Backstitching

It depends on the particular situation, but in my opinion it usually looks funny if you go more than a "square" at a time. I'd go longer for some things for which it seemed appropriate, but probably not for outlining things.

Best wishes, Ericka

I'll agree that a square at a time looks neater. The obvious exception are those odd diagonals (such as "right two and down three") that cannot be made shorter without splitting the ground fibers. If you stitch one square at a time, the backstitch can lay neatly between the cross stitches (or other stitches). Longer stitches often attempt to float to the top in my experience.

I'll be the dissenting voice! :) To me, doing a backstitch for each square looks choppy. I usually do 2 or 3 stitches. I usually don't go over 3 stitches long unless it's on a diagonal. I just think the longer stitches smoothen out the edges more.

Try it both ways and see which you like better. *That's* the correct way! :)

HTH Joan

I'm going to have to go along with Joan on this one. Most of the instructions I have for my Aida kits state "Make your Back Stitches the length of the lines on the chart, dividing long lines so that no stitch is longer than 9 fabric squares." I usually adjust these until it looks ok to me, sometimes shorter, sometimes longer...depending on the situation. I have even been known to make it much longer and just couch the thing down if that's what looked good!

Dannielle

I've actually couched the entire backstitching on a floral project. It just looked smoother.

Cheryl

I agree with everyone. Sometimes doing a single box looks perfect, sometimes longer lines look right (rarely more than 4 squares long) and sometimes couching is the only way to make it look great.

I think it's all in the way you want it to look that makes it correct.

Lucille

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. To break up the monotony of making x's, I backstitched a bit this morning and found that over 3 was the longest length that lay flush against the stitches without buckling despite pulling tightly.

It's a good thing this design is cartoony with no fine details as I've lost count of all my miscounts and have to do a lot of compensating!!!!!!!!! If it weren't against the rules, I'd try to sell a few charts that are so highly detailed that I'll never do them.

Which rules?

Copyright? As long as you don't keep a copy of the chart, you can do whatever you want with your purchased original. You can give it away, sell it, burn it, etc. You can't keep a copy of it, that's all that copyright says.

Your personal 'rules'? I'd rather *not* have charts I'll never stitch in my stash.

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net WIP: Oriental Butterfly, Insect Sampler, Rose Trio, Carousel (TW) Most recently Finished: TicTacToe Sampler, Snow, Morning Glory Stitching log:

Or you can sell them at Quin's O&I auction. No cost or fees to you or the buyer. You don't get rich, though!

Brenda Lewis wrote:

But she can let us know they are there, right? I'll spot them anyhow! ;)

Cheryl

Brenda Lewis said

I was referring to the 'no selling here' rule. If I can't unload the few charts I've collected locally, I may list 'em in the marketplace.

Gill Murray said

Is there anything anyone wants form south Africa? I'd love to swap for all sorts of things, not limited to needlework. I just can't afford the import duties.

Catherine

What are you looking for Catherine? I had a great time trading with Joyce!

Cheryl

Gee, I was going to ask what she was offering. Since the only specific thing on our want list from Africa is that Kitty thinks it would be nice to have a baby tiger to mother, and she's not quite getting it that this "baby" would be bigger than she is.

But definitely, Catherine, if there's something specific you want, just ask. The bus to LNS drops me off on my corner, so it's no big deal for me to run over there for you.

I'd bet multiple trading partners would be fine!

Africa has lions, tigers are Asian.

I was wonder if I had time for an LNS run today! I certainly have to be fairly close to it for the errands on my list so far!

Cheryl

Dear Aunt Cheryl,

Tigers have stripes like me. Don't want another baby who doesn't look anything like me.

Love, Miss Kitty