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These stitching tips came to us from our email newsletter subscribers in response to one of our customers, Elanie, when she wrote, “I like cross stitch very much but it takes forever to finish a project. Can you give me a few tips on how to work more effectively to save some time? I currently have projects on hand that should take maybe 150 years to complete.” If you would like to add your suggestions, please send them to me at: rozw@nordicneedle.com Thank you! We will post ten new ones in each of my upcoming email newsletters until we run out of stitching tips!

51. You have asked for tips for your newsletter so I am responding to the article regarding using the Pako Needle Organizer. I was given one as a gift a couple years ago and use it a lot. However, instead of putting the DMC color number on the ID card, I number the colors on the directions from 1 to however many colors there are as well as the ID card. That way, I only have to look at small numbers, which takes less time to identify which needle to grab. If I use all the thread on that needle, I immediately rethread before returning the needle to its slot so it is ready for the next section. It also means I can reuse the ID card for the next project.

52. I stitch on my lunch hour for about 40mins. I'm always amazed at the end of the week how much I'm accomplished.

53. I have discovered a system that is working for the number of projects that I have accumulated over the years.

I choose 12 projects, yes 12 (we probably have lots more but we won't go into that at this time!) and then I take 12 bags and number them from 1 - 12. With each of the projects just make sure that you have everything to complete each one whether it would be beads or a strand of floss to complete the kit.

Then you take the first bag and stitch on that project for 12 hours. At the end of 12 hours put that one in the back of the pile and take No. 2 and put in 12 hours. I think you get the drift of this system. Since I have gotten a bit older I seem to have developed "short term" memory loss and I put a piece of paper in each project bag so that I can keep track of the time spent on each one.

I can't believe how many projects I have completed using this method. I belong to a needlepoint guild in Illinois and this particular method was in one of our newsletters. It's call the Twelve Step Method. Mmmmmm, sounds similar to another twelve step program and they both seem to be addictive but ours I feel is healthier!

54. I am enjoying reading all the tips on finishing your stitching projects, and have learned something from most of them. I liked # 17 written by Cornelia, on leaving your projects out where you can see them. It is really hard to walk past them without stopping to do a stitch or two.

I also work a full time job and find very little time for stitching. That is until I discovered Reproduction Samplers. They are very simple to do since some of them have as little as 5 to 8 thread colors and very little back stitching. When you use the overdyed and silk threads it makes it look as though you used quite a lot more colors than you actually did. Add metallics, beads, a few specialty stitches, all on 28 to 32 count linen and you have created a masterpiece that looks as though it took twice as long to finish.

55. I like to use the Nordic Needle wish list feature. If I see something I like on the site, I add it to the wish list. If I see something somewhere else, I note down the name or the designer of the piece, then later when I get home, I look up Nordic Needle to see if they have this item. Usually they do, so I add it to the wish list too. Every so often, I go and look through the things in the wish list and realise there are some things I don’t like all that much after all, so I delete them off the list. The ones that are repeatedly left on the list are the ones I know I really really like and they are the ones I buy. It saves a lot of wasted money on charts in my cupboard that I will never get around to doing. Also, I only stitch one item at a time. When I am nearing completion, I start dreaming and planning the next project off the wish list.

56. One way I have of keeping track of my multiple projects is to keep a rotation as several others have suggested. But rather than use the same tools when switching between projects, I have each one in its own case. You can pick up plastic cases at office supply stores that look like a small briefcase. Roughly 12"x 10" x 2". The ones I have, have clips on the inside. I clip my chart photo inside so I can see it through the plastic. I keep a pair of scissors and a pack of needles in each case, along with all the threads needed in floss-away bags on a ring. My fabric I remove form the hoop each time and fold up to lay in the case as well. On edge of each case I write the day of the week that it will be in my rotation. They live in milk crates next to my bed. It keeps everything clean and neat and they are easily portable. Grab the handles and go.

57. For Elaine: I realized the same thing she did about 2 yrs ago and resolved my “crisis” using many of the ideas already mentioned.

1) I also stopped doing projects for special events such as births, christenings, weddings, birthdays, etc. I found myself dropping everything in order to complete something by an event deadline. Instead, I started a gift stash. The pressure disappeared and as I complete items that are not for me, they go into a completed gift stash box. When an event comes around I can give something from the stash or purchase a gift, gift card etc.

2) I also determined what it was that got me going on crafts in the first place and went “back to the basics”. For me it was returning to 14 ct fabric, a simple geometric design in shades of a favorite color. I was amazed how much I enjoyed the project and how fast it went. I remembered all over how much fun it could be!

3) I have always had a problem with patterns that use ¾ & ¼ stitches of different colors in one square. The instructions always say to use the color closest to you for the ¾ stitch. I could never figure that out and always left those squares to complete at the end of the project. Now I do a full stitch in the square combining 1 thread of each color. This ends up being a “tweed” effect, but the places I use them are usually so small compared to the overall design that I feel comfortable with the result.

4) I also use pinking shears for the fabric edges, it’s much faster than basting and better than tape!

5) About six months ago, I stopped in a local needlework shop while traveling and an elderly woman was manning the shop. She was working on a fairly large cross stitch piece on 28 ct linen and I was almost dizzy at how fast she was stitching! She would insert the needle in a top hole, then the hole below it. She didn’t push it down through the fabric and then back up; she just glided along very similar to the way I would stitch a hem. I asked her why she didn’t use a hoop or frame and her garrulous reply was “useless trappings”. I have tried using this method and it is really fast. I now do my base stitch (right to left) this way, I haven’t quite got the hang of the top stitch (left to right) yet, but I think with practice I’ll get that down too!

6) And on the lighter side – the one with the biggest stash when they die WINS!!!!!!!

I would like to thank you again for the excellent company you and Sue have – although you are worldwide you still manage to give your customers small town personal service – I don’t know of another company like that in this day in age!

58. Don't know if this has been mentioned, but for my take along projects for those long waits at the doctor's office, etc., I use small metal lunch boxes.

I primarily do counted cross stitch. One measures 7 x 6 x 3, the other is 5 1/2 x 4 x 2. They are metal, so the lid serves as a built-in graph holder (I use magnets to hold my place). I line the bottom with magnets to hold needles, needle threaders. Throw in a small pair of scissors, and you're good to go. It's perfect for me, as I like to stitch Christmas ornaments and bookmarks on 14-count perforated plastic.

59. I have done almost every kind of needlework but really enjoy cross stitch. I arrange the floss for each project in small baskets (usually the plastic kind) numerically. This makes it easier to find the next color and allows me to keep everything together for transport.

I love to read so I listen to audio books while stitching. I library has lots of tapes and CDs. I put the name of the book on the label which I place on the back of framed pictures; if I am doing unframed projects I enclose a note. For instance I listen to "Angels and Demons" and "The Da Vinci Code" while stitching "Silent Night, Holy Night" by Carol Emmer, Leisure Arts. This is a wonderful way to do two things I love at the same time.

I have more projects, books and magazines than I can ever complete. It is fun to look through them from time to time.

60. Hello all, I hope you understand what I'm writing, my English is not so good but I'm still learning.

I have many, many projects waiting for me, and every time when I bought another one I felt guilty. So one day someone said to me: Why do you feel guilty about that? Do you really have to finish them all? You see it the wrong way, you don't have projects to finish them, but you COLLECT them. So now I have a very nice collection of kits, patterns, fabrics, threads, magazines etc. And every time when I see something I like, (and have some money left) I buy it, just for my collection. I love my collection very much, and I spend hours and hours to look at all my stuff en cherish them. And sometimes I finish one!

61. Hi - my husband calls me the queen of UFO's. He thinks I have too many going, when in actuality, it's only 5. I personally would go nuts if I only had one or two projects going at the same time! I make a point each night to stitch two complete thread lengths on one project or if it has multiple colors, then I stitch until I feel enough stitches were put into the project. For smaller projects, I take them to work and do them during break and lunch hour or even waiting at doctor appointments. I can't stress how important it is to have a good light source and table space away from the television. The most important thing for me is that after I get four or five going, that they all finish before any new ones are added to the rotation and having that "next" project waiting in the wings is pretty much all the motivation I need.

62. I work on about two or three projects at a time. I take all the materials with me in a bag that I carry, even to work. I'm a Para educator in a school.

I work on projects during my lunch. I have to travel about 45 minutes to get to work from where I live. I'm also a full time college student. I plan to be a teacher. The college I'm attending is in the same town where I work.

While I'm waiting for class, I take a half-hour between being a worker and a student. This has helped me maintain some sense of myself. For one class we had to do an art project showing our philosophy of education. I used many different alphabet patterns. In the center with crayons, balloons, and rainbows, I put "Kids are special”. Above that I used a bookmark pattern that has a heart and it says "Teaching is a work of Heart." Then using the multiple intelligences of Gardner, I did each intelligence in a different alphabet. For instance, the musical was in music, existential was in angels, naturalist was with birds and flowers, and so on. Then around the border, I used one letter from the alphabet in as many patterns as I could fit. Some day, when I'm actually a teacher, this project will go in my room.

The way I work on a project is that I use a water soluble marker and divide the fabric into fourths or eighths. I also use a magnetic board with the pattern to keep track of where I am working currently on the project. The colored High Lighter Guide markers are very useful. I work around the center on one project with four or eight colors and then move to the next project.

63. When I start a Needlework project, I put everything for it in an old purse. The little pocket inside the purse holds my small scissors and needles. It’s all in one place and I don't have to go searching for something. I take this bag along when I leave the house, (yes I carry two purses). That way I can work on my project whenever I am out and have to wait for something, - doctor’s office, children’s activities, etc. The other moms at my sons swimming class have started to bring their projects and its fun, they can keep you going as each week we get to see and show off how much got done. At home I carry the purse into whichever room I am going to spend a lot of time in - even the bathroom when my 3 year old plays in the bath. With it all being in the purse and out of the way when not in use keeps my cats and children from "helping" with the design.

64. My solution to not having a lot of unfinished projects is to not begin any thing large or complicated! I can get bored, so I prefer the smaller projects. That probably explains why my favorite designers are Bent Creek, Heart in Hand, The Trilogy and Lizzie Kate.

They have lots of cute quick designs to stitch. I do like to do at least one sampler a year, a band sampler. It will have lots of different stitches that will keep my interest and usually finish quickly. I like to do Hardanger, but again the simple projects-usually Christmas ornaments.

On a different note. What a wonderful idea Vicki Walch has to donate a stitched piece for a new Habitat home. I am going to suggest to my stitching group that we do something together to donate!

65. Hi, Quite a few years ago I used to own a shop selling cross stitch supplies. Once a year I would go to a trade show in Charlotte, N.C. I also took many classes there. I can't remember who the teacher was but she said that when you are going to put an unfinished project down for awhile, be sure to put it in a box with a person's name on it. That way if you die before you get back to it, they'll say, "Awhhhhh, she was making that for me", and they will feel good to think that you were thinking of them and therefore your UFO will still bring pleasure to someone.

66. Several years ago I resigned myself to the fact that, although I am an avid cross-stitcher, I am also a chart collector! Keeps me from feeling so guilty about buying more and more charts all the time when I already have more than I could stitch in the next century!

My stitching group, the Coral Springs Chapter of the EGA, has a drawing every year to encourage the ladies to finish big projects they've started. You register your piece, then when it is finished; your name goes into a drawing for a prize. Doesn't matter if you finish it this year, next year, or five years from now.

67. Hi Roz! I thought my sewing group would get involved in finishing all of our UFOs - so we had a coffee night. Everyone brought their UFOs and then we swapped them for completion! Having someone else's project to complete helped all of us get our projects going again. The good part is that we started doing it once a month and everyone is enjoying completion and sharing as well - very satisfying. The best part is now we feel confident enough to tackle more difficult projects knowing we'll get all the friendly help we need until we finish.

68. Regarding all the projects that stitchers either have unfinished or never started I have solved that problem. I simply have decided that I can't die until I finish all of them. In the meantime I just keep purchasing any that strike my fancy and that way keep extending my time on earth.

69. (in response to an earlier suggestion) I, too, like the John James petite needles, but there is one warning if you use them: DON'T DROP THEM. They are VERY hard to find in the chair, afghan, carpet, etc. I finally had to buy a magnet on an expanding wand, so I could locate a missing needle.

70. Several stitchers have suggested using a highlighter to keep track of their place on the chart. I use a soft lead pencil instead. That way when I make a mistake and have to take out the stitching or I find I have incorrectly marked the chart, I can just erase and make the corrections.

WOW – there are some great ideas that have been shared by our readers. Please keep sending them to me. We are over 110 now and I will continue to share ten in each of my newsletters. Send them to me at: rozw@nordicneedle.com

71. One of the best thing that I have discovered while stitching with metallic and blending threads, which can sometimes become frustrating (tangling, breaking, knotting) is to cut the DMC floss and the metallic thread the same length. 18 inches usually works best for me. Run them together over the end of a child's non toxic glue stick and let them dry and then stitch with them. Try it, it works great.

72. I have quite a large stash of projects…both new & unfinished. I have several projects going at one time depending upon the mood I'm in. I try to work the seasonal projects during the season (Fourth of July motif in June & July, etc). If I don't finish by the time another season comes, I set them aside for next year. I can usually finish one from last year and begin a new one to complete next year during a particular season. My excuse for so many unfinished projects is due to the season! Of course, the non seasonal projects are worked in between or when the mood strikes!

73. I've been studying the reader's response to the question of UFOs and how to finish old projects before starting new ones, and I will have to confess to wondering why we feel like we have to finish everything before moving on ("Finish your broccoli before you have dessert"). I have stitched for more than 35 years, and the reason I have this long- running love affair with embroidery and fiberart is that I stitch what I want when I pick up needle and thread, and I don't let the projects dictate what I can or cannot enjoy in my free time. I stitch to experience a creative lift and to escape stress, not to create more stress.

My work is free style, and I don't really use kits, so when an idea just isn't working out, I have learned to let it go. Although that seems a little harsh, I will further confess that I can't drop hours or days or weeks of work into the trash bin. So, many years ago I created a little box (now a big box) of unfinished work that I recycle. Parts of an unfinished piece often make great embroidered greeting cards or they become part of a collaged work. Or perhaps pieces of a crazy-quilted pillow. They can be added to pages of a scrapbook. Occasionally something is so monumentally awful I keep it just to remind myself that I must never, never, never do that again!

It seems counter productive to spend a lot of energy agonizing over completing something that is no longer interesting, and when I stopped beating myself up over that, I had all sorts of energy to do other things, more interesting things. Life is so short and there are so many beautiful things to be made that I keep looking forward, not over my shoulder, and I think my embroidery is much better for that decision!

And, truthfully, I brought home so many interesting things to experiment with from the Retreat, that I will be too busy to wring my hands over the vegetables-first philosophy once I am up and about again!

74. Here is a suggestion I read somewhere a while back. "Start as many projects as you want, but finish at least one a month." That little saying kept me going for quite a while. What also works for me is alternating techniques. I will work on a cross stitch only piece, and then switch to a sampler where I can do lots of different stitches. This keeps me from getting bored and keeps me moving. There will be many weeks when I can't stitch at all, but I think we all get busy and can't avoid those gaps.

75. Fabric preparation is time consuming but it really pays off in the long run. The edges of the fabric are blanket stitched to prevent fraying and then I baste in the 10 x 10 grid which I remove as I go.

This is a really big help as I have found it impossible (for me) to start a project in the center and work outward and have to start each project at the upper left hand corner.

I just "discovered" a way to keep the fabric rolled to keep the finished portions not being worked on cleaner. Stores are selling what look like large bobby pins to keep hair rollers in place. Two of these pins placed over the rolled edges - top and bottom keep the fabric out of the way and, since they are smooth and coated I don't have to worry about rust marks or snags.

76. For Elaine and her 150 year stash--I, too, work on several projects at once and it's always fun to start something new. About December 15, of each year I put away all my needlework projects to concentrate on Christmas activities. I consider them part of my UFO stash. My new year's resolution for the last 5 years has been to spend the month of January only working on UFO projects. It's amazing what I can finish that month knowing that February 1, I can start a new project if I want to!

77. Now as to my tip for organizing and consequently hastening the completion of a project. I buy (order from you), the plastic bobbins and wind and label each thread color on one. I do wind loosely so as to not stretch the thread. I then stand them up in numerical order so that the number is visible in one of those craft boxes that are divided into small partitions, having removed the lid as the lid won't close with the bobbins of thread in them. I also strongly endorse the suggestion of always keeping a needle threaded of each color at all times. I keep the threaded needle stuck into the appropriate threaded bobbin. From my very first day of cross stitching I decided to always keep a needle threaded for each color, even though it is tempting to go on immediately to the next color. I used to keep my thread colors in plastic bags, but find removing needed threads from the plastic bags, time consuming. The bobbins make it much easier and quicker. After completing a project, I store the bobbins in a tackle box (I have 2 double tiered tackle boxes full!) in numerical order. I also keep 2 projects going at once, one in my den where I work when my husband and I watch TV, the other in my home office where I work when he is watching sports. I have found it is almost as exciting getting everything organized that one needs to begin a new project as actually doing it.

I, too, have several projects in various stages of completion – I just won’t go into exactly how long some of them have been in progress! Some are big, some are small, some are simple and some are more complicated, but they’ll all get finished . . . eventually. Which one takes priority depends on where I am and what the occasion is, but switching back and forth seems to rest my brain somehow.

One of my best times to stitch is evenings and weekends while “watching” sporting events on TV with my husband (thank goodness for instant replay) – I get to spend time with him and be creative too. Another good time to stitch is at family gatherings – I can converse and stitch simultaneously, plus it’s a good way to introduce younger members of the family to an activity their great-great- or great-great-great-grandmother also enjoyed. And my personal favorite: at the campground. The tent is pitched, the lawn chairs are set up, and it’s time for some serious relaxing, so I pick up a project and just enjoy.

Thanks for all I’ve learned from the catalog and the newsletters – I’m trying new stuff (Temari, Hardanger, blackwork) and rediscovering old (Huck) and thoroughly enjoying all of it.

79. Hi Roz, Here is my suggestion. When working on cross stitch or canvas pieces, a floor stand is very helpful. You can use both hands and avoid the over/under feature of placing the needle, which takes up time, not to mention wasted movements. Also the double pointed needles with the eye in the middle are a great help and I find less tangled floss also. Pat from Buffalo

80. I keep each stitch project in one of the zippered clear bags that curtains, drapes, bed skirts and sheets come in. I like the zippered bags because they are a little heavier weight and come in various sizes. You can see what you need and things do not fall out. This is great when you want to grab everything for travel or to take to work or an appointment.

I always put my piece in a zip loc bag before putting it in the zippered bag so that it does not get caught in the zipper or so that it does not get soiled. Then everything else goes in the zippered bag with it, my floss for the project (in floss bags on rings), scissors, hi lighter, copied pattern, mag glasses (whatever I need to do the piece).

81. I do all kinds of stitching and have a wide variety of threads so when I am doing a cross-stitch pattern that has flowers, I usually do silk ribbon embroidery for them which makes them much prettier and more lively looking and doesn't take as much time to cover the same area as cross-stitching and lets me do some Silk Ribbon Embroidery that I enjoy doing so much. I'll sometimes add metallic threads but they always take longer.

I, too, have many projects going at one time but since I do so many different things they are not all cross stitch. Right now I am working on making several teddy bears that have been worked far enough that I save them for my stitching groups when the talking will not mess up my stitching, a Santa cross stitch pattern, a needle tatting project that is a real challenge because I took a stretched out diamond shape medallion and put six of them together. Now I am making a pattern along that same line to fill in the spaces between the medallions. I, also, have a teddy bear that I have picked out several fabrics to make a dress for her. I, also, have other bears cut out ready to sew on the machine but am trying to get some other things done before I do them. I have a sweat shirt and pillow form on my machine to work on but mostly I am having fun on a sampler that has all the different types of stitching I do and a lot of the stitches I have learned.

With all these different types of handwork, I just switch from one type to another when I get bored.

82. Hi Roz. I often chuckle at little tips and personal items that the grand ladies of the world send in to you! I so feel that they could all be good friends...and must already know me so well!!

I love to do handwork projects...especially Hardanger, pulled thread, and redwork. Designing is the most fun...and often leaves the patterns I've created completed...but not worked up into its finished shape. With Hardanger, I can design little pieces from scraps of fabrics...that then can be worked into little bigger pieces, such as small uniquely shaped pincushions, needlecases, cute bags, etc. I have found what works for me is actually to wait until I have a collection of these sweet 'hints' of stitches...and have a 'creating' day. I think it might be somewhat like what scrapbookers do.

They have fun marathoning days with friends, and enjoy reliving all those photos once again as they creatively cut and paste. I do the same. I so enjoy reliving past projects...and coming up with unique and fun finished shapes that will show off my stitches and designs. I actually feel that giving a piece a rest after it's stitched allows me to be more creative in how I work it up later! Always remember to photograph all your creations!

For those who work larger projects that seem to take forever to finish...I would really encourage you to try throwing in a few smaller projects in between. As you are tiring of the big tedious project...you can switch and complete a small one and have a sense of accomplishment...and be ready to return to the big one again, now refreshed.

83. My tips concern preparing the fabric for stitching. I seal the fabric edges with school glue. I run a thin band of glue down the edges and spread it with a foam brush. This is fast and inexpensive.

I use scroll rods. When they came with the fabric strips I removed those strips. I use masking tape. I lay the stitching fabric on the bottom half of a strip of masking tape and lay the scroll rod on the top half. After doing this at both ends I simply roll the fabric up to fit the side bars. I still do this -- less expensive than the tapes now available to do the same thing!

84. A cross-stitch tip I would like to pass along for large pieces is the use of regular sewing thread to mark the horizontal and vertical axis on my fabric as an aide in keeping my perspective as to the center of the fabric in relation to my pattern. (This also gives me a reference point for each of the quadrants). I first enlarge my cross stitch pattern then use a hi-liter to mark the vertical and horizontal center of the pattern by drawing a line from top to bottom and side to side.

Then I find the center of my fabric and use straight pins to temporarily mark the center top, bottom and sides. Using a needle with contrasting thread, I place a line of stitches (top to bottom, side to side) through the 'holes' in the Aida cloth (or linen). As I stitch the pattern and and find that my stitches will overlap this 'marking thread', I simply snip out that area of the thread, leaving the remaining vertical and horizontal thread in place as I work through the pattern. When I'm finished, I remove the remaining thread prior to hand-washing my piece and blocking it.

I also use multiple colors of hi-lighters to mark my enlarged pattern as I complete sections of stitches. 'Coloring' in my pattern also gives me a sense of accomplishment as my work progresses!

I tried for years to use those washable marking pens to "dot" specific sections of the patterns onto my fabric, but found that if my work 'sat' for any period of time, the humidity would cause my marks to disappear.

85. I have found a way to handle single stitches...such as stars in the sky...without having traveling threads. Now, this goes against all stitching rules, but it is really quite helpful. Thread your needle with a longish piece of whatever fiber required. Leaving a fairly long tail on the back, work each direction of the cross stitch 2x with the single fiber and then with the 2 long tails on the back, make 2 square knots. Yes, a knot! Clip closely and you will have those singles stitches without traveling threads as well as the knots will not show in any way. I would not try this with perle cotton but it work well with silks, metallics and flosses. Hope this will help in those times of absolute desperation when nothing seems to work.

Sometime take a doodle cloth and try it. I have been successful with metallics (#4 or less), floss, and silk. The matter of using a single strand to do this keeps the knot very small and closely trimming leaves no tails to show. At least for me it beats traveling!

86. Hi Roz, I was thrilled to see the Friendship Tapestry at Nordic Needle in March. Friendships that develop when doing something fun is so rewarding! Here are a few tips that have been helpful to me...

A couple of years ago I was in angst about the number of unfinished projects I kept finding in several areas of my house. I decided to make a database on the computer with the name of the project, the company name and a ball park estimate of the % completed on the project. I also added type of project, (cross stitch, Hardanger, etc.) along with the approximate year purchased and am now keeping it current as I add new ones. This way I can sort by any of those “fields” and it is fun to see progress! Although it hasn’t stopped me from purchasing more needlework projects, I now have a feeling of control because I know what has been purchased and can see how many have reached 100%. PS: Having a back up CD is a good idea in case something happens to the computer file.

Large storage bins now contain similar needlework items and are all in one area of the house instead of here, there and everywhere. I keep all supplies for one project together until it’s done before moving any threads, etc. to my general stash.

Some people have mentioned choosing a few projects and rotating those on a short list and this has been helpful over the years. Have fun stitching!

87. I have a tip, which does not come from me, but my friend Carol, an avid stitcher and framer -- I am stitching a large chart that is solid cross stitches and she advised me not to stitch one entire page at a time, but break up the pages and end the stitches at different places on the fabric. If you stitch the entire page of the solid stitching, once it is finished you will see where you left off in large blocks, so the picture will look like it is divided up into nine sections (the number of pages for this chart).

I hope I am being clear. The pages it really makes a difference are the ones to the right -- so if a chart is stitched like the sample below, be careful not to end the pages in a straight line from page 1 to 2 and from 2 to 3. It will not affect page 1 to 4 below, only the horizontal pages:

She framed a piece where the stitcher stitched in blocks of 10 x 10 stitches exactly, and you could really tell when it was framed. You could see vertical lines going down every 10 stitches when finished and took away from the look of the picture.

When I get a piece of fabric for needlework I stitch a square with coloured thread to the count of the fabric so that I can easily count the threads when I am ready to use the fabric.

89. I have really enjoyed all of the stitching tips on your newsletter. Here are three stitching tips that I have not yet read. I work full time and have a three year old. I get an hour for lunch and make that my stitching time for the day. I have used several of the tips previously mentioned to stay organized and that is important when you only have 45 minutes. I eat a meal replacement bar and have a large bottle of water for lunch; it’s easy, quick, inexpensive and quite healthy too. I have now finished four medium size projects that I thought would never be done.

I belong to a EGA group in my area and mentioned to one of the group members I was never going the get all of my UFO’s done. Her response was that every piece is a learning experience and if I had gotten out of the piece what I needed why worry about finishing it. So, maybe that UFO is unfinished because you didn’t like the threads, fabric, style or maybe you just wanted to learn the new stitch in the pattern. I no longer feel so guilty about all the UFO’s. I finish the ones I want and the rest I learned something I liked or disliked and move on.

I also work on large projects and I find that it helps to break the pattern down by objects in the pattern (flowers, house, grass, sky, etc). I am currently working on a picture that contains eleven separate quilts. I take it one quilt at a time. It feels like you really get somewhere because you can see the finished result of that one item or section.

90. Don’t every throw those big fat rubber bands away that are wrapped around broccoli. When I’m running my needle under stitches on the back of my piece to secure the thread sometimes it’s so tight I can’t pull the needle all the way through. Wrap the large rubber band around the end of the needle. The rubber band holds the needle securely so you can pull it right through.

91. While I was finishing up the bellpull from the Advanced Hardanger class at the last Nordic Needle Retreat, I discovered something that made cutting it out much easier. Forgive me if this is something you already know, but I haven't seen it anywhere before.

Like most stitchers, I try to be extra careful when cutting out around the finished edges of something like the buttonhole edge of the bellpull. But even when I cut from the back, I often cut a thread I shouldn't. I was not looking forward to this piece since it also had all those picots on the border. But while I was stitching the lacy edge around the bottom point, a stitch I had never done before, I realized that it would be much easier to cut that part out since many of the threads around it had been removed. I cut that part out first, and sure enough, it was very easy to get in close. So before I cut out the long buttonhole edges, I removed 3-4 threads parallel and immediately adjacent to the buttonhole edge. I couldn't believe how much faster it went, and I didn't cut a single wrong thread, even with all the picots in the way! Of course, this wouldn't work very well if you have a zigzag edge around Kloster blocks, but from now on if I have a long buttonhole edge, this is the way I will do it.

For finishing, the bellpull was completely cut out around the buttonhole stitches. (I'm not talking about internal cutting in the Kloster blocks, etc.) I think most stitchers have accidentally snipped a thread or two (that wasn't supposed to be!) when cutting out around a buttonhole edge. By removing the threads that were immediately adjacent and parallel to the buttonhole edge, it created a channel to put the scissors in and allowed me to get closer to the buttonhole threads to cut away the waste part without cutting them.

I have purchased several pieces of fabric from various places. The type of fabric is noted only on the invoice. Of course, the invoice gets thrown away, and then you forget what the fabric is, particularly the thread count. I have found myself having to measure and compare my fabric to samples in books etc.

I have a Dymo label maker. I do a label that has the fabric type, the thread count and the colour. I then stick the label onto a corner of the fabric, on the selvedge (so as not to ruin the fabric). No more guessing - I know exactly what each piece of fabric is. This has saved me so much time and frustration.

As I learn more about craft, I realize that the right needle is probably one of the most critical factors in producing a great piece of finished work. To this end, I have compiled quite a needle collection. In order to stay organized, I have bought several DMC Needle Organizer Trays (item 7016).

I have one for sharps, one for tapestry and so on. I then take my trusty Dymo label printer and print labels - A large label tells me the category - Sharps - for example. I stick this one on the bottom of the Needle Organizer (this is important - if you put it on the plastic top, you can get confused by putting the top on another needle tray). Then, inside the needle tray, I do small labels for each size of needle within the category - 24, 26, 28 etc. I then stick these inside the respective tray. I then remove the needles from the cardboard packaging and "file" them in their respective categories.

93. When I have to do backstitching that goes out from the design I stitch every other backstitch on the way out and fill in the skipped stitches on the way back in.

IN THE FUTURE, I HAVE DECIDED TO DO THE FOLLOWING IN ORDER TO COMPLETE MORE PROJECTS FASTER: I AM GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE FOCAL POINT OF A PROJECT IN A RECTANGULAR SHAPE. WITHIN THE HIGHLIGHTED RECTANGLE EVERY STITCH WILL BE A CROSS STITCH- OUTSIDE THE RECTANGLE, THE STITCHES WILL BE HALF CROSS STITCHES. EXAMPLE: HIGHLIGHT A SILO IN A FARM SCENE.

95. My solution for finding stitching time is to forget the housework. My husband is beginning to think that I only vacuum when I have lost a needle!

#42 in a past newsletter said that she had a problem getting her cross stitch projects framed. What I did in the past is to have them framed professionally. I know it may be more expensive than doing it your self, but at least she doesn't have to do it and she can keep stitching without feeling guilty because she has unfinished projects. You pick out your own frames and matting and the pictures are just beautiful.

I enjoy your newsletter so much and I look forward to the next one. I'm able to get important information that helps me too and new crafts that I would like to try someday.

97. I read the entry from Sharon in Indiana about doing the final outline stitches. This is one of my least favorite parts of any project. I find that if I do the outlining as I go, I don't mind it nearly as much. As I finish a section that can be outlined, I do it. Then, as I am stitching, it looks more like the finished piece.

98. That tip #45 advised to get rid of projects that you are hopelessly stalled on -- Yes! Give them to a thrift shop. Some of my happiest finds when I have been browsing local shops is a half-finished needlework project. So let someone else finish it for you -- it will surely be someone who also loves needlework (others are unlikely to be interested) and it will be a

99. Hi, I have been stitching since the early 80's when a friend introduced me to counted cross stitch. One thing that helps me, in stitching large projects, is to make a copy of the pattern - enlarging it if necessary, and using a felt tipped fine point marker, color in the areas I have stitched. That way I don't loose my place, especially if I have to lay it aside for a while.

I have advanced to pulled thread, Hardanger, specialty stitches, metallics, and beading, etc. I am currently teaching a Swedish Weaving centerpiece to my EGA chapter. This is introductory so they can branch out on their own. This is a fun craft - easier on the eyes as the stitching areas are larger.

Happy stitching to all of you. I have a favorite saying - "Dust is a protective covering for furniture" that way I can stitch more!!

100. I have to disagree with one of the stitching tips I read in your newsletter that suggested stab stitching with the dominant hand on top of the fabric. The preferred method would be to use your dominant (smart) hand underneath the project and the non-dominant (also known as the "stupid" hand) on top, so the stupid hand can "see" where to stick the needle. The dominant hand can "see" from underneath much better than the stupid hand. I've been a stab stitcher for years, and this really works for me.

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