Looking at the projects and the designs used, it seems that all kinds of tastes are represented. I thought it might be interesting to discuss types of design - so what kind of design really floats your boat?

I'm not sure which is my favourite type of stitching I really like to try them all, at the moment i'm quite partial to Xstitch and ITH items.. love elegant designs, but having said that I have 7 Gandsons to find designs for..

Apr 14, 2013 - great discussion Sue. I don't like "cutsie" designs and tend to go for the more elegant - Katulle, Kara are some of my favorites. Because I have teenage grand children, I like Urban Threads. I love the florals, beaches, birds and art deco designs. I really like the "scenes" but as I do a lot of Tshirts, most are too dense for me (but I buy them anyway). And what would I do without Embroidery Library and their many SALE items. I also love trying the Cuties designs - some of my favorites are right here on this site. Thanks -

FSL projects - I count get enough of them followed by ITH projects. It's funny really because both of those embroidery type scared me so much that it took me ages before adventuring into those two fields.

I think I like both these embroidery type because recipients always love them. It's very rare that I'm asked to sew and or add embroidery to clothes or home furnishings. Perhaps I'm not so good at it and the family haven't the heart to tell me I'm rubbish at that LOL!

Hard question! Generally, I like to collect most design styles but when it comes to actually using them, I'm finding that I spend most time considering designs with 'elegance'. My ME time came to an abrupt halt early last year when Life got in the way so any time spent in choosing and using my designs these days must satisfy a need quickly and completely - and that's how I came to the realisation, when giving this question some thought, that I love, most of all, designs that have elegance, grace and beauty and they are the ones for which I hunt. I like lineart with touches of satin stitch; stylized florals and Jacobean artwork; elements of Asian art; cross-stitch in goldwork or complex 'hand-embroidered picture' designs; small floral heirloom touches; some applique work with added scroll-stitching; and quick, ITH gift designs that I can personalise. I guess all this adds up to the 'hand-stitched' look.
I enjoy stitching FSL also. I avoid alternative or 'dark' designs, and wouldn't choose to stitch cartoon characters unless asked very nicely to do so.
Having said all that, I can't go past a chook design. Chooks? Aussie for Chickens, except that to me chickens are the baby ones and I just love the roosters and hens - any style goes!!! The colours, the grace of the tail feathers and the wicked looks some of them have send me into Collection Mode every time.
So, on reflection, that covers a lot of design styles and that's why, when you ask what kind of design floats my boat, I have to say, 'A design that exudes elegance.'

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by spendlove 15 Apr 2013

Real life can be a pain, but I'm really glad you are still able to exercise your addiction, even if not on the scale you would like.

Love xstitch and and a type of redwork with some satin stitch added for extra like along the edge of a rose or flower.

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by jenne 14 Apr 2013

ps mostly I do hand quilting., garments sewing skirts, jackets my favorite thing to wear.

I just do whatever I'm told to do, so I suppose that I enjoy sitting in my man-shed doing all types of machine embroidery. On a personal note, I do enjoy hand-sewing badges onto garments and in the past enjoyed darning socks. Sadly, you don't seem to get many socks on the market that are capable of being darned, so that has put paid to that hobby..LOL. I do like the ripple and optical designs which, if I hadn't joined here, I probably would not have come across.

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by spendlove 15 Apr 2013

A man who does as he is told - now that is a rare beast! My daughter used enjoy darning socks.

by dennis999 15 Apr 2013

Hit a man whilst he is down, why don't you....lol

I've tried almost anything, embroidery and digitizing. I don't like the colour book look of black outlines especially when they are done in satin stitch; neither do I like winged animals that pose as angels. Some ripple stitch designs are lovely but mostly when they are done as part of a design. I don't mind cartoon like or simplistic designs as long as they are well drawn.
As far as digitizing goes: that is a matter of trying out new things till I think I more or less master a technique, then I want to move on to something new and challenging and do a quickie now and again in an older technique just for fun (in between other things or when I get stuck in something challenging) or because I (or someone else) need a design.
Cross stitch was something I did by hand and did not want to do by machine. But one question had me give it a quick try for a tutorial and I was hooked. I love the traditional designs where the crosses dictate the shape and not the ones where they are just filling a drawing. - although I've trie a few of those as well.

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by spendlove 15 Apr 2013

Some would say we get into a rut, but really we are on a roll!

I love hearts or anything to do with hearts....and using buttons....x

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by spendlove 15 Apr 2013

Aha - buttons - my current fad!

I love floral, childrens, babies, vehicles, Christmas, alphabets, angels, just to name a few. It's all based on who the project is for.

just like in real live, it depense on the project , I realy adore the old style costume thing and love to find embroidery in movies e.g. memories of a geisha or Harry P. and so I am with you on the skilled needleperson thing

I do like ITH work though my frugal nature is always trying to find a way to decrease the stabilizer by resizing to the right hoop. I collect simple quilting designs that look nice with varigated threads. I am trying to be more adventurous...

It is easier to make a list what I really don't like: Ragdolls, bears, those designs with different structures (like SICK has a lot nowerdays from Heidi), most of the photostitch-designs, ripple designs (sorry Vicky, I love your other designs more :o), regular designs made in cross-stitch (I love those old fashioned cross-stitch designs like roses or the writings for samplers and kitchen-stuff).
Like most of the others my taste changed a little bit since I started. First I didn't liked the jacobean style and now I really like it. So I'm busy with downloading all kind of stuff :o)
Greetings, Bettina

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by spendlove 14 Apr 2013

I'm in complete agreement about those designs at SICK. I can't see what anyone might do with them!

My favorite for my personal things --roses and other flowers -- but many are not done well. I love stitching quick designs just about anytime. Redwork, bluework, blackwork and colorwork are quick to stitch, usually affordable to buy, and almost always turn out great. These design styles, along with cross-stitch, are possibly my favorites. I love cross-stitch, but I don't do it as often as I never can get them to look right. I probably just need more practice. I really like doing ITH projects now. Occasionally, I want a design with many stitches, like a detailed bouquet of flowers. I have not yet tried any photo-stitched designs.
When I buy designs, I usually select floral, nature, garden, or children's designs in almost any design style.

I like the butterflies,flowers and hearts. i do not like designs that include people unless they are angels. I am always searching for the newest fsl butterfly .I would say my favorite designs are fsl and in the hoop.

I find that the place in my life that I'm in dictates my preferences to a large degree. I'm into cutsie applique right now as I have 4 littles to embroider for. I also do lots of monograms and home decorator projects.

I love the designs from Urban, they are so different. I also like designs that give the handstitched look. I have also had great fun with ith designs. I have found it interesting to see how in the time I have been embroidering (machine) to see how styles have changed. I don't go for fussy styles and ones with huge stitch counts. Think I also have a dragon addiction too

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by spendlove 14 Apr 2013

Hope the dragons aren't breathing fire in your sewing room!

by muflotex 14 Apr 2013

ha ha agree on stitchcount and UT designs 8-)

It's fascinating to watch the FSL come together, although my favorite designs are roses and butterflies applied to whatever article of cloth I can find to put them on.

well i love towels,coasters and Cross stitch .When i need a pick me up i always sew one of these as it just plain ole Makes Me Happy:):)Carolyn

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by bevintex 14 Apr 2013

You must stay very happy. A great way to be.
Bev

by debswebster 14 Apr 2013

Hey Bev, how are you doing? Nice to see you back here.

I have been playing for a long time. My friends and family like the ITH things. I have fun with FSL! I like watching the designs appear in my machine. I love Filet crochet and battenburg, I am learning the endless hoop now.

My favorite is also the hand sewn look. Before I purchased my embroidery machine crossstitch and all types of hand embroidery were my passion.

Well i prefer decorative designs, like swirls , elegant abstract swirls. Hugs :)

I love cross stitch...especially samplers of all kinds...also I love the look of French White work...so elegant, also love the crochet doilies and hardanger. I love sewing for little girls (I have five grand nieces) and it thrills me to see them in their outfits. I am currently working on heirloom-type white batiste dresses with embroidered bodices for them. I love quilting and especially now incorporating machine embroidery into my quilts. I love sewing for babies, too! I pretty much love it all, and I especially love the warmth and generosity of this community...

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by spendlove 14 Apr 2013

I'll second that!

I also like the hand sewn look. I have gotten through the stage of cutsie since is do not need that style much. I still do a few fun kids things but not nearly like I did in the past. I started a journey about 5 years ago to find some beautiful monograms, letters, fonts, TTF whatever I came across. I saw beautiful French whitework and became thrilled to see such beautiful work. During that process I found cross stitch was making a comeback so I am at that point in my journey. I bought the Embird cross stitch module for my program and have really enjoyed learning some things here and from several friends who are a bit further along in the cross stitch program.

I love all the elegant looking monograms, and all the frames or flowers that go along with it, I enjoy seeing what you have done with your cross stitch and several others here who are so willing to share.

Thanks for your time and friendship,

Linda V

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by spendlove 14 Apr 2013

Thank to you for such a detailed response!

Hi Sue, I like the ripple designs, FSL and appliques. Havent gotten into Cross Stitch as yet though. At the moment Im playing with my programmes fill stitches to see the different effects. :)