Using Counting Pins in Cross Stitch

Here’s another topic in cross stitch that I didn’t know anything about until I found a post about it: counting pins.

I mean, it makes sense that you could use pins as an alternative to gridding your cross stitch fabric for a big project, but I guess I had never heard of anyone doing it or how it might be done until I saw this post from Stitching the Night Away.

Tommye J Bunce explains that counting pins are like blunt tapestry needles and they are a specific thing that’s made for this purpose — you don’t just use sewing pins to mark your design grid.

These pins can be used to mark out an area where you’re stitching the same color for a long time. Say you have 25 stitches in a row that are the same color. Instead of counting as you stitch (and recounting over and over to make sure you’ve got the right number) you can just mark those 25 stitches with pins and know that every stitch between them is the same color.

You can also use them to help you mark your place when you’re stitching some distance from the last stitches you worked. Say you’re stitching all the parts that are in one color and part of it is away from the rest.

You can get more details on what counting pins are and how to use them from the post at Stitching the Night Away. Tommye sold counting pins until their retirement but you can find lots of options on Etsy, including the colorful ones shown above, which are from Stitchingly Along.

Have you ever used counting pins for cross stitch? I’d love to hear about it. Or if you’re new to knowing these things exist let me know that too and make me feel better!

[Photo via Stitchingly Along]

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How to Store Embroidery Needles

Cross stitch is not a craft I generally travel with (since I’m not that good at it, I prefer not to be moving while I’m doing it) but I’m sure there are lots of stitchers who would like to take their projects with them when they travel.

Koekoek has a post all about cross stitching on a plane, which is a great plan since it’s lots of uninterrupted time to work. As mentioned in the post, you should be able to bring embroidery needles (which tend not to be that sharp anyway) on an airplane with you.

Regulations in the United States say that scissors with blades up to 4 inches/10 cm are allowed in the cabin, but whether they are allowed by security as you pass through it is up to their discretion. And thread cutters that use a razor blade are not supposed to be allowed at any time.

Alternatives include bringing nail clippers to snip your threads, or pre-cutting thread and placing it on bobbins so you can stitch on the plane. Then pack scissors in your checked bag so you can cut any loose ends or extra long strands later.

Check out the post at Koekoek for more tips on traveling with cross stitch and suggestions for projects to pack when traveling. I’ve also written in the past about this post from Caterpillar Cross Stitch about traveling with cross stitch supplies and, importantly, what to do to make your screening as smooth as possible. And, importantly, what to do if the security agents question your supplies or want to confiscate anything you brought.

And that’s a great tip, too: if you are packing scissors in your carry on but you’re also checking a bag, pack extras there just in case.

Do you have any tips for traveling with cross stitch projects? I’d love to hear them. Also check out my post about planning a travel stitching kit.

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