34 The World of Cross Stitching
Your Questions Answered
http://www.gathered.how/woxsIn the spotlight
ELENA, PDA CARD & CRAFT
In good shape
Q
Craft Creations no longer offer the
wide range of colours and sizes in
aperture cards, with only packs of 50 now
available. Can you recommend a more
flexible supplier? I’ve tried local suppliers,
but they only cater for large craft-based
projects and not individual needs.
Rita Wood, via emailA
Elena: Being able to find exactly
what you need as an independent
crafter is really important to us at PDA Card
& Craft*, which is why we offer a huge
range of card and papercraft products to
buy on our website, or in person in ourQ
Are there any products on the market to edge aida fabric
whilst stitching? I’m currently working on what will be a
quilted cover, stitching 13 different small animals on each
piece. The idea originated from your gorgeous butterfly quilt I
found in The World of Cross Stitching issue 254 (May 2017).
Franci Stapleton, New ZealandA
Heather: What a wonderful idea, Franci! There are a
few options without resorting to products which could
damage your aida in the long run. I find that the easiest
method is to cut the aida with pinking shears, which creates a
zigzag edge that will be less prone to fraying. Other options
also include using acid-free masking tape around the edges, or
you could hem or overlock them on a sewing machine too.
Remember to cut your fabric bigger than you need for all of
these methods though, as you’ll need to trim off the edges
before making your lovely quilt.Just the right size
Q
Any tips for buying charts and interpreting the size? Many
Etsy sellers will post something like 100 stitches wide × 100
stitches tall, but that isn’t particularly helpful in figuring out how
big or complicated the pattern is going to be.
htxstitch, via InstagramA
Fiona: Luckily, this is super easy – just divide the height and
width amounts by your fabric count. So, if you’re using
14-count aida (or 28-count evenweave) divide by 14, which gives
you the stitched design size in inches. Then, multiply by 2.54 to
convert to cm. The amount of detail Etsy sellers provide varies,
but if you’re unsure the best thing to do is contact them with any
questions – this way you can be sure of what you’re buying.factory shop near
Nottingham, UK.
All cards are made
to order, and we currently offer 49
different shapes across our full range.
With a minimum order quantity of just
nine per product we hope to be as
flexible as possible with your
requirements. Start your order by simply
selecting the card type (single-fold or
aperture, etc), then you’ll be able to
choose your size, shape, colour and even
adjust the aperture position or
orientation too! We are continually
experimenting with new card ideas, so
we hope to cater for everyone’s needs.A cut above the rest
Franci wants to know
how to edge aida fabricStuck in the corner
Hannah explains all you need to
know about fractional stitchesQ
What’s the proper
technique for quarter or
half stitches? I have trouble
figuring out from charts
exactly what corner I’m
supposed to be filling in.
htxstitch, via InstagramA
Hannah E: It’s a
common quandary for
stitchers, but a quarter stitch
(also called a fractional) is
indicated on the chart as a
diagonal corner, filled
in with the colour it’s
supposed to be. This
positioning on the
chart indicates which
corner the quarter
stitch should be done
in. You’ll want to
bring your needle up
in the corner where the
symbol is, and down into the
centre of the square, half wayacross the diagonal. If you’re
stitching on aida you’ll need to
split the block in the middle.
To finish as a three-quarter
stitch (this looks fuller than a
quarter stitch), work a half
stitch across the diagonal arm
of the square. Half stitches are
indicated on the key with a
different symbol, and should
be worked by stitching only
the top arm of a cross stitch.Stuck in the corner
A cut above the rest
In good shape
PDA Card & Craft have plenty of card
aperture shapes and sizes to choose from