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Ruth Mary's Tips

This information is intended both for people who are new to needlecraft, and for the more experienced who want to get the best from their hard work.

Remember - you're never lonely if you are stitching!

Why should I stitch in a frame?

Always use a frame - it helps to keep your work clean and the stiches even. Frames help enormously to reduce the amount of distortion in canvas work.

You can use one hand underneath the frame and the other above it and in this way you will be able to stitch more quickly.

You can also admire your work as you proceed! Even uncompleted work will look more attractive when stretched taut on a frame. You don't not need to spend a large sum of money on a frame although there are many excellent products on the market. Use a small circular embroidery frame for surface stitchery.

The same frame can be used with small designs on canvas - like many of STRAND's designs. Set the canvas in a piece of fabric which is about twice as big as the canvas and hold that fabric tight in the circular frame. For larger pieces of canvas work you can use an old picture frame of suitable size. Just lace the canvas tightly to the frame.

Finishing work with an iron

When you have completed the stitching you can iron it gently with a steam iron.  This will flatten it out somewhat, preparing it for framing or use in a cushion or bag or mat.

If it is canvas work and has got badly out of shape, then wet it thoroughly and fasten it to a board to flatten it out.  Measure the board out from the edges accurately so that the work is square.  Use galvanised nails to avoid spoiling your work with rust marks.

Enjoy your needlework

Do remember that needlework is something to be enjoyed. If you are stitching one of our patterns and miss the occasional stitch or miscount an odd square it probably will not matter.  We offer you a choice between stitching from the design printed in colour on the canvas or working from the chart of the design onto plain canvas.  Both canvas and chart are included in all our canvas kitsets. If you prefer the first way then just use the chart to check an occasional part of the design.  If you prefer to work from a plain canvas just turn the canvas over from the painted side and work on the reverse from the chart only.

You might decide to add some creative stitches or ideas to the pattern yourself and that is great. We just hope that our simple kitsets will give you a start in this fascinating hobby.

Strand yarn used for Kilim Weaving

STRAND crewel thread is very suitable for weaving. One of our customers, Katherine Kraak of Auckland, has sent us details of how she used it for this purpose. We featured this use in our April "What's New" section but because we thought it might be of continuing interest to weavers, we have now transferred the following details to this section of our site.  If you are interested in using STRAND thread in this way, you may be helped in assessing the amount of thread you would need for your own work.

The finished size of the hanging was 50.5 x 106cms (20 x 42ins) excluding fringes.

The warp was cotton yarn from Sweden but only STRAND yarn was used in the weft.

The completed hanging did not weigh more than 500gms but that included the warp. This works out at 325m (355yds) of STRAND yarn for 10cms (4ins) of weaving. Catherine bought the yarn from us in 100gm balls (approx 340m or 372yds) by mail order. One thread of STRAND yarn was used in the shuttle or butterfly. Catherine did try using two threads to cover the ground more quickly but she decided that one thread made for a soft supple hanging and "marvelous drape".

The sett was 40/10cm. Picks were 15 per cm. She did not interlock the slits in the kilim weaving as it was small and it would not strain the weaving or pull it out of shape to leave them open. As it was not a floor rug it was quite safe to do this.

Using our designs as other items

We have presented many of our designs as pictures, but if you like sewing and making things up, then you could try incorporating your stitchery in a bag, a cushion, a mat or a box lid.

"I have nearly completed the design of the NZ Seahorse which was very enjoyable to do I am going to turn it into a mat to stand a vase of flowers on."
A. Wilkinson, New Zealand

Making best use of the chart

Many STRAND designs are worked from a squared chart. Here are a few ideas to make the best use of this tool:

• It is a good idea to mark off each square after you have worked it. Colour it in with appropriate colours as you go.
  

• If you have trouble following the chart, use a photo copier to enlarge it.  But if you prefer to work from the printed canvas do not try to follow the chart slavishly.  Just use it to confirm a section which is not quite clear on the canvas.

• You can also mark the squares on your canvas with either a running thread or a water proof pen to correspond with every 10th line on the chart (which you will see is heavier than the other lines).

"I have just completed the Alphabet kitset and absolutely loved doing it."
M. Carrell, New Zealand, October 2002

 

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