Type of Cross Stitch Needles

Before we make our own design, we need first know the different cross stitch needles and its purpose. Like the Crewel  needles, Chenille needles, and Tapestry needles.

The specific needle to choose depends on the embroidery technique, the floss or yarn used and the fabric being stitched. A number represents the size of the needle: the higher the number, the smaller the needle. All of these types have larger eyes than regular sewing needles, a must for using with floss.

• Crewel (embroidery) needles are sharp pointed and range in size from 1 to 10. These are used for standard embroidery stitched on common fabric such as stamped designs on pillow cases, and towels.

• Chenille needles are also sharp pointed and range in size from 13 to 26. Longer, thicker and with larger eyes, these make a good choice for embroidery with heavier yarn.

• Tapestry needles also range in size from 13 to 26. Blunt rather than sharp, these make an ideal choice for counted cross stitch. 
  
  

  Purpose of Cross Stitch Needles

 

The purpose of a cross stitch needle is to open the weave of the fabric so the floss can easily pass through. If the needle is too small, the floss will fray a little more each time it is pulled through the cloth. On the other hand, too large a needle can can distort the small holes in any even weave material with a thread count higher than 18.

 Cross Stitch for Beginners

Cross stitch is not new. In fact it's been around for hundreds of years in one form or another. Today there is a wonderful variety of both modern and traditional cross stitch designs available for stitchers. If you would like to learn cross stitch and play a part in this tradition we invite you to take a look through different lessons tutorial for beginners, and try it for yourself.

How to Start:

It is best to center the cross stitch design by starting in the middle so that your stitching fits onto the piece of fabric without going off to one side. An easy way to do this is to lightly fold the fabric in four to find the center point. This point should coincide with the center of the chart, which is normally marked with arrows at the top, bottom and sides. The center of the design is normally the best place to start stitching. Most stranded cotton threads are made up of six strands. Separate these out into the correct number of strands for stitching. The color key shows which shade of cotton to use for each symbol on the chart. 

Start your first design:

Start Stitching To begin the cross stitch, thread your needle and bring it up through the fabric, leaving a short end of cotton at the back, and work over this with your first few stitches to secure it. When there are enough stitches in place you can start off a new color by first running it through the back of the existing stitches. To finish a color, run your cotton under several stitches at the back to secure it.

Working a single cross stitch The fabric shown in the diagram on the left is aida, and it is very popular for cross stitch. This is a block weave fabric, with a hole at the corners of each block, which is nice and easy to work. Imagine that each block is represented by one square on the chart. To make one cross stitch: bring the needle up through hole 1, down through hole 2, then up through hole 3, and finally down through hole 4.

Working a row of cross stitch To make a row of cross  stitches: work across the fabric in the order shown on the top part of the diagram on the top, and then back to complete the crosses as shown on the bottom part. Always cross over in the same direction. It is quicker to work cross stitches in rows wherever possible.Try not to join up separate areas of the same color with long runs of thread at the back of the work. This is not only unorganized and may show through the fabric at the front, but will probably mean you will run out of the thread supplied in the cross stitch kit. It is better to cut and fasten off your thread at the back of the needle work as normal, and start again at the new area of the design.

Working a Row of Half Cross Stitch Many projects now have areas worked in half cross stitch, for example to give a "soft focus" background. This stitch is literally half of a cross stitch (up through 1 and down through 2), as shown on the left.

Work a row of Back Stitch To make a row of back stitches: bring the needle up at 1, down at 2, up at 3, and down at 4, and so on, as shown on the diagram on the left. Notice that 1 and 4 use the same hole. Back stitch is used to great effect on many designs to represent and bring out areas of stitching, adding drama and sharpness to the needle work. It is basically a row of stitches, maked on the chart by a row of lines. The back stitch is not normally worked until the cross stitch has been completed.Back stitch is often worked with just a single strand of thread.

Working Part Stitches It is sometimes necessary to have more than one color on a single block of fabric. Imagine a cross stitch design with a dark grey sloping roof and a blue sky above it. If the roof slopes from the right up to the left the designer will often make a part stitch of blue in the top right of the fabric block and a grey part stitch in the bottom left of the same block. Where two colors share one square on the chart, work a 3/4 stitch in the more prominent shade, and complete the block with a 1/4 stitch of the other shade, as shown in the diagram on the left. Make your own hole with the needle in the center of the block. The combination of 1/4 stitch and 3/4 stitch often looks better than two 3/4 stitches, where you end up with a bulky four strands across the middle of a block of fabric.

Cross Stitch Needles and Threads Cross Stitch Needle Cross Stitch Thread Good quality color-fast stranded cottons such as Anchor or DMC are a great advantage. Most stitchers cut their threads into approximately  1/2 meter, unless they are already supplied in per-cut lengths. This is a convenient amount of thread on the needle and avoids tangling and other problems. Different cross stitch effects can be obtained by using different numbers of strands. However, on many projects you will find 3 or 4 strands used or 11 count fabric, 2 or 3 strands on 14 count, and 2 strands on 16 and 18 count fabrics to give a good coverage. Tapestry needles are ideal for cross stitch. This is because they have a rounded point which goes easily through the holes without splitting the fabric. Use size 22 for 11-count fabric, size 24 for 14-count fabric, size 26 for 16-count and 18-count fabric, and size 28 for finer fabrics.When you have finished, be sure to trim any long loose ends carefully, so that they do not show through the fabric when your picture is framed.

Hoops and Frames Most people use an embroidery hoop or small tapestry frame to hold their cross stitch fabric. This keeps the fabric tight and makes the project easier to handle while being worked. Also the hoop or frame can be held in a stand, which leaves both your hands free. This will allow you to work with one hand under the fabric and one over, which is generally more efficient, and saves the strain of having to hold the work while stitching it. There are several advantages of a frame for cross stitch, as against an embroidery hoop. The top of the needle work is attached to the top bar, and the bottom to the bottom bar. This makes it easy with larger projects, to "roll up" the next section for stitching, rather than having to remove the fabric from the hoop to reposition it. It also avoids the circular marks on the finished cross stitch project, which often result from handling the hoop.

 

 

Why I am Passionate About Cross Stitching?

As a cross stitcher, making our on design is our own passion. We use our own design in expressing our own emotions and feelings. We also use our design in releaving our own stress in some instances. As a cross stitcher, our own comfort time is when we make our designs.  This is our life make and make a cross stitch designs until we are satisfy.  

CROSS STITCHING: (for cross stitch pattern). It is the simplest form of embroidery because designs are created by combining multiply X-shaped stitches. If a designer can stitch an X, he or she can make a cross stitch designs.

(My first design)

(My second design)

(My third design)

                       

MY DESIGN: By looking at the cross stitches hanging at the walls at our house, my memories brought me back 

to when I was still a first timer in doing cross stitch. I have been a cross stitcher since I was in elementary. I started with the Silvester design for my first design. At first, I feel uneasy with my design. I spent hours and hours, days and nights patiently stitching to complete my Silvester design. But the days later when I learned a lot about cross stitching, I made myself comfortable in making my first design. I completed it and I framed it and hung it at wall of my bedroom. But unfortunately, my first design was destroy by the typhoon. From then, I make more designs and all that comes with a hobby. Until today, I make a design for my mother as my Christmas present.

The use of Database system in the IT society

    As we go deeper into the Information Age, we are beginning to realize that information is fast becoming a very valuable commodity that is bought and sold like other precious resources such as oil, and gold. In fact, experts are predicting that information will become one of the most important resources in the next millennium. If the Industrial Age was fuelled by natural resources, the resource that will fuel the Information Age will be information.

     Information is the end result of processing huge quantities of data -  the building blocks of information. To harness the power of information, one must have access to data from which they are based on. But before data can be used to produce information, it must first be stored and maintained in large quantities in repositories known as databases. Database and related systems allow for the retrieval, storage, and processing to information of data when and where it needed.

     Learning how databases and related system work is the first step in harnessing the power of information. The skills and knowledge that you will acquire from this undertaking will make you not just an end- user of information, but one who is capable of creating information. 

What is Database System?

     A database system is an system for maintaining records. It provides users with several facilities to perform a variety of operations such as:

• add new information
• delete existing information
• update existing information

    In addition, it is also used to maintain and retrieve information whenever it is needed. Moreover, database systems are typically used to manage huge quantities of data like a country's voters' list. Data management includes defining the storage structure of the information and means that will enable the users to manipulate the stored information.

     In general, a database system is nothing more than a collection of related data. By this definition, the names, address, and telephone numbers of friends that a student keeps in an address book can be considered as a database. Another example of a database system under this definition is the card catalog system which contains information about the books and other resource materials in a library.

    Database system can vary in terms of size and complexity. The information stored in an address book is relatively small and simple. On the other hand, the subscribers listed in the telephone directory is greater in size but is still simple in terms of structure because the names of subscribers are simple arranged alphabetically; it can also be arranged according to regions, provinces, and municipality.

    The collection of information stored in a database system at a given point in time is called an instance of the database. The over- all design of a database system is called the database scheme or schema.

     Typically, the previous examples are manually created and maintained. On the other hand, there are database system examples which can also be created and maintained by using a machine- a computer to be specific. Here are some examples: first, a small library can store information about its collection in a desktop computer. Second, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) can make use of an entire computerized system to create and maintain  the voter's list.

      A database can be thought of as an integrated system designed primarily to minimizes, if not eliminate the repetition of data. The  files of a database system are part of an  over all software package. The software package creates, manages, and accesses the different files in a database system. It also contains a pool of structured data that can be shared by multiple users. Users are provided with data models to define the logical structure of data and data languages to define and manipulate the data according to the logical structure of the data model.

How Computers Work?

For a computer to work,three things are necessary:

1. Hardware are the pieces of equipment that make up the computer.
2. Software or program it tells the computer what it is the instructions that tell the computer on how it to perform its tasks.
3. Peopleware is the person wh the tasks it should perform.

  This process is on how the computers are run:

   First, you enter data or information into the computer. This is called input. The computer then process the data to perform the required task. When it is finished, the computer gives you the results. the results are called output. a computer also stores your work for you nto use it agin or make changes to it at another time. If you want to make your projects, her's how the computer can help you:

Input:

   Selecting the right software

  To make a project you need to use a type of software called a word processing software. This can be selected using the keyboard or a mouse.

   EnteringData

  Once you are in the right program, you can begin to input your project by toping on the keyboard. The backspace and delete keys are like electronic erasers. In addition to letters and numbers, the keyboard has special keys for centering or underlining words, moving sentences around, checking speling, printing out a page and doing other tasked. When you nhit one of these keys, the word processing program tells the computer what to do.

Processing:

   Inside the computer

  The instructions from the word processing program are carried out inside the computer by the central processing unit or CPU. The CPU is the computer's brain.

Storage:

  Keeping Date to Use it Later

  A computer also stores information that you want to use later. Suppose you want to stop working on in making your project, you can live it for some purpose.

 Hard Disk

  Inside most computers is a hard drive. the hard drive contains a hard drive made of metal that cannot be removed. This disk holds much more information than a flash drive and works faster. The hard disk stores the programs you need and also stores the information you want to save.

Output:

  Getting the Results

  The monitor and printer are the most commonly used output devices. As you type your project, the words appear on a monitor, which is similar to a television screen. Your project can be printed on paper by using printer.

How computers are used

Today's high powered computers can do things in a few seconds that would take a person working by hand days, or even years, to do.In today's world, the use of computers is so important, How the computers are use?

   

Computers help People Learn.

• Educational programs teach subjects like math, spelling, and researching.
• The computers can keep track of a students progress.

Computers Help People to Communicate

•  Computers are used to write reports for school, to write letters to a friends or to the family, and to write stories.
• Computers are also used to create newspapers, magazines, and books
• People use computers to send a electronic mail(e-mail), sometimes across the continent or to other countries.
• People who cannot speak can use keyboard messages that the computer translates into speech, and people who cannot type can speak into a computer, which translates their speech into text.

Computers Help People Create

• People are using computers to create artwork and music or to design buildings that use by the engineers.
• Special effects that appear in moves and television are often created with the use of the computers.

Computers Keep Information Organized

• Computers keep track of the information in files called database. For examples, from the National Bureau of Investigation(NBI) database, police departments can get information about criminals or stolen goods from all around the Philippines.

Computers Help Make Predictions

• Companies use computer programs to predict how the business decisions they make will affect them in the future.
• Special computer programs use data collections from satellites to help forecast the weather, like PAGASA, they can predict where the typhoons are going to landfall.

Computers are Use to Manufacture Products

• Companies use Computer-Aided Design(CAD) software to create detailed drawings of an object and then test it to see how to make it stronger or cheaper.
• Computers can be used to control machinery used to make parts or to control robots that assemble the parts.

Computers aren't Just Found on Desk

• Computers are used in automatic teller machines at the backs and with the price scanner at the supermarket checkout.
• Automobiles, micro waves ovens,and digital watches all have built-in computers.