One Stitch At A Thyme

Thursday's SBQ was suggested by Cindy and is:

Do you have a system for organizing freebie charts in your stash? If so, what is it? Do you print out copies of all of the freebies that you find on the web ( that you think you might actually stitch ) or do you maintain electronic copies of them until you are ready to stitch them?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blondelibrarian.net/stitching/archives/2007/03/sbq-freebie-organization/

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With all the freebies I’ve found on the internet, I wouldn’t have enough printer paper or shelf space to keep them all. So I sort them by designer, or by category if the designer is unknown, and burn a copy to CD-R.

The only paper copies I have ( of these ) are the charts from Teresa Wentzler and a few others that I’ve purchased from www.oddsandinsonline.com and www.patternsonline.com.
When I do print them out, I still put them in protective sleeves and in three-ring binders. They’re my paper back-up in-case something happens to the CD-Rs.

I've also left a copy of the files on my hard drive as a secondary back-up in case something happens to the CD-Rs and the paper copies. Being a former computer programmer I'm big on redundancies.


As far as stitching them. Well I’ve scratched the surface and done some, but I’ve far too many to stitch them all. So I collect them in earnest knowing that they’ll be there in the future for me.

Finally after many weeks/months of buying on-line between two needlework shops, and two very special Floss Angels from the TWBB - Heather H., Abbie K., . Without whose help my collection would not have been completed.

I present to my fellow bloggers - My complete 142 color set of J & P Coats Cotton Embroidery Floss. One set of floss bobbins and one set of skeins.



I'm very glad I managed to acquire this brand of floss before it totally disappeared. I've read on several web-sites that as of Feb. 1, 2006 it has been discontinued.

Back in the late 60's when I first learned to embroider, around the age of 11, this was the only brand of floss available at the time. It's nice to know I'll be able to hang on to a piece of my nostalgic past.

Today's SBQ was suggested Danielle and is:

If you had $500 to spend on stitching-related items, what would you buy?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blondelibrarian.net/stitching/archives/2007/03/sbq-shopping-spree/

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Well the first thing that popped into my head was to buy one of every silk thread and ribbon product that Eterna Silk has for sale. But that wouldn’t work because I’d be short by a little over $1,500.00 so that's out. [Ha Ha]

I don’t need an OTT-LITE I have two, one table top model and one floor model. The living room chair I use to sit and stitch in is old and needs to be reupholstered, but it’s OK for now and I don’t feel like blowing my $500 on that.

I have enough kits, leaflets, and chart packs to last me for two lifetimes. The same goes for fabric and cotton floss, although not as much.

So I guess in the end, like a few others have mentioned it would have to be mounting and framing supplies. Foamcore, mats – I’d have the local craft store cut them, and frames - both metal and wood – which I’d order over the internet and put together myself saving a few $$$ instead of having the local craft store put it together. You see, I have at least 3 or 4 finished pieces rolled up and put away because I don’t have the money, or wall space to hang them.

Today's SBQ was suggested by Renée and is:

Do you use your needle, a seam ripper, or something else when you have to frog stitches?
Why do you use the method that you do?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blondelibrarian.net/stitching/archives/2007/03/sbq-rip-rip/

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I have four main tools in my frogging arsenal:

Scotch brand Clear Tape
Cocobola Wood Handle Stiletto
Surgical Tweezers
Small Animal Necropsy Scissors



The stiletto I got from Nordic Needle, the tweezers were from a craft catalog, but they don’t sell them anymore. The scissors I got from my sister who works as a animal lab technician for the government. If you were interested in buying one your best bet would be to try a medical supply store. The only thing written on them is… ROBOZ stainless germany.

When frogging ( over 1 with 1 strand of floss ) on 25 count or greater evenweave it makes it quick and easy. No snagged threads that get pulled under the weave. No accidentally cut fabric. Plus the clear tape gets rid of any floss fuzz that may become stuck to the surrounding fabric.

The above is for major frogging mishaps. For frogging ( over 2 with 2 strands of floss ) a single color/chart symbol I use my tapestry needle. As long as the area isn’t too big and I haven’t moved on to other colors before I’ve noticed the error. In either case I don't try to save the thread, unless it's using 2 strands and what I'm frogging is under 8 inches of thread. Otherwise it looks frizzy and worn.

Today's SBQ was suggested by Danielle and is:

Do you find yourself stitching faster when you are getting to the end of a design?

The permalink to this post is:
http://blondelibrarian.net/stitching/archives/2007/02/sbq-smoking-needles/

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Faster, no. The frogs would come out to play if I did that. I do however find myself -- if it’s on the weekend -- stitching to the wee hours of the morning in an attempt to finish a design. I wish I could do that during the week, but zero sleep is not conducive to a productive day at work. [Ha Ha]