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 Leda1 |
#21 | |||
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Posts: 167 01/26/08 10:26:34 |
I also preblend - I use a strip of card board and pull about 12 - 18 inches of both colors and label a hole on my card and then loop it through - then I take a
piece of felt and put small pieces of masking tape with symbol of what I am stitching and then thread a needle and park it. When the piece of felt is empty
then I fill it up again. I can stitch for hours this way on a TW
Penny
Penny
wip: Defender of the Kingdom - Canty, Dragon Rider - TW Design, You make my heart melt - Dona G., Egyptian Sampler TW Design, Christmas Wreath - TW Design, (and many more) |
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XSCatOH |
#22 | |||
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Posts: 159 01/27/08 09:02:33 |
I blend as I go. I have my floss on bobbins, and all the colors for a project are in their own box. I pull lengths off the bobbins as I go, so at most I have
only 2 pieces cut at a time (for the blends). Since I try to work all of the stitches for a single symbol at a time, there's no confusion. If I can't
complete all the stitches for some reason, I put the leftovers on a punched index card with a lark's head knot, and label the card with the symbol and the
DMC numbers. Those cards are then put in a zip lock bag in the project bag.
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kimmyXS |
#23 | |||
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Posts: 5031 01/28/08 00:20:57 |
I work mine the same way Bitsy does.
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Welsh44 |
#24 | |||
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Posts: 1 02/04/08 03:52:29 |
I do as Tami Lynne does. I took it one step farther and put all of the envelopes in a photo box, arranged in the same order as in the chart. I use index card
dividers to seperate every 10 symbols.
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hankj99 |
Blending? No Problem! | #25 | ||
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Posts: 383 02/05/08 01:49:29 |
I cut all floss into 18" lengths and use a larkshead knot to attach to thread cards, which are sorted by DMC (or other) number. That way I can easily
pull out strands of the same length from whatever colors.
However, this is not the most powerful tool I have discovered for dealing with blends. Here's the real secret: When I'm using a blend, and I only need two and a quarter stitches in the area in which I'm working, I put the blend together and I stitch the two and a quarter stitches, usually using an away waste knot with a long tail. Then, I take the remaining 12 inches of the blend, look at it, and remind myself, "DMC floss costs $29 cents a skein. If you carefully save all those blends, you will save about two cents an hour. Your stitching time can be better spent stitching." Then I toss the thread in my ort pile and move on.
Current Rotation: TW Fortunate Traveler, Antique Shoe Collection, Christmas ornament. StRIP Club Founder
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Morri |
#26 | |||
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Posts: 16 02/23/08 01:36:16 |
This question sort of goes along with the topic, so I figured I'd ask here instead of starting a new thread. When you're all done with a project that
has lots of blends, what do you do with the thread that's left over? I'm sitting here staring at my Pako just wondering how in the heck I'm gonna
clean up when I'm done. I know skeins of DMC are cheap, but I hate to waste anything, but there doesn't seem much sense in wasting the time to separate
everything, not to mention I keep my thread on bobbins. I'm thinking maybe I'll start some decorative bottles and stuff them full of the leftover
thread. Any suggestions from anyone as to what they do when they're done with their blends?
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jessara40 |
#27 | |||
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Posts: 1 02/23/08 08:48:42 |
hankj99 wrote: Or depending on how the blends are listed you could do what I do and 'sew' the 12 inch ort through the paper with the symbol guide on, beside the appropriate symbol. Of course this is dependent on having a copy of the symbol guide you're willing to use up like this, and one with the space to sew the blend through. |
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puffthelacedragon |
#28 | |||
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Posts: 212 02/28/08 11:04:15 |
Morri,
As I blend as I go this isn't too much of a problem for me. I usually throw the leftover bits away. But the idea of filling bottles sounds lovely. I know Dani (TKDChick) keeps her orts in a jar, but throws them away each new year.
Jo (Yorkshire, UK)
My Blog WIP: Assisi knot garden, Fantasy Triptych, Wild Fairy Light, Benjamin Bunny Sampler Completed in 2007: 12 projects. Completed in 2008: Bob the Builder birth sampler, TW Above the Clouds, Piglet bookmark, Pooh Calendar, Dragon's treasure 10 Project challenge: Finished 12th April 2008 |
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XSCatOH |
#29 | |||
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Posts: 168 02/28/08 13:37:54 |
I've heard of people getting clear glass Christmas ornaments, then filling them up with the orts from each year. I have some of mine saved in a pretty box
to use to stuff small pillows with.
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idriensdai |
#30 | |||
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Posts: 852 05/06/08 08:26:37 |
A quick tip for people: Cheaper than buying floss cards, go into Kinko's (or some binding shop). Cut 8.5x11 cardstock in half lengthwise (4.25x11), then
ask them to punch it with a comb punch. Then you get nice symmetrical rectangular holes in your cardstock, which you can then label with symbols or numbers.
Вышиваю в Украине от 10/2007 до 12/2009...
Вышиваю: Egyptian Sampler Надо бисеры: Stroke of Midnight |
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Alarah Steel |
#31 | |||
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Posts: 27 05/07/08 08:01:19 |
I'm working on Celestial Dragon right now. It has 50-some odd symbols, I think? And all but five of those are blends.
I use bobbins. Each blend gets its own bobbin, and the bobbin is labelled with the thread numbers and the symbol. I keep the bobbins on a ring, arranged in numerical order. I will pre-blend six strands and put them on the bobbin. That way when I'm stitching, as I switch colors, I just grab the blend and go. I can stitch for hours this way. When a bobbin runs out of thread, I will spend the 2 minutes to pre-blend six more strands before I start stitching again. Having all the bobbins on a ring also makes a lovely way of looking at the thread palatte, too!
Works in Progress: In Her Garden (Dimensions) :: Celestial Dragon (T. Wentzler) ::
Winter Carousel Horse (T. Wentzler)
:: White Lily (Solaria)
:: Lady of the Mist (Mirabilia)
:: Cups of Inspiration (magazine) :: Thistle Bookmark (Textile Heritage) :: Wedding
Sampler (self-arranged)
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Nicola K |
#32 | |||
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Posts: 97 05/07/08 17:49:21 |
Thanks for the comb punch tip! I've got access to one at work, and using it for something fun might make up for the tedium of using it to actually bind
things :-)
Nicola |
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 HazeinWinnipeg |
#33 | |||
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Posts: 6227 05/08/08 10:02:11 Moderator |
I use floss bags and 3-ring binder rings (buy them bulk from office supply store in varying sizes). I pull all the floss needed for the project, put them in
floss bags and put the bags on rings in numerical order
Then, I look at the chart and decide what section I am going to work on. I usually start with borders when working a TW. I take all the colours needed for that section and cut lengths of floss according my guesstimate of how much I'll use. These go into a floss bag with the symbol and colour numbers written on it. All the bags needed to work on this section are put on a ring and that's the one I use when stitching that section. Sometimes I put a piece of tape around the ring and name it "border" "wing", "dress", "rocks" or whatever section it may pertain to. If I haven't cut enough floss it's easy enough to go back to the numerical order rings and cut some more and put it in the 'symbol' bag. This also makes it easier to work on a section because I don't always have to refer to the floss legend to see what colour I need for the next symbol. I just pick up my ring and the symbols are all there on the baggies. Pull out a length of each colour, thread the needle and away I go. Haze ~ The WIP Slayer.
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HaideeS |
#34 | |||
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Posts: 1916 05/10/08 04:42:57 Registered User |
Here's what I do. I bobbin everthing. When a blend comes up I separate the strands and cut one strand from each bobbin at the same length, then smooth
out the remaining strands on the bobbin. I don't cut an entire 6 strand piece, only the single strand. That way, when I'm done, there is only a
little left and I can hapily throw it away, or store it on a piece of card if it's a long bit and I can use it later. It also means that when the project
is finished I don't have any part blends to find new homes.
I cut the thread at the yellow line and rewind the rest of the bobbin. No waste. If there is a long piece left, I separate the two threads and tie them to
their 'home' bobbins via a larkshead know in the bobbin hole. (I'm not very coherant when it comes to explaining stuff so this probably sounds
really weird)
-o00o-
Haidee "I'd hug you, but first I need a new shirt. And possibly new underpants - that tree demon thingy was scary" - Derik's Bane by Mary Janice Davidson Very Secret Diaries (slash alert)! Myspace http://www.myspace.com/reloc.cfm?c=2&id=44c15c30-7213-485e-a591-d492c49daea7 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1039070238&k=ZZMX2XS6Q4YM5A1ESB43PQ&r&v=2 her webshots album and her care2 photo albums You gotta be able to see pictures in at least one of these! 
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nsaprof |
#35 | |||
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Posts: 2425 05/12/08 14:59:10 |
I cut equal lengths of each color for a blend when I first have to use it. I take the unused lengths of both colors and knot them to a single location on the
LoRan project card with symbol and the colors for the blends written beside the two colors of floss. So in a sense I blend as I go. If the piece has a lot of
blends I may put together all the blends for the section of the design I am working on. I leave the single colors on the stitchbows where I cut a couple of
lengths of the color and attach it with a knot to the stitchbow. I keep both the LoRan cards and the stitchbow sleeves in a zipperd 3 ring binder or DMC
project bag along with everything else I need for the project.
I forgot to mention that I also keep a scrap of fabric at hand with masking tape on the edge to attach needles that have blend on them which I did not use up. I mark the symbol for the blend on the masking tape.
Sylvia
"Miracles do happen, but you have to believe." WIPs: StoryTeller, Dragon Ride, Dragon Virtues Afghan, Deco Spirits-Fire, Autumn Sampler, Wedding Sampler, 1st Day of Christmas, Mini Spanish Cottage, Exchange Piece, Christmas Star Completed 2008: Heart of Gold, Christmas Tree Mandala, Winnie the Pooh Ornie, Cranberry Christmas, Christmas Tree Ornie(2), Joy, Cozy Christmas 10 Project Challenge: 10/10 as of 1/16/08 2nd 10 Project Challenge: 5/10 as of 3/30/08 2008 WIPs & Progress 2008 Finished Projects Visit My Photo Album Faces of Change: My Cross Stitch & Life Blog
Last Edited By: nsaprof 05/12/08 15:02:04.
Edited 1 time.
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ItsmeReba |
#36 | |||
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Posts: 17 05/12/08 19:26:29 |
Pako Needle Organizer was the only thing that saved my sanity when I was working on TW's Castle Sampler! I used 2 of them! I'm using one on Dracolairs Phoenix now. I highly recommend them! I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it~As You Like It~W. Shakespeare~ |
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1Terry |
#37 | |||
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Posts: 1855 06/15/08 22:35:15 Moderator |
I use floss away bags.
I determine which colors are used for "blending only" and which colors are used on "their own" as well as "blending". If it's used on it's own and only by itself and not a blend, naturally it will get a bag for that particular symbol. If it is used for a "blend only", then I look to see if it is used in more than 1 blend. If not, then it goes into that "blend bag" as it isn't going to be used anywhere else. If it is used in more than 1 blend, but not on it's own, then I create a bag that says "no symbols" and cuts lengths off of it and put them into the appropriate "blend bags". If it is used for "blending" as well as "on it's own", then I leave the actual skein in the bag that is the single color, and then cut lengths off to put in the blends bag(s). And if it is used in more than 1 blend as well as by itself, I make sure to add an extra skein to be on the safe side. I'd rather have more than not enough. Once the blends are set up, I've got 6 plies before I have to cut off another. And I use the last ply to cut the lengths off the original skeins. So I'm all set to go. I've just got to get to the right bag. Oh, and I do put them in numerical order even with the blends using the smaller numbers first. Say I've got 310, 322, 315 (random numbers as my brain isn't thinking of what goes together) and these colors are all used in blends and singles it would go as follows: 310; 310/315; 310/322; 315; 315/322; 322. Clear as mud, right? TerrY ***TWBBer since Sep '98/Rotation Stitcher since Sep '02***
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HaideeS |
#38 | |||
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Posts: 1923 06/29/08 11:25:53 Registered User |
Terry, that sounds scary!
-o00o-
Haidee "I'd hug you, but first I need a new shirt. And possibly new underpants - that tree demon thingy was scary" - Derik's Bane by Mary Janice Davidson Very Secret Diaries (slash alert)! Myspace http://www.myspace.com/reloc.cfm?c=2&id=44c15c30-7213-485e-a591-d492c49daea7 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1039070238&k=ZZMX2XS6Q4YM5A1ESB43PQ&r&v=2 her webshots album and her care2 photo albums You gotta be able to see pictures in at least one of these!
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