Finger Step Designs, 2012
Updated July 31, 2020.
Plaids create dynamic backgrounds. Whether tartans, madras, or flannel shorts, they remain popular for everyone from preppy princesses to grunge rockers. There’s even a day, Plaidurday, just to celebrate them!
This Finger Step Designs project pack has 25 different plaids, mostly in bright colors, that are the backgrounds for a set of bold modern initials. You’ll find tartan-style plaids in several colors, madras plaids, diagonal plaids of different kinds, and even some variations of checks (a type of plaid). It’s the most comprehensive project on plaids out there.
Each block is under 3″ on 18-mesh, so they can easily be made singly as ornaments or pillow inserts.
The pack starts out with a two-page explanation of plaids. You’ll learn how plaids are constructed and how to recognize different types of plaid. Next come the general instructions for stitching plaids with one page on straight and one on diagonal plaids.
Following a page for graphing your own plaid comes the alphabet. Then the fun begins.
There is a page for each letter. A description of the type of plaid is at the top. A symbol chart with threads is next to it.
Each letter has four charts, mimicking the way the plaids are stitched. One shows one direction of stripes, vertical for example, the second shows the second direction. The third shows the completed plaid and the fourth the letter on the plaid (for placement). The charts are small and in black & white. If you aren’t a chart reader don’t despair. Just above the first chart you’ll find a two-line encapsulation of the stripes. The top line shows the width of the stripe. The bottom row shows the symbol of the color. This allows you to stitch the sequence without reading the chart. I use this method to stitch my plaids, so I’m glad to see it here.
No doubt you are asking what happens when the plaid is diagonal, unbalanced, or uneven. For diagonal plaids, the charts appear along the top and one side of both single-stripe graphs. For uneven and unbalanced plaids, you’ll find the two-line charts on the relevant top or sides of the top two graphs.
As a bonus, because the plaids are charted, they can easily be used for cross stitch.
With such a wonderful variety of plaids, you can change colors and mix & match letters and plaids to get just the look you want. It’s both a great resource and a great bargain,
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Is there a link for the instructions?
This project pack is distributed by Custom House of Needle Arts and can be ordered through any needlepoint shop.
Keep Stitching,
Janet