Your needlework questions answered

Need to know how to get started? What to use? Where to get something? You are in the right place.

Now there are two ways you can ask a question:

• Drop me an email from the contact page or ask by using the form below. If you use this great new feature your question will be added as a page to the site for others to find, answer and be helped by.
• Of course I am delighted to help anyone by email but that way you only get my opinion. Why not throw your question out there to the hundreds of visitors a day that browse the site?

How do I ask? Just fill in the form below. I'll take care of all the technical stuff and make your question appear on this page below the form. I can send you an email to let you know that your page is live and when others have answered your question. Easy!

Why do I need to give my question a title? Your question will be made into a page of its own on the site. The page name will be whatever you type into the question title box. A good title will help your question get found on the search engines so that more people will pop along and help you to answer it.

Do I have to add a photo? No, but a picture makes the page look nice. A photo that illustrates what your question is about can help other people see what you are asking. After all a picture is worth 1000 words, or so they say.

Where will my question show up? All the questions can be found underneath the form. Just click here to go straight to the questions to see if you can help answer any.

Got a question about needlework?

The best way to learn is by asking questions. Sure, you can email me and ask but why not ask all the visitors to the site and get a selection of answers?

This is also the place to give something back and try to help others with their queries. Have fun!

Click below to see questions from other visitors to this page...

washing linen 
I recently purchased 100% Belgium Linen. Do I wash it before I begin my project? And if so, how do I wash this type of linen?

I want to embroider, its just that I am a rank beginner 
and am frustrated beyond words in my inability to find projects I want to work with!

Just about everything is cross stitch (I live in "Silicon Valley"...

difference between cross stitch and embroidery 
Is there really a difference between cross stitch and embroidery? I am new to needlepoint and found some kits say one or the other or both but they look ...

Type of yarn 
What type of yarn, floss, or pearl cotton do you use for different counts of canvas?

How do Trunk Shows work? 
I would like to know how a trunk show works. I see them advertised at shops all the time.

When an artist does a trunk show, are the pieces unique? Are ...

Gold Work 
Why is there not much in the way of information on Gold Work available?

The Royal School of Needlework has a very pricy book but if you cannot have ...

The Blue Line on Waste Fabric 
Which direction of the Blue Line on the Waste Fabric, do I place onto my fabric (a Canvas Bag)? Do I stitch with it Horizontal (across) or Lengthwise (downward)...

Counting Holes or Threads and Where to Start 
I'm a novice needlepointer and am so confused about how to follow a chart. I've done a lot of preparation and in all the books (except one) I've read ...

cross stitch laying tool 
can anyone advise me where in England I can purchase a laying tool? I am having difficulty in locating a supplier.

Removing the pattern 
How do I remove the dye from the stamped pattern after I finish my embroidery? I am embroidering quilt blocks so cannot launder them until put together ...

materials for beginners 
I have not done Blackwork before but I would like to do some practice before buying a 'kit proper' Is it possible to buy a piece of material for this ...

Whitework sampler thread 
The instructions specify thread Perle 8 and then Perle 5 - which is thicker? I can only find Perle 8 and Perle 12 in the Domino thread that's available ...

Hamburg Edging 
What is this, and how is it done? I saw it mentioned in one of Susan Coolidge's "Katy" series, in connection with sewing a bride's trousseau. I assume ...

Embroidering on Ribbon 
I would like to hand embroidery on silk ribbon but am not sure how to hold the ribbon taut. The ribbon is 1/2" wide. I want to embroider block letters ...

History Of Couching 
For my homework we have to find out the history of couching and where it started and I cant find a single thing on Google, for it insits it's coaching....

blackwork embroidery questions 
Blackwork embroidery questions submitted by visitors to this site

Sock monkey's eyes 
I have made a sock monkey for my grandchild; she is only a year old. I would like to embroider the eyes on instead of button eyes since she is so young ...

anchor embroidery thread 
Questions about DMC and Anchor embroidery thread color numbers

French and bullion knot stitch 
Questions about French and bullion knot stitches

gold work 
Do you know who supplies metal threads no's 1,3 & 4 gold and silver also flat silk

thankyou
merrilyn

Which is best for the beginner? 
Hello, I've never done needlework of any kind. I'm interested in starting but am stumped by all the different types out there: Cross stitch, Counted cross ...

pattern following 
Hi, I am new to this,and I found a cool picture of a witch. It is done on black material,and I have been reading your info. Do you always just eyeball ...

needlework finishing techniques 
Ideas and questions about needlework finishing techniques from visitors to the site

cross stitch questions 
Can you help answer these questions for cross stitch beginners?

Stole on Pearl 
Could I use the same technique on a cross stitch I am doing I wonder? I'm stitching Lavender and Lace 'The Wedding' and I was looking at the photograph ...

I have holes or tears in my fabric. 
I have been stitching for years, have always used 14 count or maybe 11 count.

Lately I have had a tear or hole in my fabric after weeks of stithing ...

cross stitch embroidery thread 
How to use cross stitch embroidery thread... starting and stopping, preventing twisting, separating strands and more

quilting and needlepoint 
I have this idea that I would like to make a checkerboard sort of quilt.

I would like to have all the dark squares be a pieced design and all the white ...

plastic canvs 
I am trying to do a plastic canvas pattern of a picture of my dad whom just passed recently.

I hope someone can help me as to the stitches, and whatever ...

fabric count and size 
Questions about which fabric count and size to use for your embroidery project

Starting a class 
Hi

I work in a primary school and would like to start a needlework class for 8-11 year olds an hour a week. I have limited experience (mainly my own ...

Cutwork Embroidery Patterns 
I have done Cutwork before and have one old pattern that was my Mothers. Before I use that one I would love to know where I could buy other patterns.

Edges ...

INSTRUCTIONS 
I bought an Anchor counted cross stitch when I was in Scotland this summer and the symbol key page has this:

SYMBOL CODE = ANCHOR# LENGTHS KNOTS ...

where can I find perforated paper? 
Where do I find perforated paper for crafts? I have looked at every craft store around my area and nobody has heard of perforated paper. Could anyone ...

Using a laying tool 
I have never used a laying tool. Can you please tell me the technique? I know what it is for, just not how to use it.

I have just found this website....

ideas for old embroidery 
I have several old pieces of cloth that have beautiful embroidery. The cloth has stains and tears but the needlework is in excellent condition. Do you ...

aida cloth 
Questions about sourcing and using aida cloth.

Finished filet lace product 
There seems to be no way to add a photo to my previous post, so I had to start a new post.

This is the finished product from the question I asked earlier,...

needlework identification 
Can you help with some needlework identification? Can you name or date these visitor submissions?

Bucilla Needlepoint #4848 Pansies 
How many strands of floss do I use when stitching? Using 1 full floss or 6 strands is too thick. The kit does not specify how many strands to use when ...

Washing a t-shirt after embroidery to remove ink  Not rated yet
I am embroidering over ink and felt pen, messages that other people wrote to the person who owns the shirt.

How do I get the ink out of the shirt when ...

how to make sense of multi page charts?  Not rated yet
I am starting a needlework, particularly a counted cross stitch, business. I have a computer program, PC Stitch Pro. I have never used a program before ...

charting letter designs for verses  Not rated yet
I am hoping to find a computer program where I can input words/verses/ sentences and the computer program will show these in chart form, and be able to ...

What are Quaker Samplers?  Not rated yet
I have been looking at a lot of beautiful samplers and feel like I'm getting the idea of what Quaker Samplers are, but is there a clear definition out ...

Freelance cross stitch work  Not rated yet
I have a big passion for creating beautiful pieces of cross stitch, its the only thing I look forward to doing all day!

If you would like me to do some ...

Wedding embroidery kit  Not rated yet
I am looking for someone to stitch the above sampler for me.

I bought an embroidery kit which someone kindly made up for me but when it came to the ...

Afghan Stitch - Crocheting in pattern as you go  Not rated yet
I want to crochet a picture into an afghan, but don't want to use single crochet. Can you crochet a picture into an afthan using the afghan stitch? If ...

stole?  Not rated yet
My sister and best friend will both graduate from the ministry program (a very long process). I would like to find someone to make each of them a wedding ...

needlework question  Not rated yet
Please can you tell me what is another name for decorated needlework in square or diamond patterns?

The basics of sewing  Not rated yet
I love to sew but I just know the basics. Is this the same as sewing.

can you tell me where I can find a pattern?  Not rated yet
Years ago my mom who is gone now hand made an embroidered quilt for my youngest son, using a little boy in the squares. Now that son is married, and has ...

needlepoint questions 
Questions about needlepoint or canvaswork. Can you help answer them?

Beading questions  Not rated yet
Can you help with these beading questions from other visitors?

hemstitch  Not rated yet
How can I learn to hemstitch by hand on cotton? I want to make crochet edging on cotton fabric.

hand embroidery stitches 
Various questions about using different hand embroidery stitches submitted by visitors to this page

Downloadable Charts  Not rated yet
Hi: I am from Canada and was interested in purchasing the Birth Sampler, chart only, from your site using my Paypal account. Is any of this possible?...

Wilcom Embroidery Software  Not rated yet
How can I get Wilcom software?

Nayeem,

Wilcom Embroidery Software is for embroidery machines and I'm afraid I haven't covered machine embroidery ...

Outlining applique with backstitch  Not rated yet
What is the correct way to make a point with backstitch? For example points on leaves?

Has anyone tried this?  Not rated yet
I am currently cross stitching a design on an afghan done in "afghan stitch." As you probably know afghan stitch makes little squares that allow for the ...

designing needlework 
These visitors are looking for tips on designing needlework. Can you help them?

copyright of embroidery designs  Not rated yet
Can we make copies of your projects for a class? We are a chapter in the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc.

Dear Dorothie,

Thank you so much ...