Keeping up with the Jones's

 

I started cross stitching when I was 17. Before the Internet.  Before Instagram.  Before blogging.  I'm that old hahaha.

Back then, everything was bought from real shops, and we had a beautiful little shop called The Spinning Jenny, filled with everything you could ever dream of for embroidery, cross stitch and tapestry.  I would have loved to run a shop like that.

I started by only purchasing threads and aida that was required for certain projects but as time went on and my bobbins grew, I started buying the threads to complete the DMC range. It took many years but one of the best things I ever did. There have been the odd hiccup (certain dye changes in the greys come to mind) but on the whole, it has been a very good investment. 

But nothing really changed, other than when I discovered evenweave, and when I dabbled in hardanger, and the advent of the daylight bulb. 

I had grown a friendship group who all loved the hobby, and ideas and products were exchanged and gifted.

It wasn't until I started posting my updates on Instagram that I realised I'd been left behind in the improvements made in the hobby. New tools were available. Bright new ideas, and of course the availability of the new fandangle.

So at the end of 2024 and into 2025, I decided to update my set up. 

I exchanged all the cardboard bobbins for acrylic ones that feature colours and printed numbers, from Pip and Chip. They're not cheap but they'll certainly last, and don't they look beautiful and neat?

I was gifted a book stand for my birthday, which features a padded base to sit comfortably on my lap, and is adjustable so I can get the angle correct. 

And at long last, I was able to buy a Lowery workstand (I'm in love).  This led to me purchasing larger hoops, as I'd always worked on a 6" hoop because it was the easiest to hold. I didn't stop there... I also bought a couple of plastic snap type frames which makes working on large projects even easier. Then of course I had a go at making some "grime guards" to help hold the excess fabric, which so far is working really well.

The game changer though was this little beauty.  It's called the Pattern Keeper. It's an app available on android operating systems. I started with a month's free trial but it became quite clear that it was definitely worth the one-off payment of less than a tenner!

I love that it tells you the amount if stitches you do each day, and the percentage of completion.  But for me and my aging eyes, its the fact I can zoom in as close as I need to, highlight the squares I'm working on, and so much more!

I'm still working on perfecting my set up, and am awaiting delivery of a corner clamp for my Lowery workstand.  I've also bought a larger frame with rollers that works in a similar way to the snap frames.

Watch this space...