Stitches

Is there any way to transfer a counted cross stitch pattern to regular fabric?

I want to stitch some cross stitch letters on a piece of moire tafeta.

Public Comments

1. I used to cross stitch. At the craft store neer the cross stich fabric there should be a small peice of cross stick fabric that you can pull out when done. I put rabbit on a denim jacket. Hope this helps. I got it at Joanne Fabrics & Crafts, ask them whiel you are there.
2. I have done counted cross stitch for nearly 2 decades and I would not attempt to do counted cross stitch on moire tafetta. However, if you really want to cross stitch on this fabic, there is a product you can purchase that is meant for doing counted cross stitch on regular fabrics. I don't recall the name, but it is basically a temporary material that is perforated like aida cloth you would normally cross stitch on that you can use to lay over the fabic you will be doing the cross stitch on. Once you have the pattern finished you remove the temporary material so that all that remains is your fabric and the pattern you stitched on it. You need to remember not to pull the thread too tight because taffeta is more prone to gathering than a normal cross stitch aida cloth is.
3. Its called "waste canvas" http://crossstitch.about.com/od/wastecanva1/Waste_Canvas.htm
4. You want waste canvas. It comes in several counts but I don't think anything smaller than 18 ct. You cut a piece large enough for your design and baste it to the fabric you want the design on. Stitch as you normally would. When finished, take a spray bottle of water and wet the waste canvas. Now take some tweezers and start pulling out the waste canvas threads one by one. You'll end up with a pile of waste canvas threads and your finished design on your fabric. I don't know how well this will work with moire taffeta or if your taffeta will get a water stain when you wet the waste canvas. Good luck!
5. There are a few ways to get this done, and I will try to list as many as possible so you have some options and because I dont know the patterns/colors/etc. 1) You can buy a transfer pencil at any fabric store, get some graph paper, and using the Tpencil, "x" in your pattern on the graph, remembering that it will be a mirror image, turn it over and iron it on to the fabric where you will cross over those stitches once the transfer is in place. Most craft stores carry a varied supply of graph paper sizes, and different colors of transfer pencils. Both items are inexpensive--Tpencils are less than $2, and graph paper less than $5. 2) You could use a transfer friendly cross stitch "tear away" fabric, that you would just put over the area you want to put your cross stitch design on, and while stitching make sure you are going all the way through the back of the fabric. It carries alot of different names from "fusable" to "tissue" to "stablizer" but any assistant at a craft store can find it for you--its what you use when you want to cross stitch on a t-shirt or sweatshirt. Just make sure that the stitch count isnt bigger than you need. 3) You could get an invisable ink marker to put your grid right on the fabric, as long as you do it right before stitching as the ink disappears when it dries. Also make sure to read the instructions where they tell you what fabrics you can use it on. 4) If the invisible ink makes you nervous on an expensive fabric like moire taffeta, you could always just use a chalk pencil, or dress makers chalk. In this section of the store you will also find different colors and different methods of transfering designs onto fabric. Your best bet with moire, however, is to grab one of the more knowledgable old-timers at the fabric store and get her opinion on these different methods and allow her to help you decide which 2 will be easiest for your project. While you are there, make sure to pick up an extra 1/2 yard of the same fabric you are using to test these methods on. This allows you to experiment without damaging the yardage you need for the taffeta. Moire is a nice stable, sturdy fabric for stitching and you should have no problem doing this. I would not suggest just "trying to stitch it directly on" as even the most skilled cross stitcher will have some x's come out bigger or smaller than the rest, leaving "amatuer" screaming from the finished project. Good luck and I hope this helps.