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Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas

5578 views 30 replies Latest reply: November 26, 2022 at 2:52:15 AM

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Stitchboard Admin message #16
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
May 4, 2021 at 5:14:35 PM

Shaleigh,

You've definitely done quite a bit more...fantastic!

Especially considering you had less time.

How kind of you to help your dad renovate!

Is it more cosmetic work or major repairs?

LOL, sigh, there's no end to the amount of repairs that must be done here. The house is old (late 1800s) and it was pretty much abused in the 1980s, when a guy destroyed whatever he could. After that it was owned by a family who tried to do their own repairs but didn't know what they were doing.

This year a roofing job is in the plans, in addition to a few other things. It's very slow and since so many repairs needed are major (plumbing, electrical, etc) it's going to be done over several years.

Oh, yes, big patches of solid color take forever! Soooo many stitches. And then the color changes, ouch! All worth it in the end, though.

Honestly, I suggest just being as neat as you want to. I spent several years trying to make the back look as good as the front.

It drove me insane. It stemmed from when an acquaintance - without asking! - turned my work over and then made a rude comment about the thread ends. Thereafter I was always obsessed with how the back looked. It really took some of the joy out of stitching.

Now I think that if you're happy with it, that's all that matters.

If someone complains that it's messy, let THEM stitch it for you.

LOL.

Melanie (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict. If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.

Member since:
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Posts: 28

Shaleigh message #17
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
June 8, 2021 at 3:47:11 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #1)

So updating next week turned into updating next month. And sadly time spent on the project has been a fraction of what it was in April.

Most of the indoor renovations are cosmetic yes. But power tools are not foreign to me either. I can build a pretty good soundproofed wall and wire a cooking oven on my own.

But definitely not the level you have there. For big ticket items like plumbing and major electrical work I have hired professionals, I would not dare do that myself.

Oh no, that acquaintance sounds really rude. And even if you don't want to let them, these kinds of comments get under you skin.

I do not know how it is in the US schools, but in Estonia, up until the end of middle school, girls have handicraft lessons as a part of the curriculum. It usually includes embroidery, sewing, crochet, knitting and cooking. I remember really vividly our teacher telling us stories of middle-ages, where girls would make a part of their own dowry, often handicraft items. And that when their future mother-in-law inspected their work, they always checked the back of it first. But somehow it made some sense to my brain, because I have not been able to get it out of my head. Usually I am not terribly traditional myself.

I am not massively tidy, but I think this project looks pretty okay in the back too. Though as a cop-out, I will have to show pictures of that next time, I forgot when I was tacking pictures yesterday.

So this is the progress at the moment:

Likely my updates over the summer will be a bit sporadic, but I will try to check in every now and again

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Stitchboard Admin message #18
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
June 8, 2021 at 10:16:26 PM (in response to Shaleigh message #2)

Shaleigh,

That's a pretty large stitched area you did, which isn't shabby at all considering you've had so little time to work on it.

Excellent!

Oh, so with you...we wouldn't touch major renovations like that ourselves, either! We've had a friend do some smaller projects, but we just had the roof done professionally. It was a very major project. Those guys got that thing done and it was done right. No complaints!

Wow, that's quite impressive that you can do those things!

I can't do any of it.

So glad most of the work you need to do is cosmetic. It's a LOT cheaper than getting a roofing job or anything of that magnitude!

You're so right, those rude comments did get under my skin. Stitching became almost a fight. In contrast, when I was new to stitching and still learning, a local shop saw my work and complimented me...and never once looked at the back of my work. And they were the professionals! The acquaintance was just a hobby stitcher.

I'm not very traditional, either! I have friends who have almost switched roles...the guy doesn't know much about power tools and his wife does all kinds of stuff with that. I think it's awesome! Who cares about traditionally defined roles?

In the US, at least where I grew up, they have "home ec" (short for "home economics") classes, but all they taught in mine were sewing and cooking. That was also in middle school. It was more the mechanics of how to do it. There were electives of cooking or sewing available in high school, but I didn't take either class and I don't know anyone who did, only in middle school when we all were required to take them.

The shop classes actually looked like more fun and they even allowed one girl to take it. I don't know that I would have wanted to, just because I would have felt uncomfortable. LOL, but now I'm kind of jealous because she learned a skill that I could use right now!

I can't imagine someone handing their work over to their future mother-in-law to inspect it. You could get some really nasty woman who didn't want to let go of her son! Shudder. Talk about a meddling mother-in-law!

Awww, I'm sure the back of your work is fine.

And it wouldn't be my place to judge.

LOVE seeing your progress and look forward to each one! No worries about being sporadic with updates...that real life does like to get in the way, right? How dare it!

Member since:
Dec 4, 2020
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radolini63 message #19
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
June 9, 2021 at 11:22:43 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #3)

Being a Warcraft user and fan, I'm looking forward to the end product. Congrats on wedding and good luck on this! I'm sure it will take a while, but will be worth it.

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Stitchboard Admin message #20
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
June 9, 2021 at 7:28:51 PM (in response to radolini63 message #4)

Radolini,

It's so exciting watching this project grow, isn't it?

Member since:
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GuerraRouge message #21
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
July 5, 2021 at 4:58:44 PM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #1)

Hi Shaleigh! I'm SO excited to see you're working on this project, Sylvanas will always rule! I have one of her that I'm beginning as well and she's so daunting that I place easier, smaller projects in front of it just to feel like I still know what I'm doing. I know your piece will look awesome once finished- thanks for the motivation!

Member since:
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Shaleigh message #22
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
July 9, 2021 at 3:51:56 AM (in response to GuerraRouge message #6)

We have more WoW players in, awesome!

@radolini63 Thank you! I will take all the luck I can get

@GuerraRouge That is really cool, have you picked a picture you want to do? If you are up for it, would love to see what you are planning and working on.

@Melanie Looking back now, I would have loved to take shop classes. I got to try it once, when boys were sent to cook and we got to do woodwork. I would have loved to do more of it though. Would have saved me a lot of time and effort later on.
And really glad that you have been happy with the people that you have gotten for the renovations. Its not always easy to find good people for it.

So I have done a fair bit more stitching in the last month than I thought I would. I thought my free time would actually go to playing the new expansion of WoW. But my poor old computer is so slow that playing is more frustrating than fun. I have ordered a new PC but I will likely receive it in the beginning of August. Work has been hectic, but stitching is a great way to destress, so thats what I have been doing.

I took these pictures last week already, but still showing these as I finally took a picture of the back of it too.

And the back too. There are a few threads I havent hidden yet, as I ended up going too far into unstitched space for them. So waiting for a it to fill up around it, then I will hide the long loose ends.

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Stitchboard Admin message #23
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
July 10, 2021 at 12:21:46 AM (in response to Shaleigh message #7)

Shaleigh,

That looks wonderful!

And the back of your work looks divine, too. I wasn't that good until I started to get TOO into making it look neat. But as previously mentioned, it made stitching so much less joyous.

Didn't shop classes look like FUN?! I have nothing against cooking or sewing, but both are pretty common. Woodworking...wow, so fantastic that you got to try it once. What a great skill for people to have!

Thank you...you're SO right. It's very difficult to find decent people. We ended up with 3 quotes and went with the one who had the best info and references. LOL, not much of a personality, but meh, not a big deal. Didn't hire the guy for his personality, LOL.

So glad you're getting a new computer and sorry the old one is so slow! Ugh, computers. They do have their hissy fits. I swear, mine hates me.

Stitching is so very soothing...very glad it helps you, too.

And you're getting so much accomplished! Absolutely loving this - enjoying your progress and always looking forward to new eye candy!

Member since:
Jul 11, 2021
Posts: 3

Lrubens102 message #24
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
July 12, 2021 at 12:35:01 PM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #8)

Hi, how do you know what to make a half stitch vs cross stitch? Also does the design come with any sort of outlining that we need to complete?

I posted a qt under new topic, could you check it out

Your project looks AWESOME! can't wait to see the finished result

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Stitchboard Admin message #25
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
July 13, 2021 at 12:09:47 AM (in response to Lrubens102 message #9)

Lauren,

A half cross stitch is basically working your stitches only one way, instead of returning and working the second slants over them to turn them into the X shape. So half cross stitches end up looking kind of like this:

/ / / / / / /

only they'll be a little different, as these slashes are a font and not a stitch, so they're not being stitched on squares, LOL.

I agree, Shaleigh's project looks totally amazing!

Member since:
Mar 20, 2021
Posts: 28

Shaleigh message #26
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
September 21, 2021 at 5:16:27 PM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #10)

Only two month since last update... whoops.

Hope everyone has been well in the meanwhile.

Since the last post I have now become a Mrs and gone to an impromptu honeymoon to norther Norway (our original plan of New Zealand being impossible thanks to covid).

And I am still working on the project, a little at a time. Uploading some pictures I took a few weeks ago.

There is one thing I could use some advice on. Despite me originally trying to wash hands before start work on this and keeping liquids away from it, the cloth has become a bit stained by now in the corner where I have been working.

Should I wash it in the middle of the project? Or wait until it is done? Anything particular with which to wash it or things to keep in mind?

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Stitchboard Admin message #27
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
September 22, 2021 at 1:49:23 AM (in response to Shaleigh message #11)

Shaleigh,

Congrats on getting married!

I'm sure we can forgive you for being just a wee bit busy to work on your stitching, lol.

And what a lovely honeymoon idea...I'm sure Norway was gorgeous!

Your work looks sooooo amazing, as always!

This site has quite a bit of helpful info on removing stains:

https://lordlibidan.com/how-do-i-remove-cross-stitch-stains/

It looks to me like your assessment is spot on...the stains do look like oils from your hands are getting into your fabric.

It's definitely a good idea to keep washing. Though the larger the project, the more handling of fabric...that's pretty unavoidable.

That said, aside from the above site on removing stains, I have a suggestion that could keep your hands mostly off of the fabric.

Have you tried Q-Snaps?

https://www.qsnap.com/

I much prefer stitching without a frame, but sometimes the fabric is too thin. In your case it looks like the fabric is thick enough to work without one, but the Q-Snaps cover the edges of the fabric well enough within the area you're stitching so you would end up mostly holding the frame and not the fabric.

It won't help you with the stains that are already there, sorry to say, but it could end up preventing more.

I've used hoops before, too, but they don't cover the fabric edges at all and they make stitching and holding the work so much harder.

Q-Snaps are lightweight, IMO, and they actually feel nice to handle.

The aforementioned site doesn't look like it's for consumers, but it gives you an idea of what these frames look like when used for cross stitch. For a large project such as yours, you can decide on a comfortable size and change the frame's positioning as you move to a different section. A too-large frame size might be uncomfortable.

I'm hoping there are dealers or at least mail order sources for these frames in your area if you'd like to try them.

Member since:
Mar 20, 2021
Posts: 28

Shaleigh message #28
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
October 31, 2021 at 6:18:35 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #12)

I will try to keep doing monthly updates at least. And I have made some decent progress. Work has been stressful so getting to sit, stitch and listen to audiobooks in the evenings has been a much needed form of therapy.

Thanks for the info on removing stains. I decided to start of simple, I soaked the work in water that was laced with dish washing soap. It helped a little. Definitely with the more obvious stains that were spills from a drink. Little less with the finger grease. But to be fair, I left it to soak overnight but didnt really move it around much to encourage the grease to come loose. I think I will give it another go soon.

I actually looked into Q-snaps when I first started this project and decided that I didn't want to use a hoop. They seemed nice but as they would have taken weeks to ship then I was not going to wait for that. One question I still had was that while they look more forgiving than hoops, what sort of an effect does it have if you have to snap in an already stitched area?

The pictures below were taken right before I washed the piece, so apologies that its a bit dirty.

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Stitchboard Admin message #29
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
October 31, 2021 at 9:04:09 PM (in response to Shaleigh message #13)

Shaleigh,

You've made some amazing progress! You should be very proud!

Audiobooks are great for stitching...and very smart. LOL, I watch TV sometimes, but it gets really distracting when having to look away from the work all the time.

I don't see anything that looks really bad, but then stains have a way of showing WAY better in person than in a picture, sigh. Also, my guess is your stitching will cover all but the very edges of the fabric, and if so you might be able to frame it in such a way to keep the edges from showing.

Q-Snaps: I had no problem at all with them covering already-stitched areas; at least it all looked fine to me after. And it seemed to be even better than working with a frame. I once used a rolling frame of some kind for a specific piece, where the excess fabric was rolled up and out of the way. Unfortunately, the fabric was just too coarse and loosely woven for working without a frame or hoop or some support. That was before I knew of Q-Snaps and honestly, I wished I'd known about them at the time because that frame kept unrolling the fabric where it wasn't taut, and it was SO hard to deal with. With Q-Snaps, a slight adjustment of the brackets and it's perfect.

Also, the frame didn't prevent handling the excess fabric. It was wood on the sides and had a roller at the top where the fabric was held, IIRC. (That frame went somewhere unknown after that project, and honestly, I don't really care where because it was so awful, LOL.

)

Other than Q-Snaps, it seems most methods don't prevent handling of fabric. Q-Snaps don't entirely do that, either...but it seems to me that there's a lot less handling because the brackets that hold the fabric on have so much coverage. Because that's what I hold onto, not the fabric itself. Which doesn't necessarily mean not touching the fabric at all, because that's not really possible, but just seems like it's less possible to do that.

Maybe a frame would work better for you, though? One thing, whatever works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another.

And there are so many different types of frames...I even saw a frame once that you sort of...sit on (obviously, it had an extension to hold the fabric, LOL)! Not sure how comfortable that would be, but the woman using it seemed to like it.

I hope you find something that works very, very well! And keep up the great work because it looks absolutely AMAZING!

Member since:
Mar 20, 2021
Posts: 28

Shaleigh message #30
Re: Nerds unite - Lady Sylvanas
November 25, 2022 at 3:46:53 AM (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #14)

"I will try to keep doing monthly updates" she said... Well that turned out great.

While I may not have been posting, I have done some stitching, on and off. I usually either put most of my free time into it or none at all. I have also periodically taken pictures, so I thought that I would post the progression from since I last uploaded.

The latest picture is where I am today before starting to stitch again after almost 3 months of not touching it. I am resigned to the fact that I will probably be 80 by the time I finish this. But it is fun to do, so I soldier on.

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