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

[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