Counted cross stitch

[empressCrash]

Well I found a long lost bell-pull counted cross stitch that I need to finish. (I got it when I was quiting smoking and thought it would give me something to do with my hands). My question is - any good tricks or hints? It is one of those patterns that changes colors nearly every other stitch (what was I thinking?) and it is hard to keep up.
My great aunt did these all the time, but alas, she is gone.
_________________
Every year, back comes spring, with nasty little birds yapping their fool heads off and the ground all mucked up with plants - Dorothy Parker

[lizzymahoney]

Take up smoking?

Are you threading multiple needles and tucking them in somewhere so you don't have to keep cutting? A light or bright colored sharpie could draw your attention to color changes. Just dot the linen or aida cloth in the appropriate spots. Tiny dots of acrylic paint can do the same.

Going row by row will give the crispest effect, but you might try doing color blocks, nothing too intricate though. Like do the entire olive in three shades of green and a dot of pimento red and not the whole martini glass until you are finished the olive.

[empressCrash]

Thank-you, I think I'll try the multiple needle trick but it will take about 20. Better get out the BandAids.
_________________
Every year, back comes spring, with nasty little birds yapping their fool heads off and the ground all mucked up with plants - Dorothy Parker

[becca_13]

i use a pencil and color in as i go along (i tend to do one color at a time) - it helps me see where i am.

[Athos]

becca13, what a great idea! i have a counted cross stitch i'm having trouble keeping track of, and i'm hoping it will become my summer beach project.