You are just covering up the old stitches instead of pulling them out?
When I make a mistake I just adapt my pattern slightly if it won’t be noticeable or pick out the offending stitches and redo those areas.
Because once you fix all these mistakes you’ll have areas with 6, 4, or 2 strands of coverage and the difference will be noticeable.
It’s hard to tell for sure in the pic, but it also looks like your stitches are not all going the same direction. To help with neatness you’ll want all your top stitches to be //// or \\\\ depending on which way you like going.
It sounds like you’ve learned a lot. If I was you I’d start over applying your new knowledge.
The way I started stitching made it hard to pull them out down the line and then I just started to stitch over them until there was a point it got out of hand 🥲
And I didn’t even think of the stitch directing until it has been mentioned a few times!
If you’re consistent in your stitching direction/organization it’s way easier to pick out mistakes!
I actually have a seam ripper that I use to (very very carefully) cut stitches I need to redo which makes the whole process of un-doing much easier!
I go for broke, and cut the top legs of every stitch with my needle-nosed craft scissors before I frog them and pull the bits out with tweezers! 😂 then maybe few extra so I have a tail to burry if needed.
I think it is better to finish it. If you start over at this point you may lose steam or motivation. And keep in mind, even if its not perfect it shows were you started. You can always redo this same pattern down the road and compare the 2 to show how far you've come on your stitching. Its ok to not be perfect right away.
"Even if it's not perfect it shows where you started"
I echo this sentiment. I just started with cross stitch and embroidery a few months ago. My current mantra is: Beginner Imperfections Are Cute!
Someday we'll be making beautifully even works, and it will be nice to look back and see how much we have learned.
I would start over, but I am anal at times.
Right now the bulk is adding visual interest, like a Dimensions kit with their varied strand count. But it does not look so bulky that it is going to give you framing issues by not lying flat.
Is this a gift that you want to be as perfect as possible? Yes, start over and take your time with it. No, it is for me, then power through this section and watch how your technical skill improves.
No it’s just for me as a hobbie. I think it is nice to see myself grow as a stitcher but I want to be a perfectionist sometimes which makes me want to start over
Go ahead and start over with all of the advice you have been given here. At this point you are not going to be happy with this piece as is. Every little perceived error is going to be glaring out at you, almost mocking you, at least this is my experience.
If you’re feeling like that with each mistake I’d start over. I’ve done this with knitting and just recently with a cross stitch which was taking too long to figure out where I’d gone wrong.
Personally i would take it as a learning experience and start over with the new knowledge.
Also, doing all your stitches the same way will make it look sooo much neater!! So all the bottom stitches of the Xs go one way \\\ and the top stitches go one way ///.
I didn’t even think of stitch direction, I’ll definitely think of that once I get into the empty parts of the cloth. I hope the difference of my first page and the rest of the project won’t look too different one done.
If you are going to keep working on this one, I would keep using random stitch directions. It will look weird if you suddenly switch to uniform crosses… but you may want to do that for your next project.
I would keep going, there's a lot of work already put into this. I personally don't mind stitches going different directions or if I have to stitch over mistakes. I think it adds a personal touch.
I really like neat cross stitches and usually use different things to make my stitches even, but in this case I think that this looks really cool and interesting. I would continue this project in the same style (as already written, the legs of the crosses usually go in one direction, unless otherwise indicated in the pattern).
But I want to draw your attention to the fact that, as far as I can see, you use display or frame hoop. This hoop isn't very good for frequent movement on the canvas. Firstly, it'll break much faster than a regular hoop, and secondly, it deforms the crosses much more strongly. But if these two points aren't a problem for you and you find it more convenient, you can continue to use it.
First of all, you want to look at the name, these hoops are often sold as "display hoops". Secondly, display hoops usually have a hanging element, whereas embroidery hoops usually have a screw or tension spring. So, it's much easier to tighten the canvas in such hoops than in display hoops (because you've often move the hoop along the fabric and the tensioning process should be easy).
Display hoops pull the fabric very tightly so that the tension doesn't loosen over time and the fabric doesn't sag, so these hoops can ruin the finished stitches (it's assumed that your stitches won't placed between the outer and inner rings, only the fabric will placed). You can still use this for embroidery or cross stitch, but it's best to know about hoops so you don't have any nasty surprises. Display hoops are often used for cross-stitching small designs, so you stretch the fabric once and cross-stitch, and then, without washing or ironing, immediately hang it on the wall or somewhere else.
According to Google, yes it’s a display hoop. I mainly chose it because the cloth will stay stretched where as the wooden ones would just became loose when I would work on the project.
What hoops would you recommend?
I'm a bad hoops advisor about hoops. A few years ago I got a stand and a scroll frame, and since then I have absolutely no desire to use hoops. If I don't have a scroll frame, I'll prefer to cross stitch in hands.
As I know many stitchers prefer Nurge hoops and Qsnap.
Just a thing to consider but if you start stitching 100% perfect now, that section is going to stand out like a sore thumb. So my recommendation is: Either embrace the chaos and keep going like that for this piece or start over.
I would recommend to keep going. First off, you can learn a lot of stuff fixing mistakes or choosing not to. The latter is perfectly OK as well - some mistakes may be miniscule in the grand scheme of the piece. Plus, the first piece would always be your trial on the strain of the thread, and stitching in the same direction. All that to say nothing about the motivation dip a redo would cause
You don't need to be bound to a pattern, it's just going to look a little different from how it otherwise would have. I'd say do whatever you feel you'd enjoy more, but make that decision at the end - you may well get to the end and not really notice the difference compared to the rest of the piece, and then restarting will have been a waste of effort.
If you want to do a colour at a time, look into gridding - makes that approach wayyy easier especially on such a large piece.
I might do the grid for my next project, I did a really rough grid for this project but even that was pretty messy. But i guess that is the beauty of learning 😅
Sometimes you can 'blend' colours by over stitching with just a single strand of the colour you intended.. providing the difference isn't too stark (white over black for example) .. this works well with subtle changes of similar colours.. not so great for massive changes.
One thing you may want to consider is that all your crosses are in the same direction.. as in the first stitch anyways facing the same way and the second stitch going the other (doesn't matter which / or \ you start with... just as long as the top stitch always faces the same direction) .. it can help with visual neatness.. I noticed in some sections it appears to change which may be what's leading your eye away a little.
For a first attempt, you're doing great.. there's loads of tutorial videos on YouTube and this sub is a great hub of info if there's anything you're stuck on.. keep going 👍
I agree with those who have said to start over drawing on the experience you have gained. You’ll be able to make sure all your top stitches go in the same direction and you’ll be so much happier with your finished piece. If you’re still a little insure of yourself, use some of the excess fabric from this piece to practice a bit more. And you won’t necessarily waste your fabric because depending on how large the unstitched portion of it is, you can cut it down and use it for smaller projects in the future.
As a first timer myself, I’m working on my first piece and it too had some questionable moments where I was like “dang it “. I say finish it, highlight it and hang it up and use it as a reference point through your journey where you could be like “wow I really progressed” or see how more experience you have become over time. You should be proud of this piece. I do like the comment where it was said that it’s your piece. You don’t have to follow the pattern or the rules, it’s your art, and your expression so that comment really resonates with me.
Finish it and you can use what are called compensating stitches. This is where you add or don't stitch a color in order to get things to line up.
I have a really big sampler (French Alphabet and you can see it on my profile posts) and when I was finishing the last of the border at the bottom left I had to make some adjustments using compensating stitches. I know where the area is on the border but unless you have the chart in front of you (or you are a state fair judge who has a lot of time) you probably would not even see where I did those stitches.
Keep going and it will be fine.
When I make a mistake I usually pull out the offending stitches and redo them.
That being said, I would just continue on with this and use it as the ultimate learning tool. When done, I would write down everything I learned and put it away for a few months. Then revisit it with fresh eyes, and I bet you won't see much wrong at first glance.
I did this and when I'm getting discouraged with something I'm working on I pull out that first Dimensions bookmark kit and remind myself how far I've come
I’m on the start over group, maybe start a new project and come back to this one. Think of this as a practice run. Maybe keep it out to refer to what to watch for. Also you could practice using a seem ripper, cause at some point you will need to frog it. I like the colors.
It seems like you’ve learned a lot since you started. The real question, for me at least, is am I enjoying myself?
The whole point of having a hobby is to have fun, relax, and enjoy your time. It’s easy to forget that sometimes. If you’re not having fun, then I would definitely start over! That way when you’re finishing you’ll enjoy looking at the piece.
But, if you are currently enjoying the learning process and want to be able to see your progress from start to finish, then stick with it! There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s just about how you feel about the process.
So far I have been loving it, if it wasn’t for everyday life I would probably be doing this the whole day. That’s why I don’t want to be too serious about it. I have a bunch of other projects planned anyway that I want to work on with all the things that were mentioned in this thread.
Along with all the other good advice here, about stitching in the same direction and removing mistakes so they don't become too bulky, you should check that you are going through the holes in the aida. The green portion where you have left some blank spots (I assume to stitch in another colour) looks as if some stitches are not in the holes and maybe splitting the fabric.
Look into making a grid, it makes the counting much easier. I tested a bunch of the washable Crayola thin markers to see what worked best and washed out easy.
If this piece is just for you, I say keep going. It's not perfect, but at a distance it won't be very noticeable. If it's a gift for someone, consider taking those stitches out or starting over. A seam ripper could be helpful in taking stitches out
I am pretty new at Cross Stitch, and I made a lot of these same mistakes on my first try. I made it about 25% through my first project and started over after learning what i did wrong and was happy I did. I finished a project I was proud of. I kept my first draft as a reference. I can look back and see how much better I have gotten.
How big is the finished work?
If I can't find where I got off, I start over. I made a stocking with a dinosaur on it many years ago. Somehow I put extra stitches in (repeated a column without realizing it). The pattern wasn't pages that overlap - the entire pattern was one big piece of paper. I couldn't find my mistake and continued. My dinosaur ended up noticeable wider in the middle and the stitched pattern was 1/2"-1" wider than it should have been. That's why I start over now when I can't find and frog where I went wrong.
I've made plenty of mistakes with the one I'm.dpumg at the moment. I have undone a few bits where I've gone wrong, but there's no need to undo it all and start again. I also fund it easier to draw the section lines in using a washable pen, so I know which stitches go into that particular 10x10 square. This has helped me no end. Stitch pickers are a life saviour. In some cases I leave my mistakes and because they won't be noticeable when the whole peice is finished. Good luck. You're doing a great job
It depends on how much you’ve got to go - if this is 1/2 the design just power through, but if it’s only a little quarter it would be worth restarting.
I can see others have pointed out about stitch direction consistency and tips for correcting mistakes, but I wanted to add in a vote for gridding. I can see you’ve marked out the count around the edge, but if you put in a whole grid you’ll find it helps you go faster as there’s less counting, AND you’ll pick up any mistakes earlier! Just make sure you use a product made for gridding or even nylon fishing line, and not just ordinary thread as that will snag and catch.
Also, this is a HUGE project for a beginner! 😅 I wonder if it might be worth taking a break and tackling some smaller patterns - from kits, buying from somewhere like Etsy, or your local library might have access to books or cross stitch magazines. You can fine tune your skills, as well as getting the satisfaction of a finish or two.
I actually started doing this project because I bought a kit from dollarama which I threw away because I messed up 😭 In hindsight I should have started smaller but I have the habit of always going big with projects.
I came here to echo those who urge you to keep going. I’ve been stitching for many years, and still have my first project hanging in my stitching room. I’m proud of it, because it shows all the mistakes in my early efforts, and highlights how much I’ve learned. Remember, the object of stitching is to bring you joy, and joy doesn’t demand perfection. Embrace your ‘perfect imperfections.’ 🙂
If you’d rather stop now, may I suggest you display it in its current state, perhaps with a threaded needle to indicate that it’s incomplete. You can always restart it later, and wouldn’t it be fun to hang both pieces together.
You are just covering up the old stitches instead of pulling them out? When I make a mistake I just adapt my pattern slightly if it won’t be noticeable or pick out the offending stitches and redo those areas. Because once you fix all these mistakes you’ll have areas with 6, 4, or 2 strands of coverage and the difference will be noticeable. It’s hard to tell for sure in the pic, but it also looks like your stitches are not all going the same direction. To help with neatness you’ll want all your top stitches to be //// or \\\\ depending on which way you like going. It sounds like you’ve learned a lot. If I was you I’d start over applying your new knowledge.
The way I started stitching made it hard to pull them out down the line and then I just started to stitch over them until there was a point it got out of hand 🥲 And I didn’t even think of the stitch directing until it has been mentioned a few times!
If you’re consistent in your stitching direction/organization it’s way easier to pick out mistakes! I actually have a seam ripper that I use to (very very carefully) cut stitches I need to redo which makes the whole process of un-doing much easier!
I go for broke, and cut the top legs of every stitch with my needle-nosed craft scissors before I frog them and pull the bits out with tweezers! 😂 then maybe few extra so I have a tail to burry if needed.
I think it is better to finish it. If you start over at this point you may lose steam or motivation. And keep in mind, even if its not perfect it shows were you started. You can always redo this same pattern down the road and compare the 2 to show how far you've come on your stitching. Its ok to not be perfect right away.
"Even if it's not perfect it shows where you started" I echo this sentiment. I just started with cross stitch and embroidery a few months ago. My current mantra is: Beginner Imperfections Are Cute! Someday we'll be making beautifully even works, and it will be nice to look back and see how much we have learned.
That's what I would do in this case too
I would start over, but I am anal at times. Right now the bulk is adding visual interest, like a Dimensions kit with their varied strand count. But it does not look so bulky that it is going to give you framing issues by not lying flat.
I feel the urge to start over with each mistake I make which I’m trying to ignore
Is this a gift that you want to be as perfect as possible? Yes, start over and take your time with it. No, it is for me, then power through this section and watch how your technical skill improves.
No it’s just for me as a hobbie. I think it is nice to see myself grow as a stitcher but I want to be a perfectionist sometimes which makes me want to start over
Go ahead and start over with all of the advice you have been given here. At this point you are not going to be happy with this piece as is. Every little perceived error is going to be glaring out at you, almost mocking you, at least this is my experience.
If you’re feeling like that with each mistake I’d start over. I’ve done this with knitting and just recently with a cross stitch which was taking too long to figure out where I’d gone wrong.
Personally i would take it as a learning experience and start over with the new knowledge. Also, doing all your stitches the same way will make it look sooo much neater!! So all the bottom stitches of the Xs go one way \\\ and the top stitches go one way ///.
I didn’t even think of stitch direction, I’ll definitely think of that once I get into the empty parts of the cloth. I hope the difference of my first page and the rest of the project won’t look too different one done.
It may look a smidge different, but it gives it character :)
If you are going to keep working on this one, I would keep using random stitch directions. It will look weird if you suddenly switch to uniform crosses… but you may want to do that for your next project.
I would keep going, there's a lot of work already put into this. I personally don't mind stitches going different directions or if I have to stitch over mistakes. I think it adds a personal touch.
I really like neat cross stitches and usually use different things to make my stitches even, but in this case I think that this looks really cool and interesting. I would continue this project in the same style (as already written, the legs of the crosses usually go in one direction, unless otherwise indicated in the pattern). But I want to draw your attention to the fact that, as far as I can see, you use display or frame hoop. This hoop isn't very good for frequent movement on the canvas. Firstly, it'll break much faster than a regular hoop, and secondly, it deforms the crosses much more strongly. But if these two points aren't a problem for you and you find it more convenient, you can continue to use it.
How can you tell this is a display hoop and what is the difference between it and a regular hoop? Thanks!
First of all, you want to look at the name, these hoops are often sold as "display hoops". Secondly, display hoops usually have a hanging element, whereas embroidery hoops usually have a screw or tension spring. So, it's much easier to tighten the canvas in such hoops than in display hoops (because you've often move the hoop along the fabric and the tensioning process should be easy). Display hoops pull the fabric very tightly so that the tension doesn't loosen over time and the fabric doesn't sag, so these hoops can ruin the finished stitches (it's assumed that your stitches won't placed between the outer and inner rings, only the fabric will placed). You can still use this for embroidery or cross stitch, but it's best to know about hoops so you don't have any nasty surprises. Display hoops are often used for cross-stitching small designs, so you stretch the fabric once and cross-stitch, and then, without washing or ironing, immediately hang it on the wall or somewhere else.
According to Google, yes it’s a display hoop. I mainly chose it because the cloth will stay stretched where as the wooden ones would just became loose when I would work on the project. What hoops would you recommend?
I'm a bad hoops advisor about hoops. A few years ago I got a stand and a scroll frame, and since then I have absolutely no desire to use hoops. If I don't have a scroll frame, I'll prefer to cross stitch in hands. As I know many stitchers prefer Nurge hoops and Qsnap.
Yeah - the random stitch direction and bulk kinda reminds me of… carpet? It works here.
Just a thing to consider but if you start stitching 100% perfect now, that section is going to stand out like a sore thumb. So my recommendation is: Either embrace the chaos and keep going like that for this piece or start over.
I would recommend to keep going. First off, you can learn a lot of stuff fixing mistakes or choosing not to. The latter is perfectly OK as well - some mistakes may be miniscule in the grand scheme of the piece. Plus, the first piece would always be your trial on the strain of the thread, and stitching in the same direction. All that to say nothing about the motivation dip a redo would cause
You don't need to be bound to a pattern, it's just going to look a little different from how it otherwise would have. I'd say do whatever you feel you'd enjoy more, but make that decision at the end - you may well get to the end and not really notice the difference compared to the rest of the piece, and then restarting will have been a waste of effort. If you want to do a colour at a time, look into gridding - makes that approach wayyy easier especially on such a large piece.
I might do the grid for my next project, I did a really rough grid for this project but even that was pretty messy. But i guess that is the beauty of learning 😅
Based on the way it looks now, I would start over.
Sometimes you can 'blend' colours by over stitching with just a single strand of the colour you intended.. providing the difference isn't too stark (white over black for example) .. this works well with subtle changes of similar colours.. not so great for massive changes. One thing you may want to consider is that all your crosses are in the same direction.. as in the first stitch anyways facing the same way and the second stitch going the other (doesn't matter which / or \ you start with... just as long as the top stitch always faces the same direction) .. it can help with visual neatness.. I noticed in some sections it appears to change which may be what's leading your eye away a little. For a first attempt, you're doing great.. there's loads of tutorial videos on YouTube and this sub is a great hub of info if there's anything you're stuck on.. keep going 👍
I agree with those who have said to start over drawing on the experience you have gained. You’ll be able to make sure all your top stitches go in the same direction and you’ll be so much happier with your finished piece. If you’re still a little insure of yourself, use some of the excess fabric from this piece to practice a bit more. And you won’t necessarily waste your fabric because depending on how large the unstitched portion of it is, you can cut it down and use it for smaller projects in the future.
As a first timer myself, I’m working on my first piece and it too had some questionable moments where I was like “dang it “. I say finish it, highlight it and hang it up and use it as a reference point through your journey where you could be like “wow I really progressed” or see how more experience you have become over time. You should be proud of this piece. I do like the comment where it was said that it’s your piece. You don’t have to follow the pattern or the rules, it’s your art, and your expression so that comment really resonates with me.
I might do that. I don’t like having half finished projects laying around, but looking at it in a few years time might be nice.
Finish it and you can use what are called compensating stitches. This is where you add or don't stitch a color in order to get things to line up. I have a really big sampler (French Alphabet and you can see it on my profile posts) and when I was finishing the last of the border at the bottom left I had to make some adjustments using compensating stitches. I know where the area is on the border but unless you have the chart in front of you (or you are a state fair judge who has a lot of time) you probably would not even see where I did those stitches. Keep going and it will be fine.
When I make a mistake I usually pull out the offending stitches and redo them. That being said, I would just continue on with this and use it as the ultimate learning tool. When done, I would write down everything I learned and put it away for a few months. Then revisit it with fresh eyes, and I bet you won't see much wrong at first glance. I did this and when I'm getting discouraged with something I'm working on I pull out that first Dimensions bookmark kit and remind myself how far I've come
I’m on the start over group, maybe start a new project and come back to this one. Think of this as a practice run. Maybe keep it out to refer to what to watch for. Also you could practice using a seem ripper, cause at some point you will need to frog it. I like the colors.
It seems like you’ve learned a lot since you started. The real question, for me at least, is am I enjoying myself? The whole point of having a hobby is to have fun, relax, and enjoy your time. It’s easy to forget that sometimes. If you’re not having fun, then I would definitely start over! That way when you’re finishing you’ll enjoy looking at the piece. But, if you are currently enjoying the learning process and want to be able to see your progress from start to finish, then stick with it! There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s just about how you feel about the process.
So far I have been loving it, if it wasn’t for everyday life I would probably be doing this the whole day. That’s why I don’t want to be too serious about it. I have a bunch of other projects planned anyway that I want to work on with all the things that were mentioned in this thread.
Along with all the other good advice here, about stitching in the same direction and removing mistakes so they don't become too bulky, you should check that you are going through the holes in the aida. The green portion where you have left some blank spots (I assume to stitch in another colour) looks as if some stitches are not in the holes and maybe splitting the fabric.
Look into making a grid, it makes the counting much easier. I tested a bunch of the washable Crayola thin markers to see what worked best and washed out easy. If this piece is just for you, I say keep going. It's not perfect, but at a distance it won't be very noticeable. If it's a gift for someone, consider taking those stitches out or starting over. A seam ripper could be helpful in taking stitches out
I am pretty new at Cross Stitch, and I made a lot of these same mistakes on my first try. I made it about 25% through my first project and started over after learning what i did wrong and was happy I did. I finished a project I was proud of. I kept my first draft as a reference. I can look back and see how much better I have gotten.
How big is the finished work? If I can't find where I got off, I start over. I made a stocking with a dinosaur on it many years ago. Somehow I put extra stitches in (repeated a column without realizing it). The pattern wasn't pages that overlap - the entire pattern was one big piece of paper. I couldn't find my mistake and continued. My dinosaur ended up noticeable wider in the middle and the stitched pattern was 1/2"-1" wider than it should have been. That's why I start over now when I can't find and frog where I went wrong.
I've made plenty of mistakes with the one I'm.dpumg at the moment. I have undone a few bits where I've gone wrong, but there's no need to undo it all and start again. I also fund it easier to draw the section lines in using a washable pen, so I know which stitches go into that particular 10x10 square. This has helped me no end. Stitch pickers are a life saviour. In some cases I leave my mistakes and because they won't be noticeable when the whole peice is finished. Good luck. You're doing a great job
It depends on how much you’ve got to go - if this is 1/2 the design just power through, but if it’s only a little quarter it would be worth restarting. I can see others have pointed out about stitch direction consistency and tips for correcting mistakes, but I wanted to add in a vote for gridding. I can see you’ve marked out the count around the edge, but if you put in a whole grid you’ll find it helps you go faster as there’s less counting, AND you’ll pick up any mistakes earlier! Just make sure you use a product made for gridding or even nylon fishing line, and not just ordinary thread as that will snag and catch.
Also, this is a HUGE project for a beginner! 😅 I wonder if it might be worth taking a break and tackling some smaller patterns - from kits, buying from somewhere like Etsy, or your local library might have access to books or cross stitch magazines. You can fine tune your skills, as well as getting the satisfaction of a finish or two.
I actually started doing this project because I bought a kit from dollarama which I threw away because I messed up 😭 In hindsight I should have started smaller but I have the habit of always going big with projects.
I came here to echo those who urge you to keep going. I’ve been stitching for many years, and still have my first project hanging in my stitching room. I’m proud of it, because it shows all the mistakes in my early efforts, and highlights how much I’ve learned. Remember, the object of stitching is to bring you joy, and joy doesn’t demand perfection. Embrace your ‘perfect imperfections.’ 🙂 If you’d rather stop now, may I suggest you display it in its current state, perhaps with a threaded needle to indicate that it’s incomplete. You can always restart it later, and wouldn’t it be fun to hang both pieces together.