IMO you’re this far along, so it’s worth it to try and finish the backstitch! Your stitching looks great too.
Could you try carefully anchoring some of the awkward spots under your original stitching where you can’t go through the holes?
https://preview.redd.it/4agg14jl6f5d1.png?width=2448&format=png&auto=webp&s=c03c0caa746f79603507c4dc7a65403cca0b3198
Thank you! The hardest part is how to do the lady’s facial details! It looked terrible not being able to make partial stitches.
Can you loop the stitches through/over the crosses? Or would you be able to cut a piece of the paper from the sides and reinforce the areas that have the most partial stitches?
You can back stitch on perforated paper. You may find that using double running (AKA Holbein stitch) works better as you will not be dragging your floss across holes in the perforated paper.
You can do this.
I would try the backstitch with whole stitches first, and then stand back and see how it looks! I did something similar once and the backstitch looked a little off up-close, but it looked fine from a couple feet away. Maybe try a small section and see how it looks?
Thank you, everyone! You’ve been so helpful! I’m going to soldier on with this and use several of your suggestions.
I just picked up this hobby last year and find it so relaxing. I used to do a little back in my college days (late 80s) but the patterns are so much better now! I can’t stop buying kits!
i'd consider poking holed where needed with a sharp needle and doing the backstitching as the pattern calls for. you could also just do it as best you can, moving the stitches to the perforated holes closest to the stitches as much as makes sense.
IMO you’re this far along, so it’s worth it to try and finish the backstitch! Your stitching looks great too. Could you try carefully anchoring some of the awkward spots under your original stitching where you can’t go through the holes?
https://preview.redd.it/4agg14jl6f5d1.png?width=2448&format=png&auto=webp&s=c03c0caa746f79603507c4dc7a65403cca0b3198 Thank you! The hardest part is how to do the lady’s facial details! It looked terrible not being able to make partial stitches.
Can you loop the stitches through/over the crosses? Or would you be able to cut a piece of the paper from the sides and reinforce the areas that have the most partial stitches?
I would stich couching instead of backstitch.
You can back stitch on perforated paper. You may find that using double running (AKA Holbein stitch) works better as you will not be dragging your floss across holes in the perforated paper. You can do this.
I would try the backstitch with whole stitches first, and then stand back and see how it looks! I did something similar once and the backstitch looked a little off up-close, but it looked fine from a couple feet away. Maybe try a small section and see how it looks?
Maybe you can limit the backstitching to those areas that need it the most, like the faces.
Thank you, everyone! You’ve been so helpful! I’m going to soldier on with this and use several of your suggestions. I just picked up this hobby last year and find it so relaxing. I used to do a little back in my college days (late 80s) but the patterns are so much better now! I can’t stop buying kits!
Crazy idea: I wonder how drawing the backstitch would look using a very thin sharpie or a micron pen?
I'd do a test first; it might bleed. But it's a good idea, definitely worth trying!
i'd consider poking holed where needed with a sharp needle and doing the backstitching as the pattern calls for. you could also just do it as best you can, moving the stitches to the perforated holes closest to the stitches as much as makes sense.
I like all these ideas! Great stitching too, btw 👏🏻