B22—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, Dacambar 17,1983
You can say almost anything in a
counted cross-stitch sampler.
Beautifully stitched words can
express friendship, welcome
people to your home, com
memorate an occasion or frame a
special thought.
The sampler shown is a perfect
example of a counted cross-stitch
message. It reads: “The most
beautihil things in the world are
not seen or touched. They are felt
with the heart.”
The saying, framed in a border
of floral stitchery, is lovely enough
to hang on a wall, give to a friend
or pass on as an heirloom. It is
available as a kit, complete with
counted cross-stitch chart, special
fabric, needle and embroidery
floss, by writing to the address that
follows this column.
You can cross-stitch your own
message right now, however, with
graph paper and counted cross
stitch supplies. To learn to letter,
just read on.
Almost any lettering style, in
cluding your own handwriting, is
fine for cross-stitch. You can work
with a charted alphabet, copy
letters from a calligraphy book or
design your own alphabet.
No matter which lettering style
you choose, “plan ahead” is
certainly the most important
lesson to learn. If you don’t, you’ll
surely wind up with the last letters
either squeezed into a tiny space or
stretched to fill a nearly empty
sampler.
Proper spacing and centering
are also crucial elements in let
tered designs. When all the
planning, drawing and centering
are finished, however, words are
as fast, fun and easy to cross-stitch
as the simplest designs, here are
directions for counted cross-stitch
messages:
MATERIALS; Aida, hardanger
or other even-weave cross-stitch
cloth, graph paper, pencil, em
broidery needle, embroidery floss,
optional: embroidery hoop.
WRITING RULES: 1. Writejrqur
Say it in stitches
entire message mi graph paper as
it will appear in your sampler. 2.
Leave at least one blank square
between each letter. 3. Leave
between two and five squares
between words, depending upon
size of letters and message.
PROPORTION: 1. Make all
capital letters the same height, but
vary width according to the letter.
In other words, make the letter
“M” wider than the letter “I.” 2.
As with capitals, draw lowercase
letters in proportion to one
another.
SIGNATURES ft CURVES: 1.
Sign your name, or write your
message, on graph paper. 2.
Darken whole squares as neatly,
as possible along the curving lines.
3. When finished, look over the
design. If it doesn’t look right,
make changes as necessary.
SYMMETRY: If your message
stretches across an uneven
number of squares, mark the line
to the left of center as the center of
your piece. 2. If you prefer perfect
symmetry, add or subtract a
square between the words in each
line.
CENTERING DESIGN: 1. Count
boxes to find the center of your
graph paper. 2. Darken horizontal
and vertical center lines. 3. Fold
fabric in half lengthwise and
widthwise. 4. Baste along
horizontal line nearest horizontal
fold in fabric. 5. Baste along
vertical line nearest vertical fold
in fabric. 6. Open fabric and press
flat.
CROSS-STITCHING: 1. Count
squares in fabric to find the top left
square in embroidery hoop. 3.
Starting with the top left square,
cross-stitch as usual, following the
charted letters.
THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS
SAMPLER KIT, by “Dimen
sions,” includes 9-by-14-inch im
printed, 14-count cotton aida cloth,
cotton embroidery floss in soft
shades of pink, green and brown,
embroidery needle, color
accented, easy-to-follow, counted
cross-stitch chart and step-by-step, TO ORDER, send kit price m{ng p O . Box 306,
illustrated instructions. (California residents please add the Fannins
KIT D-3507 »10 plus 32 postage 6% pwcratsalw tax) plus postage Name somewhere on your request.
and handling and handling to Lancaster Far- '
'Gingerbread Lady'
(Continued from Page B 16)
her that because she spreads “joy,
love and teaching.” The irony is
that in her youth Patti had con
sidered becoming a missionary.
Asked about the charm of
gingerbread houses, Patti says, “I
think it has become very popular in
±e last few years. I was making
:hem before they became
nationally popular and they began
appearing on the covers of national
magazines. I think it has to do with
the interest in crafts and the fact
that handmade things are so
valued. It also ties in with the in
terest in nostalgia, and antiques
and family history.”
There is no doubt that making a
gingerbread house is a “labor of
love,” as with any baking. Patti
says she learned quickly when she
began her business that “I couldn’t
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do for the world what I did for my
family. You can’t put a price tag on
it.”
While gingerbread houses are
definitely for Christmas, Patti
makes them for other occasions as
well, including Halloween and
Easter. In fact, she will be
returning to the Smithsonian for a
Valentine workshop in February,
and has been asked to return for
three days next year before
Christmas.
While she is almost finished with
workshops and demonstrations for
this Christmas season, she will be
serving next week as a judge for
Historic Strasburg’s second annual
gingerbread house contest. That
takjes place-oh Dec. 20, and the
winning houses will be on display
for one week after the event.
Since she began giving
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workshops, Patti has also written a
book which includes detailed
directions, patterns and many of
her novel ideas for creating unique
gingerbread houses.
Patti calls her visit to the
Smithsonian the “exciting frosting
on the cake. It’s something you
never dream of.” For her it was
just one more adventure in her life
as the Gingerbread Lady as she
shares the joy and rewards of
making gingerbread houses.
Saddle-Up
A new 4-H horse club has been
formed in the Readington Town
ship/White house Station area.
Mrs. Marie Pallizzari and Mrs.
Lynn Sargent are leaders of the
Saddle-Up Horse Club The club is
open to youngsters 9-19 years of
age who would like to learn about
horses and horsemanship. Seven
members have already joined the
club. More are welcome. Just call
534-6411 or 738-3745 for more in
formation.
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