Keeping Backside Tidy |
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--------------- Loop Method with Three Strands 1. Cut one length of floss about 20 inches long and a second about 11 inches long. 2. Fold the 20 inch length in half, holding the ends between forefinger and thumb. 3. Add one end of the 11 inch piece to the other tow ends. As they hang together, the 11 inch piece will hang down about 1 inch below the loop of the folded 10 inch piece. 4. Thread the three ends through your needle. 5. From the back of your work, put the needle up through the first hole of your stitch, puttling about 9 inches through to the front. 6. From the front of your work, put the needle down through the 2nd hole of your stitch. 7. On the back side, put you needle through th eloop of the 20 inch piece and pull taut. At the same time, make sure the tail of the 11 inch piece is cught under the following two or three stitches, then cut off the excess of the 11 inch tail. This should give you the coverage you desire with three strands of floss, and help keep your backsides tidy at the same time. --------------- From: Marti Wouldn't you know, I just learned something and already got dissatisfied with it. I like three strands of floss a lot, and have been using the loop method from your website. But I was getting a little annoyed, because if I only had a short row of stitches, I was left with 3 strands cut and would have to attach them the old way.
Except that I came up with something! Instead of one strand doubled and another about half of that, I've folded one strand of floss into (approximately) thirds, so there is a loop at both ends. Thread the needle with one end, do your stitching, and if you are done, cut. Now you have three strands again, but one end still has a loop! So you can start at least another row of stitches with the loop methods before discarding your floss.
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From: RaeJ698 I found the following article [regarding isolated stitches] while reading through some old cross-stitch magazines:
"Tips for Handling Isolated Cross-Stitches" from the Winter 1992 issue of Treasures in Needlework
"When cross stitches are isolated from others, make the first half of the cross, leaving a 2" tail. Keep the tail to the right of the stitch (left on the wrong side of fabric) to anchor it. Stitch the second half of the cross. On the back of the fabric, take the floss through the stitch right to left, then top to bottom. Leave 2" tail and tie with a square knot to first tail; trim tail ends".
Since stitchers tend to dislike knots (including me), I'm not sure how they'll like this idea. I sent it so folks would see another opinion on the subject.
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From: Christina [Re: Isolated Stitches]
I've had to do this a few times and is easily done. What you do is an away tail? You make a knot (I know, a knot? Seriously!) at the end of the floss and start a couple of inches away from where the stitches are supposed to be. Insert the needle from the top so the knot will be on top. Then bring the needle up where you are going to stitch. Work all the stitches you need and run the needle under the threads like you normally would. Then carefully cut the knot from the top of the fabric and pull the thread to the back and thread the needle with the threads... (this is why I do the away knot a couple of inches away) and run the tail threads under the stitches you just did.
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From: Tara Dewdney I think the reason we (stitchers) dislike knots, is they are bulky. But if you figure out that a square knot is only 2 threads thick and 2 threads wide (hence the name square), it seems a lot tless buky than trying to weave in and out of maybe 2 back threads (and subsequently pulling your fronts tighter). The square knot seems logical.
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Martha Beth Lewis has some tips on tidy backsides on this page of her site:
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From: Tracie Kaelin I know most stitchers hate knots (myself included), but I use a knot I learned at a smocking class and it is not very bulky and can be hidden under subsequent stitches. I wrap my thread twice around the tip of my needle and pull the needle up through. It gives a small knot and is not noticeable at all. I find it quite helpful when doing a large piece and you cannot loop the thread.
From "E" on the XsBuddies Bulletin Board
For those of you who use loop starts, I recently read of a way to do them from the front so that you don't have to turn over your frame/hoop/Qsnap! Holding your piece and looking at the front, go down through the fabric in the hole where your first stitch would be (leaving your loop) and then back up and bring your needle through the loop and pull snug -- just like you would on the back. Your loop should now be sitting on the front, running diagonlly right where your first leg of your first stitch would be.
Then just go right ahead and put your needle down through the same hole as the top of that stitch -- it will pull the loopy part around to the back and you will have a perfect completed first leg on the front without ever having to turn your piece over!
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