As far as fabric goes, it's always good to have a few counts, colors, and fabric types on hand.

You know what counts you prefer to work on (I like 32 the absolute best, but also enjoy 36 and 40. If I'm stitching over-one, I like 25 or 26 count, or even 28). Everyone's eyes are different, and your ability as a stitcher may dictate which counts you may or may not want to stitch on.

As far as colors, natural/raw linen is very practical, and has been used for centuries. This comes in counts from chunky to fine. White or Antique White fabric is also practical, as is cream. But frankly, I sell very little White and Antique White fabric in anything anymore. Designers have shied away from this once most-popular fabric color (white.) You have to keep your backs so neat and tidy with white (that's one reason I avoid it flat out.) It's also great to have some more fun colors -- if you like neutrals, there are shades neutral from olive green, to antique tan, to French Lace to Twilight Blue. More vibrant colors like red, lilac, carnation pink, or even black might suit your taste. Keep colors on hand you tend to use.

There are also many fabric types: Aidas, evenweaves and linens, as well as un-evenweaves. You also have hand-dyed and commercial dyed, rayon, cotton. Again, everyone has a preference. I love linen, so it's what I keep in my stash. I do have customers who stitch exclusively on linen, or Aida, or Jobelan. It is fun, though, to keep a few oddballs around -- a chunk of Heatherfield, something hand-dyed and splotchy, something elegant, and something earthy. Whatever fabrics you keep on hand, allow them breathing space, and keep them labeled so you remember what they are.

Needlework tools: you need needles. Size 26 is the most popular size, but it's also good to have on hand some nice beading needles, size 28 for finer work, and size 24 for chunkier things (throw away any needles that are looking/feeling rusty or worn). I've used regular, gold and platinum needles, and frankly, I'm a fan of the cheaper needles. The gold plating always wears off my gold needles, and I can never remember which are my platinum needles and which aren't. A good pair of scissors for snipping threads, and another for cutting fabric are must-haves (I recently threw away a pair that had gone all floppy and disjointed on me.) You also will use Q-Snaps or scroll bars (or even a hoop) for pulled work or fine work (or maybe you use one of these devices for every day stitching.) A stitching lamp is great for gloomy days or winter nights, when it's so dark.

Keep a full (or nearly full) set of your favorite floss on hand. (Nothing like running out of a color at 9:30 p.m., and having to wait all the way until the next day for more!) If you wind these on bobbins, when you run out of a color, pop the empty bobbin in your pocketbook, so next time you're out you can get more. Otherwise, keep a running list, so you can stock up in bundles (rather than one at a time.) There are stitchers, too, who keep a full set of Sampler Threads and even Weeks Dye Works (which is a much bigger line of fibers.) Again, keep on hand what you use. It's also fun to collect some specialty fibers: overdyed silks, creamy wools, fuzzy stuff. It's OK to buy a fiber not knowing what you'll do with it. Make it a goal to work it into a project.

Embellishments are nice to have around, too. Keep a few colors of seed beads around (gold, silver, black, and a few different colors, like red, green, navy or such). Save the extras that come with kits you buy, and have fun sticking them into other projects. I've started collecting little charms and buttons I see that I like. I attach them to round robins or projects of my own. I don't have a huge collection of embellishments -- a few dozen -- but it's fun to know I have them.

I won't mention charts, because every stitcher collects those. But it's nice to buy a few nice needlework books. Keep around a book or two with stitch diagrams, as well as larger books with smaller or themed/holiday projects in them. I have used the 101 Best Loved Designs from Cross Stitch and Country Crafts and my Mary Engelbreit Cross Stitch books over and over again for little projects, big projects, gifts and round robins.

Stash building is part of the fun of being a stitcher. And the more thoughtful you are when picking things out, the more fun you'll have making substitutions and being creative with your projects.

Thanks for a great four years. I really enjoy my job, and I feel blessed to be able to work from my home and spend so much time with my family. You are making a difference in our lives.

© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com