36 The World of Cross Stitching http://www.cross-stitching.com
Your Questions Answered
Q
What’s the best cross
stitch software to
design my own patterns? I
currently use Jane
Greenoff’s iStitch 2, but
what other ones are on
the market that are not
too expensive?
Julia Charles,
via Facebook
Katriel: We use Cross
Stitch Professional
Platinum*, although this
may be outside of your
price range and is quite
in-depth. However, check
out some comparison
reviews online before you
buy, and some may even
let you download a free
trial version first.
QU ICK
Q&A
Q
Can you recommend
some easy cross
stitch samplers for a
beginner? I have been
stitching for 20 years, but
at 80, I’m now teaching a
75-year-old male friend,
which has been interesting
for both of us!
Cecilia Carr, via email
Hannah: That’s brilliant
you’re sharing your
hobby! Check out our
sister magazine, Cross
Stitch Crazy. This monthly
title features a host of
small designs, specifically
designed for beginners.
Stitcher starting out
Cecilia is looking for simplesamplers for beginners
Lorna Smith: I start
a few months in advance
and often have at least one
other project on the go at
the same time because gift
pieces might not always be
to my taste, so I alternate
between projects to keep my
motivation going.
Tina Ayres-Chilton:
Each November I look at all
the birthdays and special
events coming up in the next
year and mark the charts I
want to stitch and for whom.
I write a shopping list of all
the threads and aida I may
need – checking my stash
first, get it all ready in a box
and then make a note on my
calender 2 months in advance
to make. Depending on the
chart I may start sooner!
Wendy Wilson: For
birthday cards I like to find
a pattern that matches the
recipient’s hobby or interest,
or I get a photo and create a
cross stitch pattern myself.
Kay Nettina: I stitch
Christmas cards a few at a
time all year round so that I
don’t go crazy in November!
Deby Young: I would
advise checking card aperture
sizes before you start
stitching – I’ve often stitched
something and thought I
would use a card I had only to
find it’s too big or small and
then running around trying to
find a suitable mount at the
last minute. Still, that’s the
fun of our hobby!
Dominique Adamou:
If stitching for a wedding
gift, find a design that uses a
colour from the invitation or if
you know the colour scheme,
base your design on it.
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Keeping on track
Q
I’ve seen Stitch Tips talking about using
the railroading technique to keep your
stitches neat and flat. I’m not familiar with
that term and wonder if you could explain it
to me? I just use the ‘drop your needle and
let it twist straight’ method, but if there’s a
better way, I’m all for it.
Martin Wright, Buffalo, USA
A
Fiona: Railroading is a method of
stitching designed to make your
stitches lie straight and flat with your thread
strands lying side-by-side, like the tracks of a
railroad. This produces smoother stitches,
helping your final piece look flatter and more
uniform, rather than the strands bunching
up on top of each other.
To ‘railroad’, create your first half stitch,
then, as you complete your cross with the
top arm, simply place the needle between
your two strands of thread before inserting
and pulling through the fabric. This simple
process will help prevent your strands from
twisting, which will improve the appearance
of your finished stitch and reduce the chance
TECHNIQUE FOCUS
Keeping on track
The image above shows a twisted stitch (left) and a
neater, smoother ‘railroaded’ stitch (right)KN
OW- HO
W
of tangles. Using a larger size tapestry
needle may help you get the hang of this
technique and, as an added bonus,
smoother stitches also mean less thread
usage, too!
It’s still worth letting the needle dangle
and untwist every now and again to
minimise the risk of twists and knots even
more. It may take a little time to master (or
remember to do for each stitch) but once
you get into the habit you’ll have
professional looking projects in no time!