I'm a maniac for neat backs, but the only things you *really* need to worry about are a) ending threads and starting new ones rather than carrying them over empty space (which you're doing) and avoiding knots. I'd start burying threads, or learn the other tricks like loop start etc, rather than tying a knot. That way your finished piece will lie flat. The other thing that helps your finished piece lie flat is even tension, and you've got that covered!!!!
Want to be really blown away look up pin stitch. Iāve been cross stitching for decades and just learned it this week. Iām having a blast with ending threads now
Absolutely nothing. Only time I would say it could matter is if carrying a thread over a blank space meant that the thread was visible through the fabric on the front. People can do what they want, but trying to make the back of the work look perfect as well seems like unnecessary stress to me.
I chuckled because I saw "Absolutely nothing" immediately followed by something :-)
The two things I'd say are wrong with carrying over thread are:
1. Thread being visible from the front, just as you noted. And this often doesn't show up until after it's framed, at which point it can be a real nuisance to fix.
2. Issues with tension or snagging during the framing stage. Sometimes those longer threads mean tension isn't distributed evenly, and it can either pull too much, or be too loose once released from the hoop. Depending on how it's being framed, there can be an issue of that long thread being caught in the hardware during framing. This isn't insurmountable, just an avoidable pain.
So those are two valid reasons to avoid carrying over thread. Not dealbreakers, but not "nothing" :-)
Carrying threads isnāt wrong (thereās no āwrongā in cross stitch). But for those of us in the neat or semi-neat back club, carrying them over long distances is something we donāt do. I wonāt carry one farther than the length of my needle. As with all things, itās just personal preference.
The back should have vertical lines not horizontal lines.
The thread should pass from the back through bottom left, then top right, then straight down at the back and out through the next bottom left. The return pass pops out bottom right, then top left, straight down at the back and out at the bottom right.
Surprise, it can be done in any order one wishes and it be right. Iāve been switching stitch methods and directions regularly on a very large full coverage piece and it makes zero difference.
Oh absolutely! lol I did compliment the artist on their work in another post.
And Iām certainly not such a stickler myself. I only posted that in case anyone was wondering what the ācorrectā way to crossstitch isā¦itās to do with economy of movement and thread consumption.
The point is that there is not just one ācorrectā way to do it. Your it should be done *this* way comes off a little highfalutin. Vertical backside and horizontal backsides are both correct. Even crisscross apple sauce is correct. Starting at points 1, 2, 3, or 4 in your square and your crosses going / \ or \ /, also all correct. Many different ways to skin a cat here.
Interestingly, I was taught my horizontal method by my wife for the same reasons as well, for economy of movement and thread consumption. I think both vertically and horizontally can achieve this, possibly even using a mix of both, if one plans correctly. It wasn't until I started looking online that I realized that nobody really does this or even has a name for it š I might just continue doing it because trying to figure it out is fun for me, though it might be torture to many others.
Your back is just fine. The only thing you might want to change is the way you end your threads. Weaving under a few stitches would be better than knots, so you won't have possible bumps on your framed piece. I usually go under 5-6 threads, then turn and go back under a few of those to be sure my ends are secure. Your stitched piece is lovely.
So Iāve donāt knot less and Iāve done tiny knots and tbh, I donāt see any difference in them. Actually I get more out of each thread when I do a tiny know start, but I guess Iām all about doing everything wrong.
Youāre right that small knots wonāt hurt the finished look. If thread economy is a goal, check out the loop start, it uses less thread. Plus, itās easier and faster than tying a knot.
I havenāt noticed a difference tbh. You do you, if thatās what you like, donāt let others dictate what and how you enjoy your hobby.
Edit spelling, autocorrect error.
As best as I can tell, it's how you end your threads. Typically, most folks tuck under 3-5 stitches & trim, so there's a distinct line where the threads are tucked. You seem to mostly have lil' frayed bumps though. I'm curious to know how you're securing your tails!
I see, I think I've seen that method somewhere too. I've actually just been using knots to start and end. To end a stitch, I've been tying two half-hitches into another stitch. (Sorry, I still haven't figured out the terminology!)
To avoid knots for your starting stitches, use [the loop method](https://stitchedmodern.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-loop-method-to-start-cross-stitch-or-embroidery).
Cut a longer single length of floss and fold it in half, so that it makes a big āUā, and thread the needle with the two separate ends. Run the needle up through whichever hole youād normally start with (I do lower left-hand corner to upper right-hand corner, but as long as youāre making an X and doing them all in the same direction, itās fine) and pull the floss halfway through. The loop will be hanging on the back side of the piece. Go down through the opposite hole and then put the needle through the middle of the looped floss, and pull taut. Your floss will be tacked onto the piece with no knot and then you can continue cross stitching as usual.
I usually run the thread under a line, then loop back over it and continue in that direction for a few more lines. I basically wrap my thread end around a post and create a little pinch point so the thread doesn't get pulled loose.
The only thing Iām noticing is the fact you are using knots. You can stitch however youād like. Thereās no mandate unless you are trying to show it at a fair. Then they have mandates as to how you can place and such but if itās just for you, it doesnāt matter. If you want your back to line up like this, go ahead. Most people just do stitching so the front stitches line up nicely. Since Iām self taught and had no clue about showing, I didnāt think to line up front or back stitches and thus canāt show any of my work currently. I just go thread saver mode and stitch how best is convenient. My xās donāt always face the same way is what Iām trying to say.
TLDR: the back doesnāt matter to 98% of people. Only the front does. You do you. :)
If I were to do it this way, I would do only one row at a time. Thatās too much work and brain power for me. Easy is the best way imo. Might not look professional but this is my hobby. Itās not meant to please anyone other than me for me.
My backs usually look like yours, but with the lines going whichever direction I was stitching. If doing a row, they'll line up vertically, and horizontally if I stitch a column. Usually the only knots I have are for the starts of backstitch threads if I'm being lazy - unless the thread knotted while I was stitching and it's too far back to unpick and fix.
I donāt know if my particular fair does but several I looked at said that they did judge the backs as well. Key things were; jumping distance, finishes were the same way, no knots. I know that there was more that was associated with the back but thatās what I can recall off the top of my head. This was a few years ago that I looked it up. It was one of the tornado alley states that had that, I want to say. My state fair might have echoed some of it too but Iād have to look again.
I typically stitch rows (either left to right or right to left, depending) and only stitch columns when there's a thin vertical section on the pattern. From the back of yours, it looks like you mostly stitch by column, the lines on the back are horizontal on yours but usually vertical on mine.
I'm of the mindset that there no right or wrong way to stitch, as long as it looks good to you. Only case in which it might become a problem is for full coverage pieces, where you might start seeing the columns on the front (due to starting/ending in the same spots always I think).
I think so? Sorry, still learning the terminology. But yeah, sometimes it requires me doing half stitches for a while, then retracing it all, or sometimes branching off here and there. It's like a complex puzzle game for me!
I think I do the same thing on a small scale. I also donāt know the official terms, just what I use š
I do mostly rows but Iāll jump around if itās economical lol
Thanks! Actually, I figured out how to stitch both rows and columns with completely horizontal backing. Not yet sure how much difference it makes on the front.
So unfortunately, my wife got it in China several years ago and I can't read Chinese. The website on the pattern reads "www.äŗ¬ē»£ååē»£.com", which takes me to a site where you can potentially find more patterns, but I've been looking through it and can't find this one.
https://preview.redd.it/gqdqb3u2ox3d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=598e80b5f949fe7f5720498b0a2adda8d2261ba9
Oh, actually my question was about your approach to calculate the back. Like, do you create the additional pattern beforehand or you go cross by cross?
Oh, that! I actually just treat each group of stitches with the same color as a little puzzle for myself to try to see how many I can stitch in a row while keeping the backing horizontally aligned. I just chart a course in my head and use a mix of sometimes going cross by cross and sometimes half-stitching a series and then retracing them backwards.
Apparently, trying to figure this out would be torture for many others, but I find it fun to do!
Thank you! I've been told I have a lot of knots, so I might try tucking them next project. But apparently I didn't necessarily have to make my backside completely horizontal, like some complex puzzle I had to solve.
No, I am not that worried about the backside. I do try to avoid a lot of long ācross countryā threads on the backside. And avoid knots on the back. I finish off a thread on the back side by threading under a few stitches on the back. My thought is, once itās framed no one will see the back side.
I love neat backs ! But I could not start and end a thread as often as you do to maintain the neatness T\_T I'm afraid it will take me ages to finish a project if I were to do so
Perhaps you want to check out r/showmeyourbackside LOL if you want to see others' backs! I think you will probably not find someone who stitches like yours (because yours are almost... \*too\* neat? with a lot of knots), but your back is very post worthy for that subreddit!
Love the design! You might consider always doing the stitches the same way, so always starting with the \ stitch and ending with the / stitch. That way the top layers are all facing the same direction!!
Your work looks amazing! Butā¦ have you considered that you might be neuro divergent haha youāve definitely found your community though, cross stitchers love neatness
Funny you should mention: I have ADHD & autism. What drew me into cross-stitching was actually the idea that each thread was like a little puzzle in trying to figure out how to keep the backing horizontal and link as many stitches as I could in this way.
I saw this great video from Spruce & Co, where she outlines that itās not what the back that matters. She also says you donāt need to hang them or display them when theyāre done.
Itās the process of stitching. That is where the joy is. So, I think you back end looks great. Mine are usually a combination of horizontal and vertical bars depending on how Iāve decided I can get that section done.
Believe it or not, there are no backing police! š® š
As others have said, avoiding the knots in the back will help your finished work lie flat. I tuck under a couple of stitches and trim the thread.
Your work looks great, front and back!
Knots can cause bumps that can show when the item is framed. Knots are usually saved for objects like pillows or blankets, where the item will be used. Try burying your tails under other stitches. Otherwise, looks good!
Honestly who really gives a rat's A what the back looks like? I'm so so so so so so so so so so so sick of uptight people trying to ruin people's stress reliving hobby. Go find something else to be incredibly stupidly uptight about.
Your piece is beautiful!
I believe you were taught to cross stitch via the sewing method. If I remember right, this method you only stitch from the front as there is no need to flip the fabric.
There is nothing wrong with the method. Just a different way of stitching. Some may not like this method as it is easiest done in hand and with more malleable fabrics. It also doesn't provide the same sturdiness to the back of a piece if you want to mount it on a pillow of some sort (usually tent stitch is better for that so the back can take the friction).
To me it looks fantastic and if this is easy for you then keep doing it and keep enjoying the hobby!
Yes exactly. Your hands always remain on top of your canvas.
In English/Danish, usually one hand is above the work and one is below. In the sewing method, you are always handling the needle on the front of the fabric.
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.better-cross-stitch-patterns.com%2Fimages%2Fsewing-method-4.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=cf507aa0fd7663152ccd00016d3e97f8a62ad46763b8a32f9f0611bd176e45bc&ipo=images closest picture I could find. Though if you search on Youtube for Sewing Cross Stitch method, you'll get much better understanding.
When using the sewing method, your hands never physically go to the back side of the work, as you thread the needle from front-back-front (going through two holes at once) all in one motion, like you do when sewing
Thanks! Actually, I've been stitching from the back. I was actually referring to how all the thread on the backing is only going horizontal, in order to keep the backing neat and save thread.
So I was taught to keep all the lines on the back horizontal. But I'm trying to google "horizontal backing" or "vertical backing", and I can't find anything. Is there a name for this way of doing things?
EDIT: So it seems like there isn't a name for keeping the backing completely horizontal? Which is kind of a relief; I was starting to think that all cross-stitchers were puzzle geniuses!
Well it could be the word backing. I was initially confused because backing implies to me something you are lining the back with, like a self stick foam core backing before framing, or felt.
I'd try googling cross stitch backside or back stitches.
Could be English style vs (maybe) German style? TBH I donāt remember the other nationality but one does a full cross at a time and one does a row of the first leg of the stitch then goes back along for the second leg of the stitch.
This is so disciplined! š³
You might enjoy needlepoint as well? I understand that the stitch patterns take into account how the thread will lie across the back of the work, aiming for complete and even coverage (and thus creating heavy wearing upholstery fabrics and well insulated hangings). I wanted to learn petit point but fled immediately!
Iām glad I saw this post. I always do knots and any time I have tried just tucking it I have always found the stitch was too loose or unraveled
After reading through comments Iām learning I likely wasnāt going through enough stitches for it to work
Iāll have to practice this on another project
I have noticed framing my projects is tricky and now I think Iāve figured out why
In my defence when I was learning my mom told me to do knots when the video I was watching said to tuck lol
I know there are a lot of people who use batting under the piece when framing. Seems like that would negate the knot issues. I've been meaning to try it with some pieces.
My backs look a lot like yours. But I stitch from the front vertically - in columns instead of rows, which is why I get horizontal lines in the back.
It would lay flatter if you start just sliding the needle under finished stitches and then clipping the end instead of knotting them.
My backs are not nearly as nice as yours, though, I do a fair amount of traveling with mine. Saves in thread sometimes instead of cutting and restarting in a new spot, just moving a few stitches over is easier for me.
People do the back of the work all different ways. The whole idea is not knots in your thread because it leaves the other side bumpy. You should take your thread when youāre done with that color and go to the back of your work and weave it under threads that are in the back that you have already made. Just try to keep it smooth your thread back-and-forth on the side so it will not come loose.
The back is absolutely beautiful! Never have I seen this: not only the fronts of the stitches go the same direction, but the backs as well. I treat my pattern like a puzzle: take green -> 5 stitches to the right -> 6 stitches to the left -> 3 stitches up -> 2 stitches down -> return the same way. This way, my stitches on the back go both vertically and horizontally.
What I would change, is avoiding the knots. I do make them, but I usually have a small tail of thread hanging at the back, so that I can secure it with other stitches before snipping off the knot, or I would thread underneath the existing stitches. Same goes when you finish up the section in the color
That's phenomenal... š„°
The peacock is amazing.. but the back.. wowsers... Mine usually resembles a car wreck.. I avoid knots.. But in full coverage pieces I'll do loads of cross country with my threads š
I certainly don't have the patience to go for an immaculate back... Maybe one day... Maybe...
Pretty piece and very neat work. Not sure if youāre referring to the knots on the back. I was taught to run the thread under a few stitches on back to avoid little lumps where the knots are
Omg! I nearly died when I saw that, so neat and yet so very wrong!
lol, I canāt even imagine your stitching action.
Gawd, I sound like a terrible troll! Your work is lovely. It works for youā¦you should be proud of your achievement.
lol no worries! Learned a lot from the comments about avoiding knots. Basically, to keep all my backing aligned horizontally, I treat each series of stitches like a little puzzle and see how many I can get by charting my course each time.
Slightly off topic, but how do you like the scroll frame when using fabric that's too wide to fit it? I asked this group about it the other day and was told I couldn't get the necessary tension on the area I'm working on by folding excess fabric like you did, but your piece looks amazing!
Thanks! The tension of the fabric isn't really important to me the way I do it. Since it's on a stand, it allows me to hold the area around where my needle is and I go by feel. I also use a blunt tapestry needle, as I'm told they're best for cross-stitching.
This is the way my grandmother's cross stitch back looked like. It's an old-fashioned technique hardly ever seen these days, but, in my opinion, a true mark of skill. It is BEAUTIFUL. We'll done!
Really? Thatās awesome! My wife started this kit a few years ago, and Iāve been helping here and there, but things have been busy.
Also, I tried looking up this kit online bc some other comments were asking for it, but my wife picked it up from a store in Taiwan, and I canāt find it. Do you happen to have a link for this one that I can give others?
Sorry no. Was in the same boat. Looking everywhere. I picked it up at a small craft store that has already closed down so no way of finding it out.
But good luck with the kit. I also took long break in between and in the end I finished after like 5 years lol
As a little tip - I struggled the most with the brownish feather half stitches. It got so repetitive and finishing that was when I took my longest pause. If you can, try and switch up areas you work on. Because it will be the most tedious part.
At least it was for me
When I finish a thread I tie a knot in it and then weave it through a few of my stitches and then cut it off. I honestly thought thatās how everyone did it lol
tbh, I have no idea. My wife bought it some years ago in China, and I can't read Chinese. There's a website link on the pattern that says this: www.äŗ¬ē»£ååē»£.com. It took me to a website that seems to have lots of patterns, including ones with peacocks on them, so hopefully that helps!
Sorry, can you explain a little more abaout what we're supposed to be noticing here? Very nice looking peacock, btw :-)
Right?! This is so neat! My back looks nothing like this! š¤£ š
Thanks! So all the lines for the backing are meant to be horizontal only, and only stitching directly adjacently, so as to maximally save thread.
I'm a maniac for neat backs, but the only things you *really* need to worry about are a) ending threads and starting new ones rather than carrying them over empty space (which you're doing) and avoiding knots. I'd start burying threads, or learn the other tricks like loop start etc, rather than tying a knot. That way your finished piece will lie flat. The other thing that helps your finished piece lie flat is even tension, and you've got that covered!!!!
Got it; just looked up "burying the thread" and "loop start"; so cool how it works!
Want to be really blown away look up pin stitch. Iāve been cross stitching for decades and just learned it this week. Iām having a blast with ending threads now
Good lord, what will they think of next?! You could replace everything else with just this! Except I use blunt needle...
TIL!!! I've never used pin stitch and now I'm going to use it a LOT!
It literally makes no sense that this works, but I tried and it does!!! Magical!!!
Whatās so wrong about carrying over thread?
Absolutely nothing. Only time I would say it could matter is if carrying a thread over a blank space meant that the thread was visible through the fabric on the front. People can do what they want, but trying to make the back of the work look perfect as well seems like unnecessary stress to me.
I chuckled because I saw "Absolutely nothing" immediately followed by something :-) The two things I'd say are wrong with carrying over thread are: 1. Thread being visible from the front, just as you noted. And this often doesn't show up until after it's framed, at which point it can be a real nuisance to fix. 2. Issues with tension or snagging during the framing stage. Sometimes those longer threads mean tension isn't distributed evenly, and it can either pull too much, or be too loose once released from the hoop. Depending on how it's being framed, there can be an issue of that long thread being caught in the hardware during framing. This isn't insurmountable, just an avoidable pain. So those are two valid reasons to avoid carrying over thread. Not dealbreakers, but not "nothing" :-)
Carrying threads isnāt wrong (thereās no āwrongā in cross stitch). But for those of us in the neat or semi-neat back club, carrying them over long distances is something we donāt do. I wonāt carry one farther than the length of my needle. As with all things, itās just personal preference.
Sometimes it can be seen through the front.
Your back is absolutely perfect. There is nothing wrong with it.
The back should have vertical lines not horizontal lines. The thread should pass from the back through bottom left, then top right, then straight down at the back and out through the next bottom left. The return pass pops out bottom right, then top left, straight down at the back and out at the bottom right.
Surprise, it can be done in any order one wishes and it be right. Iāve been switching stitch methods and directions regularly on a very large full coverage piece and it makes zero difference.
Oh absolutely! lol I did compliment the artist on their work in another post. And Iām certainly not such a stickler myself. I only posted that in case anyone was wondering what the ācorrectā way to crossstitch isā¦itās to do with economy of movement and thread consumption.
The point is that there is not just one ācorrectā way to do it. Your it should be done *this* way comes off a little highfalutin. Vertical backside and horizontal backsides are both correct. Even crisscross apple sauce is correct. Starting at points 1, 2, 3, or 4 in your square and your crosses going / \ or \ /, also all correct. Many different ways to skin a cat here.
Interestingly, I was taught my horizontal method by my wife for the same reasons as well, for economy of movement and thread consumption. I think both vertically and horizontally can achieve this, possibly even using a mix of both, if one plans correctly. It wasn't until I started looking online that I realized that nobody really does this or even has a name for it š I might just continue doing it because trying to figure it out is fun for me, though it might be torture to many others.
Yeah, absolutely. I have to say Iād be damn proud if my backs looked as wonderful as yours.
Heheheh no one wants to see my backs then āØāØāØāØ
Your back is just fine. The only thing you might want to change is the way you end your threads. Weaving under a few stitches would be better than knots, so you won't have possible bumps on your framed piece. I usually go under 5-6 threads, then turn and go back under a few of those to be sure my ends are secure. Your stitched piece is lovely.
Got it, I might try that. Is that the style that's called a "knotless back"?
Never knotting your floss is standard practice. As others have said, it makes a bump on your piece when you frame it.
Check out the loop start method :) Game-changer and removes knots completely.
No, it's just normal.
So Iāve donāt knot less and Iāve done tiny knots and tbh, I donāt see any difference in them. Actually I get more out of each thread when I do a tiny know start, but I guess Iām all about doing everything wrong.
Youāre right that small knots wonāt hurt the finished look. If thread economy is a goal, check out the loop start, it uses less thread. Plus, itās easier and faster than tying a knot.
Oh I know the loop start. But I like to do it backwards, I get way more out of my thread this way.
I do both when I end a thread. I thought everyone did that
I do this as well. Never thought about it lying flat in a frame.
I havenāt noticed a difference tbh. You do you, if thatās what you like, donāt let others dictate what and how you enjoy your hobby. Edit spelling, autocorrect error.
As best as I can tell, it's how you end your threads. Typically, most folks tuck under 3-5 stitches & trim, so there's a distinct line where the threads are tucked. You seem to mostly have lil' frayed bumps though. I'm curious to know how you're securing your tails!
I see, I think I've seen that method somewhere too. I've actually just been using knots to start and end. To end a stitch, I've been tying two half-hitches into another stitch. (Sorry, I still haven't figured out the terminology!)
To avoid knots for your starting stitches, use [the loop method](https://stitchedmodern.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-loop-method-to-start-cross-stitch-or-embroidery). Cut a longer single length of floss and fold it in half, so that it makes a big āUā, and thread the needle with the two separate ends. Run the needle up through whichever hole youād normally start with (I do lower left-hand corner to upper right-hand corner, but as long as youāre making an X and doing them all in the same direction, itās fine) and pull the floss halfway through. The loop will be hanging on the back side of the piece. Go down through the opposite hole and then put the needle through the middle of the looped floss, and pull taut. Your floss will be tacked onto the piece with no knot and then you can continue cross stitching as usual.
Thanks so much! This is a cool technique!
Ok, that's definitely it then! Most of us are taught knots are a very big no-no when stitching. (Although a lot of us do it in secret š)
I usually run the thread under a line, then loop back over it and continue in that direction for a few more lines. I basically wrap my thread end around a post and create a little pinch point so the thread doesn't get pulled loose.
The only thing Iām noticing is the fact you are using knots. You can stitch however youād like. Thereās no mandate unless you are trying to show it at a fair. Then they have mandates as to how you can place and such but if itās just for you, it doesnāt matter. If you want your back to line up like this, go ahead. Most people just do stitching so the front stitches line up nicely. Since Iām self taught and had no clue about showing, I didnāt think to line up front or back stitches and thus canāt show any of my work currently. I just go thread saver mode and stitch how best is convenient. My xās donāt always face the same way is what Iām trying to say. TLDR: the back doesnāt matter to 98% of people. Only the front does. You do you. :)
Thanks! I was starting to think that all cross-stitchers must be puzzle geniuses to be keeping all their backing horizontal!
If I were to do it this way, I would do only one row at a time. Thatās too much work and brain power for me. Easy is the best way imo. Might not look professional but this is my hobby. Itās not meant to please anyone other than me for me.
My backs usually look like yours, but with the lines going whichever direction I was stitching. If doing a row, they'll line up vertically, and horizontally if I stitch a column. Usually the only knots I have are for the starts of backstitch threads if I'm being lazy - unless the thread knotted while I was stitching and it's too far back to unpick and fix.
In my experience, the backs didnāt matter for the fair, because they required all pieces to be framed or finished. Does your fair judge the backs?
I donāt know if my particular fair does but several I looked at said that they did judge the backs as well. Key things were; jumping distance, finishes were the same way, no knots. I know that there was more that was associated with the back but thatās what I can recall off the top of my head. This was a few years ago that I looked it up. It was one of the tornado alley states that had that, I want to say. My state fair might have echoed some of it too but Iād have to look again.
I typically stitch rows (either left to right or right to left, depending) and only stitch columns when there's a thin vertical section on the pattern. From the back of yours, it looks like you mostly stitch by column, the lines on the back are horizontal on yours but usually vertical on mine. I'm of the mindset that there no right or wrong way to stitch, as long as it looks good to you. Only case in which it might become a problem is for full coverage pieces, where you might start seeing the columns on the front (due to starting/ending in the same spots always I think).
I was trying to figure out how this happens as I also do rows and this tripped my brain up š
What if I told you that I'm doing BOTH rows and columns, by making the rows have the backing of columns? š¤Æ
So like half stitches going across rows and then you go back and do columns after?
I think so? Sorry, still learning the terminology. But yeah, sometimes it requires me doing half stitches for a while, then retracing it all, or sometimes branching off here and there. It's like a complex puzzle game for me!
I think I do the same thing on a small scale. I also donāt know the official terms, just what I use š I do mostly rows but Iāll jump around if itās economical lol
Thanks! Actually, I figured out how to stitch both rows and columns with completely horizontal backing. Not yet sure how much difference it makes on the front.
Front looks good to me!
Coukd you share more details about it? This looks perfect for stitching on a towel.
So unfortunately, my wife got it in China several years ago and I can't read Chinese. The website on the pattern reads "www.äŗ¬ē»£ååē»£.com", which takes me to a site where you can potentially find more patterns, but I've been looking through it and can't find this one. https://preview.redd.it/gqdqb3u2ox3d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=598e80b5f949fe7f5720498b0a2adda8d2261ba9
Oh, actually my question was about your approach to calculate the back. Like, do you create the additional pattern beforehand or you go cross by cross?
Oh, that! I actually just treat each group of stitches with the same color as a little puzzle for myself to try to see how many I can stitch in a row while keeping the backing horizontally aligned. I just chart a course in my head and use a mix of sometimes going cross by cross and sometimes half-stitching a series and then retracing them backwards. Apparently, trying to figure this out would be torture for many others, but I find it fun to do!
Me over here never ever gonna post the back of my anything Edit: a word
Haha I know mine are very messy, but all that matters is how the front looks!
Wow, your stitches on this pattern are incredible! It looks so neat and detailed.
Thanks! Actually, tbh, it's mostly my wife; I'm just finishing what she started š
There is nothing wrong with the back. Very neat! Beautiful Peacock!
Thank you! I've been told I have a lot of knots, so I might try tucking them next project. But apparently I didn't necessarily have to make my backside completely horizontal, like some complex puzzle I had to solve.
Whatās normal anyway? If it works, it works. And by the looks of your pic, it definitely works š
All of my back stitches are vetical. You can do what you like, no worries!
Looks a lot like mineā¦.I donāt see anything unusual about it.
Cool! Do you also make your backside only horizontal too? I've been trying to find others that do this.
No, I am not that worried about the backside. I do try to avoid a lot of long ācross countryā threads on the backside. And avoid knots on the back. I finish off a thread on the back side by threading under a few stitches on the back. My thought is, once itās framed no one will see the back side.
I love neat backs ! But I could not start and end a thread as often as you do to maintain the neatness T\_T I'm afraid it will take me ages to finish a project if I were to do so Perhaps you want to check out r/showmeyourbackside LOL if you want to see others' backs! I think you will probably not find someone who stitches like yours (because yours are almost... \*too\* neat? with a lot of knots), but your back is very post worthy for that subreddit!
Lol That sounds like the perfect place for this!
Ha, came here to say that subreddit.
It seems like youāre just very intense about having short lengths of thread and that you tie knots
Love the design! You might consider always doing the stitches the same way, so always starting with the \ stitch and ending with the / stitch. That way the top layers are all facing the same direction!!
Your work looks amazing! Butā¦ have you considered that you might be neuro divergent haha youāve definitely found your community though, cross stitchers love neatness
Funny you should mention: I have ADHD & autism. What drew me into cross-stitching was actually the idea that each thread was like a little puzzle in trying to figure out how to keep the backing horizontal and link as many stitches as I could in this way.
I have ADHD and I enjoy cross stitch because itās so methodical. I enjoy getting in that groove.
I saw this great video from Spruce & Co, where she outlines that itās not what the back that matters. She also says you donāt need to hang them or display them when theyāre done. Itās the process of stitching. That is where the joy is. So, I think you back end looks great. Mine are usually a combination of horizontal and vertical bars depending on how Iāve decided I can get that section done.
Believe it or not, there are no backing police! š® š As others have said, avoiding the knots in the back will help your finished work lie flat. I tuck under a couple of stitches and trim the thread. Your work looks great, front and back!
Knots can cause bumps that can show when the item is framed. Knots are usually saved for objects like pillows or blankets, where the item will be used. Try burying your tails under other stitches. Otherwise, looks good!
Okay, I might try that for my next project. Thanks!
Honestly who really gives a rat's A what the back looks like? I'm so so so so so so so so so so so sick of uptight people trying to ruin people's stress reliving hobby. Go find something else to be incredibly stupidly uptight about. Your piece is beautiful!
Iām glad Iām not the only one.
Those people are some really pathetic losers.
Looks very efficient!
Iāve been cross-stitching for about 35 years and your back is a lot neater than mine (and I really try).
Just beautiful
I see nothing wrong with your backs. It looks impeccable to me.
Wait are we supposed to care about the back stitch?
From what it looks like, not really. I'm just looking around to see what others do or might recommend.
Tbh. If its working fine for you then that's good.
i dont see any issue. your piece looks great!
Waitā¦. THATS the back???? Wow! Iām self taught and my backs look like a ratty sheep! I gotta get better at this. Iāll hunt for videos.
There are times my FRONT doesn't look this good.. š¤¦š¼āāļø
I believe you were taught to cross stitch via the sewing method. If I remember right, this method you only stitch from the front as there is no need to flip the fabric. There is nothing wrong with the method. Just a different way of stitching. Some may not like this method as it is easiest done in hand and with more malleable fabrics. It also doesn't provide the same sturdiness to the back of a piece if you want to mount it on a pillow of some sort (usually tent stitch is better for that so the back can take the friction). To me it looks fantastic and if this is easy for you then keep doing it and keep enjoying the hobby!
What does it mean to only stitch from the front? Doesn't everyone do that? I've never heard of any other way of doing it.
I'm guessing they mean your hands aren't ever on the back side of the work, as you're pulling the thread from the front
Yes exactly. Your hands always remain on top of your canvas. In English/Danish, usually one hand is above the work and one is below. In the sewing method, you are always handling the needle on the front of the fabric. https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.better-cross-stitch-patterns.com%2Fimages%2Fsewing-method-4.gif&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=cf507aa0fd7663152ccd00016d3e97f8a62ad46763b8a32f9f0611bd176e45bc&ipo=images closest picture I could find. Though if you search on Youtube for Sewing Cross Stitch method, you'll get much better understanding.
How is that possible? You have to put the needle back through to the front from the back.. I'm so confused.
When using the sewing method, your hands never physically go to the back side of the work, as you thread the needle from front-back-front (going through two holes at once) all in one motion, like you do when sewing
Ahhh i understand now, thanks.
Thanks! Actually, I've been stitching from the back. I was actually referring to how all the thread on the backing is only going horizontal, in order to keep the backing neat and save thread.
So I was taught to keep all the lines on the back horizontal. But I'm trying to google "horizontal backing" or "vertical backing", and I can't find anything. Is there a name for this way of doing things? EDIT: So it seems like there isn't a name for keeping the backing completely horizontal? Which is kind of a relief; I was starting to think that all cross-stitchers were puzzle geniuses!
Well it could be the word backing. I was initially confused because backing implies to me something you are lining the back with, like a self stick foam core backing before framing, or felt. I'd try googling cross stitch backside or back stitches.
Could be English style vs (maybe) German style? TBH I donāt remember the other nationality but one does a full cross at a time and one does a row of the first leg of the stitch then goes back along for the second leg of the stitch.
Sort of? I actually use a mix of both just to keep the backing lined up horizontally.
This is so disciplined! š³ You might enjoy needlepoint as well? I understand that the stitch patterns take into account how the thread will lie across the back of the work, aiming for complete and even coverage (and thus creating heavy wearing upholstery fabrics and well insulated hangings). I wanted to learn petit point but fled immediately!
Iām glad I saw this post. I always do knots and any time I have tried just tucking it I have always found the stitch was too loose or unraveled After reading through comments Iām learning I likely wasnāt going through enough stitches for it to work Iāll have to practice this on another project I have noticed framing my projects is tricky and now I think Iāve figured out why In my defence when I was learning my mom told me to do knots when the video I was watching said to tuck lol
I know there are a lot of people who use batting under the piece when framing. Seems like that would negate the knot issues. I've been meaning to try it with some pieces.
My backs look a lot like yours. But I stitch from the front vertically - in columns instead of rows, which is why I get horizontal lines in the back. It would lay flatter if you start just sliding the needle under finished stitches and then clipping the end instead of knotting them. My backs are not nearly as nice as yours, though, I do a fair amount of traveling with mine. Saves in thread sometimes instead of cutting and restarting in a new spot, just moving a few stitches over is easier for me.
That looks pretty normal to me.
People do the back of the work all different ways. The whole idea is not knots in your thread because it leaves the other side bumpy. You should take your thread when youāre done with that color and go to the back of your work and weave it under threads that are in the back that you have already made. Just try to keep it smooth your thread back-and-forth on the side so it will not come loose.
The back looks very clean. šš»
My backs look like a hot mess. I wish I knew how people stitched pretty backs.
Well, itās still beautifulā¦Besides we arenāt normal anyhow. š
The back is absolutely beautiful! Never have I seen this: not only the fronts of the stitches go the same direction, but the backs as well. I treat my pattern like a puzzle: take green -> 5 stitches to the right -> 6 stitches to the left -> 3 stitches up -> 2 stitches down -> return the same way. This way, my stitches on the back go both vertically and horizontally. What I would change, is avoiding the knots. I do make them, but I usually have a small tail of thread hanging at the back, so that I can secure it with other stitches before snipping off the knot, or I would thread underneath the existing stitches. Same goes when you finish up the section in the color
That's phenomenal... š„° The peacock is amazing.. but the back.. wowsers... Mine usually resembles a car wreck.. I avoid knots.. But in full coverage pieces I'll do loads of cross country with my threads š I certainly don't have the patience to go for an immaculate back... Maybe one day... Maybe...
Pretty piece and very neat work. Not sure if youāre referring to the knots on the back. I was taught to run the thread under a few stitches on back to avoid little lumps where the knots are
MY BACK LOOKS WAYYY OFF! Yours looks so neat and clean and as long as it works just do itā¦
Omg! I nearly died when I saw that, so neat and yet so very wrong! lol, I canāt even imagine your stitching action. Gawd, I sound like a terrible troll! Your work is lovely. It works for youā¦you should be proud of your achievement.
lol no worries! Learned a lot from the comments about avoiding knots. Basically, to keep all my backing aligned horizontally, I treat each series of stitches like a little puzzle and see how many I can get by charting my course each time.
It looks like mine, I donāt know whatās wrong with it, it looks great! Very nice!
Looks normal to me!
This is gorgeous š„° š
Slightly off topic, but how do you like the scroll frame when using fabric that's too wide to fit it? I asked this group about it the other day and was told I couldn't get the necessary tension on the area I'm working on by folding excess fabric like you did, but your piece looks amazing!
Thanks! The tension of the fabric isn't really important to me the way I do it. Since it's on a stand, it allows me to hold the area around where my needle is and I go by feel. I also use a blunt tapestry needle, as I'm told they're best for cross-stitching.
That makes sense! I use tapestry needles too, they're great for cross stitching, and I stab my fingers much less often lol
As someone who also does cross stitch I think you should just do whatever works the best for you whilst keeping the piece flat and the tension
This is the way my grandmother's cross stitch back looked like. It's an old-fashioned technique hardly ever seen these days, but, in my opinion, a true mark of skill. It is BEAUTIFUL. We'll done!
I wished my backs look that neat. Mine are always a hot mess.
Oh wow! I did this exact kit a few years back! So exciting to see it as a WIP. How long did it take you to get this far?
Really? Thatās awesome! My wife started this kit a few years ago, and Iāve been helping here and there, but things have been busy. Also, I tried looking up this kit online bc some other comments were asking for it, but my wife picked it up from a store in Taiwan, and I canāt find it. Do you happen to have a link for this one that I can give others?
Sorry no. Was in the same boat. Looking everywhere. I picked it up at a small craft store that has already closed down so no way of finding it out. But good luck with the kit. I also took long break in between and in the end I finished after like 5 years lol
Yeah, Iāll probably take as long too!
As a little tip - I struggled the most with the brownish feather half stitches. It got so repetitive and finishing that was when I took my longest pause. If you can, try and switch up areas you work on. Because it will be the most tedious part. At least it was for me
as a textile artist- THERE IS NO NORMAL!!! whatever method brings you the best result imo
Whew, then you don't want to see my backing. :)
When I finish a thread I tie a knot in it and then weave it through a few of my stitches and then cut it off. I honestly thought thatās how everyone did it lol
What's the name and designer of your pattern? I love peacocks and would love to get this one!!
tbh, I have no idea. My wife bought it some years ago in China, and I can't read Chinese. There's a website link on the pattern that says this: www.äŗ¬ē»£ååē»£.com. It took me to a website that seems to have lots of patterns, including ones with peacocks on them, so hopefully that helps!
āMother used to say you could tell a true lady by the back of her cross stitchāā¦
lol As a man, I'm glad I rate highly according your mom! š¤£
(Thatās a line from Gone with the Wind). And yeah!!! Iām male tooā¦ cross stitch is soooo meditative!
Looks almost like a Tatreez back