Our Friends' HAED SAL: My First HAED

Monday, December 28, 2009

My First HAED

Reading Marie's post made me feel like it would be a nice way to finish off the year and bring in the new one if we all shared the story of our first HAED.

QS Storykeeper by Fenech was my first HAED. I chose a QS because the full size was way too intimidating and an SK just seemed too small for the effort. HAH! Little did I know! I remember being totally lost in the first square of 100 stitches. Single strands of the different colors all looked alike and I didn't have a clue where I was on the pattern, what I had stitched, and where to go next! But those issues worked themselves out as I became used to 25ct 1x1 and learned a few tricks with the pattern.

I originally chose Storykeeper because she was quiet and contemplative. I thought that maybe as I put each stitch in I could think about what our story is, what secrets she keeps for us. Then my Mom was diagnosed with cancer. During those six months, I put a few stitches in, but not many. All stitching fell to the wayside. After my Mom died, I never picked her up again. She was now far too depressing. I will admit though that I don't feel as bad about seeing her today as I thouht I would, so who knows...

Oh, and the red grid lines...baaaad idea...red fuzzies stuck deep inside...

Sabine

2 comments:

Joke said...: Great idea, Sabine, thanks for your story. I hope you will be able to stitch on her again sometime and, doing that, heal your pain.; December 28, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Annie Bee said...: Sabine your Storykeep looks lovely. What a great idea of telling your story.; December 28, 2009 at 3:49 PM

Tutorials

How to Carry Threads
This is really easy...it takes a while to get used to though....and your back will look terrible...this you will have to live with...One thing...You will be working your 10 x 10 grids in colums...it makes it easier...
1. Start with a 10 x 10 grid..
2. Find your first symbol...and stitch all of that symbol in your 10 x 10 grid....When finished...
3. Find the same symbol on the 10 x 10 grid below it...take your needle and bring your thread up like you are going to make the first 1/2 of the X ...but don't do it...just unthread your needle and lay the thread down..
4. Go back to the first grid you were working on...and stitch the next symbol the same way....when finished bring your thread down....
5. continue each symbol until your first 10 x 10 grid is finished....
6. start the next 10 x 10 grid ....you should have thread there already for you to pick up and stitch...
Posted by Vickie 3/7/2009

Tent Stitching (Wikipedia)
Tent stitch variants
There are three types of tent stitch, all producing the same appearance on the front of the canvas but each worked in a slightly different way and having particular characteristics, uses, benefits and drawbacks. These variants of tent stitch are known as basketweave, continental and half cross tent stitches:
Basketweave tent stitch - The basketweave form of tent stitch is worked in diagonal rows up and down the canvas. The yarn on the back of the canvas has a typical basketweave appearance, with alternating horizontal and vertical stitches. Basketweave is the best stitch to use for covering large areas of canvas as it does not distort the canvas as the other two forms of tent stitch do.
Continental tent stitch - Continental stitch is worked horizontally or vertically across the canvas. On the back of the work, the stitches appear diagonally across two threads. This method uses more yarn than half cross stitch tent stitch but is more hardwearing.
Half cross tent stitch - Half cross stitch is worked horizontally or vertically across the canvas. On the back of the work, the stitch appears vertical or horizontal, not diagonal, and crosses only one thread. This method uses less yarn than other stitches but is not very durable as coverage on the back of the canvas is a little thin.