THANK YOU. This is such a good reminder. I’ve been working on other sections and went back to this one and… I’m honestly no longer sure I see it now. lol
They don't look super messy to me at all! It looks like the biggest cause of a less than uniform look is that the thread twists, so if you're willing to put in the work after every couple of stitches to ensure you're untwisting it fully and then railroading, they may end up a little smoother. But honestly they look perfectly fine, and keep in mind no one will ever look at them as closely as you are. A little texture at a distance is not a bad thing, it just shows that this was handcrafted with love and care, and not stitched by a robot.
Thanks! I’m probably my own worst critic, too. And thanks for the tip, I’ll have a look about untwisting more and seeing how I feel. I have a needle trolley but haven’t quite figured out how to use it as a consistent part of the process. But you know I think you’re right, I was just looking at a finished piece and the “messiness” just kind of melts away when you see the whole thing, so maybe I just need to stop worrying. :)
Have you tried any other tools? I couldn’t get comfortable with a trolley needle, so got myself a laying tool. Once you get the hang of it, it’s like a trolley needle in that it doesn’t add any time to your stitches.
The best (easiest to hold and use) are 4.5-6” long, made of wood or bone (metal is heavy, shiny plastic is slippery) and has a few turnings or bumps to assist your grip. [This one](https://www.etsy.com/listing/569182949/) is a good “try me” piece, although it’s a little short. But the grooves make it easy to grip when it’s resting in your hand. It was my first laying tool.
The photo in the comment below is my unicorn laying tool, no longer made. It’s 4.5” long and fits my hand perfectly. If I ever lose it, I’ll cry. 😢
Check out Flosstube #30 from Pam’s Crafty Corner for a really good demo. Note how she has it resting in her hand when she’s not using it. I only wish she’d shown it full speed.
Edit- errors
https://preview.redd.it/g0rfnql4ve5d1.jpeg?width=868&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9b21da838c3323250a027d4842bb78303e11ed8
This looks like at least 4 strands
The issue you are having is with hole quadrants so it probably is the sharp needle. It’s not impossible to keep your hole quadrants neat with a sharp needle but it’s harder for sure.
I mean you can probably do it with the sharp needle, you will just have to be very careful not to cross threads in the holes and especially not to split the stitches that are already there. Imagine each hole split into four and only put the needle through the corner of the hole dedicated to that stitch.
I like a pointy tapestry needle so I know about splitting threads. If you see your needle about to split threads, withdraw it a little and come up at an angle to avoid them. If necessary, use a needle or laying tool to nudge them aside.
Try John James needles. One of the things I found with them is they are a good halfway between blunt and sharp, so it pretty easy to stay in the holes but still good for pin stitching and weaving under the threads.
Makes sense - you go through more floss that way, then need to head to the store for more DMC thread!
I have folded a teeny piece of sandpaper into the eye of a needle before.
i recently did a project on 14 ct with 3 threads and i didnt like the texture... i reduced it to 2 threads and liked it a lot more. its definitely a balance between texture and coverage. if the project gets washed and ironed, the stitches may smooth over a bit.
I’ve had to deal with the occasional ‘long leg’ and I get frustrated with those, so I tried to figure out how to avoid it. I try to be very aware of what part of the hole in the Aida I’m using. If the hole already has another thread in it from a different stitch, try not to split that other thread/separate those strands with your current stitch. Try to keep your thread coming through the hole as close to your current stitch as possible (not letting the thread from the existing stitch to get between your needle and the current square you are stitching).
This should prevent one stitch from having a really long / or \ leg (and the one next to it having a short leg).
My trick is to try to make sure my current stitch is using the proper inner corner of the open hole. If my tension is wrong my thread will use up the wrong corner, making it easier for the thread to be pierced when using the same hole for a different stitch.
Always go in the same direction with your / and \ facing legs. And always keep the same direction on the bottom (like all / facing legs of the stitch on the bottom) and the opposite direction always on top.
When a project has tent stitches mixed in I try to think about which way I want the tent stitch to lie “/“ or “\”.
Railroading is excellent for neat stitches.
Let your needle spin out loose to unwind the thread every few stitches.
Keep your thread relatively short. Helps with consistency in tension and to prevent tangles.
Use thread magic with any metallic thread.
Have fun! You’re doing very well!
Edit to say I really like easy guide needles. They don’t pierce the thread sharing the hole nearly as much.
Thank you! Someone else mentioned paying more attention to the holes, too, and that’s been helpful already. Also good note on the short thread… my threads have 100% been too long!
you gotta be intentional about placement of threads in holes that are otherwise occupied. Splitting the end of a previous cross will make your legs look uneven. To some degree it just takes time and learning how you prefer to do your stitches. If the stitches feel puffy, maybe adjust how tight you're pulling the thread.
It looks to me like you're not pulling your threads tight enough. As others have said, the thread may be twisted. Also top middle, one square right of the blue line, 3 stitches down, looks like the cream is missing the top stitch (just to the left of a pink square).
You are going over some other stitches in some areas, especially pink in the last photo. Twisting aside - i think it has to do also with your tension. Some under stitches look a little bit too loose, and top stitches too tight.
I constantly change the direction of the legs of the crosses so that I always start the leg in the hole with the fewest threads and finish in the hole with the most threads. This way the needle always goes exactly into the hole and never between the strands of another stitch. But if the perfect back is important to you, this won't work for you.
What about using a trolley needle? This turned out to be the most convenient for me. Anyway, your stitching speed will first decrease significantly, then it will increase back.
Maybe have a look at railroading as a compromise? I don't have a laying tool but started to use railroading and it's made my stitches lie a lot neater, and it only slows down a bit...
Honestly speaking, I think this is as neat as they can get 😭
I have the same issue when I use three strands in particular. Even if I try to come up in a hole with the fewest number of stitches already made, it always looks wonky because of the three strands constantly overlapping. Railroading helps, but you can’t railroad through all three strands, so two out of three of the strands might get twisted. The only way to really help this is to use the typewriter method so that you will never have to stitch a square that has more than two adjacent stitches next to it. This is the only way to consistently reduce stitching in holes with pre-existing cross made in it, but it leaves a lot of parked threads and or traveling. Another thing would be to always make sure that your thread will create a 45° angle or less when moving your needle to the next hole. This will tighten the thread against the Aida, so you won’t have to piece a long-legged cross. https://youtu.be/sruvrwlLdDY?si=N2dJf-VZDKy5wzPi this video explains it well!
I gave up coverage for stitch neatness! Even on 11 ct with three strands, I run into this issue, so I only use two strands or les :D
Someone else mentioned it, but always remember to look at your work from afar! I always try to put my work about 1.5 ft away from me to get an idea of what it really might look like to the average person, and it always looks so much better
They look fine! When u have more stitches it’ll all come together. I think this so often about mine but just plod on! It’ll look amazing when finished 🪡🧵
In addition to all the great suggestions here, I’ll add that if this was my project I would increase my tension a little more. I tend to pull my stitches tighter than you are, which would leave a little more room for you to share the quadrant holes.
DO NOT take this advice mid-project, as you will not be pleased with the mixed results. Try it on a sample piece and see how you like it.
Honestly, prob because you're looking at it closely. I think it's pretty normal to look like this. The tension appears even, it's just they way when making something by hand
Agree with all the suggestions thus far; I’d also try doing a small section w/only 2 strands and see what you think. I know most embroidery projects call for 3 strands but I do think trying 2 is worth a try
Back away from the project. Take a picture at viewing distance. You are too close.
THANK YOU. This is such a good reminder. I’ve been working on other sections and went back to this one and… I’m honestly no longer sure I see it now. lol
They don't look super messy to me at all! It looks like the biggest cause of a less than uniform look is that the thread twists, so if you're willing to put in the work after every couple of stitches to ensure you're untwisting it fully and then railroading, they may end up a little smoother. But honestly they look perfectly fine, and keep in mind no one will ever look at them as closely as you are. A little texture at a distance is not a bad thing, it just shows that this was handcrafted with love and care, and not stitched by a robot.
Thanks! I’m probably my own worst critic, too. And thanks for the tip, I’ll have a look about untwisting more and seeing how I feel. I have a needle trolley but haven’t quite figured out how to use it as a consistent part of the process. But you know I think you’re right, I was just looking at a finished piece and the “messiness” just kind of melts away when you see the whole thing, so maybe I just need to stop worrying. :)
Have you tried any other tools? I couldn’t get comfortable with a trolley needle, so got myself a laying tool. Once you get the hang of it, it’s like a trolley needle in that it doesn’t add any time to your stitches. The best (easiest to hold and use) are 4.5-6” long, made of wood or bone (metal is heavy, shiny plastic is slippery) and has a few turnings or bumps to assist your grip. [This one](https://www.etsy.com/listing/569182949/) is a good “try me” piece, although it’s a little short. But the grooves make it easy to grip when it’s resting in your hand. It was my first laying tool. The photo in the comment below is my unicorn laying tool, no longer made. It’s 4.5” long and fits my hand perfectly. If I ever lose it, I’ll cry. 😢 Check out Flosstube #30 from Pam’s Crafty Corner for a really good demo. Note how she has it resting in her hand when she’s not using it. I only wish she’d shown it full speed. Edit- errors
https://preview.redd.it/2jqugpzj6e5d1.jpeg?width=1632&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eeab2e521a02488340558d2d2971fbc0d2335894
Are you using three strands total, or three strands folded in half to make six?
Three total. I had a look at that guide that has been shared a few times and three looked right.
https://preview.redd.it/g0rfnql4ve5d1.jpeg?width=868&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9b21da838c3323250a027d4842bb78303e11ed8 This looks like at least 4 strands
i think that may be some floss on the side, if you look at the floss actually in the needle its 3 strands!
The issue you are having is with hole quadrants so it probably is the sharp needle. It’s not impossible to keep your hole quadrants neat with a sharp needle but it’s harder for sure.
Thanks! I was kind of afraid of that… maybe I just need to commit to switching needles when I finish threads…. Thanks!!!
I mean you can probably do it with the sharp needle, you will just have to be very careful not to cross threads in the holes and especially not to split the stitches that are already there. Imagine each hole split into four and only put the needle through the corner of the hole dedicated to that stitch.
Also true! I’ll play around a bit and see how it goes. :)
I like a pointy tapestry needle so I know about splitting threads. If you see your needle about to split threads, withdraw it a little and come up at an angle to avoid them. If necessary, use a needle or laying tool to nudge them aside.
Try John James needles. One of the things I found with them is they are a good halfway between blunt and sharp, so it pretty easy to stay in the holes but still good for pin stitching and weaving under the threads.
Thanks!! I actually just tried with a new smaller DMC needle that I forgot I’d bought and it’s already going smoother. I think. lol
If your threads start breaking it will be that DMC needle.
Haha really? Well good to know that when it happens it’s not me!
I put a DMC 28 needle under a microscope and it had all kinds of sharp edges in the eye.
Makes sense - you go through more floss that way, then need to head to the store for more DMC thread! I have folded a teeny piece of sandpaper into the eye of a needle before.
Be sure and drop and dangle every few stitches.
Yes! That and shorter threads are already making a difference. Thanks!
How many strands are you using?
i recently did a project on 14 ct with 3 threads and i didnt like the texture... i reduced it to 2 threads and liked it a lot more. its definitely a balance between texture and coverage. if the project gets washed and ironed, the stitches may smooth over a bit.
Interesting, this is helpful. I wanted coverage but didn’t consider that it would affect the texture too, of course it does.
I’ve had to deal with the occasional ‘long leg’ and I get frustrated with those, so I tried to figure out how to avoid it. I try to be very aware of what part of the hole in the Aida I’m using. If the hole already has another thread in it from a different stitch, try not to split that other thread/separate those strands with your current stitch. Try to keep your thread coming through the hole as close to your current stitch as possible (not letting the thread from the existing stitch to get between your needle and the current square you are stitching). This should prevent one stitch from having a really long / or \ leg (and the one next to it having a short leg). My trick is to try to make sure my current stitch is using the proper inner corner of the open hole. If my tension is wrong my thread will use up the wrong corner, making it easier for the thread to be pierced when using the same hole for a different stitch. Always go in the same direction with your / and \ facing legs. And always keep the same direction on the bottom (like all / facing legs of the stitch on the bottom) and the opposite direction always on top. When a project has tent stitches mixed in I try to think about which way I want the tent stitch to lie “/“ or “\”. Railroading is excellent for neat stitches. Let your needle spin out loose to unwind the thread every few stitches. Keep your thread relatively short. Helps with consistency in tension and to prevent tangles. Use thread magic with any metallic thread. Have fun! You’re doing very well! Edit to say I really like easy guide needles. They don’t pierce the thread sharing the hole nearly as much.
Thank you! Someone else mentioned paying more attention to the holes, too, and that’s been helpful already. Also good note on the short thread… my threads have 100% been too long!
They look great. Take a step back. Like 2 yards/meters and then look. No one is nose up in your project
I don't see it. They look nice.
you gotta be intentional about placement of threads in holes that are otherwise occupied. Splitting the end of a previous cross will make your legs look uneven. To some degree it just takes time and learning how you prefer to do your stitches. If the stitches feel puffy, maybe adjust how tight you're pulling the thread.
It looks to me like you're not pulling your threads tight enough. As others have said, the thread may be twisted. Also top middle, one square right of the blue line, 3 stitches down, looks like the cream is missing the top stitch (just to the left of a pink square).
Keep the threads untwisted and make sure they lie flat, side by side, in each stitch.
You are going over some other stitches in some areas, especially pink in the last photo. Twisting aside - i think it has to do also with your tension. Some under stitches look a little bit too loose, and top stitches too tight.
I always use two strands.
I constantly change the direction of the legs of the crosses so that I always start the leg in the hole with the fewest threads and finish in the hole with the most threads. This way the needle always goes exactly into the hole and never between the strands of another stitch. But if the perfect back is important to you, this won't work for you.
Thanks for this reminder. I’ve been keeping it in mind as I’ve been going and it’s actually already been helpful.
Are you making sure your threads are untwisted and using a laying tool?
No… I have one but I haven’t figured out how to use it without going incredibly slowly… looks like that’s the next step I need to figure out!
Speed will come with practice, I promise.
Do you have a good example/tutorial of someone using one? Maybe I need to do some more googling but you all generally have all the good stuff!
What about using a trolley needle? This turned out to be the most convenient for me. Anyway, your stitching speed will first decrease significantly, then it will increase back.
Maybe have a look at railroading as a compromise? I don't have a laying tool but started to use railroading and it's made my stitches lie a lot neater, and it only slows down a bit...
I use a sharp needle and this doesn't usually happen.. if it does, it's because my thread is uneven, and not all strands are taut.
Honestly speaking, I think this is as neat as they can get 😭 I have the same issue when I use three strands in particular. Even if I try to come up in a hole with the fewest number of stitches already made, it always looks wonky because of the three strands constantly overlapping. Railroading helps, but you can’t railroad through all three strands, so two out of three of the strands might get twisted. The only way to really help this is to use the typewriter method so that you will never have to stitch a square that has more than two adjacent stitches next to it. This is the only way to consistently reduce stitching in holes with pre-existing cross made in it, but it leaves a lot of parked threads and or traveling. Another thing would be to always make sure that your thread will create a 45° angle or less when moving your needle to the next hole. This will tighten the thread against the Aida, so you won’t have to piece a long-legged cross. https://youtu.be/sruvrwlLdDY?si=N2dJf-VZDKy5wzPi this video explains it well! I gave up coverage for stitch neatness! Even on 11 ct with three strands, I run into this issue, so I only use two strands or les :D Someone else mentioned it, but always remember to look at your work from afar! I always try to put my work about 1.5 ft away from me to get an idea of what it really might look like to the average person, and it always looks so much better
They look fine! When u have more stitches it’ll all come together. I think this so often about mine but just plod on! It’ll look amazing when finished 🪡🧵
Always looks neater when you do all the stitches the same way round. Figured this out many years into my cross stitch journey
In addition to all the great suggestions here, I’ll add that if this was my project I would increase my tension a little more. I tend to pull my stitches tighter than you are, which would leave a little more room for you to share the quadrant holes. DO NOT take this advice mid-project, as you will not be pleased with the mixed results. Try it on a sample piece and see how you like it.
Honestly, prob because you're looking at it closely. I think it's pretty normal to look like this. The tension appears even, it's just they way when making something by hand
Agree with all the suggestions thus far; I’d also try doing a small section w/only 2 strands and see what you think. I know most embroidery projects call for 3 strands but I do think trying 2 is worth a try
Stop picking on yourself ! It looks great!!
Maybe concentrate on your tension.