This meme came up on the LJ cross_stitch group, and I figured since I don’t talk about my stitching very often this would be a good way to let you all know some things about how I go about it.

1. How do you hold your fabric?
I used to stitch in hand, but then I ended up with cubital tunnel so now I use Q-snaps that someone on the BAPXS yahoo list gave me.

2. Floss licker?
Nope. I use Thread Heaven on my BAPs, and on some of my more important smaller pieces.

3. How do you thread your needle?
With those funny-shaped Boye threaders. Mostly because they are less likely than the wire ones to break, and cheap enough to replace when I inevitably lose them.

4. What needle do you like best?
Size 28, of any kind. Needles don’t last long enough for me to be attached to anything in particular since my skin reacts with them and they get tarnished and rough, or I manage to break them.

5. Are you a needle loser?
Most definitely. I usually end up finding them in the sofa (if I find them at all). A few days ago I put one in the arm of a chair while reaching for the scissors and it disappeared into the stuffing. I’m sure that’s happened before without my noticing.

6. What fabric do you prefer to stitch on?
Anything, really. It tends to depend on the project.

7. Bobbins or floss bags?
Bobbins, because if I kept things in bags I’d lose them or the cats would eat them. It’s harder to lose an entire bobbin case.

8. Are you a scissors collector?
Nope. I have a cheapo pair of stork scissors that barely hold together anymore (these get the most use, and have come in contact with children) and a pair of expensive chrome stork scissors that I treasure. Any others are kid scissors from wherever.

9. Do you do your own framing, and if so, do you lace or pin?
I’ve laced a project once, and never pinned one. But I didn’t frame it. I made it into a book cover.

10. Are you a floss floozy?
I don’t think so. I can’t really afford to buy floss at random. I am collecting all the DMC colours though, buying a hundred or so every time they go on sale.

11. Silk?
I have yet to use silk floss, but if it’s anything like silk roving I’m sure I’ll love it when I finish school and can start using it.

12. Railroader?
No, but only because I’m working on BAPs that I started before I knew what that was. Rather than having the more recent areas looking neater than the rest I am going to start railroading when I finish one and start my HAED.

13. Are you a pattern or designer snob?
That depends. I really like detailed, complicated patterns so I’m currently working on two Teresa Wentzler pieces, and I’ve done some of her smaller pieces as well. But it’s not as if I’ll only work on her stuff. I’ve got a HAED lined up for later and I’m sure I’ll branch out more once that is done. For smaller pieces I’ll work on anything as long as I like it. Though mostly I make my own designs for small stuff.

14. Do you get antsy when you give someone a stitched gift?
A little. I only give pieces away to people who I know will appreciate them, but even so there’s some apprehension since they are usually surprise gifts.

15. Have you reached S.A.B.L.E.?
No way. I’ve been stitching for 15 years and in all this time I still manage to only have a couple pieces going at once and two or three lined up. I don’t get the supplies for a piece until I start it either.

16. Do you wash your projects?
Yes. Sometimes partway through if it has gotten dirty, otherwise when I am done. It seems to help even things out and make the overall look more polished.