Our Friends' HAED SAL: Dragon Lady (from Jacob)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Dragon Lady (from Jacob)

Hello from Afghanistan! Well today was my first day off since leaving the US at the end of October and I started my project. I managed to complete the first 1200 stitches. I don't know if thats alot but I thought it was a good start.

I am stiching this on 25 count evenweave. 1 x 1 with 2 threads. I thought about using only 1, but I like the look of 2 strands. This is the first time for me using anything other than 15 or 18 count aida.

Dragon Lady, Renee Biertempfel.

(Jacob is my buddy currently deployed to Afghanistan)

6 comments:

Unknown said...: Great start! Good luck with this gorgeous design!; March 15, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Jacob said...: Thank you! I figured this would be a good way to kill 12 boring hours a day :o); March 15, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Bobbie said...: Beautiful start! You are getting excellent coverage. I really like the design and look forward to seeing your next update.

Your stitches look so nice and neat. Very pretty stitching.

Bobbie :); March 15, 2011 at 10:18 PM
Magally said...: I find this design wonderful ! You did a very nice start and I can't wait to see more of it !; March 16, 2011 at 12:16 AM
anojaa said...: You've made a wonderful start and with all that dark colours. Keep up the good work; March 16, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Tamara said...: Nice start! Do you find that stitching with 1 strand is too sparse? is it any harder to get 2 strands through the holes? I'm about to start my first HAED project, and i was debating between 1 and 2 strands. I will be using 25 count evenweave.; March 24, 2011 at 10:16 AM

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.