Cross Stitch Project
Thankful Hearts Cross Stitch Design
Diane Arthurs, Designer
Describe Cross Stitch Project
The Thankful Hearts pattern is from Imaginating. It called for a different thread color, but I chose to stitch it in DMC 816. It can be stitched in any color you like. The entire pattern features a saying in the lower half, "Gather Together with Thankful Hearts." I only stitched the top half because I thought the elegance of the design didn't need the wording. I live near Williamsburg, VA and the pineapple featured in the center of the arrangement symbolizes Welcome.
This was the first piece I'd done where I only used one color floss. I thought at first that I'd get bored with it, but I found the constant repetition of the color and the emerging picture to be very soothing. I stitched it on 28-ct Lugana, over two, with three ply thread for the cross stitch, and two ply for the backstitching.
The backstitching of the border required a lot of attention and planning because I didn't want to drag any threads under an empty portion of fabric. I didn't want anything to show through from the back of the piece.
I also did the custom framing which features a suede burgundy mat and an ornate frame with a matching liner.
This piece now hangs in the local needlework shop where I work.
Tips and Tricks
- Keep several needles loaded with thread so that you don't have to stop to re-thread every few minutes. Just pick up the next needle and go!
- I started all major sections with waste knots that were clipped off against the fabric so that there were no loose threads hanging on the back. All threads were ended by running under adjacent stitches and clipped very close.
