Cross-stitch grows in complexity

[nanila]

I bought this cross-stitch from Hobbycraft because I had a voucher to spend, and because I wanted to practise other types of stitching (back-stitching and lazy daisy) before trying my hand at the funkier bespoke designs off Etsy. The contrast between the rather mushy quality of the cross-stitch alone and the crispness after back-stitching is quite dramatic, as you can see below.

Front and back, cross-stitch only





Front and back, all stitching complete









There are 3 or 4 mistakes or "deviations from the pattern", but I don't think they're ruinous. I find the pink plastic hoop that came with the kit a bit naff, so I'll get a wooden one to finish it off. Question for fellow stitchers: Do you bother with doing anything other than trimming the cloth to the edge of the hoop? I've been leaving an inch or so and doing a running stitch to pull it tight at the back, but I have seen some very nice and more effortful finishes involving felt, which I'm tempted to do on the ones that will be gifted.

Next up: Behold, the field &c!

Comments

[angelofthenorth]

that's gorgeous

[nanila]

It's a lovely little kit. I reckon I've enough leftover thread to do the pattern again sometime. :)

[white_hart]

That's so pretty!

[nanila]

Thank you! I had hoped from the grainy website photo that it would turn out to be a good one so I'm glad it did.

[silveradept]

That's quite a difference with the outlines and borders applied than just the cross stitch by itself.

I am also very pleased that there is a stitch pattern for the field that is barren.

[nanila]

The backstitching was clearly vital to making this pattern work, which is one reason I chose it, so I'd have to do it!

Looking forward to the arrival of my next kit. :D

[perennialanna]

Hoops tend to loosen over time, so just trimming is not always wise.

I've usually done gathering the fabric with running stitch, then sewing a piece of felt over the back.

[nanila]

Ah, good point. Thank you very much for answering the question! :)

[fauxklore]

I have done the gather with a running stitch method often. If it’s a piece I really like, I take it to a framer.

[nanila]

I hadn't even thought of framing, only of display hoops, so thank you for that suggestion. :)

[pbristow]

Ooh! =:oo

[nanila]

:D :D

[st_aurafina]

The backstitching really makes a difference, wow! It's so pretty!

I am not an accurate person so I'm always in awe of people who can execute counted cross-stitch.

[nanila]

It does make a big difference! The pattern depends on it, which is partly why I picked it - I knew I was going to have to force myself into doing the backstitching.

[angrboda]

Any mistakes you may have made are definitely not ruinous. You can only see them because you know where they are. :)

[nanila]

Thank you! I did manage to correct a few before they got so embedded I couldn't fix them, but sometimes you just have to roll with it. :P

[cmcmck]

Those birds would remind you of back across the pond, I guess! :o)

[nanila]

Exactly so! I miss them tremendously. You could put a feeder out almost anywhere - even the tiny balcony I had in San Diego - and they would come.

[cmcmck]

I suspect robins fill that niche here! :o)

[paleblinds]

I am jealous of your tidy backs. I don't do cross stitch, just embroidery and my backs are... chaotic.

I can recommend the DMC free patterns - there's cross stitch ones as well.

https://www.dmc.com/uk/free-patterns-5041/free-patterns-5042/free-embroidery-patterns-5043.html

[word_geek]

For stitchings that I want to gift, I frame them.

Assuming that it's worth the cost, I take it to my local framing shop. They will give me a piece of mount board cut to size and I then stretch it and tape it to the card (you can stretch it using pins and then sew the excess across the back, but I still have some leftover spiky stuff designed to make it easier). When I take it back, they cut the mounts and frame it. So far, every one has been beautiful, but it's about £50 for each one. So some of them I just frame myself, into a bought frame of the right size. You can get stickybacked mount board to make it easier.

I do have one that I plan to make into a hanging - just sewing the Aida together with a piece of fabric and hanging it off a piece of dowelling

H