Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint
What count fabric do you prefer? I usually prefer stitching on 28-count evenweave and 18-count Aida
myself. The older I get, the more I am liking 14-count Aida though! Let us know what count you prefer in the comments section below. Has it changed over the years?
The fabric show here is Light Plum Hand Dyed 22-count fabric from Stitchnmomma’s shop in Etsy.
I feel like I’ve written about TeaJeigh Designs before but I think maybe it’s just because I have shared this shop’s patterns a few times before that it feels familiar. But it’s worth a look so let’s take a peek at their offerings!
This shop based in Canada has a variety of designs, but many of them are what she calls “mix and match” designs. These all feature a quote or saying that takes up on half of the design, while the other half includes an associated image, such as the person who said it, a mandala design, half a butterfly or a tree or what have you.
The biggest category in the mix and match section is mandalas, so that’s why I picked one of them to share. They aren’t all strictly mandalas, and most of them have a feminist or positive thinking vibe to them. The one shown does actually include a floral mandala design, and you can change the three colors used to suit your decor or your favorites if you like.
This one uses four colors total and measures 183 by 214 stitches. On 14 count fabric that would make the finished design 13.2 by 15.25 inches, or 33.5 by 38.7 cm. There are other counts given in the pattern notes if you want to make a smaller version.
The thing that’s cool about these designs and why they are called mix and match is that you can swap in other text if you like this mandala but a different saying, for example.
The mix and match designs also include butterflies, fantasy and nature, baby and kids, Halloween and fall and winter and Christmas designs, so there are a lot of options if you like this style.
In addition to these designs you’ll find other Christmas and winter patterns, often still with a lot of text, as well as spring and summer, fall and Halloween and Valentines Day designs.
Not feeling seasonal? Check out the Lord of the Rings projects, or other fandom designs, humorous and nerdy projects, Pride and feminist designs, projects for teachers and nurses, full mandalas and nature themed projects.
Check it all out at TeaJeigh Designs on Etsy.
[Photo: TeaJeigh Designs]
I used to only use 14ct Aida, but then I stopped stitching for many years. Now I am trying to sort out what is what – If I am going to take the time to stitch, I want it to look nice, last a long time, and not look like I did a dot-to-dot, or color-by-number. I’d really like to use linen but it seems really expensive, and I don’t really know exactly what to look for.
When I first started stitching as a child/young adult I only used 14 ct Aida and kits. Then after I graduated from high school in 1985, I started using charts from Joann’s or the magazines, but still used Aida. Now that I’ve come back to stitching in the past few years and found evenweave I find that I love stitching 2 over 28ct on either Jobelan or Lugana as my favorites.
28 count linen (I especially like the slubby look of natural linens) and 32 ct jobelan and lugana are my favorites (I love the “feel” of these cotton/rayon hybrid evenweaves), but I’ll stitch on anything if it fits the project concept!
Like everyone else, I started my stitching “career” on AIDA but learned to love the flexibility the evenweaves give for things like half and quarter stitches, etc.
I really enjoy stitching on 36ct evenweave and linen. I’m currently stitching on a piece of 30ct hand-dyed linen and that’s pretty nice as well.
I stitch on a variety of fabric counts but I have to say one of my favorites is 28 count over one. I like Lugana or glenshee linen but my current favorite is the lambswool linen from Wichelt-Permin. Honestly, it depends on the chart!
14 for me! Haven’t done as much cross-stitch as I used to but my eyes aren’t getting any better. (I’m in my 60’s) 14 is fairly comfortable so I’ll stick with that & will try to do more cross-stitch!
Thanx for sharing a great experience.For a better result you may try Cross Stitch Fabric also.