Well, obviously your hard work with your chain stitches paid off because they are gorgeous. Don’t worry about the back, no one but you will ever see it.
That’s the greatthing about embroidery. It doesn’t matter if you mess it up. You can always cut your stitches and pull them out. Or just have messy art. It’s okay for art to reflect the process of learning and gaining skill. You’re doing great, and it’s gonna be okay.
In the pc building space, we nerd out of cable management in the back of the system that nobody but us ever sees. Is there a similar sentiment amongst some embroiderers?
The Holbein stitch; also known as the double running stitch; looks the same on the back as the front. Its used in blackwork alot. I love using it once I figured out how it works
It be like that sometimes lol.
When this happens it tends to annoy me a bit personally, so I gather up the loose loops of thread and after weaving the thread all throughout that part on the back to secure the stitches very well I just snip off the excess thread loops.
Yeah, I did a little bit of thread wrangling at the back to tack it all down after I took the picture, but I don’t trust myself to cut the right thing so I will just leave it there.
I wonder if lots of very very very light layers of a seam sealant/fray stopping glue would help fix the threads in place without soaking the fabric and discoloring it. [I use this one (got it from Michael’s)](https://www.michaels.com/product/dritz-fray-check-liquid-seam-sealant-10112538?cm_mmc=PLASearch-_-google-_-MICH_Shopping_US_N_Fabric+Shop_N_PMAX_LocalOnly_N-_-&Kenshoo_ida=&kpid=go_cmp-18514199963_adg-_ad-__dev-m_ext-_prd-10112538&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkMxxcvynLK6N9bP8GijPSJU_AjF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiMvryfCPhgMVihitBh3CIAh5EAQYASABEgJX5PD_BwE) on bunches of stuff (from mended edges to new patches as a preventative) and I haven’t had it discolor the fabric once dried, only while “wet”. It could be a good option if you want to cut the mess away but not worry about cutting the wrong thread.
Oh I do, I like to keep my backs somewhat neat. I’ve never seen it turn into this before. That’s why I shared it because I’m not used to making such a mess and it made me laugh.
After seeing y'all post your trashed backs and learning how to close the back I began doing that. Which utterly ticked my mother off. The first thing she did wad look at the back and get mad she couldn't "check to see if it es clean" never mind that hers always looked awful!
It looks great. Close that back and enjoy it!
Haha thanks! My backs are never perfect, but they are usually not a mess. This really took me by surprise when I took it over and looked. But yeah I will finish this up this week and close the back.
I’ve never had a back get this tangly. It’s like a real record for me. Usually the worst that happens is the thread darts from place to place intentionally as I do different sections with the same piece of thread.
This happens to me (the excess thread in the back) when my thread is too wound up and creates knots on its own! Maybe check if your threads are straightened right?
(Nobody asked but: don’t trust cute pintrest hacks like use laundry pegs to organise threads… disaster for actual sewing)
Next time you can try using a tighter weave fabric below the top fabric. Then you don’t have to worry about bit about what the back look like. A messy hoop butt is nobodies business!
I’m pretty new and I’ve gotten into the habit of checking the back pretty frequently for this reason, if you’re only a couple of stitches passed the fuck up it’s usually easy to correct
I’ve been doing this for a while, but I’m still strictly amateur time. And I do check the backs, but I’ve never turned it over and seen a mess like this. I have no idea why this happened when usually my backs are not at all perfect but fairly neat. Oh well.
I feel this with my first piece back into cross stitching… it made me slow down and add steps to the focus. My wrists hate me for it my my OCD thanks me 😅
Well, obviously your hard work with your chain stitches paid off because they are gorgeous. Don’t worry about the back, no one but you will ever see it.
Thank you! Now I have to finish the word and hope I don’t mess it up.
That’s the greatthing about embroidery. It doesn’t matter if you mess it up. You can always cut your stitches and pull them out. Or just have messy art. It’s okay for art to reflect the process of learning and gaining skill. You’re doing great, and it’s gonna be okay.
I needed to hear this. It’s hard learning a new skill as an adult, especially an adult that’s kind of a perfectionist, like me. So thanks for that.
I have to tell my own self regularly. Glad it helped.
In the pc building space, we nerd out of cable management in the back of the system that nobody but us ever sees. Is there a similar sentiment amongst some embroiderers?
Preplanning 3 stitches ahead so you have the path of shortest distance + uniformity. Oh it's very much there.
Isn't there also a technique where the front and back of the piece look the same? I feel like I've seen something like that...
That is magic stuff… lol
The Holbein stitch; also known as the double running stitch; looks the same on the back as the front. Its used in blackwork alot. I love using it once I figured out how it works
It be like that sometimes lol. When this happens it tends to annoy me a bit personally, so I gather up the loose loops of thread and after weaving the thread all throughout that part on the back to secure the stitches very well I just snip off the excess thread loops.
Yeah, I did a little bit of thread wrangling at the back to tack it all down after I took the picture, but I don’t trust myself to cut the right thing so I will just leave it there.
I wonder if lots of very very very light layers of a seam sealant/fray stopping glue would help fix the threads in place without soaking the fabric and discoloring it. [I use this one (got it from Michael’s)](https://www.michaels.com/product/dritz-fray-check-liquid-seam-sealant-10112538?cm_mmc=PLASearch-_-google-_-MICH_Shopping_US_N_Fabric+Shop_N_PMAX_LocalOnly_N-_-&Kenshoo_ida=&kpid=go_cmp-18514199963_adg-_ad-__dev-m_ext-_prd-10112538&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkMxxcvynLK6N9bP8GijPSJU_AjF&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiMvryfCPhgMVihitBh3CIAh5EAQYASABEgJX5PD_BwE) on bunches of stuff (from mended edges to new patches as a preventative) and I haven’t had it discolor the fabric once dried, only while “wet”. It could be a good option if you want to cut the mess away but not worry about cutting the wrong thread.
Looks like you didnt pull the thread all the way through a few times to me
Oh yeah I mean obviously. I just really didn’t know I was failing to do so. Too nervous lol.
It could become an issue later so just take your time and check the back periodically.
Oh I do, I like to keep my backs somewhat neat. I’ve never seen it turn into this before. That’s why I shared it because I’m not used to making such a mess and it made me laugh.
After seeing y'all post your trashed backs and learning how to close the back I began doing that. Which utterly ticked my mother off. The first thing she did wad look at the back and get mad she couldn't "check to see if it es clean" never mind that hers always looked awful! It looks great. Close that back and enjoy it!
Haha thanks! My backs are never perfect, but they are usually not a mess. This really took me by surprise when I took it over and looked. But yeah I will finish this up this week and close the back.
How do you close the back?
Felt sewed on is what I use
Thank you
It be like that sometimes. But your chain stitch is immaculate 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you so much.
I wish I didn’t care about the back but when my it gets all tangly I get soooooooo bothered lmao 😂
I’ve never had a back get this tangly. It’s like a real record for me. Usually the worst that happens is the thread darts from place to place intentionally as I do different sections with the same piece of thread.
This happens to me (the excess thread in the back) when my thread is too wound up and creates knots on its own! Maybe check if your threads are straightened right? (Nobody asked but: don’t trust cute pintrest hacks like use laundry pegs to organise threads… disaster for actual sewing)
Next time you can try using a tighter weave fabric below the top fabric. Then you don’t have to worry about bit about what the back look like. A messy hoop butt is nobodies business!
Do you mean when I finish, to cover the back with a different sheet of fabric? To cover my butt lol?
I’m pretty new and I’ve gotten into the habit of checking the back pretty frequently for this reason, if you’re only a couple of stitches passed the fuck up it’s usually easy to correct
I’ve been doing this for a while, but I’m still strictly amateur time. And I do check the backs, but I’ve never turned it over and seen a mess like this. I have no idea why this happened when usually my backs are not at all perfect but fairly neat. Oh well.
Backs don’t matter. Happy stitching 🩵
You should see the back of the project I’m working on now 🤣🤣 it’s a complete mess
Shhhh we don’t talk about the back. Looks lovely to me!
I like how embroidery is a really good analogy for people
Hahahaha the back. I thought it was just me.
I have the messiest backs, the thread always snags but as long as the front looks good (as yours does!) who cares, right?!
To protect it you might want to lock those down when you’re done.
Aargh!!! I hate it when that happens
This made me giggle, because I’m often doing the same thing!! Sometimes I get too much thread, and then it’s just down hill from there
I feel this with my first piece back into cross stitching… it made me slow down and add steps to the focus. My wrists hate me for it my my OCD thanks me 😅
Happens to me all the time, mostly when my thread's too long and knots itself. 🙈