Thread Usage on Huge Projects

I am currently stitching Heraldic Chivalry (my first big project) and 99% of the piece is done in blended threads. I am finding that I am wasting yards of thread because in a lot of places there is only one stitch needed in a certain color, however, if any other stitches close by are in the same color then I work those also. I have just started 6" of thread for the lonely stitches and that is working pretty well, but I would appreciate any other hints, otherwise this puppy is going to cost me a fortune in thread.

Thanks a bunch!
Tink

How far are you carrying your threads to reach the other stitches? When you have heavy confetti (scattered ones & twos of a symbol), you can either use the parking method, or stop & start where it is too far to carry. Parking uses more thread than stopping & starting, in my experience.

I never carry more than an inch to reach the next stitch, so I do have lots of starts & stops - the Lady & Unicorn charts are ALL confetti If I feel the need to carry a little further, I'll weave my needle under the surrounding threads on the way to that stitch, to better anchor it and stabilize the tension.

It'll depend on your stitching style how much thread you actually use, but yeah, these things do use a lot. You can go to the Tips section here and read up on the pinhead stitch, which will give you a great way to start those remote (and all) stitches with little waste.

I keep little lengths of my blends - if it's 2" long, I can get a single stitch out of it, maybe 2 (on 22ct). And depending on what count fabric you are using - I assume Meredith's floss usage chart is based on 18ct - you may need more than listed (if using less than 18ct) or less (if using higher than 18 ) - again depending on your stitching style. I think the floss usage chart is pretty generous if you DON'T park, depending on the design.

Did you buy according to the floss usage chart?

Thank you so much Rifestich for your help, I did go to the 'tip' section and found a lot of useful hints. I now know that I've been 'parking', which I found to be an easier way to stop and start when you are working on a 4 foot wide scroll rod. Like you, I do only carry my threads about an inch or so behind the fabric and then when I am finished with said color I pull the thread to the front. The thread then gets anchored underneath when I work with the next color as I stitch from the top and left to right, marking off ten rows at a time, I like to see the picture grow.

One of my christmas gifts from my husband last year was two of every color DMC made - is he a catch or what? I had used some of the colors making L&L Celtic Ladies, but I still only had to replenish to the smallest degree. But I can see it's going to be a lot of trips to the store for this baby, but I'm having a blast doing it.

I love the expression 'confetti', I'm getting a real education on this board what with asking the meaning of BAP, I spent about an hour laughing that that one. I'm so grateful for this forum because although I've been cross-stitching for a number of years to be able to interact with experienced stitchers like yourself gives me so much information that I have missed but going it alone. Thank you again.

Tink

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Originally posted by Tinkerbell

One of my christmas gifts from my husband last year was two of every color DMC made - is he a catch or what? I had used some of the colors making L&L Celtic Ladies, but I still only had to replenish to the smallest degree. But I can see it's going to be a lot of trips to the store for this baby, but I'm having a blast doing it.

Tink

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Glad I could help!! One thing you have to watch, is making sure the DMC you are currently working with matches the dye lots of anything you need to go buy! DMC is verrrryyy good about keeping them stable, but there is always a chance they aren't quite the same - if it's been sitting in the store for a while, flourescent lights and sunlight can fade it a bit (though likely not noticeably - unless it's some reallllly old stuff ). Though, to be honest, of yours is anything like L&U, no one will ever know - including yourself, once you stop looking at it for a bit

Good luck with the parking! I did it for a year and a half, then stopped - it wasn't worth the time & effort to me. Now I stop & start as needed, following a symbol until it or the thread runs out

Okay, I must be having blonde, senior moment (they are the worst), because I do exactly as you do, I follow the symbols until they or the thread runs out - so basically I guess I'm not parking after all - this cross-stitch language is so difficult to learn.

Hey Tink, I've been wondering about thread usage myself. I'm usually a follow one colour kind of gal, but recently have been teaching myself the whole parking thing, still haven't perfected it so I'm sure I'm usuing more thread than I strictly need to. But I'm not one to end a thread prematurely and will carry it a fair distance just for the sake of conveneince (I don't have a problem with neatness though, all my carry-overs are discreetly tucked in behind exiting stitches.

I did make a suggestion to Meredith a while back that she give us an approximation of the blend floss requirements so we would know how much of a blend we need to make up (like you, I have a single colour on so many different holders in different blends that it uses much more than is really necessary), but I guess she hasn't found a way of doing this yet. I think it would be really helpful.

I bought a couple of thread organizes from Brit Stitch and while they were expensive and you need a whole lot of needles to use them effectively, it sure makes it easier to be organized, not waste thread and not spend as much time re-threading needles, etc. I've now purchased six (6) of them and each one holds 50 different thread combinations. I don't know what I would do without them now.

http://www.britstitch.com/Pako.html

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Originally posted by Tinkerbell
I am currently stitching Heraldic Chivalry (my first big project) and 99% of the piece is done in blended threads. I am finding that I am wasting yards of thread because in a lot of places there is only one stitch needed in a certain color, however, if any other stitches close by are in the same color then I work those also. I have just started 6" of thread for the lonely stitches and that is working pretty well, but I would appreciate any other hints, otherwise this puppy is going to cost me a fortune in thread.
Thanks a bunch!
Tink

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Hi Tink, Thought I would add a belated 2 cents worth. I always cut my threads 18" or so. That is about 2 pulls out of the hank. It doesn't matter if I am going to do one stitch or 100. It is always 18". What is not used is threaded through the number of the blend on an extra symbol colour code page that I print off. I showed that page as a picture somewhere on here.. I don't have an issue with threading the needle, so it is just the threads on the page. I know some stitchers leave all the blends on needles. The thread is there ready next time I come to that symbol. LIke Rife, I keep any thread that would be long enough for one stitch. Approx. 2". This way I think I am getting the maximum use out of my threads with minimum wastage. (BTW I don't put my threads on a card. I keep them in the hanks in plastic bags (number put on the bag) and put them in order on large ring. When I need colours I take them off and put them on another ring that stays with my work.)
HOpe this makes sense to you.