Our Friends' HAED SAL: Hello from Wales

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Hello from Wales

At long last I am ready to actually join in with Our Friends' HAED SAL. As I am going away for a long weekend this week I stitched a day early just to put a few stitches on the fabric so just a quick post for now to add a pic to show I have actually started! Having never done a HAED before or even used any fabric other than aida this is quite a major project for me. I have only recently discovered there are 99,900 stitches! I am stitching on 25 count evenweave and after a quick practice I have decided to use two strands of thread and just a half stitch (?) as I found a full cross stitch looked too bulky.

I am really enjoying seeing the progress everyone is making and hope to get to know some of you very soon.

Thanks to Wendy and Cindy for their invitation and patience (I'm totally useless at blogging !)

9 comments:

Annie Bee said...: Well you have really jumped in at the deep end.....LOL. There are plenty of people here to offer encouragement to help you get through
those 99,900 stitches. If you say it real fast it doesn't sound as many.....LOL; April 1, 2009 at 3:16 AM
Wendy said...: Welcome to our blog! Your start looks great already. I'm stitching my first HAED and I have to admit I'm getting addicted to it ;) I enjoy so much to see my design grow.; April 1, 2009 at 4:26 AM
Puppy Love said...: You've got a great start here!

Which pattern are you working on?; April 1, 2009 at 4:39 AM
Carolyn NC said...: Nice start - welcome!; April 1, 2009 at 6:04 AM
CathE said...: Great start. Which design are you doing?; April 1, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Sabine S. said...: Welcome! It's my first HAED too and the first pattern of this size and on 25ct Lugana! I learn something every day, from the others here or from my own mistakes! Have fun!
Sabine; April 1, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Valerie L. said...: With your picture, I can say that you just have about 99 800 to do now :P
Don't worry, with this blog, you are not alone!; April 1, 2009 at 3:14 PM
jessneal said...: You are off to a great start! I can't wait to see more progress!; April 1, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Cindy F. said...: Welcome friend!! You have made an awesome start...especially with all that gridding!! Good job! Can't wait to see more:); April 2, 2009 at 7:36 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.