A
Jo: You might like the
D&D floss holder, which
costs £8.89 from http://www.
amazon.co.uk. To use it, you
simply write the
shade number of
your thread on the
little white label
and then wind the
thread around the
corresponding
prong. You can also
add pre-threaded
needles to the
organiser as there is
a felt piece above
the prong to put
your needle. A lot
of thread organisers
use the loop
method, which means you have
to keep undoing the loop when
you need new thread. This
one saves a lot of time when
you’re stitching as it’s very easy
to remove one or two
threads as you need
them.
Needle no-no
Q
My old stitching
group said that
licking your
thread to help it pass
through the eye of the
needle was an absolute no-no.
They said that saliva would cause
spots on the fabric.
Is this true?
Andrea Nichols, Belfast
A
Heather: The members
of your group may have
said it because the
process for fixing dyes used to
use chemicals that could be be
toxic. Even then, a tiny amount
wouldn’t have hurt. Threads
didn’t use to be colourfast, so
their thinking may be that if
you licked a red thread some of
the dye may come off on light
fabric. Also, as the floss would
be damp after being licked, it
could rust your needles. Thank
goodness we have colourfast
threads and nickle-plated
needles! These days, washing
your fabric after you’ve finished
FrayCheck around the edges
will help you. And don’t forget
to sew the fabric in after you
have glued it. You may need a
metal thimble for
added strength at
this point! Good
luck.
Blackwork
dilemma
Q
I decided
to try my
hand at
blackwork, but
where I’ve jumped
the thread at the
back, it’s showing
through at the
front. It’s not too
bad, but to me the front looks
grubby. I haven’t done much
so would like to start again,
but how can I stop this from
happening?
Saanvi Anand, London
A
Fiona: Sometimes it
helps to back your fabric
with a stabiliser. Prym
makes an interfacing stabiliser
especially for embroidery and
cross stitch. It’s very flexible
but doesn’t pull the fabric out
of shape. It has the added
bonus for you of blocking the
colour that’s showing through
your fabric. A piece measuring
90x45cm (35x18in) costs £5.40
from http://www.johnlewis.com.
All sorted
Q
Help! I am after a floss
organiser for my really
complicated project.
There are so many threads that I
can’t keep track of them.
Jen Anderson, Bristol
your project is
absolutely fine
- it will leave
it clean, fresh
and spotless,
and I’d
recommend
it, especially
if you have
pets or a smoker in the house.
To buy good colourfast threads,
go to http://www.stitcher.co.uk where
a skein of DMC stranded cotton
costs 65p.
Brindle boredom
Q
I’m stitching a Jann
Designs kit of a brindle
greyhound dog. The
design is lovely, but I’m getting
bored stitching the same old-
same old colours. Some of the
colours are only a shade apart,
while others are tweeded. It’s
taking me ages. Do you have any
tips on how to get it finished?!
Melissa Keys, Gosport
A
Fiona: We understand
your frustration, Melissa
- everybody has a UFO
(unfinished object) like that
at some time! If you can’t get
ahead with it, work it alongside
another colourful project.
Work for half an hour on the
greyhound and then move on
to the other project as a reward.
Doing half-hour stints will soon
add up and it won’t be long
before you have a beautiful
cross stitch brindle
dog to frame and
put on the wall. For
readers who would
like to stitch the
brindle greyhound
dog, go to http://www.
janndesigns.co.uk
where you can buy
the kit for £19.95.
Q
A while ago you had
letter about a magnetic
needle minder and
how to make one. I’ve only just
lost my needle minder, and I’ve
also lost the magazine! Can
you remind me how to make
one or point me in the
direction of a pretty
new one, please?
Natalie Dean,
Preston
A
Jo: Yo u
can
make
needle minders
from buttons,
laser-cut wood,
fabric-covered
buttons, charms
and even old brooches. If you
do use a brooch you will have
to remove the pin – it’s best
to have the back as flat as
possible. All you need to do
is glue a magnet to the back
with very strong glue and
leave it to set. When your
cross stitch is all prepared
and in its hoop or
frame, place the
needle minder
on the front and
another magnet
underneath it
on the back.
If you haven’t
the time to make
one, go to http://www.
sewandso.co.uk.
They have a
variety of needle
minders to choose from. This
poppy design costs £5.50.
MAGNETIC MINDER
Your questions answered
This interfacing is easy to
stitch through and keeps
your fabric looking clean and
So handy – you
might want
more than
one!
DMC threads are colourfast and
come in hundreds of colours!
This gorgeous greyhound
is a dog worth stitching!
Once you have a needle
minder you’ll wonder how
you managed without one!