Message Boards

My dd received a box of cross stitch stuff. Among the things in there. There was some cloth that you stitch on but it has a blue thread running through it every so often. and does'nt know what it is for. Can you help us out so that I can let her know. Thanks for any info you can offer.

Is it actual cloth or a very loosely woven, stiff material? If you count the threads in between the blue threads are there the number of threads counted per inch? Cross stitch comes in everything from 6 to 32 threads per inch and the package it comes in or the instructions will say what the count is.

If it's stiff, loosely woven fabric that is probably waste cloth and made to place over another fabric that doesn't have defined places for the "x"s then once the cross stitch is finished, you wet the fabric and pull the top threads out.

Other than those 2 ideas, I've no clue. Maybe someone else will know.

There is Counted Cross Stitch, and then there
Cross Stitch, which may be small X's, sometimes called cross stitch, which comes with embroidery.
The counted CrossStitch is usually on a fabric where you count the stitches. Or on plastic grids, which come in 7 stitches to the inch, or 10 Stitches or 18, or 20 and so on. Sometimes it can be a paper with holes that have Gold or Silver on one side.
I have tried all kinds and it is very restful to work on.
And then there are the blanket types that have squares on them to separate the focal pictures.
If this isn't enough information, perhaps you can check in a store that has all the different types. But be careful it is addicting.
Hope you find out what it is you have.
nuquiltr

I agree with the idea that if it's stiff, it's probably waste canvas.

Another idea is that if the blue threads are every 10 squares on the fabric, that it is set up to match the grid on the x-stitch chart. It helps keep the stitcher on track with the chart — wonderfully helpful if it's a really complicated piece.

It sounds like tear away. The blue lines should be every so many squares. It is used to do counted cross patterns on fabric not otherwise suited to cross stitch. You hand baste to whatever you want to do the cross, then pull the threads free and the cross stitch remains. It would be easier to identify with a picture. Quilter Chris

It does sound like a waste canvas. I saw some in Michaels the other day. I didn't think they made it any more.

Thanks to everyone that offered me info. I will let DD know what was said. I also thought of the pullaway or waste cloth when she asked. But it has been a while since I did cross stitch .Again thanks to each one of you.