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Stitching, Tips and Techniques Do you use a secure credit card processor? We use a secure shopping cart and you
will notice the secure connection when you enter the shopping cart area. Once
you click "Go To Checkout" all of your personal and credit card information
is handled on a verified secure site. We process payments through
Authorize.net, the #1 payment gateway. Your information is encrypted and
secure so you can shop with confidence. Fine Art Cross Stitch never sees
your credit card information, only Authorize.net does. We are simply notified
when an order has been approved. How does downloading a chart work? After you select the charts you wish to purchase, you will be sent through the secure shopping cart area where you will have the opportunity to review your order and then pay for your charts. After you have entered your payment information and verified the order, you will see a receipt page on your screen. There is a "download" button associated with every chart you have purchased for download. You may click on the button at that time to download the chart. You will also receive an e-mail receipt and a download instruction e-mail that will have links for you to use to download the chart. Regardless of when or how you chose to download the chart, you will only have one opportunity to download the chart within the 24-hour period immediately following your purchase. YOU WILL NEED TO IMMEDIATELY PRINT OR SAVE THE CHART FILE ONCE YOU HAVE SELECTED TO DOWNLOAD. What if a download
doesn't save to my computer, or print correctly?
In the case of a purchased download malfunction, don't worry. Just email us at the address at the top of
every web page. As soon as the purchase is verified, you will receive your
chart as an attachment to your original email. You can then save it from
there. **Note, please use an email account that will accept attachments.
When I see a
picture of a chart on the website, what am I actually looking at?
Both the thumbnail images, and the enlarged
images are a colorized version of the actual chart. It is NOT the image used
to create the chart. What you see, is what a chart
will look like stitched. ***Note, monitor resolution
may affect how you view these images. What do you get in
a chart pack?
When you order one of our charts, using the download option, you will
receive a color cover page, with a clear picture of the chart as it will look
stitched. A color key code, with all
the symbols and corresponding thread numbers clearly shown. The actual black and white chart, on
multiple, numbered pages. It is to be printed on standard 8 1/2 by 11 inch
paper. There is a shaded area on each sheet except the first, for reference,
showing a portion of the page before, or above it. (This area should NOT be
stitched again.) The symbols on the charts are large enough to be easily
read. The last item in a chart pack is
the thread usage guide. This is an estimate of how many skeins will be
required to complete the chart, stitching on the recommended size fabric. It
is only an estimate.
When you order using the mailed version, you get all of the above. The
color pages are in color, and the actual chart itself is printed on a high
resolution laser printer, to assure it is clear and will not smudge if you
choose to mark the stitched portions as you work. It is in a clear, plastic, re-closable
envelope. I've downloaded a
chart and printed it, but the symbols on the chart don't match the key. Why? This can happen if you are using an old
version of Adobe Reader. If you update yours, everything should display
properly. If you still have problems, email us and
we'll help resolve the issue. How are your
charts made? § All of our charts use only full cross stitches. No partial or backstitching
is ever used. § The floss used is
DMC cotton floss. § Charts are created
one of two ways: 1. Using a single
color of floss, and recommended to be stitched on 28 count fabric, with one
strand of floss over one thread of fabric.
We realize that not everyone wants to, or is able to work in such tiny
stitches. Rest assured, the project will look just as good worked in larger
stitches, such as 18 or 16 count. It will just be larger, and the
measurements for the larger sizes included with the chart. 2. Sometimes, especially when the art being charted contains a lot of skin tones, as in a portrait, the regular 455 colors available in DMC floss, just isn't enough to produce a well blended effect. When that's the case, colors are specially created, using one strand of a color, and a second strand of a different color. This gives an almost endless number of combinations. When a chart is made in this manner, then two strands of floss are necessary, and the fabric recommended is 18 count. (Such charts are clearly labeled as using blended threads in the catalog.) §
The size of our charts is also a factor. We want the finished work to have as much
of the original artwork's detail as possible, but to be of a size that can be
finished in a reasonable amount of time.
§
There are two different chart options: The first is the full sized artwork. The
size of these varies, depending on the size of the original artwork. The second is our Cameo charts. Cameos are
only a portion of a larger work of art, in close up. They are always 200
stitches by 200 stitches, and recommended to be stitched on 18 count fabric. Do you stitch your
own charts?
Yes. Fine Art Cross Stitch was first conceived for my personal
stitching desires. Over the course of the next few years, I shared some
charts with a few friends. The next obvious step seemed to be to make them
available to everyone, and that's when the website was created. Why do you leave in
all that background?
Adapting fine art to cross stitch is not the same as a piece of art
being created specifically to be a stitching design. As such, it is our belief, that the
background (even though it's often unexciting to actually stitch) is as much
a part of the work of art as the subject.
We do try to take into account the fact the background just isn't all
that fun to stitch, so as much as possible of the extra is removed, being
careful not to leave off anything of substance. Stitching, Tips and Techniques Are
your charts difficult to stitch, especially for newer stitchers?
I don't think so. That said, I admit I've stitched for a fair number of years, so I asked someone who has just been stitching a short time for her answer to that question. Judi's response I bought a chart that has blended threads, but want to
stitch it over one, can I? Yes, it is possible to stitch over one with two threads. Here
are some options. 1. You can choose
a slightly smaller count fabric, say 22 count. Whatever gives good coverage
for you. 2. You can choose
to stitch with two strands, but only a half stitch, instead of a full cross.
This also has the advantage of being faster than full crosses. 3. You can do
blended threads with only one strand of floss. The bottom leg of the cross is
stitched in the darkest of the two blends, the upper
leg of the stitch, in the lighter. Organization:
When I first discovered cross stitch patterns that had been adapted from art,
I was thrilled. Then I did the math at
just how many stitches were involved in a project that was totally
stitched. With one of our full size
charts having around 100,000 stitches in them, I decided I needed a more
efficient way to stitch. I then began to frequent the numerous online
stitching forums for ideas. I'd like to share what I've learned, and
incorporated into my stitching routine, in hopes that you may find some ideas
useful. Good lighting: One of my first changes, was to get a
good crafting light. There are several
brands available, and they are all a bit pricey. I don't believe you necessarily need one of
these, but at least a strong light source, with as white a light (as opposed
to the rather yellowish hue of a regular bulb) as you can manage. This gives a truer color to your stitching,
and helps reduce eye strain. Mark off the chart as it is stitched: I got this idea from another stitcher.
When faced with a page full of symbols, I used to choose a symbol, and kind of
map out where they all were on the chart mentally. Once I thought I knew the
path I was going to take, I'd start stitching. As I finished, I'd use a
pencil or highlighter to mark off where I'd stitched. Invariably, I'd miss
several stitches. Then I read a tip, that said to
mark off with a light colored highlighter, all the symbols in a given area
before you stitch. Now, your way is clearly shown, then, use a darker color
to mark as you finish. I thought at first this would take too long, but, in
fact, it has saved me countless hours since I started using this method. Gridding: You'll
notice our charts all have a slightly darker line every 10 rows. In order to be able to know exactly where
you are all the time, consider gridding your
fabric. I use a metallic machine Qsnaps, scroll rods or
in hand, but NOT a hoop: I
know many stitchers love their traditional
embroidery hoop, but for a project where the fabric is totally sititched, there is a danger of having the hoop, even if
taken off every time you finish, leave marks that may not be able to be
removed. For that reason, if you don't use a stitching stand with scroll
rods, I recommend you try something called Qsnaps.
This is the brand name of the product, and there are a few other companies
that make similar items around the world. Basically, this is a square frame
made of plastic PVC pipe, with a clip that snaps over each side. It holds
just as well as a hoop, and leaves no permanent marks. Some stitchers will use a bit of felt or other fabric between
the clip and the fabric when placing over already stitched areas, to keep
from damaging them. Personally, I just clip right over the stitches. I find
it squishes them just a bit, but they bounce back in a day or so, and
certainly after washing the finished project.
I like the small Qsnaps, and hold it in my
hands, moving it around the project, just like I would a hoop. Organize thread so you can find it at a glance: When I used to stitch projects with 15-20 colors total, I
confess, I just placed them all in a clear plastic bag, and could quickly
sort through to find what I needed. With 60-100 colors, It's another
matter. All our charts use DMC floss.
DMC has a wonderful storage system designed for their floss, call Stitch
Bows. All you have to do, is take off the wrapper,
slide the floss onto the bow, and keep it stored in the handy notebook. It's great. I wanted something a bit less
pricey, though. Instead, I chose a storage box. I find it at my local
needlework store. With this system, you have to wind the floss onto small
bobbins that you label. That takes a bit of time, but you can see that
keeping them in numerical order, at a glance you can find any color you need. Consider using a needle organizer: This little item has saved me more time
than any other tip. It's called a Needle Organizer. You need
one needle for each color in a chart. After you are finished stitching, you
just park the threaded needle in the organizer, at the symbol for that floss,
until you need it again. It has a
place for 50 needles, but I find I can get 100 on it, by putting one in each
corner. Here's a bonus: I have designed a template for the chart
symbols that slide nicely into the organizer. If you use one of these
organizers, and want a template for any of our charts, just email me and I'll
do one for you, free of charge. I hope these ideas can be of use to you,
and if you have any more organizational, or time-saving tips, and would like
to share, email me with your ideas, I'd love to hear them, and my even use
them in this section. |
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