Yesterday, I bought all the materials I need to start “Stitcher’s Sampler.” I can’t wait to get started!
I decided to go with 32 count White Belfast Linen and had an interesting time at the store when looking at the fabric. The store that I go to to get Zweigart fabric is not a needlework shop, but one of the department stores in Munich. Normally, there is no one in the needlework section, so if I need help I have to go to the knitting or sewing section. This lets me browse around, which I usually have to do with the fabric because it is not sorted or anything. The fabric bolts are labeled with only the name (e.g., Belfast, Linda, Lugana, etc.) and while I know that Belfast is supposed to be 32 count, I wanted to double check to make sure that the wrong label wasn’t stuck on the fabric bolt. (It looked like it was 32 count, but I have been known to be wrong before.)
So, I put the fabric on the table and pulled out my tape measure (the one with inches on it) so I could count the fabric. While I was doing so, one of the sales ladies actually came over to the needlework section and asked if she could help me. I was trying to count, but asked her if it was “32 count” fabric. She told me she didn’t know what I was talking about! (Ahh!) About this time I was finished counting (yes, it was 32 count) and so then the lady and I had a quick discussion about inches vs. centimeters.
I know that I bought some Rico fabric here once and it was 10 or 11 (per centimeter) count and it totally confused me. I didn’t have my tape measure that day, so when I got home I had to count it to figure out what count (in inches) it was. Since then I bring my tape measure with me when buying fabric, even if it is Zweigart so I can get a proper idea of what I am actually buying.