Stitchboard Admin message #2
Re: Aida cloth with grid
November 17, 2014 at 2:00:37 AM  (in response to MamaPak message #1)
 
Debi,

I've never heard of gridded Aida cloth...the only thing I know of that's gridded is waste canvas, for obvious reasons.

If you really want, you can actually grid it yourself with a running stitch and some very thin sewing thread.  I've never done this, but I can't see a negative to it.    Purists might say that you're putting extra thread through the holes, but still...it's meant to be stitched on, after all!  And as long as you don't tend to catch your stitches on the sewing thread, it should be fine.  Though if you have any worries, why not try with a very small sample, something inconsequential, maybe a small throwaway project?  If you don't like it, if you find your stitches get caught in the sewing thread, you can always choose not to grid the Aida for a larger/large project. 

Tear away fabric stabilizer is just as it sounds...you do your stitching with the fabric stabilizer held under your fabric as you stitch, so your stitches cover it up...when finished, you tear it away.  I'm not sure I would recommend it for cross stitching.  Tearing away the stabilizer, while meant to be done, may also stress your stitches a bit at the edges.

Obviously, though, I'm of the old school of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  LOL, in other words, an anachronism.    So I really won't fuss too much with my stitched pieces, since I don't want to mess them up.    I think using stabilizer, as with anything, is more of a personal choice. 

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