Wedding Stitches

A close friend of mine recently got married to another good friend.  I've known her since she was born (we were at the same church) - she's about 10 years younger than me and has always been like a little sister.  Him I did Little Theatre with for a number of years with all the usual shenanigans.

Their wedding was beautiful - such love and celebration.  They're both committed Christians which gave the whole ceremony a loving feel - lots of thanksgiving and worship intermingled throughout.

As a wedding gift, I cross-stitched "Tandem Wedding", a pattern from an old issue of the World of Cross Stitch magazine.  It's one I've stitched before when another friend got married in 2010.  This time I changed the colours to suit their wedding theme - rather than strong pinks and blues throughout, I changed them to soft greens and peach.  I also changed the colour of the groom's hair to match.

Tandem Wedding, stitched in 2015

 The first time I stitched this pattern, I changed the colour of the hearts to match that friend's theme, and used metallic threads to add some extra sparkle.

Stitched in 2010

I've put together a bit of a time-lapse video of the stitch as it progressed.  I had 8 days to stitch and frame the gift, so was doing a bit of a count-down on Instagram as I went.  It's the first time I've done one of these so I hope it works!

Otherwise it'll just have to be the still version

The only other time I have stitched a wedding present for a friend (not too many of my close friends have gotten married (or I just haven't been invited)) was in 2011 when another close Theatre friend got married.  I'd loved this pattern for years, so was very excited to finally have a reason to stitch it.  The classic style of this really suited my friend and her husband and was the perfect pattern.

To Have and To Hold - Verachtert
Stitched in 2011

Do you stitch wedding presents for friends?  How do you choose the right pattern to stitch, given the plethora of wedding cross-stitch patterns available?

Happy Stitching!

How To Cross Stitch - Starting your thread

This is Post 2 of the Ultimate Cross Stitch How-To Guide - Securing your thread

When you begin learning how to cross stitch, one of the first things you need to know is how to start... as in how to secure your thread!  One of the biggest no-no's of cross stitch is using knots - these can cause bulges in your stitching (and make the back look ugly) and is generally frowned upon.  This is why starting cross stitch (and other hand embroidery) is very different to regular sewing.

There are two different methods to securing your thread when you start your stitching - the Running Start (also called the waste knot start) and the Loop Start.

The Loop Start

1. Separate one strand of thread

2. Fold it in half and thread the open ends through the eye of the needle

3. After stitching the first half of the first cross, turn your material over.  Push your needle through the loop at the end of your thread.

4.  Tighten the thread gently so that it looks like picture 4.  Turn your material back right-side-up and continue stitching.

The Running Start

1. Remove two strands of thread 

2. Thread them through the eye of the needle.

3. After stitching the first half of the first cross, turn your material over.  Hold the loose ends in position with your thumb.  Push your needle back through the fabric, taking care to ensure that the loose ends are trapped under the thread.

4.  Continue stitching, ensuring that the loose end is caught or 'trapped' by your crosses.  Four or five stitches should secure it in place.

This method is also sometimes known as the waste knot start as some people knot the end of their thread to help secure it under the four or five stitches, and then snip the knot off.  I have only ever done this with metallics, but each to their own.

 Loop Start or Running Start?

I prefer to use the loop start as it keeps the back of my stitching looking neater (I'm a bit of a snob like that!).  Of course, sometimes there is no choice but to use the running start: 

• when you are using only one strand (such as backstitch)
• when you are using left-over lengths of thread or short lengths from kits 
• when you are using metallics and want to secure them to your needle

At the end of the day the choice is yours - use whatever you feel most comfortable with.

Coming Up....

Next post I will show you how to complete the most basic cross stitch stitch - the cross.

Happy Stitching!