22 Count

I an seeing that some of you are doing your projects on 22 count.

Is this true?
The patterns are difficult, but 22 count would that make them impossible?
It would give the picture more depth, is this correct,?
And images would be quit clear?
What brand of fabric is best?
Wish someone had a comparison between 22 count and say 18 count?
How did the idea come up to use 22 count?

Thanks for answering for answering

I am using 22ct for my Lady & Unicorn (and have used it for lots of other things, as well). I use the Charles Craft brand that I can get locally at Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, or Michaels - any of the big box stores that carry stitching (not sure where in the world you are - but you should be able to get it from numerous online shops if you are outside the US). I can't compare other brands - I don't use enough aida of any count to have a preference (other than I rarely use aida for anything anymore, except full-coverage pieces like SQ).

I chose it primarily to keep the finished piece size down - framing is EXPENSIVE! As a side effect, it does make the detail very sharp. In deep confetti areas (which is pretty much ALL of the Lady & Unicorn series), it can be tight to get the 2 strands through, but I have always used 2 strands on 22ct, even for non-SQ designs - I just tend to bend/break more needles on L&U

I am starting another SQ in a week or two, and this one, I've chosen a 20ct aida - have never used it before, no idea who the maker is; WIchelt, probably. I got it at 1-2-3 Stitch: http://www.123stitch.com/ I don't expect it to be much different from the 22ct. To the naked eye, I can see zero difference - we'll see if that's true when I actually put my first stitches in

By way of comparison, I have a set of Santas that I did - it is the exact same pattern, in 3 different colors. I did each one on a different count of fabric. The Red Santa is on 14ct, the Yellow Santa is on 18ct, the Blue Santa is on 22 - maybe this will help you compare: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rifestitch/8330846391/in/set-72157632398646146

Hope this helps! What are you working on or planning to work on?

"rifestitch"
I knew you'd be able to give a comprehensive answer...

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Originally posted by Picture_stitcher
I an seeing that some of you are doing your projects on 22 count.

Is this true?
The patterns are difficult, but 22 count would that make them impossible?
It would give the picture more depth, is this correct,?
And images would be quit clear?
What brand of fabric is best?
Wish someone had a comparison between 22 count and say 18 count?
How did the idea come up to use 22 count?

Thanks for answering for answering

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I use 22-count for my SQ designs simply because the smaller the stitches are, the less pixelated the finished picture is. Beings are there is no backstitching to help define any areas of the design, it is only defined by the shading of the stitching. You can quite clearly see that in Rifestitch's picture of her different sized Santas