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Cross Stitch Tails … and we’re not talking stories here …

Cross-Stitch-Tails

Recently a customer called me and needed more thread for a kit she had purchased.  She had run out of one color and was only half way done with the area.  WHAT?  How could that be?  I looked at my notes and I had another customer with the same problem, same color, same kit.  What did I do … or not do?  I always keep track of how many lengths and strands I use.

Two weeks pass and she calls me again and she has run out of two more colors!  Sigh …..

I asked her, just so I would know for future, how long were her tails?  Was she using each length to the very end or leaving 3-4″ ??  She told me she uses it to the last little bit just to be able to tuck it into her stitches.

Well … I guess I blew it.  I’ll need to add more extra lengths to each kit from now on.  I’m stitching a new design and I’m purposely throwing more away to make sure I don’t go short on my kits.

I found this How-To over on Ebay .. yes, Ebay … I didn’t know they had How-To’s ….  How NOT to Knot  This was her picture –

tails via ebay

I think mine are about that length when I’m ready to tuck it in.

I was also thinking about how stitchers “stitch” … do they make a line one way and come back or are they making crosses?  Am I making sense?  🙂  I think you’ll know what I’m saying … Is the way they’re stitching causing them to use more thread?

Luckily I’ve only had the two phone calls about thread being short … so I’m doing okay!

So … how long are your tails?

 

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Filed Under: Articles and Resources Tagged With: Tails

About Karen

I've been cross stitching for over 25 years and last year I put two of my hobbies - Camping and Cross Stitch - together and now design and sell camping themed cross stitch patterns and kits. It's been a lot of fun and I've met new cross stitch friends who camp too! My site is Camp Cross Stitch and I also have a camping website that is a work in progress- www.TheCampSite.com If you are a camper come over and say Hi!

Comments

  1. Angie says

    February 19, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    Do your kits specify how many strands of thread to use? I always use three strands unless a kit says to use two. It’s just my personal preference, and it’s how I learned to cross stitch 15 or so years ago. I once ended up with too little thread because I didn’t read the instructions correctly and used too many strands. HTH.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 19, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      In my instructions it says to use 2 strands. Thanks for that info tho, because I hadn’t really thought about people using 3. I will be adding a few more additional lengths for each color from now on. Thanks!!

      Reply
  2. via STNA's Facebook Fan Page says

    February 27, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    Chime in on this post and let Karen know how long your tails are and what the pieces in your ort pile look like 😉

    Reply
  3. Dawn says

    February 27, 2014 at 5:36 pm

    I like kits that have long lengths of floss then I can use the single strand folded (loop) method to start which saves one tail. When I have barely anything left in the needle and can barely make a stitch is when I end that length. So I’d say my tails are the length of a needle or thereabouts.

    Reply
  4. Christine says

    February 27, 2014 at 10:31 pm

    My tails are as short as possible to still keep the ends in the eye of the needle and be able to tuck the point of the needle under some threads!! I do often do each X as I go, but depends on the pattern. I rarely run out of thread from a kit. Mind you, I prefer to buy patterns and kit them myself. That way I can pick my fabric to suit.

    Reply
  5. Margaret Maggie via STNA's Facebook Fan Page says

    February 28, 2014 at 7:58 am

    I use petite needles so I can use more of each piece of thread. My longest ort/tail would be 1-1/2″, if that.

    Reply
  6. Karen says

    March 5, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    Thank you so much for the comments! It tells me that most stitchers use as much thread as possible. I just need to account for newbies 🙂 I’ve definately learned from a few mistakes and will now be adding more thread in my kits!

    Reply

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