Cross Stitch Finish: Seeking Refuge

A bit after Covid hit I started this cross stitch piece….

I loved it the second I saw it and wanted to stitch it.  I found it online and a kit was available so I just clicked the “buy the whole kit” button and it came in the mail…ordering online like that is so slick..and dangerous.

Well I started stitching immediately.  I started with the diamond row.  I was so nervous.  I hadn’t stitched on 40 count linen much and I was so worried I wouldn’t stick with it.  I started watching television more and more in the evening so I could stitch…I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed stitching…and the saying on this, so perfect with Covid and the year I’ve had.

Well I finally finished it about 3 months later.  I love it.

Working on 40 count linen wasn’t a problem…stitching the tiny one thread of floss over one string of the linen was even okay.  I was so proud of myself…but then it was time to finish it…and I stalled out.

I did get to the thrift store a couple weeks ago and found this frame….

Well there were actually two of them and they were 50 cents each.  I was imagining them being black.  I ended up buying both of them as Kelli has the same cross stitch piece and if the frame worked, I was guessing she’d like one.  I guessed on the size, bought them both and happily I was right.  What a steal at 50 cents per frame.

First up, I painted the frame.  It needed two coats…

After it was dry, I ironed the piece.  I always start out ironing from the back side.  People say to use a pressing cloth.  People say to not iron the front.  People say not to use spray starch.  I ignore all of that.  But please, do what you think is best….my way works for me and I’m willing to take the risk.

Here it is all pressed and ready to go.

For small pieces, I use sticky board but for larger, classic pieces, I lace them.  Lacing isn’t hard but it’s something many people dread.  Here’s how I do it….

I start with a long piece of heavy weight thread and a needle.  I wrap the piece around as shown and start stitching…..

After a few stitches I flip it over to the front.  You can see that it isn’t centered at all.

That is no big deal.  All I do is take my thumb in a pinch/move motion and adjust the fabric.  It’s really easy to manipulate the piece to the place you need it to be.  For me, my goal was one inch from all sides.

I took a ruler and measured it out manipulating as I went until it was in place.

Then I flip it back over and continue lacing.  I lace to the right on the center…then when my thread runs out, I start again on the left side of the center always alternating left or right as the thread runs out.

Before long, I’m finished with that vertical and tie my thread off.

Then I do the same thing only work the opposite direction.  Again, I start in the middle then work to the right or left alternating as my thread runs out…again, I flip to the front and manipulate the piece as needed to center it using the pinch/move motion.  It really isn’t hard…

From there I popped it into the frame.  I put all of the “other stuff”, picture, matting and glass, behind the stitched piece so when I flip the tabs over that hold the picture in place, they will hold tight.

Now the moment of truth…TA_DA!!

I love it and the frame was perfect.  WOW…50 cents and some paint…what a perfect frame.

Check out the details on the frame.  I love it.  It looks so much better than the icky gold color it was.  I am so please with it.

Here I am all smiles and happy to have it completely finished.  All I can say is I’m one happy girl.

I’m calling this complete and totally finished…and I am officially calling myself a cross stitcher again.  I can’t tell you how happy I am that I came back to it.