Creating wooden keepsake boxes, children’s jewelry boxes, inlaid music boxes, and other types of musical movements can be a joy, especially when one is doing it himself or herself. However, there is an important step to consider when putting the music box together; it is choosing the movement accessories. These accessories include shafts/extenders, animation, turntables, winding keys, accessory shaft washers, cranks, rocking action, and musical mobile holder cases.

Shaft and Extenders

Left-handed shafts typically are placed into a special accessory hole on the side of an 18-note key-wind musical movement. When used, it becomes permanent. The key extenders extend the length of the winding key.

Animation

The 18-note key-wind musical movement can be fitted with several animation accessories. For example, the waggie shaft, covered with an accordion sleeve, allows it to rotate inside the sleeve instead of inside the figure, while the circular motion rod can be easily bent to create a neat orbital flying motion. There is a flat pad on the rod’s tip where figurines can be glued.

Turntables

Turntables typically come in clear plastic, opaque plastic, and metal. The left-handed turntable can be used to fit the left-handed shaft or shaft extender. Turntable can be used as winding keys as well when figurines are glued to them.

Winding Keys

All music boxes that are created must have a winding key unless a turntable is used in its place. Winding keys typically are in brass or nickel plated finish and come in different sizes. Typical winding keys include the T-bar, Triangle, and Miniature. There even is a childproof safety winding key that when installed becomes a permanent part of the music box. If one has a child who will have access to the music box, this would be a good fixture to have.

Accessory Shaft Washers

These washers are placed on the outside of the music movement housing. This would be a good thing to utilize if one uses plush toys or dolls as part of the music box. It helps prevent fibers from being caught in the accessory hole and getting wrapped around the shaft.

Cranks

A crank is a music accessory that produces motions such as swinging, pumping, sawing, rocking, and up and down motions.

Rocking Action

If one were looking into making music boxes with figurines such as rocking horses and chairs, this would be the perfect music movement accessory.

Musical Mobile Holder Cases

The musical mobile holder cases would be just right for a musical mobile for a baby’s crib. These movements and holder cases usually are not sold together, but separately. This holder case would work well using an 18-note key-wind musical movement.

Creating music boxes takes special care and also are fun to do. Whether it is a wooden keepsake box, children’s jewelry box, or any other type of whimsical box, why not create your first one today?

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins

Established in May of 2005, http://www.My-Music-Box.com is a music box gift store specializing in products such as inlaid ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms dcor, whimsical carousel music boxes, and musical jewelry boxes. The company provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages. Owner Monique Hawkins is also the author of the blog What You Never Knew About Music http://whatyouneverknewaboutmusic.blogspot.com , and owner of the eBay store Monique’s Music Box at: http://stores.ebay.com/Moniques-Music-Box Monique can be contacted at (540) 858-2885.

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Woodworkers are a breed of their own. We like the smell of fresh cut wood, the pungent odors of turpentine and finishes, and the glow of finely finished wood surfaces.

We look at the beautiful grain and try to imagine what could be made out of that piece of wood. Whether were looking at deep, rich, cherry wood, golden oak, dark intricate figures in striped walnut, or any of the beautiful maple varieties, we imagine great looking pieces of hand-made furniture or decorative art.

To us the fine craftsmanship in a solid wood furnishing holds a charm that no amount of pressed wood factory furniture ever would. While most manufactured furniture may be functional in the short term, its only the hand-finished, lovingly cared for, pieces that become the antiques and heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation. Woodworkers are more than measure, cut, and build folkswere creators of the best that survives through the years.

If youd like to see some of the best craftsmanship still being produced today, go to many of the woodworking forums. Be sure to check the gallery sections.

Museums of modern art and crafts also have excellent examples of the woodworkers art and craftsmanship.

Woodworkers are a breed apart in many ways. We take pride in what we produce. No amount of time or elbow grease spent rubbing out a beautiful finish is too high a price to pay.

We will spend hours refining our own design ideas to create a unique finished product with our own hands just for the joy of it. We create a living legacy for our loved ones and find immortality by passing our skills on to future generations.

Copyright by Lee Bowman

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Wood turning tools are becoming more expensive all the time and wood turners are tool junkies. It seems that more and more tools are wanted all the time, even though most turners use only a handful. There is a proliferation of tools that all promise to make you a better turner or to transform you into Joe Fantastic Turner if only you use that tool. No one seems to mention the practice needed for any new tool.

Back in the 1970’s Knud Oland, a Scandinavian who had emigrated to the United States, would have only dreamed of the quality and diversity of todays tools. What was available to him was either of poor quality, poor design or hideous expense. Being an innovator he designed a tool that any one could make cheaply in the home shop and one that worked well.

All wood turning tools have three parts, a handle, a shaft, and a cutting or scraping tip. Generally the cutting tip is also part of the shaft but this is not necessary. One of the problems that this gives is simply that over time, as the tool is sharpened, it shortens to where the tool is no longer usable and becomes scrap. What if the tip and the shaft were two different pieces? This is the point that Knud Oland made the difference in turning tools.

The handle was easy to take care of. Woodturners after all, turn wood. Making a handle is easy. Just turn wood round to a comfortable fit in your hand and drill a hole in the end to take the shaft. Shafts are not hard either. Cut a steel rod to the right length and put it in the handle. The ip made the difference.

Until this time, most turning tools were made by first the local smith and later the tool companies, by forging the shaft and tip as one out of carbon steel. Carbon steel is far easier to forge than is high speed steel but does hold an edge as long and loses temper easier. That is, the shop user can ruin a carbon steel tool much easier than high speed steel, especially sharpening on the grinder. Since turners use a grinder for sharpening, this was a real problem.

Meanwhile, in the metal machining industry, metal lathes were using high speed steel cutting bits to cut brass, copper, and steel as well as other metals. The cutting bits were square rods of high speed steel. Oland took a shaft, drilled a hole in the end, inserted a cutting bit held with a set screw, and a new tool was born.

The grind had to be different from that of the metal turners but was only a few minutes at the grinder. He took the edge to forty-five degrees and rounded it. Then he turned a bowl and knew he had a winner in his hands. To encourage the wood turning world, he both sold the tool and let others know how to make it. It was his intention that anyone could make the tool at home and that every turner had the chance.

The tool now known as the Oland tool does quick work of making the shavings fly. It handles both the outside and inside cuts of a bowl with ease. Not only is it effective for green wood in roughing down a bowl but it also does a fine job of leaving a clean surface for sanding when finish turning. Some turners claim it is almost impossible to get a catch with an Oland tool, but dreams come in every pursuit.

A good bowl gouge can set you back easily $75 and some of the cream of the crop will go for more than $150. A handle for the Oland starts out as scrap wood. The shaft will likely cost a couple of dollars while a 1/4 cutting bit tends to go for $1.50. The set screw might be as high as fifty cents and if you need to buy a tap add in about $3. So for under $10 you have a tool that works as well as a $75 or $150 gouge. To me that is almost free.

Knud liked to work with the 1/4 tool and seldom went any larger. His widow still turns bowls thirty inches and more in diameter using only the 1/4 tool. I have made mine from 1/8 all the way to as well as variations on the theme. For the low cost, they are great to experiment with and try some new cuts.

To see some of Knuds work as well as that of his widow and to see some pictures of her at work visit http://www.olandcraft.com/ . Information on making the tool can be found at http://aroundthewoods.com. It is a pleasure to pick up the tool and know that a generous turners legacy continues.

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A Mix CD is a simple, fun, and long lasting kid’s birthday party favor idea. A CD mix of your child’s favorite songs from the past 12 months easily trumps the dollar-store quality toys, balloons, stickers and regular party favor material which is forgotten about or broken shortly after it is received. A mix CD is long lasting, enjoyable, interactive, and a perfect document of your child’s previous year, through music. When compiled yearly it becomes a chronicle of your child’s interest in music (both the kid and adult variety) and as far as memories go a collection of mix CDs, one for each year of his or her life, will become as treasured as any crayola masterpiece or notches on a growth chart.

Mix CDs can be put together with relative ease assuming you have access to a PC w/ CD-RW drive, the internet/iTunes, and a printer.

Here is what you will need and how much it will cost (for a party of 25 kids):

1) Music, of course! See below for some suggestions. Assuming you do not own any of the music for this CD (which would be odd, since presumably your child has already been enjoying his or her favorite songs) expect to pay .99 cents each on iTunes (but you only have to buy each song once!)

2) CD-Rs.

3) Jewel Cases. We would recommend the slim cases for this project. You could be even more creative by making paper sleeves and stamp and/or stencil the album details on the cover.

4) Labels. Most packs include easy to use software for designing and printing your own labels for the CD, Jewel Case front, back, and spine.

Costs

1) The Music - 12 songs (a decent length for a mix CD): $12

2) CD-Rs: $15 (for a 50 pack - so you will have enough for next year’s party!)

3) Slim Jewel Cases: $18 (for a pack of 25)

4) Labels and Software: $15 (for 40 complete sets of CD labels)

Total: $60. Or a little more than $2 each for a party of 25 kids.

Here are some suggestions for adult music that can be downloaded from iTunes (or most other digital download services) and shared with your kids of any age, organized as Louder and Softer selections. Don’t worry, the loud is not ear shattering and the soft will not put you to sleep.

Louder: Bright Eyes True Blue from Motion Sickness - Live Recordings (a studio version of True Blue is available on their Lua EP. Motion Sickness, a more recent release, was only made available through independent record stores. Both versions are quite good, but our daughter prefers the more raucous live version)

Josh Ritter Snow is Gone from Hello Starling (a terrific song about the magical period between end of Winter and the dawn of Springtime)

Wilco/Billy Bragg Hoodoo Voodoo from Mermaid Avenue (a Woody Guthrie song written for his kids. A ton of fun to listen to as Woody uses several hilarious made-up words and phrases in his lyrics. Wilco and Bragg’s performance is a blast)

Dr. Dog The World May Never Know from Easy Beat (our daughter’s favorite song at one point. it has a beat so infectious that it is almost impossible not to start dancing, or a the very least swaying back and forth, with the first note)

The Band Ain’t Got No Home from Moondog Matinee (The Band covered Clarence Frogman Henry’s classic 1956 song and made it their own. Your kids will love Levon Helm singing like a Frog on one of the early verses. Check out Clarence Henry’s original version as well)

The Beach Boys Surfin’ USA (a summertime classic. what kid or parent can resist singing along with this super-catchy tune. if your child is like mine he or she will soon be turning the knees-bent and arms-out surfing motion into their own new dance, creating an instant classic moment. have your video-camera charged and ready!)

Softer:

M. Ward Here Comes the Sun Again from Transistor Radio (a lovely homage to that big ball of heat in the sky from this terrific old-soul singer/songwriter)

Red House Painters Wop-A-Din-Din from Old Ramon (a touching song about a cat. if you and your family have a cat in the house, this song will became a favorite and if you don’t you may want to rush out and get one!)

Archer Prewitt I’ll Be Waiting from White Sky (lyrically could easily be a love song from parent to child. Archer has one of the finest singing voices of the past decade)

The Gilroys Martin Candy from their self-titled CD (kid’s should love the instrumentation and parents with a love of older comedy films should get the funny movie reference in the refrain’s lyrics and song title. full disclosure: my old record label released this song. )

Nick Drake Northern Sky from Bryter Layter (simply one of the prettiest love songs ever written)

Be sure to include a nice blend of the adult songs that your child enjoys as well as their favorite kids tunes. This suggested playlist has been compiled as an iMix on iTunes, titled OWTK Volume 1, for quick and easy downloading.

Enjoy the music and your child’s birthday party!

Copyright 2006 www.outwiththekids.com

Out With The Kids is a web blog dedicated to providing unique tips, trips, events, and ideas to families striving to raise healthy, happy, and interesting kids. Visit us at http://www.outwiththekids.com.

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It’s early August, and I can almost hear sleigh bells. Can’t you? Don’t look now, but summer is on the wane! Without even knowing it, the days are growing shorter, already! Cool breezes are blowing and some foliage is actually going away.

But wait! There is a solution….instead of getting depressed, you need to do something. Like take up a hobby.

I can’t think of anything better than learning to knit!

I don’t care about all those other crafts and DIY projects; learn knitting and you can kiss those paintballs goodbye!

If you don’t believe me, then let me give you *5* good reasons why:

#1 You can feel just like a knitting apprentice! After all, in centuries past an apprentice was someone learning a craft, and if you are new to knitting, then you’re an apprentice! Even the Donald couldn’t argue with that!

With knitting, there is a TON of information, and no matter how often you knit, or how much you think you know, there is always something new.

And that’s good, because you never want to run out of ideas.

#2 Years ago there was a TV commercial for Shake N Bake, which featured a little girl in the kitchen with Mom, and all she said was Shake n Bake…and I helped.

Now, I know that has nothing to do with knitting. However, the best part of that, is when a friend asks you where you bought your pretty little purse, or new scarf, you can say, I knitted it myself.

Old commercial, same premise. Take it from me, when you knit-it-yourself, it feels good!

#3 The Four Seasons. Knitting is strictly non-committal. It doesn’t care what month it is or what holiday is approaching, there is always something fun to knit.

Halloween, autumn, Independence Day, Valentine’s Day, graduations, weddings, take-your-dog-to-work-day, christenings, Christmas, you name the day, and there is a knitting pattern out there for it!

Your knitting creations are always one-of-a-kind, not to be seen in any store or mall. So, when you’re knitting that Christmas stocking on the train home from work, you never know who you will be inspiring next.

#4 Unless you have been living under a rock or way out past left field, you know how expensive gasoline is getting! Daily, the price goes higher.

So, instead of getting in your gas-guzzling vehicle, and cruising around town, to no avail, take up knitting. Get a neighborhood group together, or start a club in your dorm or condo.

Buy some cheapy yarn, and needles, and download my ebook, Ready Or Knit, Here I Come! from www.TheKnitStitch.com and you will be amazed at the fun to be had!

#5 Knitting is good for you! We all live very stressful lives.

If it’s not one thing, it’s the other; and every-day life can be tough. Sometimes a bubble bath, or mood music just doesn’t cut it.

Knitting can help. The mere click of the needles is soothing music.

Knitting one row, then another, creating stitches, patterns, projects, and seeing it all come together makes for satisfaction indeed.

It doesn’t all happen at once. Many projects take weeks, and months to complete, if you want to do them right.

But, that’s the essence of knitting.

Working with your hands, you are creating something right from the first stitch. You watch it come to life as you go, and little by little, your knitting becomes reality.

Exercise is great, yet, doing something for your soul, is just as important.

So, if you want to slow down, and find meaning in your life again, try knitting.

So, there you have it, 5 best reason to knit!

But, don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself!

Copyright 2006 Alice Seidel

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Recently I was giving a woodturning demonstration at our Provincial Exhibition in Truro, Nova Scotia. As I turned, over and over I was asked questions like: What kind of wood are you turning?

Ans: Dry maple. How are you getting those shavings? Those tools must be sharp, arent they?

Since I was treating most of the demonstration as a teaching opportunity, I was often holding the tool in one hand and pointing with the other as the shavings rolled onto the floor. I would not recommend this to a novice and not often to an experienced turner but I know when this is and is not safe. One of the conditions for safety is to have a very sharp tool.

Some of the people who were asking the question on sharpening had been turning for over twenty years and still had problems sharpening a tool. One gentleman who was considering taking up the hobby asked if I sent out the tools to be sharpened in the manner of a table saw blade. I replied to the effect that it would take too long to have them sharpened out of shop, too expensive and too frequent. Often in the course of rough turning a twelve inch bowl, I sharpen a gouge five or six times. If there is sand and grit imbedded in the bark it may be fifteen to twenty times. There is just not time to both turn and to have someone else sharpen.

Typically, turners use a grinder to sharpen. Most turners sharpen by hand, that is holding a gouge or other tool in both hands and presenting it to the grinder. The problem is, most people are not sure how to put an edge on the tool so they step up to the grinder with fear, trepidation and thus stiffness. Gingerly, the tool edge is rolled over the grinding wheel. Then, not sure if the edge is sharp, the whole tool is raised to the nearest light and the edge carefully examined and found wanting. Unfortunately, by the time the tool is returned to the grinding wheel, both hands have moved to different positions, the sharpener is more nervous than ever, and the grind is made worse instead of better.

Here are a few hints to make sharpening easier and the hobby of woodturning far more fun.

First, fix the grinder up for sharpening. Use an aluminum oxide, 80 grit wheel for sharpening and leave the coarse grey wheels for those occasions that you need to grind away a nick or restore an edge entirely. Make sure the wheel is clean. You will get steel filings imbedded in the stone as you continue to sharpen. Dress the wheel with a star wheel dresser to clean the surface.

Second, relax. A gentle touch will produce smooth movements and thus smooth surfaces on the tool edge. Go to the grinder to perform a gentle movement and first go with the grinder off. Practice the grind you want to do with the grinder off and get a feel for the surface of the wheel. Then, with the grinder on, gently sharpen the tool.

Third, make life really simple and use a jig. There are lots of commercial sharpening jigs to be found and some to make. There are free plans for a shop make jig on my web site. I have used it for years. At the demonstration I set the jig, dropped a roughing gouge into place, sharpened it and returned to turning with a sharp tool and piling shavings. The whole process took about thirty seconds and left one turner with his jaw dropping. When I explained the plans were free and cost was under five dollars to make the jig he was amazed. It will all the difference in the world to his turning pleasure.

So make a jig, sharpen your tools, and turn something The pleasure is certainly in making something for yourself or a loved one, but it is also and especially in the joy of sweet smelling shavings flying off of a sharp tool.

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A Mix CD is a simple, fun, and long lasting kid’s birthday party favor idea. A CD mix of your child’s favorite songs from the past 12 months easily trumps the dollar-store quality toys, balloons, stickers and regular party favor material which is forgotten about or broken shortly after it is received. A mix CD is long lasting, enjoyable, interactive, and a perfect document of your child’s previous year, through music. When compiled yearly it becomes a chronicle of your child’s interest in music (both the kid and adult variety) and as far as memories go a collection of mix CDs, one for each year of his or her life, will become as treasured as any crayola masterpiece or notches on a growth chart.

Mix CDs can be put together with relative ease assuming you have access to a PC w/ CD-RW drive, the internet/iTunes, and a printer.

Here is what you will need and how much it will cost (for a party of 25 kids):

1) Music, of course! See below for some suggestions. Assuming you do not own any of the music for this CD (which would be odd, since presumably your child has already been enjoying his or her favorite songs) expect to pay .99 cents each on iTunes (but you only have to buy each song once!)

2) CD-Rs.

3) Jewel Cases. We would recommend the slim cases for this project. You could be even more creative by making paper sleeves and stamp and/or stencil the album details on the cover.

4) Labels. Most packs include easy to use software for designing and printing your own labels for the CD, Jewel Case front, back, and spine.

Costs

1) The Music - 12 songs (a decent length for a mix CD): $12

2) CD-Rs: $15 (for a 50 pack - so you will have enough for next year’s party!)

3) Slim Jewel Cases: $18 (for a pack of 25)

4) Labels and Software: $15 (for 40 complete sets of CD labels)

Total: $60. Or a little more than $2 each for a party of 25 kids.

Here are some suggestions for adult music that can be downloaded from iTunes (or most other digital download services) and shared with your kids of any age, organized as Louder and Softer selections. Don’t worry, the loud is not ear shattering and the soft will not put you to sleep.

Louder: Bright Eyes True Blue from Motion Sickness - Live Recordings (a studio version of True Blue is available on their Lua EP. Motion Sickness, a more recent release, was only made available through independent record stores. Both versions are quite good, but our daughter prefers the more raucous live version)

Josh Ritter Snow is Gone from Hello Starling (a terrific song about the magical period between end of Winter and the dawn of Springtime)

Wilco/Billy Bragg Hoodoo Voodoo from Mermaid Avenue (a Woody Guthrie song written for his kids. A ton of fun to listen to as Woody uses several hilarious made-up words and phrases in his lyrics. Wilco and Bragg’s performance is a blast)

Dr. Dog The World May Never Know from Easy Beat (our daughter’s favorite song at one point. it has a beat so infectious that it is almost impossible not to start dancing, or a the very least swaying back and forth, with the first note)

The Band Ain’t Got No Home from Moondog Matinee (The Band covered Clarence Frogman Henry’s classic 1956 song and made it their own. Your kids will love Levon Helm singing like a Frog on one of the early verses. Check out Clarence Henry’s original version as well)

The Beach Boys Surfin’ USA (a summertime classic. what kid or parent can resist singing along with this super-catchy tune. if your child is like mine he or she will soon be turning the knees-bent and arms-out surfing motion into their own new dance, creating an instant classic moment. have your video-camera charged and ready!)

Softer:

M. Ward Here Comes the Sun Again from Transistor Radio (a lovely homage to that big ball of heat in the sky from this terrific old-soul singer/songwriter)

Red House Painters Wop-A-Din-Din from Old Ramon (a touching song about a cat. if you and your family have a cat in the house, this song will became a favorite and if you don’t you may want to rush out and get one!)

Archer Prewitt I’ll Be Waiting from White Sky (lyrically could easily be a love song from parent to child. Archer has one of the finest singing voices of the past decade)

The Gilroys Martin Candy from their self-titled CD (kid’s should love the instrumentation and parents with a love of older comedy films should get the funny movie reference in the refrain’s lyrics and song title. full disclosure: my old record label released this song. )

Nick Drake Northern Sky from Bryter Layter (simply one of the prettiest love songs ever written)

Be sure to include a nice blend of the adult songs that your child enjoys as well as their favorite kids tunes. This suggested playlist has been compiled as an iMix on iTunes, titled OWTK Volume 1, for quick and easy downloading.

Enjoy the music and your child’s birthday party!

Copyright 2006 www.outwiththekids.com

Out With The Kids is a web blog dedicated to providing unique tips, trips, events, and ideas to families striving to raise healthy, happy, and interesting kids. Visit us at http://www.outwiththekids.com.

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Cross-stitch is a wonderful, rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. Avoid these common beginners’ mistakes and soon you will be creating stunning pieces of cross-stitch work to treasure.

1. Choosing the wrong pattern

With the extensive range of charts on offer it is often tempting to start with something too complicated. For your first cross stitch project choose a chart with a relatively small design area and no more than 3 or 4 worked colours. You will have the satisfaction of completing it relatively quickly and can soon progress to something more challenging.

2. Tangling your threads

Theres nothing more stressful than tangled threads so always keep them organised. When starting a project, punch a line of holes in a piece of card and loosely tie each coloured skein through a separate hole. Label each hole with the appropriate thread reference number and chart symbol.

3. Not finishing your edges

Some even weave fabrics and linens fray easily. Before you start stitching, prepare your fabric properly by loosely back stitching around the edges with cotton.

4. Loosing your place on the chart

For a large piece of work it is sometimes hard to keep your place on the chart. Before you start work, divide your chart into a grid of workable areas and mark with a coloured pencil. Stitch a corresponding grid onto your fabric using brightly coloured cotton. Sew loosely so that the cotton can be removed easily on completion of the project.

5. Stitching too tightly

Keep your stitches evenly tensioned or your fabric will buckle or stretch out of shape. Many cross-stitchers find that a hoop helps to keep the fabric taut as they work.

6. Not starting in the middle

The centre of a chart is clearly marked. You should always start stitching from this point and work outwards to the edges of your design otherwise your fabric will pull out of shape.

7. Leaving the needle in your work

Always remove the needle when you finish sewing to avoid rust marks staining your fabric.

8. Getting your work dirty

Grubby work looks unattractive. Wash your hands before you stitch and store ongoing work in a sealed bag or container. Finished pieces can be washed by hand with a gentle detergent. Dry by rolling in a towel - never wring fabric.

9. Starting with a knot

Knots should never be used to start off a new thread. Instead, leave a 10mm length of thread at the back of your work. Hold it against the fabric as you work your next stitches and it will eventually be kept in place by the new stitches. Trim off any excess thread.

10. Straining your eyes

It is very important to avoid eye strain by working in a well lit room. During daylight hours, work by a window where possible. Consider buying a halogen lamp for stitching in the evenings. If your eyesight is really poor, you might need to invest in a magnifier to place in front of your work.

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You can seriously make your own personal beading masterpiece with a beading loom. When youre looking to purchase this type of loom, you want to find one that is sturdy and well-made. Normally they are rectangle or square-shaped, and have raised hooks or grooves for threading and weaving. Though you can find these looms at a lesser price than wooden ones, youll find that buying a wood beading loom is well worth the extra money spent. They are the sturdiest and last the longest.

When using this type of loom for the first time, make your first project easy on yourself. Select larger beads to start with, and use your loom on a large flat surface that wont move around on you. Some beads called Czech beads are good to use when you are a beginner. Also, youll want to use some nice and strong beading thread for your first projects, like a thread called Nymo. Dont forget, as well, to use a beading needle that is one size smaller than your bead size. Once youve got all the appropriate material, tools, patterns, and a surface, simply follow the instructions for your beading loom and your pattern to create your masterpiece!

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Cross-stitch is a wonderful, rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. Avoid these common beginners’ mistakes and soon you will be creating stunning pieces of cross-stitch work to treasure.

1. Choosing the wrong pattern

With the extensive range of charts on offer it is often tempting to start with something too complicated. For your first cross stitch project choose a chart with a relatively small design area and no more than 3 or 4 worked colours. You will have the satisfaction of completing it relatively quickly and can soon progress to something more challenging.

2. Tangling your threads

Theres nothing more stressful than tangled threads so always keep them organised. When starting a project, punch a line of holes in a piece of card and loosely tie each coloured skein through a separate hole. Label each hole with the appropriate thread reference number and chart symbol.

3. Not finishing your edges

Some even weave fabrics and linens fray easily. Before you start stitching, prepare your fabric properly by loosely back stitching around the edges with cotton.

4. Loosing your place on the chart

For a large piece of work it is sometimes hard to keep your place on the chart. Before you start work, divide your chart into a grid of workable areas and mark with a coloured pencil. Stitch a corresponding grid onto your fabric using brightly coloured cotton. Sew loosely so that the cotton can be removed easily on completion of the project.

5. Stitching too tightly

Keep your stitches evenly tensioned or your fabric will buckle or stretch out of shape. Many cross-stitchers find that a hoop helps to keep the fabric taut as they work.

6. Not starting in the middle

The centre of a chart is clearly marked. You should always start stitching from this point and work outwards to the edges of your design otherwise your fabric will pull out of shape.

7. Leaving the needle in your work

Always remove the needle when you finish sewing to avoid rust marks staining your fabric.

8. Getting your work dirty

Grubby work looks unattractive. Wash your hands before you stitch and store ongoing work in a sealed bag or container. Finished pieces can be washed by hand with a gentle detergent. Dry by rolling in a towel - never wring fabric.

9. Starting with a knot

Knots should never be used to start off a new thread. Instead, leave a 10mm length of thread at the back of your work. Hold it against the fabric as you work your next stitches and it will eventually be kept in place by the new stitches. Trim off any excess thread.

10. Straining your eyes

It is very important to avoid eye strain by working in a well lit room. During daylight hours, work by a window where possible. Consider buying a halogen lamp for stitching in the evenings. If your eyesight is really poor, you might need to invest in a magnifier to place in front of your work.

More articles at article database