The Beginning

Your response to A Halted Start several days ago was a very clear reminder of why this blogging thing we do is so meaningful. In the midst of my trepidation about starting on my Woodlands Sampler, your words of encouragement and good advice were downright uplifting. And it got me to the store, where I picked up appropriate needles, plus plastic floss bobbins and an organizer ring. Today, I stitched some markers, per Gnomeangel, though I admit even with reading glasses, it was a struggle for me to count the threads. I may be in for a workout.

But I was able to confirm from the many comments on that post that for linen or 28ct. evenweave, which I have discovered is what I am actually working with, you do stitch over 2 threads. That in itself was such a relief.

Several of you suggested taking a look at this post by Posie gets cozy, which I did find very helpful, and will definitely be referring back to. And Patricia of Tapestry of Dreams was oh-so-heartening, and went on to post on the basics {here and here}, which again, set me in the right direction, feeling more confident indeed. To start, I'm using a size 24 needle, and so far, I have found stitching in hand is working just fine for me.

Anyway, thank you for all the tips and opinions and such! It encouraged me greatly and got me going!

A Halted Start

At the risk of sounding like the complete novice I am, I have some serious questions about cross-stitching. And really, it's not that I'm a novice, but it's just been a very, very long time since I did any. And I don't think I ever used linen. So when this came to my mailbox the other day, I was excited, but.

When I pulled the beautiful linen out of the package, I noticed that *oh my those holes are close together*!

You see, I've joined The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery's Woodland Sampler, and I'm seeing all those "big girls" on instagram going gung ho on this month's design, and well, I'm pretty much scared to start. There I said it.

Source: oneshabbychick.typepad.com via Jen on Pinterest

So I started searching on the web and found these on stitching with linen and "stitching over 2":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpZV7DpVCuU

 

http://www.salt-and-pepper.com/Hints1a.htm

 

Also, something about where to start 'the first stitch' and beginning at a vertical thread:

http://www.gloria-pat.com/resources/basics_linen.html

And I'm realizing I should have paid better attention about what needles I should use, because apparently I don't have any of the right kind. 

BUT, I do have this very helpful post from GnomeAngel telling all about stitch markers, which I saw her share on instagram, and begged to know more about. I will definitely be following her lead.

Sooo - I'm off to work, will pick up some tapestry needles while I'm out, and then will start finishing the edges of my linen for safe-keeping and hunt down my frame. Meanwhile, I hope you can tell me I'm not the only apprehensive starter out there. And if you are using linen, are you stitching over one or two threads for each cross? Any other helpful hints and resources to get me going would be much appreciated. Cuz I really want to get going.