getting set up

Even though I have enough floss to stitch a million squares, I always like to start each project with a fresh batch (probably why I have enough floss to stitch a million squares!) It's relatively cheap (especially when you hit a sale) and the colors are so yummy. I let Alfredo help me pick so some of the colors are new to my palette. And, for the record, he's just like a little me. He said "pick this blue...it's yummy!" So I encourage you to indulge in a new palette yourself...be like a kid in a candy shop and show little restraint.

I indulged a little with the fabric too....

Instead of my usual Osnaburg (a very inexpensive unbleached linen utility fabric), I decided to stitch this grid sampler on this beautiful pure linen in a soft bubblegummy pink. This is going to be a big sampler that I'll invest a lot of time into...I just wanted to stitch on something special this time.

Also, since it is such a big sampler (100 squares) I'm going to draw the grid and stitch it first. Sometimes the grid disappears or gets a little wonky when I stretch the fabric onto the hoop. If I start out with the grid already stitched it'll help me keep it all square. I'm going to stitch the grid in a pink close to the color of the fabric.

Here's how I draw the grid...I use a straight edge ruler that's roughly 1" wide. I lay the ruler on the fabric even with the weave of the fabric and draw a line the width of the sampler (in my case, about 10"). With the ruler still in the same place, I also draw a line along the bottom of the ruler. I use that line to line up the next line, and so on and so on, until I have all of the horizontal lines of my grid. I repeat the same for the vertical lines, being extra sure that the first line is along the grain, as perfectly perpendicular to the horizontal line as possible.

I'll draw my grid today and start stitching it in.