<<<From: Weronika Patena [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] I'm looking for cheap linen fabric to put lace edgings on. What's the difference between cross-stitch fabric and normal fabric, and would it make any sense to put lace edgings on it?<<<
Fist off, I'm assuming you mean fabric centers for circular and square edgings. Cross-stitch linen is highly unlikely to have more than 36 threads per inch, and probably most of what's on ebay is more like 28. That's an awfully open weave for mounting lace on. Fabrics for cross stitch need to have large enoug holes so that the needle and doubled thread (where it goes through the eye) doesn't have too much friction on it. So the weave is very loose and the fabric easily distorted, especially mounting a round edging. Each thread is quite coarse, too, probably significantly thicker than the thread in the lace. I really don't think that would look all that good. Try taking some of your lace to a needlework store and holding it against some of the fabrics there, and you'll get a better idea of what you'd be bidding on at ebay. If you don't have a needlework store, check the cross stitch department at Michael's, JoAnne's, or Wal-Mart. I think a better cheap source of fabric would be the handkerchief section of ebay. Most are going to be printed or embroidered, but you can probably find some plain ones for very little money. The threads for handkerchief linen (or cotton) are *much* finer and closer together. They'll look better against your lace than cross stitch fabric would. Remember, you don't have to use the whole hankie--you can cut it to a circle or a smaller square or rectangle to fit your lace. Of course, you won't find a handkerchief bigger than 12"x12", and most will be smaller, so you can't mount a really big piece of lace from them. For bigger pieces, I'd go to JoAnne's and check out the remnant box. You can often find up to a yard of all sorts of fabrics in there, for much less money than off the bolt. If you check it regularly, you should be able to get pieces to have on hand when you need them. Robin P. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA http://www.pittsburghlace.8m.com/ - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
