I think the only way I could feasibly do this is if I bought like 100 needles and could keep them threaded. I can’t stand to thread and unthread so many times.
That is indeed the problem - AND knowing which symbol the floss corresponds to which is not necessarily easily recognizable when the color values are close.
I’ve tried [Park Avenue Needles](https://theneedlebug.com/products/needle-park-avenue). There are 9 segments so I need more than one.
I’ve experimented with other ways but no solution, so far, is entirely satisfactory.
But still, parking is much better for me than NOT parking.
That’s cute. But I also feel like I could do that with some card stock for free instead of $14 😂
I don’t know… I could try it with my next big project… I do better with cross country, it’s just how I’ve always stitched. I do a lot of photo-realism and it involves lots of confetti and blending colors. Parking might just muddy things where I grab the wrong color as I’m switching so often instead of getting used to which symbol I am focused on.
I can’t count reliably beyond 10x10 🥹
I’ve tried magnets, foam boards, DIY variations on the Park Ave Needle idea. Still working out what works best for me. Been stitching for a year.
I use a pool noodle that I cut to fit around the top bar, print out the symbols, and attach it to the noodle. It's double duty by protecting the cloth as well
https://preview.redd.it/80unitmlzr9d1.jpeg?width=3704&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=24a40b43562974dbbe4273687102807af592b495
OMG. That’s friggin’ GENIOUS 👏🏻 putting the needle right where the symbol is? Just WOW! I’m from Old School, I literally ‘sew under’ each color, as I finish with that one, then wind the excess back onto the bobbin, if there is any. Years and years of doing it this way 🤷♀️I stitch over my finger, too, and only on linen bc it’s wayyy faster for me. I love your idea and also the design your stitching. The colors are sooo calming!
The pattern is Canada. Compass. By RosiesSketchbook sold by MiKaStitchDesign on etsy.
I really wish I could remember where I got the pool noodle idea from, but it's been decades! It really does make parking so much easier!
That's the beauty of parking! You only work in a 10x10 area. I personally have a rule that if there isn't another stitch in that color withing about 15 squares the thread gets ended. This helps cut down on the counting mistakes.
This is why I park, too. I am too error-prone, even with a grid, to ever stitch cross country. I stitch in rows, because even in a 10x10 block I am guaranteed to screw up cross country. Every. Single. Time. 😖
OH me too! I'm still figuring out what works best for me. If the stitches I'm working on are not actually TOUCHING, I'm bound to get it wrong. I've played with row by row, but then if the colors change often, I end up with a tangle because I keep the needles on the floss, and they get into such a tangled mess.
I might have to do row by row within 10x10 grid. Jeez, that sounds painful too.
I’m kind of surprised that your threads are tangling. Whether I have only 3-4 colors in a row of 10, or 8-10 colors, I’ve never had threads tangle. I wish I could give advice, but I have no idea what’s causing it.
If 4-5 colors are dominant in a block or diagonal area, I’ll leave them threaded, but all the others are just hanging.
I am very, very good at quick needle changes, though. I use the fold over method, where I fold the threads tightly over the needle and pinch the thread. Then I slide the needle out and push the pinched thread through the eye. In [this video](https://youtu.be/B1ofAODG4E0?si=0RoA_OEW0_28CXJz) it’s the third method shown.
Very interesting. But let’s say there are 3 stitches in a row of color A, then 2 stitches of color B, then another 4 of Color A. Would you stitch color A, remove the needle, stitch color B, remove the needle, then thread color A and stitch? Even if I learn to be fast, that feels like a lot of work 😱
That would be a lot of work! I’d prefer to stitch all of a, then all of b, then c. But my goal, always, is to bring my needle up through an empty hole whenever possible. Long explanation follows (apologies in advance):
Ideally they’d be A on the far right, then B, then C at the left. This would mean that the parked B and C threads would not be in my way (I come up through the lower left hole). If they’re scattered in the row I’d use 3 needles and go stitch by stitch, as they appear. If these 3 colors are predominant in my block, I’ll keep them threaded and either rest the needles on a magnet (I use lots of magnets) or poke them through my grime guard they’re when not in my hand. Anything to keep them out of my way. Once I’ve parked a thread outside my current block, the needle comes off. I never leave inactive needles threaded and I never leave a threaded needle dangling. I tried it once and ended up with tangled threads, some of them with sharp, stabby ends.
Sometimes I have to carefully slide a parked threaded needle under a couple of other threads, but I don’t think of that as tangled. It’s more the cost of keeping a few threads on needles.
Here, in the early stages of this WIP, I’ve just finished a block and parked quite a few threads in my next one, anchoring them to the side to keep them out of my way while stitching my current block. I love a clear field! My next step will be to clip the lower bunch of threads to the empty yellow magnet while I deal with the ones at the top.
I don’t know if any of this addresses your concerns, or is in any way helpful, but I hope so and appreciate your patience if you got this far. 🙂
https://preview.redd.it/qwco91ocoiad1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2daeefe02e7ca1490a5e299b7cd521e5a8a8297
Thank you so much for making the effort to explain your process.
I didn’t understand that you have only the few active threads on the needle and attached to the fabric.
In my current pattern, I’m working on the middle of the skirt, a section that is speckled like crazy but it’s just 4 colors, and I’m taking an approach that sounds like what you are describing. I’ve stitched the vertical blocks of color A and the scattered stitches of color B (there aren’t too many). Now I am faced with colors C and D - there are more of those — which I will do what you described, i.e., row by row, both threaded.
I’m about 1 year into cross stitching - it seems we can have a basic stitching strategy but a pattern might require changes to our usual practice - it’s fun to work out the best approach :) I’m enjoying this new hobby a lot.
[Anne Boleyn by Sheena Rogers](https://www.etsy.com/listing/603196093/)
I think my problem of tangling is because I tried to keep too many needles threaded. So in the scenario I described with color a, then b, then a again, I’d have both a’s threaded and as more more as are in the area I’m working on. I’m realizing now that I need to keep the number of threaded needles to a manageable number.
LOL now it’s my turn to apologize for the LONG answer!
It's one of those techniques where learning can be quite slow, but once you get used to it, it can be quite helpful. I specifically see how useful it is with confetti because I always have stitches nearby to anchor things when needed.
I agree that having a large number of needles is a must. Having a strip of fabric or a magnet at the bottom of your work can be quite helpful when organizing said needles.
That said, I rarely use the technique. I learned it to see if it was beneficial. My conclusion is that it probably is better than cross country on large pieces, but I enjoy cross country more, so I just do that.
I think that’s my problem. There’s no right way and wrong way. There’s just the way you are used to. And I’m used to cross country and hesitant to change
The biggest advantage of parking for me is that I'm not making mistakes anymore. I'm trying it for the first time and even though there's more organizational demands that take up some time, I haven't had to remove more than 4 or 5 stitches so far because I don't ever count more than 10 squares. Most stitches are touching the previous stitch so I notice my mistakes immediately. I also used to spend way too much time trying to decide which color to do next for cross-country, which is a very stupid reason to waste time, but I did it. There are no decisions in parking, you just make a system and follow the law and I think that's beautiful.
I agree with you about the speed of cross country. I did it when I was younger (mostly traditional open patterns), took a 20-yr hiatus, came back to it and discovered I could no longer count. This was a real problem with the large full coverage charts I prefer now. So, I park. It’s slower, no question, but it gives me more pleasure because I rarely have to frog stitches. If I do have to frog, it’s never more than a few stitches. I’ve also found that my stitches look neater (no crowded holes to fill in) and I like seeing the picture emerge from top to bottom or corner to corner. So I’m not mad about changing styles, it’s worked out fine for me. It doesn’t hurt that I’m good at threading needles in a flash. 😀
Have you tried using a digital chart? I use Pattern Keeper and when I highlight a symbol it displays the color number, which makes parking so easy. If I do want to verify a thread color (parking mistakes are real), I just grab the hanging floss drop and compare it to my parked thread. Edit - to clarify, I only keep the most needed colors (4/5 at most) in my current row on needles.
https://preview.redd.it/6mq3nj40cbad1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38860e0d0d1d1e8db390017724a05770f068edd3
It really does help me to only have active threads hanging, with the rest clipped out of the way. The WIP in my photo is using Royal Rows. It’s a 10w x 20h box. Threads are parked below and ended to the side. This method prevents tension lines, which are a common problem with box or column stitching.
If you’re interested, there are a series of short [tutorial videos](https://youtu.be/jC7On9sVv-0?si=wqjm5RMqnmkD7DLJ) by the stitcher who invented the method. Note - they’re numbered 1-7, but there are only 6. 🤷♀️
I feel I do a version of Royal Rows, meaning it’s more about areas of stitching rather than strictly 10x20 grids. But that IS the strategy that speaks most to me.
It’s magnetic so it can go on the fabric. You’d draw the symbol on the erasable little board and slide your needles through the foam bit. Here’s one I used for my last project - I drew the symbols on a piece of translucent tape so it won’t get smudged. Here’s a picture - I’m not using it on my current project because I’m at a point in the pattern where I’m only stitching one color but I set it up so you can see how it’d work.
https://preview.redd.it/dx0pf2dh4q9d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e45f38818741f36b09d87f10ea9ee002c62f9cf
As another commenter said, you can just make your own version since buying as many as you’d need for many colors could add up to quite an expense!
EDIT: here’s a [clearer picture](https://www.etsy.com/listing/276310644/) from the site.
Thanks! It’s designed by [Sheena Rogers](https://www.etsy.com/shop/SheenaRogersDesigns) ! I’m making some minor changes to the background colors but in general I love the vibrant colors of her patterns! It’s a kit, no digital copy of the pattern unfortunately (for me anyway)
I use only one needle and rethread as needed. I just accept the fact that threading the needle is part of the process. To me that is much easier than keeping track of many needles that get in your way.
I glued a small rare earth Neodymium magnet with some E-6000 onto a few of these threaders and keep them within reach when I have to thread new threads. It helps a lot! 💗 I attach them to my Lowery stand, but you could use an extra needle minder to stick them. 🥰
Do you know about the easy [foldover](https://youtu.be/B1ofAODG4E0?si=n8O1Y9cA6itGerwt) way to thread needles? It is so much easier than poking thread ends through the eye and much faster than using a threader.
Because I do a needle change in about 5 seconds I only keep thread on a needle if it’s needed a lot in my current focus area. Even then I won’t keep more than 4-5 colors threaded. I do the same no matter which parking method I’m using. I do the same no matter which parking technique I’m using. I use toddler hair clips to corral my threads that are not in use.
I actually hadn’t, but I usually stitch with 2 strands so I like to use 1 strand and loop it over the eye of the needle. I can’t stand holding the loose end all the time.
So usually my needles are attached to the thread until I am done and cut them off. This helps with not losing needles too.
I see, and agree. Cross country stitching is much more suited to you. TBH, I first tried parking because I can’t count and always, always ended up frogging out a bunch of stitches. I envy you people who can stitch cross country and don’t like that I can’t. I aced calculus in college, I ought to be able to count past 5, but nooooo.
So I embraced parking, and found that although it is slower stitching, it’s about a wash for me (see frogging above😂). Now frogging means moving a thread that I parked in the wrong spot and I’m so much happier.
I do that and it works great. (Most needles I’ve ised at a time was 30, but I also prethread when I cut a new length, so I’ll often have 100 needles threaded at a time).
I use about 8 magnets on an 8” hoop to wrangle them all
Do you use a hoop stand or do you hold the weight of 8 magnets while you stitch?
I have all manners of stands but I can’t seem to stitch in them so I just hold the hoop
I’m a hoop holder. I have a stand but it never seems worth it.
I’ve never noticed the weight. I use “magnetic twist ties and they hold excess fabric as well. Magnets are pretty tiny.
The only thing I have to be careful of is that I put the needles in order of the thread. Leftmost to the left etc. It’s a PITA if you have a bunch of crossed threads and are trying to get a needle out of them.
I put the needle eye on the magnet then pull the excess thread down just like there was no needle. To extract I fold the excess back up (like you were stitching, pull a little so the needle head is “higher” than the others and use tweezers to grab the needle eye.
Sounds more futzy than it actually is. I just added the tweezers to the process and they totally make it trouble free. They wouldn’t be needed if I wasn’t putting 4-6 needles on a 1cm magnet.
If I know I’m not going to be touching a thread for 300 more stitches I take the needle off and it is a little easier to manage the thread.
The only thing I have to be careful of is that I put the needles in order of the thread. Leftmost to the left etc. It’s a PITA if you have a bunch of crossed threads and are trying to get a needle out of them.
I put the needle eye on the magnet then pull the excess thread down just like there was no needle. To extract I fold the excess back up (like you were stitching), pull a little so the needle head is “higher” than the others and use tweezers to grab the needle eye.
Sounds more futzy than it actually is. I just added the tweezers to the process and they totally make it trouble free. They wouldn’t be needed if I wasn’t putting 4-6 needles on a 1cm magnet.
If I know I’m not going to be touching a thread for 300 more stitches I take the needle off and it is a little easier to manage the thread.
You get in a habit of combing your threads often. Plus depending on how often you are switching colors there's so much change it's hard for the threads to tangle!
It's hard for me to say. I'm generally a slow cross stitcher, and I've been pleasantly surprised at how fast this is moving along (AFTER all the threads get set up), but it's also possible I'm just enjoying the method more than cross country!
I don't know anything about this method, even tho I've been stitching for more that 40 years. I would love recommendations for the best video or blog for learning about this. Ready! Set! Go!
I've been watching Gemma Stitches on Youtube! She does "stitch with me" videos, and I've found those really helpful because I can watch how she parks in context, and see why she decides to work certain areas of stitches. I like that she works on diagonals, but there are a lot of ways to park (lots of people do it in blocks).
The way I’ve been taught to park is to do all the stitches of a color in a square and then park the color in the next square you will be doing starting where your stitch starts. So if you stitch bottom left to top right you will park bottom left. It shouldn’t be that hard to keep track of which color is which if you go linearly. Just putting this here to answer other people’s questions. Also rethreading isn’t a huge deal if you are doing a 100 stitcg square at a time imo
Also I don’t know yet if I find it faster but it way easier to keep organized when you are doing a high count full coverage project. You don’t have to worry about going back to squeeze in one stitch here or there after doing a whole section. I find it easier to not make mistakes this way and I can “zone out” a little more while stitching
They probably SHOULD be wrapped around something - that's how I've seen it done - but I don't have anything setup like that, so I just kinda hold them out of the way and hope they don't snarl. I've been watching a Youtuber who parks (Gemma Stitches) and she uses button magnets from an office store.
I have just been rethreading each time, but I want to try leaving needles on if I do a larger parked piece!
What marker is this to draw on the fabric? I am new to cross stitching and have seen people do it. I am assuming they are 10x10 squares and it looks like you draw on the actual hole itself.
It's a water soluble pen I got from Joanns! I bought it for quilting but it works great for cross stitch too. I just copied the 10x10 grid on the fabric and it's been really helpful.
I, too am dabbling in the parking method! But my dumb ass is learning on a full size project. I've got 19 needles and about 65 threads so far. Keeping them organized definitely requires a strategy, especially when some of the colors are really similar. I'm gonna need to get more needles...
Parking: I use three highlighters on my pattern. I only do 10 x 10 squares at a time.
On the paper pattern: 1) I use YELLOW to highlight the color I am currently working on in the square. 2) when that color is done, I go over the yellow with GREEN to show it’s a completed color. 3) I use ORANGE to show parked stitches.
This is a great idea! I've been working digitally for this one, but I have an old paper pattern I want to stitch next and wasn't sure how to handle that. I'll try your highlighter method!
I think the only way I could feasibly do this is if I bought like 100 needles and could keep them threaded. I can’t stand to thread and unthread so many times.
That is indeed the problem - AND knowing which symbol the floss corresponds to which is not necessarily easily recognizable when the color values are close. I’ve tried [Park Avenue Needles](https://theneedlebug.com/products/needle-park-avenue). There are 9 segments so I need more than one. I’ve experimented with other ways but no solution, so far, is entirely satisfactory. But still, parking is much better for me than NOT parking.
That’s cute. But I also feel like I could do that with some card stock for free instead of $14 😂 I don’t know… I could try it with my next big project… I do better with cross country, it’s just how I’ve always stitched. I do a lot of photo-realism and it involves lots of confetti and blending colors. Parking might just muddy things where I grab the wrong color as I’m switching so often instead of getting used to which symbol I am focused on.
I can’t count reliably beyond 10x10 🥹 I’ve tried magnets, foam boards, DIY variations on the Park Ave Needle idea. Still working out what works best for me. Been stitching for a year.
I use a pool noodle that I cut to fit around the top bar, print out the symbols, and attach it to the noodle. It's double duty by protecting the cloth as well https://preview.redd.it/80unitmlzr9d1.jpeg?width=3704&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=24a40b43562974dbbe4273687102807af592b495
This is so smart!
Nice. Handy to see it right there by your work. Do you stick needles with threaded floss on the corresponding symbol on the pool noodle?
I do! I tried using purely parking method, but this pattern uses way too many similar shades of green & blue. I was frogging more than stitching lol
OMG. That’s friggin’ GENIOUS 👏🏻 putting the needle right where the symbol is? Just WOW! I’m from Old School, I literally ‘sew under’ each color, as I finish with that one, then wind the excess back onto the bobbin, if there is any. Years and years of doing it this way 🤷♀️I stitch over my finger, too, and only on linen bc it’s wayyy faster for me. I love your idea and also the design your stitching. The colors are sooo calming!
The pattern is Canada. Compass. By RosiesSketchbook sold by MiKaStitchDesign on etsy. I really wish I could remember where I got the pool noodle idea from, but it's been decades! It really does make parking so much easier!
Ohhhj!!!!’ Great idea!!!!!
That's the beauty of parking! You only work in a 10x10 area. I personally have a rule that if there isn't another stitch in that color withing about 15 squares the thread gets ended. This helps cut down on the counting mistakes.
Good rule of thumb, I like that!
Also keeps strands shorter and less dragging through the holes to cause fraying. I’ll park if adjacent stitches are touching.
This is why I park, too. I am too error-prone, even with a grid, to ever stitch cross country. I stitch in rows, because even in a 10x10 block I am guaranteed to screw up cross country. Every. Single. Time. 😖
OH me too! I'm still figuring out what works best for me. If the stitches I'm working on are not actually TOUCHING, I'm bound to get it wrong. I've played with row by row, but then if the colors change often, I end up with a tangle because I keep the needles on the floss, and they get into such a tangled mess. I might have to do row by row within 10x10 grid. Jeez, that sounds painful too.
I’m kind of surprised that your threads are tangling. Whether I have only 3-4 colors in a row of 10, or 8-10 colors, I’ve never had threads tangle. I wish I could give advice, but I have no idea what’s causing it. If 4-5 colors are dominant in a block or diagonal area, I’ll leave them threaded, but all the others are just hanging. I am very, very good at quick needle changes, though. I use the fold over method, where I fold the threads tightly over the needle and pinch the thread. Then I slide the needle out and push the pinched thread through the eye. In [this video](https://youtu.be/B1ofAODG4E0?si=0RoA_OEW0_28CXJz) it’s the third method shown.
Very interesting. But let’s say there are 3 stitches in a row of color A, then 2 stitches of color B, then another 4 of Color A. Would you stitch color A, remove the needle, stitch color B, remove the needle, then thread color A and stitch? Even if I learn to be fast, that feels like a lot of work 😱
That would be a lot of work! I’d prefer to stitch all of a, then all of b, then c. But my goal, always, is to bring my needle up through an empty hole whenever possible. Long explanation follows (apologies in advance): Ideally they’d be A on the far right, then B, then C at the left. This would mean that the parked B and C threads would not be in my way (I come up through the lower left hole). If they’re scattered in the row I’d use 3 needles and go stitch by stitch, as they appear. If these 3 colors are predominant in my block, I’ll keep them threaded and either rest the needles on a magnet (I use lots of magnets) or poke them through my grime guard they’re when not in my hand. Anything to keep them out of my way. Once I’ve parked a thread outside my current block, the needle comes off. I never leave inactive needles threaded and I never leave a threaded needle dangling. I tried it once and ended up with tangled threads, some of them with sharp, stabby ends. Sometimes I have to carefully slide a parked threaded needle under a couple of other threads, but I don’t think of that as tangled. It’s more the cost of keeping a few threads on needles. Here, in the early stages of this WIP, I’ve just finished a block and parked quite a few threads in my next one, anchoring them to the side to keep them out of my way while stitching my current block. I love a clear field! My next step will be to clip the lower bunch of threads to the empty yellow magnet while I deal with the ones at the top. I don’t know if any of this addresses your concerns, or is in any way helpful, but I hope so and appreciate your patience if you got this far. 🙂 https://preview.redd.it/qwco91ocoiad1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2daeefe02e7ca1490a5e299b7cd521e5a8a8297
Thank you so much for making the effort to explain your process. I didn’t understand that you have only the few active threads on the needle and attached to the fabric. In my current pattern, I’m working on the middle of the skirt, a section that is speckled like crazy but it’s just 4 colors, and I’m taking an approach that sounds like what you are describing. I’ve stitched the vertical blocks of color A and the scattered stitches of color B (there aren’t too many). Now I am faced with colors C and D - there are more of those — which I will do what you described, i.e., row by row, both threaded. I’m about 1 year into cross stitching - it seems we can have a basic stitching strategy but a pattern might require changes to our usual practice - it’s fun to work out the best approach :) I’m enjoying this new hobby a lot. [Anne Boleyn by Sheena Rogers](https://www.etsy.com/listing/603196093/) I think my problem of tangling is because I tried to keep too many needles threaded. So in the scenario I described with color a, then b, then a again, I’d have both a’s threaded and as more more as are in the area I’m working on. I’m realizing now that I need to keep the number of threaded needles to a manageable number. LOL now it’s my turn to apologize for the LONG answer!
It's one of those techniques where learning can be quite slow, but once you get used to it, it can be quite helpful. I specifically see how useful it is with confetti because I always have stitches nearby to anchor things when needed. I agree that having a large number of needles is a must. Having a strip of fabric or a magnet at the bottom of your work can be quite helpful when organizing said needles. That said, I rarely use the technique. I learned it to see if it was beneficial. My conclusion is that it probably is better than cross country on large pieces, but I enjoy cross country more, so I just do that.
I think that’s my problem. There’s no right way and wrong way. There’s just the way you are used to. And I’m used to cross country and hesitant to change
The biggest advantage of parking for me is that I'm not making mistakes anymore. I'm trying it for the first time and even though there's more organizational demands that take up some time, I haven't had to remove more than 4 or 5 stitches so far because I don't ever count more than 10 squares. Most stitches are touching the previous stitch so I notice my mistakes immediately. I also used to spend way too much time trying to decide which color to do next for cross-country, which is a very stupid reason to waste time, but I did it. There are no decisions in parking, you just make a system and follow the law and I think that's beautiful.
I agree with you about the speed of cross country. I did it when I was younger (mostly traditional open patterns), took a 20-yr hiatus, came back to it and discovered I could no longer count. This was a real problem with the large full coverage charts I prefer now. So, I park. It’s slower, no question, but it gives me more pleasure because I rarely have to frog stitches. If I do have to frog, it’s never more than a few stitches. I’ve also found that my stitches look neater (no crowded holes to fill in) and I like seeing the picture emerge from top to bottom or corner to corner. So I’m not mad about changing styles, it’s worked out fine for me. It doesn’t hurt that I’m good at threading needles in a flash. 😀
Have you tried using a digital chart? I use Pattern Keeper and when I highlight a symbol it displays the color number, which makes parking so easy. If I do want to verify a thread color (parking mistakes are real), I just grab the hanging floss drop and compare it to my parked thread. Edit - to clarify, I only keep the most needed colors (4/5 at most) in my current row on needles. https://preview.redd.it/6mq3nj40cbad1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38860e0d0d1d1e8db390017724a05770f068edd3
Yea, I use Markup x rp. I am thinking that the best strategy for is parking and staying within a small area so the active threads are not too many.
It really does help me to only have active threads hanging, with the rest clipped out of the way. The WIP in my photo is using Royal Rows. It’s a 10w x 20h box. Threads are parked below and ended to the side. This method prevents tension lines, which are a common problem with box or column stitching. If you’re interested, there are a series of short [tutorial videos](https://youtu.be/jC7On9sVv-0?si=wqjm5RMqnmkD7DLJ) by the stitcher who invented the method. Note - they’re numbered 1-7, but there are only 6. 🤷♀️
I feel I do a version of Royal Rows, meaning it’s more about areas of stitching rather than strictly 10x20 grids. But that IS the strategy that speaks most to me.
Been looking at the website, but I don't understand how the Needle Park Avenue thingie works?
It’s magnetic so it can go on the fabric. You’d draw the symbol on the erasable little board and slide your needles through the foam bit. Here’s one I used for my last project - I drew the symbols on a piece of translucent tape so it won’t get smudged. Here’s a picture - I’m not using it on my current project because I’m at a point in the pattern where I’m only stitching one color but I set it up so you can see how it’d work. https://preview.redd.it/dx0pf2dh4q9d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e45f38818741f36b09d87f10ea9ee002c62f9cf As another commenter said, you can just make your own version since buying as many as you’d need for many colors could add up to quite an expense! EDIT: here’s a [clearer picture](https://www.etsy.com/listing/276310644/) from the site.
Thank you for your explanation with visuals! Also that piece you’re working on looks beautiful!
Thanks! It’s designed by [Sheena Rogers](https://www.etsy.com/shop/SheenaRogersDesigns) ! I’m making some minor changes to the background colors but in general I love the vibrant colors of her patterns! It’s a kit, no digital copy of the pattern unfortunately (for me anyway)
Thanks for the explanation and the picture. That sure looks handy!
If you use and app you can mark a parked stitch.
soon I’ll be comfortable enough with the basics to try that!
You got this! Markup RXP on IOS is free and will make all the basics easier! (Assuming you have a pdf chart)
Yes, I love what I’ve learned so far about how to use Markup x rp☺️
Only free for the first two weeks 😭
I use only one needle and rethread as needed. I just accept the fact that threading the needle is part of the process. To me that is much easier than keeping track of many needles that get in your way.
Same. I'd drop a needle and not realize it until a cat is batting it across the floor.
I glued a small rare earth Neodymium magnet with some E-6000 onto a few of these threaders and keep them within reach when I have to thread new threads. It helps a lot! 💗 I attach them to my Lowery stand, but you could use an extra needle minder to stick them. 🥰
Do you know about the easy [foldover](https://youtu.be/B1ofAODG4E0?si=n8O1Y9cA6itGerwt) way to thread needles? It is so much easier than poking thread ends through the eye and much faster than using a threader. Because I do a needle change in about 5 seconds I only keep thread on a needle if it’s needed a lot in my current focus area. Even then I won’t keep more than 4-5 colors threaded. I do the same no matter which parking method I’m using. I do the same no matter which parking technique I’m using. I use toddler hair clips to corral my threads that are not in use.
I actually hadn’t, but I usually stitch with 2 strands so I like to use 1 strand and loop it over the eye of the needle. I can’t stand holding the loose end all the time. So usually my needles are attached to the thread until I am done and cut them off. This helps with not losing needles too.
I see, and agree. Cross country stitching is much more suited to you. TBH, I first tried parking because I can’t count and always, always ended up frogging out a bunch of stitches. I envy you people who can stitch cross country and don’t like that I can’t. I aced calculus in college, I ought to be able to count past 5, but nooooo. So I embraced parking, and found that although it is slower stitching, it’s about a wash for me (see frogging above😂). Now frogging means moving a thread that I parked in the wrong spot and I’m so much happier.
Hahaha I can’t count either. I grid 10x10 and mostly work spatially. Oh the next stitch is 2 over from the top left of the grid, etc…
Gridding is my life! I thank the stitching gods every day for pre-gridded lugana. Aida I grid as I go, when it’s on the frame, under tension. 😀
I do that and it works great. (Most needles I’ve ised at a time was 30, but I also prethread when I cut a new length, so I’ll often have 100 needles threaded at a time). I use about 8 magnets on an 8” hoop to wrangle them all
Do you use a hoop stand or do you hold the weight of 8 magnets while you stitch? I have all manners of stands but I can’t seem to stitch in them so I just hold the hoop
I’m a hoop holder. I have a stand but it never seems worth it. I’ve never noticed the weight. I use “magnetic twist ties and they hold excess fabric as well. Magnets are pretty tiny.
Ohhh that makes more sense. I was picturing those super dense magnets lol
The only thing I have to be careful of is that I put the needles in order of the thread. Leftmost to the left etc. It’s a PITA if you have a bunch of crossed threads and are trying to get a needle out of them. I put the needle eye on the magnet then pull the excess thread down just like there was no needle. To extract I fold the excess back up (like you were stitching, pull a little so the needle head is “higher” than the others and use tweezers to grab the needle eye. Sounds more futzy than it actually is. I just added the tweezers to the process and they totally make it trouble free. They wouldn’t be needed if I wasn’t putting 4-6 needles on a 1cm magnet. If I know I’m not going to be touching a thread for 300 more stitches I take the needle off and it is a little easier to manage the thread.
The only thing I have to be careful of is that I put the needles in order of the thread. Leftmost to the left etc. It’s a PITA if you have a bunch of crossed threads and are trying to get a needle out of them. I put the needle eye on the magnet then pull the excess thread down just like there was no needle. To extract I fold the excess back up (like you were stitching), pull a little so the needle head is “higher” than the others and use tweezers to grab the needle eye. Sounds more futzy than it actually is. I just added the tweezers to the process and they totally make it trouble free. They wouldn’t be needed if I wasn’t putting 4-6 needles on a 1cm magnet. If I know I’m not going to be touching a thread for 300 more stitches I take the needle off and it is a little easier to manage the thread.
How close are your tiny magnets? I try to keep them about an inch apart but still, they often get stuck together😕 - I guess because I stitch in hand.
Hmmm. Never had that problem, usually about an inch. They’re pretty weak, though
With something this small I would absolutely stab the hell out of myself, but I bet that works great on a scroll frame!
Do you find that it’s faster? I’m considering trying it but I’m afraid I’ll spend most time untangling threads.
You get in a habit of combing your threads often. Plus depending on how often you are switching colors there's so much change it's hard for the threads to tangle!
It's hard for me to say. I'm generally a slow cross stitcher, and I've been pleasantly surprised at how fast this is moving along (AFTER all the threads get set up), but it's also possible I'm just enjoying the method more than cross country!
Me too!
I don't know anything about this method, even tho I've been stitching for more that 40 years. I would love recommendations for the best video or blog for learning about this. Ready! Set! Go!
I've been watching Gemma Stitches on Youtube! She does "stitch with me" videos, and I've found those really helpful because I can watch how she parks in context, and see why she decides to work certain areas of stitches. I like that she works on diagonals, but there are a lot of ways to park (lots of people do it in blocks).
Thanks, I'll check those out. I love seeing all these other techniques, and I've tried a couple. Failed miserably, but tried it!
I've been looking for something like this, thank you!
Yay, happy to help!
The way I’ve been taught to park is to do all the stitches of a color in a square and then park the color in the next square you will be doing starting where your stitch starts. So if you stitch bottom left to top right you will park bottom left. It shouldn’t be that hard to keep track of which color is which if you go linearly. Just putting this here to answer other people’s questions. Also rethreading isn’t a huge deal if you are doing a 100 stitcg square at a time imo
Also I don’t know yet if I find it faster but it way easier to keep organized when you are doing a high count full coverage project. You don’t have to worry about going back to squeeze in one stitch here or there after doing a whole section. I find it easier to not make mistakes this way and I can “zone out” a little more while stitching
I'm working on diagonals here, but I've seen it done in blocks too!
It’s so tidy, unlike my tangled mess. Are the threads wrapped around something to keep them taut? Do the threads remain on the needles ?
They probably SHOULD be wrapped around something - that's how I've seen it done - but I don't have anything setup like that, so I just kinda hold them out of the way and hope they don't snarl. I've been watching a Youtuber who parks (Gemma Stitches) and she uses button magnets from an office store. I have just been rethreading each time, but I want to try leaving needles on if I do a larger parked piece!
Well what you’ve done in this first try is really nice.
Thank you so much!
May I ask? Are you doing the full cross and snaking back and forth or are you doing half of the cross then going back to it?
Mostly full crosses! Sometimes when there's a long area of stitches and I need the thread to "move" back to the start, I'll do half crosses instead.
What marker is this to draw on the fabric? I am new to cross stitching and have seen people do it. I am assuming they are 10x10 squares and it looks like you draw on the actual hole itself.
its a water soluble fabric pen. you can find it at most any craft store, like michaels or joanns. can come in different colors.
It's a water soluble pen I got from Joanns! I bought it for quilting but it works great for cross stitch too. I just copied the 10x10 grid on the fabric and it's been really helpful.
Does it rinse off easily?
I tested a corner and it seems to, yes! You have to soak it for a bit.
i never did this method. did you park this brightest gray so far down because this is where the next patch will be?
Yep! That's the next stitch of the grey. Every color is parked in the place where it's needed next.
I still just don't understand parking 😭 I spend most of the time threading the needle over and over again
Okay, this post alone convinced me to learn parking method lol. I've got full cover project ahead and i think it'll help me to stay organized.
That's so nice to hear, good luck! I'm definitely enjoying it!
I, too am dabbling in the parking method! But my dumb ass is learning on a full size project. I've got 19 needles and about 65 threads so far. Keeping them organized definitely requires a strategy, especially when some of the colors are really similar. I'm gonna need to get more needles...
Parking: my favorite method. I tried ‘cross country’ (complete one color at a time) and it drove me crazy. Parking is soooo much more relaxing!
Parking: I use three highlighters on my pattern. I only do 10 x 10 squares at a time. On the paper pattern: 1) I use YELLOW to highlight the color I am currently working on in the square. 2) when that color is done, I go over the yellow with GREEN to show it’s a completed color. 3) I use ORANGE to show parked stitches.
This is a great idea! I've been working digitally for this one, but I have an old paper pattern I want to stitch next and wasn't sure how to handle that. I'll try your highlighter method!
This is a really good idea! I want to learn how to park before beginning my first full coverage piece and I think this is a great idea 👏🏼
I had never seen or heard of anyone using this method until I joined this reddit community.
When parking a thread it should be parked in the spot where the next stitch of that color will be used. That will make it much easier.
That is where they're parked!
I wish I could understand the parking method, I love efficiency
It definitely took some practice but I'm getting used to the workflow!