36 The World of Cross Stitching http://www.cross-stitching.com
Your Questions Answered
you could keep multiple
needles threaded and keep
them tidy with a magnetic needle
minder. You can track each colour by making
a pencil mark on your chart for where each
colour is currently parked. Rub it out and
mark again when you’ve stitched more.
What is the meaning of
‘frog’ in cross
stitching? I keep hearing
reference to it but I’m not
sure what it means!
Stacey Hamill,
via Facebook group
Heather says: Frog, or
frogging, is a term which
refers to having to unpick
stitches when you have
made an error. It comes
from the sound a frog
makes (rip it = ribbit). It
has become a popular
slang term in stitching
groups to refer to
mistakes, as a fun play on
words, even if the blunder
itself isn’t much fun!QU ICK
Q&A
C
an you tell me who
the designer is for
the ‘Herbert Hedgehog’
chart in issue 258, which
was published in 2017?
Thanks so much.
Anita, via email
Hannah says: ‘Herbert
Hedgehog’ is drawn by
illustrator Gill Cooper.
We licence her artwork
and translate it into cross
stitch ourselves. If you’re
a fan of this character, we
featured a special ‘Herbert
Hedgehog’ card kit gift
in issue 289 (January
2020). If you missed this
one, check out back
issue availability at http://www.
buysubscriptions.comNicky Thompson: I grid
the fabric with thread, so I’m
less likely to miscount.Elizabeth Stolarczyk:
Use a highlighter/marker pen
to tick off stitches you’ve
completed. This makes it
so much easier to just pick
up your stitching next time
without spending ages
finding your place.Anne Gardner: Get
all the threads sorted first,
however you choose to store
them, and make sure you
check each symbol to see if
it’s single or double thread.Samantha Long: Make
sure you’re happy with yourchoice of fabric. After all,
you’ll be stitching on it for
months, maybe years, so
you have to love it!Helen Jenkins-Knight:
I love stitching larger pieces,
but they do take time so I
prepare where and how I’m
going to store it when I’m not
stitching to keep it clean. I
use a project bag to keep the
frame and work together.Wendy Page: I like to use
a lap stand. Makes it easier
on the back.Fiona Christie: If the
chart is so big that it’s on
several pages, focus on one
section at a time.Karen Sullivan: I take
weekly photos to track my
progress. I’m part of an
online stitch group who are
like cheerleaders!Tracy Chapman: When
you hit the “I’m bored of
this now”, work on a small
kit – the coverkits are perfect
as finishing one gives you the
boost to continue larger ones.Find us on Facebook
and join in with the
chat. If you’re lucky,
your tip might appear
here! Just log on to
http://www.facebook.com/The
WorldofCrossStitching
and hit ‘like’ at the top
of the page!Friendly advice
We asked our Facebook fans for their top tips for
stitching large projects – here’s what they said...
Let’s hang out
Q
I see many projects where people leave
threads attached to use again later.
How does this work, and how do you
remember which colour is which?
Tracey Browne, via FacebookA
Fiona says: The technique you’re
describing is called ‘parking’. This is
where a thread is left hanging, or ‘parked’,
at the end of using it, often in either 10x10
blocks or rows, rather than ending your
thread and securing it off. This method
allows you to keep track of a pattern more
easily and minimises mistakes, as you’re not
skipping stitches in order to count where the
next stitch in a particular colour is to be
placed. This is very useful for confetti-heavy
designs. The alternative is to use what’s
referred to as ‘cross country stitching’ –
completing all stitches in a single colour over
a whole project, before securing off and
moving onto the next. The chance of error
using this method is high, but some stitchers
do prefer it as it means there’s less time
needed for needle re-threading. If you did
want to try out the parking method though,TECHNIQUE FOCUS
KNOW- HOW
Herbert Hedgehog
Discover your cute card
kit gift, with issue 289Let’s hang out
Parking your threads can
help minimise mistakes