Guide to Materials

Materials
Here is a list of most of the materials I have used for the various charts and kits I have designed. I have given a brief description for each of the materials and I’ve included reasons why I have chosen them. If you ever have any questions about the materials or the charts, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the website.

Where to Buy
I have become a huge fan of internet shopping, and presumably, as you are visiting my site, you have too!
I purchase 98% of my fabric, threads, beads etc form large internet retailers. The benefits of shopping this way are: a wide choice of materials; competitive prices; time to browse; quick delivery and easy payment methods. The down sides are that sometimes it is hard to see the true colours of materials on your screen and if your order is bulky, the postage costs can be high.
However, it is also good to support your local retailer, who may offer free advice and take a friendly interest in the project you are working on.

Buying Fabric
Fabric is usually sold by the fat quarter (approx 22inches), half metre or metre, with the length being dependant on how much you need.
If you require very small pieces of fabric, some shops sell little packs of off-cuts, but buying this way can be hit & miss to find the right size, colour and count that you require.
Remember, never throw out left over fabric – you never know when it will come in useful!

Fabric
I have mostly used Aida fabric for my designs. It is easy to use for a number of reasons. Firstly, the fabric is divided into squares, making it very easy to count your stitches. Aida comes in a wide variety of ‘counts’ (the number of holes per inch). Generally speaking, the most popular size is 14 count (14 holes across one inch). The higher the count number, the more holes per inch and the smaller the design will appear.
For some of my designs I have used 18 count. The reason for this choice has been because the design fits better on a smaller count, or because the stitches have a more snug fit. This can be useful in designs which have large blocks of colour as the light can sometimes show through the design.
All the designs can be worked on any count of fabric, just remember that the higher the count number, the smaller the finished design will be. During the design process, I have worked with different count sizes, so the size I recommend in the chart instructions, will be the best one to use. But the choice is entirely yours!
Another reason for choosing Aida, particularly 14 count, is the vast range of colours it comes in. Lots of my designs use white or antique white, but I do like to try, where possible, to experiment with other fabric colours.
Aida is quite a stiff fabric to work on, but softens quickly with use.

I haven’t used linen in any of my designs so far. I find more skill and patience is needed with this fabric! You have to count over the individual threads to find the holes and you need to be careful not to pull the thread too tightly (or leave it too loose) because the linen will pucker up. It has to be said though, that linen, when worked on skillfully, looks beautiful. It can give your work of more old fashioned feel, which can look superb with samplers.
I would suggest you experiment with small pieces of different fabrics and counts, using simple designs. You can purchase small bags of off-cuts from my online store. Your fabric, thread and time will not be wasted, because these small samples can be used to make cards, bookmarks or keyrings. Have a go!