SQUARES  FAQs

Are there any specific themes or patterns you have to stitch?

There is nothing worse than having to stitch something you don’t enjoy and so as a member of SOLAK you are free to stitch whatever you like.    When a quilt or cushion is requested, the person who is filling out the form will let us know the sort of themes the intended recipient would appreciate.  We try our best to give them a gift which will match their personal tastes and so we will often post requests for squares on a particular theme.  However, if we have squares that we think the recipient will also like they will go into the gift as well.   This means that any squares sent to us will get used even if we didn’t ask for that particular theme.  Feel free to stitch any design you want of any size.  All you need to do is use the sizing guidelines  so that the edges aren’t too small for us to stitch them together.

Do you have to use white material?  

You are not limited to white material for your cross stitch.  Obviously white will be easier to fit into any quilt but if coloured squares are received they will be saved until there is enough to make a good looking quilt/cushion or pattern of some sort.  It is all too easy to end up with odd bits of coloured aida that cannot be used for anything else and we would rather they get used for a good cause than not at all.  Please feel free to do whatever you think looks good.  They will all get used in the end! 

What materials should I use?  

You can use any count aida or evenweave for the squares and any colourfast threads.  Most people use white or cream aida between eight and six inches square but you are absolutely free to do what you think works best for you.   You can use any colourfast embroidery threads - there is no need for expensive brands.  If you aren’t sure whether or not they are colour fast please check with the manufacturer.

Can I use beads and buttons on my squares?  

Buttons and beads can be used on squares but squares containing them will not be sent to young children.  If you are stitching a square with a young child’s quilt in mind please do not put buttons or beads on them.  Over time they could work loose and a small child might choke.

Can I stitch my name on my squares?

Please do.  It is always nice to see how many different people contribute to a single gift and where they are from.  Members are asked to put their membership numbers at the bottom of their squares so they can be notified that they have been received but we would like everyone to put their name and location, if they wish, somewhere on the square.  However please make sure you stitch your name at the bottom or edge of the design and NOT the bottom of the square as this gets cut and lost when they are made up.

Do I need to wash my squares?

We would appreciate it if you could wash your finished squares before posting them.  If you are not able to or you think it looks fine without a quick rinse that is ok.  We just don’t have the opportunity to wash all the squares before sewing them together and once they are made into a quilt it might not be as easy to get stubborn marks out of the cross stitch material.  There is no need to iron or press the squares either unless you so desire.  All quilts and cushions are washed and ironed before being sent out.

What about copyright?

Everyone needs to be aware of copyright.  Click here for some simple guidelines.

The good news is that you can stitch and sell any of the designs from the following magazines or from www.cross-stitching.com  for a charity event. They have a load of free charts on their website, which all come within their copyright policy. However, they are unable to give permission for the copying of charts to sell or make into kits or any stitching or selling which constitutes a business.

The magazines are:

World of Cross stitch

Cross Stitch Crazy

Cross stitch Card Shop

Cross Stitch GOLD

Disclaimer:  The above information is for guidance only.  It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not infringe copyright on any of the designs you stitch.

This page was last updated: March 10, 2009

Sylvia in the UK                   Mary in the USA