Cross Stitch Baby Afghan

by Pat
(Santa Clarita, CA)

I am about to begin a darling baby afghan for my first grandchild -- the afghan material bag indicates that I should not use a hoop as that will distort the fabric.

I have always used some type of frame when cross-stitching -- but I am afraid that scroll bars will not be long enough -- any suggestions?

If I am to cross-stitch directly without any hoop/bars, etc., any suggestions on how to keep the stitches consistently even, taut, etc?

Thank you for any help.

Comments for Cross Stitch Baby Afghan

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re finishing the afghan
by: Pat

My pattern does not discuss backing the afghan -- I am planning on leaving it with the stitches showing on the back. I think if you back it, you lose the uniqueness of the afghan material's light softness. As you can see, I'm not done with mine either!

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How to Finish the Baby Afghan?
by: Chris

I'm half-way through my granddaughter's cross-stitch afghan (using Q-snaps), and I'm wondering how to finish it when it's done.

Do you have to line the back so the stitching won't show? And should you iron on some interfacing first to keep the stitches from pulling out? Is there any trick to making the fringed edges? HELP!

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Managing Afghan
by: Debbie Rice

I agree about using a Q-Snap.

With or withput Q-Snap, you will have a lot of excess fabric to wrangle while stitching a section.

Try very loosely rolling your edges (so that backside of fabric is on outside of roll) leaving section you will be stitching on still laying flat (or flat on a q-snap). Stick a clean plastic hair roller or dowel rod in roll if you have trouble getting an uncreased rolling.

If you can lay rolled area in your lap up against yourself, that's a comfortable way to hold and weight of excess afghan fabric just lays in your lap. If not, or when working on other sections with no good way to turn to hold the rolled excess fabric -- take a generous length of twine or ribbon (size that will pass through holes of your afghan fabric) and actually tie roll of excess fabric (loosely enough that you can untie and re-roll when you need to move to another section).

Don't hold or tie so tightly you are making creases/marks worse than using a hoop.

If you just let edges dangle while working instead of rolling or holding securely out of the way, throw down a clean sheet or foam board instead of letting drape on floor or furniture to pick up dust bunnies, grime or cleaning product residue (or in the case of my household cat fur). A contrasting color of sheet or board can actually help make fabric holes more visible.

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Cross Stitch Baby Afghan
by: Valerie Kalyani

For large projects that you cannot use a scroll frame for, try another product called Q Snaps. They will work in the center of a large cloth and do not harm the fabric like a hoop can. I got mine from Nordic Needle.

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Afghan
by: Sheilasembroidery

Can you use a small quilting hoop and move it round the design area? Remember to bind the inner hoop to stop marking, it also helps to stop slippage.
Sheila

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