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  Stitching on Linens and Evenweaves
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People tend to use the terms "linen" and "evenweave" interchangeably in casual
discussions.  Evenweave fabrics are composed of linen, cotton, man-made fibers
and blends.  To save typing, I'll use "linen" below to mean both linen and
evenweave.

For a look at the "aida vs. linen" debate, see section "2.1 Selecting the
Fabric - Aida vs. Linen."  For information on the fiber content of
different fabrics, see section "6.2 Types of Evenweaves."

First, the traditional rule--stitch on Aida using a hoop and stitch on linen
"in the hand".

In actual practice, people do whatever works best for them.  Most who like
their fabric taut _do_ tend to avoid hoops in favor of scroll bars or
stretcher bars when working on linen, as hoops may damage the fabric or leave
marks.  See section "2.5 Hoop or Hand?" for a discussion of the "in-the-hand
vs. in-a-hoop" debate.  See section "7.2 Hoops, Scroll Bars and Such" for
more information on the equipment itself.

Linen is generally worked "over two" threads.  This means that a 28 count
linen produces the same size picture as a 14 count aida.

Experienced stitchers of linen recommend starting next to a vertical thread.
This is easier to explain using a picture.

If you start your X's like "/", then...

        | |      | | Y
   --------------| |---
   --------------| |---
        | |      | |
        | |      | |
        | |      | |     Where X means start here!
        | |      | |
        | |      | |
   -----| |------------
   -----| |------------
      X | |      | |
        | |      | |

(ASCII art adapted from a post by jliedl@nickel.laurentian.ca (Janice Liedl))

Come up at X and go down at Y (or vice versa).  If you start your X's the
other way, like "\", then...

      X | |      | |
   -----| |------------
   -----| |------------
        | |      | |
        | |      | |
        | |      | |
        | |      | |
        | |      | |
   --------------| |---
   --------------| |---
        | |      | | Y
        | |      | |

Reasons for starting next to a vertical thread:

   ~ Starting next to a vertical thread makes it easy to tell when you have
     mistakenly gone over 1 or 3 threads.

   ~ The hole next to a vertical thread is slightly larger.

   ~ Stitches started next to horizontal threads sometimes don't look as nice,
     and can roll under.

Many people on rec.crafts.textiles have recommended 32-count Belfast linen as
a good fabric for a beginner.  It has a nice weave density.