Today I Grid

[Livingdeadgirl]

Today I grid for the very first time. The project is already started but I plan to try and grid the rest of the project.

I have watched the videos
I have read forums, websites and tons of tutorials....

Now I ask....any tips ? anything you have done that you are NEVER doing again because it was a pain?
How about a neat trick that will make my life easier?

Anything at all will be great...I'm quite nervous!

My only real question at this point is should I or shouldn't I remove the grid lines when I finish? Or can I even pull them out afterwards (some how I envision the threads snapping when I attempt to yank them out!)

FYI I am using a light pink thread to grid , in 100% contrast to the picture.

This is my project prior to gridding!

Spoiler

[MeiTow]

I tried gridding with floss and it was a nightmare. The floss kept getting in my way and I had a heck of a time getting it out when I got fed up with it. I would suggest buying one of the washable gridding pens instead of using floss.

[RMDC]

I use a washable embroidery marker to pre-grid larger projects, with the caveat that trusted sources - among them this forum's own very knowledgeable Eliste - warn about the possibility of permanent stains. Then again, this is a full-coverage piece, so it may not matter to you.

[funkymonkey]

The only floss gridding I did that was useful was to outline a project; I did a wide running stitch around the border going through the fabric every 10 squares, which really helped with counting across large areas. I don't think you'd want to stitch on top of floss gridding; seems like it would be impossible to pull it out later.

[Eliste]

I *somewhat* grid, in that I always mark my center lines with floss.

My biggest suggestion is TAKE IT OUT AS YOU GO!!

I've tried leaving them in. The difficulty is they get smooshed, and caught, and half stitched into your project and become an utter nightmare to get rid of once they're fully stitched around. And if they're in a color that doesn't match? God help you trying to get that out once its stitched. I once tried to get yellow out of a brown/red/white/black based project and to this day if you know what you're looking for, you can still see remnants of the yellow guidelines.

What I usually do is begin pull them out, but don't cut them all the way off. You can still see where your line is if you lie it back down, but you can move it out of the way while you're actually stitching.

Having said this, I still really prefer the floss method to the pens. If you're interested, I can take photos of what I mean when I get home.

[Eliste]

that trusted sources - among them this forum's own very knowledgeable Eliste

No pressure, no pressure... =P

[Livingdeadgirl]

Thank you all so very much!

I am hesitant to use pen, washable or not as I don't wish to forever stain it by accident!

Thanks for guide about removing vs keeping them in!

I think I've got a better grasp on this now

[Livingdeadgirl]

OMGGGGG!! This gridding skill is insane!

I finally got the kahunas to do my grid.

I counted
counted
counted
checked
counted
pinned
highlighted
counted
and came up wrong again and again annd again!

I was so frustrated!!

I do not know how all you do this on EVERY project!


Finally I stepped back.......watched some tv......breathed......

and went back and found (finallllllly) my mistake and fixed it....two hours after starting my first row of stitching is in....and in the right spot.


what an experience.

maybe after a break i can go back and grid the rest.

i give major props to you all who do this all the time

[cirestan]

I've never gridded(?) before, but after I finish the page I'm on of my current project, I may throw in some pieces of floss and give it a shot.
It will help me get into the design a little further and knock out some of those big sections first.

[Livingdeadgirl]

try it i am enjoying it ( the project ) now that it is gridded but mannnnn getting that """lovely""" grid on was not easy!