In this episode I finish off my little cross stitch glossary and share my new pattern of the week.
I have a cold this week so I sound a little croaky, but the show must go on! And I do record these the day before they go live so that I can talk about any updates in the stitch along (which I do talk about this week).
It is week two of the stitch along and I have already changed the pattern a little bit, so I'm glad I decided to stitch a week ahead of you all. Stitching together is really fun and it's definitely feeling like Christmas over in my Facebook group which you can join here. And it's still not too late to join the stitch along! Just sign up to my newsletter to get the pattern and all the info you need.
The Glossary Part 2
Floss - 6 strands of embroidery thread loosely wound together.
Skein - Usually around 8 metres of floss wound up into bundles/skeins.
DMC - A popular brand of embroidery floss but they also do other supplies such as aida, wool and hoops.
Light Effects Thread - A type of thread from the brand DMC. There are metallic threads, neon and glow in the dark. If you would like to learn more about stitching with Light Effects, just visit this blog post.
Thread Conditioner - Used to condition your thread so it glides through the aida more easily and make your thread last longer. I recommend always using this on Light Effects thread. I use the brand Thread Heaven but I believe they have recently stopped manufacturing so this might not be available to buy soon. I have stocked up in preparation.
Full Stitch - A full "X" stitch.
Half Stitch - Just one diagonal stitch going in wither direction "\" "/".
Fractional Stitch - A stitch that covers just one quarter or three quarters of the square.
French Knot - A small knot that you make by wrapping the floss around your needle. It adds a bit of extra texture to your design, but are a bit tricky to get the hang of at first.
Seed Beads - Small beads which you can add straight onto your stitch or add to your design after you have stitched it.
Design Area - The size of your finished piece. It will be smaller on the higher count aida you stitch it on.
Sampler - A type of cross stitch pattern made up of a variety of stitches.
Motif - A small cross stitch pattern, usually of a single item such as a Christmas Tree or a bird, used to make Christmas cards or add onto clothes etc.
If you would like to read more about the top 6 things needed for cross stitch I have a more detailed blog post here.
The pattern of the week this weeks is a Halloween pattern from Lucky Star Stitches. It's called Spooks & Spells and is has a lovely, curvy font, it has a witches hat, a cat and some candles, and the "oo" of "spooks" has been changed into two eyes. It fits in a 6 inch hoop and you can buy the pattern here.
Thanks so much for listening! It's so nice to know there are people out there who like listening to me ramble on about cross stitch and you all give me the motivation to record these each week.
