Linen from a Fabric Store; can you stitch on it?

Blackhat

I have been wondering about this one for a while. Buying linen from a cross-stitch shop is expensive, and you never get very much. Also, there's the limitation of what colors you can get... has anyone tried buying linen (or linen-look) fabric by the yard from a fabric shop that sells it in bolts? If so, have you had any luck stitching on it? Is there a certain kind to look for, or some process to prepare the fabric to make it easier to stitch on?

Maybe this is a common practice among you expert stitchers, but I'm still a novice. :P Please let me know!

mardy

It may not be even, same number of threads per inch going up or side to side.  It depends how precise the pattern needs to be

htsear13

Following this thread

manolimu

Siguiendo este hilo

Knitpurlsm

Thanks for the info!

manolimu

Thank you very much!

lindakfr

I think linen is linen regardless of where you buy it. Just look for a good quality linen and try a piece.

Blackhat

lindakfr replied at 2012-3-28 08:17

                               
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I think linen is linen regardless of where you buy it. Just look for a good quality linen and try a  ...

I did actually try a piece I had on hand, but the fibers making up the grid slid around and didn't hold the floss at even the lightest tension. I'm wondering if maybe I had the wrong thing, or the wrong weave...?

HollyBlue

Linen does that anyway - I always stitch over 2 with linen - never been able to stitch over 1 and have it make a cross.

Blackhat

HollyBlue replied at 2012-3-28 12:12

                               
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Linen does that anyway - I always stitch over 2 with linen - never been able to stitch over 1 and ha ...

Nuts, really? It seems like the expensive stuff I got from an actual embroidery shop (on sale -- because I'm a cheapass ;P) held it's form. I wonder if you just have to starch regular linen to get it that way...?

(Maybe if I did stitch over just one it would help keep the threads form bowing together...?)

stitchspider

To me they are the same. I do use my mother's cheat:  Iron and starch linen before sewing, on it seems to help keep the fabric taunt when stitching.  

Blackhat

stitchspider replied at 2012-9-16 21:52

                               
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To me they are the same. I do use my mother's cheat:  Iron and starch linen before sewing, on it see ...

Iron first, then starch? Or the other way around? (Really want to learn how to use this method; specialty fabric is getting ridiculously expensive.) Thank you. ^^

stitchspider

Blackhat replied at 2012-9-16 17:20

                               
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Iron first, then starch? Or the other way around? (Really want to learn how to use this method; sp ...

I do it all at once.  When I do it I iron, spray with starch and iron flat again. (I just use a small spray bottle filled with water and a half tablespoon of cornstarch )  This is optional though, it just makes it easier for me to sew. I do this to the linen from kits too.  

Blackhat

stitchspider replied at 2012-9-17 05:25

                               
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I do it all at once.  When I do it I iron, spray with starch and iron flat again. (I just use a sm ...

Woo hoo! I got cornstarch and I got an empty spraybottle right here! Thanks very much for the instructions! :D

Verank

Thank you for the tip- I wanted to work on linen but it seems way to difficult.