's done.
Martha

[MarthaB]

here is another site, I really want to help you guys, but it is so hard to explain, maybe this will help,
http://www.ehow.com/how_5218_work-cross-stitch.html
Martha :)

[MarthaB]

:) okay, for you who has trouble finding the centre in your pattern , here I have a pattern I scanned and you can see ( I hope) the mark in the centre.http://www.flickr.com/photos/52648373@N00/98139617/
the 4 squares around the centre are little dots, that means the colour you use on there is white, and you just go from there, I don't know how else to explain it all, I will try to find more sites for you all to look at.
Martha :)

[MarthaB]

:) here is another one,http://www.craftdesigns4you.com/learntostitch.htm
and another http://crossstitching.lifetips.com/

[traceann]

LOL, Martha!! I know, it's not that it's hard, I just have a hard time following the pattern from the center - crazy I know... :loco: I always end up missing something somehow. But on the really important ones, I do take the time to find the center and do it proper-like, lol. I just finally got a metal board and magnet to keep track of where I am at on the pattern! Yahoo!!!

Ah but again, none of my projects are every very large, so I can pretty much start anywhere I wanted on the fabric and still have plenty to mess with should I choose to frame it, etc.... Nice and little and done in couple nights is the name of the game for me...LOL. :biglaugh: I hate working with a hoop as well, lol. And scroll-frames just don't work for me, at all. Tried it, hated it. (I am also the right handed girl, who mouses with her left - as I am hopeless mousing with my right! LOL) I like small enough projects I can not have to use a hoop with.... LOL.

:loco: T

[Rosalie]

OK So now we seem to have 'to hoop or not to hoop" thrown into the mix..will I ever get this project started? LOL
Actually I have set aside most of today to get underway. However, I do want to know about the advantages and disadvantages of using a hoop or frame. The piece measures 8.57cm wide by 16.93 cm long..hahaha precise hey!..the pc program gives the exact measurements. Any way, so its a long narrow piece but still not too large.
I have hoops from doing punch needle work and a frame from longstitching.
If I don't use anything, is there a chance the piece will warp?
Oh and yesterday at a party, there were two cross stitchers there, one of them from England and they both warned me not to start at the top and I was going to be severely punished if I did :biglaugh: And you know how those pommes love to be spanked ;) Hahhaaa. way too much Monty Python!

[MarthaB]

:biglaugh: haha at least I have some people on my side, even though they are poms,..... I don't like to work with hoops, they crease the fabric to much, it leaves a huge circle in the material and it is very hard to iron out, aida cloth that is, I'm not sure about linen, I've only worked on that once.
Rosalie, the hoop is to keep the material taut, some people love working with it, but I don't.
Tracey, why don't you make a copy of your pattern and mark the stitches you have done with a marker pen, I do that all the time and it works really well, and that way you don't loose track.
Martha :)

[Rosalie]

Another good tip Martha!
I have been messing around most of the day either making a card or checking in on the boards. So much for a total cross stitching day.
My friend gave me another tip which I have used and that was to find the centre of the aida and run a tacking stitch both diagonally and vertically to mark the centre. Plus having the coloured thread its easy to keep checking that you're in the right place. I think I'll leave the hoop an frame too.

[traceann]

Thanks Martha! That is a fabulous idea! And that way my patterns don't get too destroyed being handled all the time!!!

And I love the thread stitch to mark center, thanks guys for the great ideas!!!!

:)

[Rosalie]

Yahoo! I have finally started my cross stitch project. I spent lots of time counting stitches (three times) and making sure I was in the right place. And using the magnetic board is great...also marking off the lines as I have finished them....this is SO NOT me! Scorpios just jump in feet first and hope for the best. Another non-scorp thing is using a shorter thread. This tip from my friend Wendy: the thread shouldn't be any longer than the measurement from my elbow to the palm of my hand.
Normally, I would cut it as long as possible to avoid extra threading and tieing off.
Oh dear! My Scorpiosity is wearing off! Next thing you know, I will researching and making plans and notes and lists!!!!!!!!!!! A sad, sad thing, the demise of a scorpio spirit :help:

[MarthaB]

:) You are welcome Tracey, making copies saved me from a lot of headaches, it's inpossible to keep track without marking the pattern, and this way you keep your original piece nice and clean.
Rosalie, your friend is spot on with the lenght of the thread, It's a good lenght to work with, any longer and you will have a very knotty mess.
Martha :)

[Rosalie]

My problem now with the cross stitching is that I don't want ot put it down.
I just want to finish this bit and see what the next colour looks like. OOps better get tea ready!

[traceann]

LOL, it's addicting isn't Rosalie? I have been known to stitch to the wee hours of the morning... ;)

Yep, I make my thread about 18 inches long. I want one of those needle-keepers, so you can have needles loaded up with the thread colors of the pattern you are working on and ready to go. Now it's stitch stitch switch stitch stitch switch....ugh. And I learned from one of my cross stitch magazines to use a fabric softener sheet and run it over the thread, to keep it from knotting on you too badly, works well!

[Rosalie]

Ooh yes another piece of advice on the stitching...keep them coming!
I have to go to Aldi this morning so I will see if I can find some fabric softener sheets. They were popular many years ago but I haven't seen them around for a while.
I keep looking at the ironing pile and dust bunnies on the floor and then at the cross stitch piece.....hmmmm.... Not that I have done a lot of the stitching as I am still very slow but I'd rather do that than housework.

[MarthaB]

:) Yes I agree cross stitching is a lot more fun than boring housework, those dust bunnies can wait, haha
Sounds like a good trick Tracey, I am with Ro, I remember the fabric softener sheets, but I am not sure they still sell them, we find out soon enough I guess, because she is out shopping, and I'm sure she will let us know if she found some!
Martha :)

[traceann]

LOL, I use both for my laundry ( I am a softener addict, I'll admit it ), liquid in the wash, and sheets in the dryer. Espcecially in the winter when the static electricity is horrendous!!!

Now I feel like getting out a project...oh brother. Like I need one more thing to NOT do, so I can feel even more project-challenged!!!

;)

[Rosalie]

:headbang: Well I didn't get far before my daughter says "mum that doesn't look like it will fit on the cloth"Argh!!!!!!!!!!! She was right.

As I said before, and I promise that I didn't lie, I counted the stitches three times to be sure. What the bloody h*ll happened?
I am very slow so I hadn't done that much but pooh! I have to start again :cussing:
The little ones that a very nice lady sent me :kissing: weren't a problem but this one is turning out bigger than Ben Hur! and more trouble to boot!
However, I shall go against every Scorpian shred of me that is screaming 'Just Chuck it In', and I shall buy a piece of aida large enough fit the Taj Mahal and start again.

[MarthaB]

:) Rosalie, If I start a new cross stitch I count how many stitches down and across, and then I add extra stitches because on the pattern it only shows how much you need to put the pattern on, but you need extra space if you want to frame it or put it in a card, I don't know if I make any sense, it's hard to explain, but say for instance if your pattern says 55 stitches across and 60 down then I add at least 5 stitches each side if I am going to put it in a card, but if you are going to frame it, I would add at least 20 stitches each side, meaning instead of 55 stitches you have to count 95 across, and instead of 60 down you have to count 100, that way you will have plenty of space to fold the material over to frame it, hope it makes sense,

[Rosalie]

I thought that I had done that. But my counting must be in the same league as my cross stitching! Hahhhaaaaaha! I went and bought a new piece of aida this afternoon. Its twice the size I need so I shouldn't run into problems this time. Fingers crossed!

[traceann]

LOL, good luck Rosalie! I too learned that lesson in the beginning the hard way....went to frame and there wasn't enough to work with....LMAO!!!!!

:)

[MarthaB]

here is one of my cross stitch samples,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos258.jpg

[MarthaB]

:) and another one,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos257.jpg

[MarthaB]

:) and one more,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos250.jpg

[quiltz]

Wow!! Martha, those are amazing!! I'm impressed ....so artistic!

I tended to make little diddly pieces ...like dishtowels or little doo dads on a tee shirt ... You are really an artist!!

Liz

[traceann]

Lovely!!!!! I need to get my fave out (if I can ever find it in the disaster area) and snap a picture of it! ;)

[BellaTutu]

Good lord ya'll are making me exhausted just looking at these! LOL. Beautiful to say the least..but WHERE do ya'll find the time to do these things? I mean, so far there's a photography thread, scrapbook thread, card making thread and now this one too? And ya'll ALL do every one of them? :bow: I bow to each of you - I barely have time in the day to shower let alone take up a hobby like any of the above - I mean, I do photography but ususally its when we go on a mini getaway (which isnt often, like twice a year). Vacation - whats THAT? :rolleyes: hee hee

*sighs* wish I could do those things...I get aggrevated too easily or interrupted when I even attempt to try something new like that. Maybe when the kids are gone and out of the house..(only 12 more years to go) LMAO!! Ugh

[Rosalie]

Well Bella, I don't know if the others are like me but, at times the ironing pile threatens Everest for highest rights and the fluff bunnies in the corner breed. . My children are older as well, and that makes a difference.

[traceann]

Yeah, and I only have one kid - and he's 33, lol. So that helps. But don't feel bad Bella, I am constantly kicking myself in the butt for not doing my hobbies - never find the time it seems!! ARGH!! Wasn't easy with hubby home all winter either, granted I am going to miss him being around everyday, but I will at least claim some me time back when he comes around to 2nd shift!! LMAO!!!! I want to make cards too, but now I feel like "oh great, one more hobby to feel bad about not doing!" LMAO!!! ;)

[MarthaB]

:) here is another sample,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos253.jpg

[MarthaB]

:) and another one,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos256.jpg

[MarthaB]

:) I thought I show you all how I usually do my cross stitch, I use a copy of the original to fill in the squares I have done,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos269.jpg

[MarthaB]

:) Also I am making a collection of little teapots, and hubbie is going to frame them, I will show another photo after he has framed them,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos270.jpg

[Rosalie]

These are lovely too Martha. Are the little teapots for cards? Have you had a chance to use the DMC cross stitching program as yet?

[MarthaB]

:) Hi Rosalie, Tony is going to frame them for me, and maybe I can sell them together with my cards, if you ever want any patterns just let me know and I will send them to you!
I have been fiddling with the program, but as always there is to much to do, and not enough time to fit everything in the day, but it's good to know I have the program if I need it!

[MarthaB]

these patterns come from the Ellen-maurer-stroh site, she used to give these patterns free, very cute,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos262.jpg

[MarthaB]

:) here is another one,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos263.jpg

[traceann]

Absolutely gorgeous! And thanks for sharind the pattern tip, that's a wonderful idea!! :) Oh those will look so cute framed, are you going to keep any for yourself???

[MarthaB]

:) Tracey I am going to frame the little teapots, and see if I can sell some, the other ones I will keep I think, I done them a long time ago, and they will look cute on a baby blanket for a future grand child!! not that I think it's going to happen any time soon, haha

[MarthaB]

here is another one in the baby animal series,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos264.jpg

[traceann]

How I missed this, I have no clue!! I just think those are so damn cute!!!! :)

[MarthaB]

:) here is a update on those little teapots i'm making, I added another 2,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos043.jpg

[Rosalie]

I'm really frustrated right now! I was doing my first cross stitch designed etc by me and after my starting fiasco, I started again..going along nicely ..so I thought.....buggar!!!!!! I've missed a line somewhere so I have so pull it ALL out!! I really want to do this pattern but its testing my patience!
Hahhaaa I should stick to the crafts I know I can do! But as I have already bought All the threads guess I'll have to start Again!

[MarthaB]

:) Ro, just colour in the squares as I showed you and Tracey before, and you shouldn't go wrong.

[traceann]

Rosalie, I feel your pain, lol. I too have had to do that before, but the next project - I am coloring in the squares like our resident pro suggests!! LOL ;)

[MarthaB]

:) :bow: :bow: thank you ma'am :bow: :biglaugh:

[MarthaB]

:) I added another 2 little teapots,
http://static.flickr.com/51/130427758_e1efaeda08.jpg

[traceann]

Ok, I am loving these teapots, they are sooooo cute!! My kinda project too, lol. ;) Oh and you are very welcome! Nice to have a resource such as yourself to ask questions of!!! :)

[MarthaB]

:) thanks Tracey, I just made another teapot, I want to frame them, ( hubbie has made frames) and paint them to match the colours in the teapot, these are so easy to make, if you ever want any patterns, just let me know!

[traceann]

That sounds like such a good plan Martha! Painting the frames to match! Very clever and will look very very cute! I just may take you up on that pattern offer! They are sooooo cute!!!!!!! ;)

[MarthaB]

:) tracey, here are the patterns from the teapots, when you click on the link you should be able to print them from there, or save them!, all patterns come with there own color chart.
http://static.flickr.com/47/131636409_e90697f657_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/47/131634093_37d20421d4_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/54/131634091_5a64081591_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/46/131632618_bd0eb6afaf_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/50/131632616_9e213f6e01_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/55/131632615_e3ad6d0fea_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/47/131631297_f73ffe91e2_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/55/131630673_c78e9b8597_o.jpg

I think there are another 4 patterns, just tell me when you want them! enjoy!!

[MarthaB]

:) this is a cross stitch I done for hubbie because he loves golf!
http://static.flickr.com/48/131636840_ee1e9da08b.jpg

[traceann]

Thank you so much Martha!!! I am definitely going to save them!! Out of ink at present at home and waiting not-so-patiently for it to arrive....LOL Wow, the golf piece makes my head spin!! LOL That's a lot of work, and it's so pretty!!!!! :)

[MarthaB]

:) your welcome Tracey, I hope you are going to enjoy making them as much as I did, I only have 4 more to go!

[MarthaB]

I finished this cross stitch last week, I love everything from beatrix potter,
http://static.flickr.com/55/141723899_77c8105f89.jpg

[MarthaB]

:) And here are some I done earlier this year,
http://static.flickr.com/53/141723897_248b025e17.jpg

[trytosmile]

Chiming in on this post late, all projects are beautiful.

Martha is there any craft you don't do....lol.

Years ago I used to some cross stitch but usually did the projects that where preprinted and you only did spots here and there. I am doing a baby blanket right now, well I have been doing it for like 10 years plus :ignore: (I can't believe I admitted to that) Don't know why it is taking me so long but I am determined to get it done, like I've only said that how many times now. It is really cute and is a great tv project, why taking so long, like come on, 10 years to do one craft... :biglaugh: When I do finish it I won't want to give it away.

[Rosalie]

Martha, The Internet Research Queen! :bow:
How wonderful to have someone like you around the boards. I don't know how you find these sites. I just seem to wander all over the place and never find exactly what I am looking for. I'ts a pity that we weren't able to keep the Internet web site thread open.
Your golfing piece is lovely. Do you intend to have thses framed?
I'm almost too ashamed to mention the cross stitch piece that I started. I've had to pull the darn thing out again! This time I counted wrong in early in the bit I was working on. I've started again checking EVERY line before I move on.

[MarthaB]

:) thanks girls, oh yes there are plenty of things I cannot do, LOL, sewing I am hopeless at, and I can't crochet, but the things I can do keep me occupied enough so I don't mind, I love to knit, I learned how to here in OZ, I tried to read a knitting pattern in Dutch, but it might as well been in french, because I couldn't read it! haaaaa how funny is that!! my mum used to be a very good knitter but I wasn't too interested then, boys were much more interesting, LMAO, anyway when I came here, and fell pregnant with my daughter, I wanted to knit, so my neighbour helped me out and I use to run back and forth asking for help and get her to fix mistakes, which were many, haha, so I learned to read a knitting pattern in English, and don't understand the dutch one!!
Rosalie, I have framed a few pieces, I just wish I had more wall space,.... I wish I was closer to you so I could help out with your cross stitch, keep going!! you are going to get right eventually, persistence will pay off!! I cringe when I look at my really early cross stitch works, stitches to loose or to tight, big mess at the back, or my crosses were not lining up, but I kept at it, and learned so much over the years, also keep checking in with tutorials on the net, print stuff out what will help you, ( I do that all the time, I print stuff I know is going to come in handy) and I put it in a folder.
And of course I will help if I can, you only have to ask!

[Rosalie]

Thanks Martha, being a scorpio, I used to rush headlong into a project like a bull at a gate! Sometimes I would be lucky but othertimes the project would end up at the bottom of the wardrobe! But I have learned some patience, being married to and having a best friend as a taurean, I am getting better at planning.
Having said that, even with the best planning and a cautious beginning, I have still manages to stuff it up. Hahahaaaa
Hopefully, the third attempt will be the one to do the trick. Thanks for your encouragement.

[MarthaB]

:) here is another cross stitch I just finished,
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos448.jpg

[traceann]

Oh my gosh, I have missed so much!! Martha, I am loving all the projects you are sharing, I love the angel bear... ;) You are making me feel lazy... LOL

[trytosmile]

Oh I just LOVE the nail diva one, do you have the pattern ?

[MarthaB]

:) Hi Jen, here is the nail diva pattern, I hope it turns out ok!!http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c328/sheebah/mumsphotos515.jpg

[Lisa_S]

I used to do cross stitch when I was young, and just this year picked it up again. It is very relaxing and fun to do.

I found some beautiful designs by Teresa Wentzler, and she offers many of them free on her site: http://www.twdesignworks.com/

Here are a few other nice sites with cross stitch patterns to buy:
http://www.patternsonline.com - offers a free pattern every month
http://www.darklilac.com - this one also has a free online pattern maker to create patterns from images

[Rosalie]

Thanks for the sites Lisa. It is always fun to check out new sites.You must post some picture of some of your work.
Now, can anyone help me with a cross stitch or tapestry pattern from Alice in Wonderland?
My daughter who is studing in her last year of secondary school,wanted to do something to take her mind off all the study.
I have a program that will make up a chart from a photograph or picture, but I couldnt get a picture simply enough. The pattern needs to be fairly simple without being childish.
Can anyone help me here?