firefly_124 ([info]firefly_124) wrote in [info]cross_stitch,
@ 2004-08-10 11:03:00
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Current mood: confused

Backstitching Question
I've noticed several people over the last few days mentioning how much more time-consuming backstitching is than the actual cross-stitching part of a project. So I've got to ask: what am I doing wrong? Because while I find it annoying to have to go back through and do what usually boils down to outlining when I feel "done," it actually seems to take me much less time than the actual cross-stitching.

Since I'm almost completely self-taught, I'm guessing this means I'm missing some key portion of the process. Any ideas what that might be?


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[info]adolwyn
2004-08-10 03:09 pm UTC (link)
I agree with you completely - I love doing backstitch because it's always (for me) the shortest time frame and it takes the project from being almost done to being really good and done.

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[info]jadecat
2004-08-10 03:15 pm UTC (link)
Well, count me in too. I never noticed it taking longer- unless I'm doing it wrong too.

Oh and [info]adolwyn I love that icon- but I can't quite place it. Who is the guy?

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[info]adolwyn
2004-08-10 03:23 pm UTC (link)
He's Paul Bettany - Chaucer from the movie "A Knight's Tale" or the Doctor from "Master and Commander".

I luuuurve him!

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[info]jadecat
2004-08-10 03:49 pm UTC (link)
Yes!! I knew he looked familiar. I really liked him in a Knights Tale- got to see a lot of him. ;)

Of course, Westly is nice too.

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[info]adolwyn
2004-08-10 04:34 pm UTC (link)
Hee. It's all about the pretty boys in my dream world. ;)

Yes, Paul and his "trudging" scene will always stand out in my head as one of the best movie scenes ever. ;)

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[info]moonstrucky
2004-08-10 03:18 pm UTC (link)
Ditto what the other two said :) I love backstitching. I know I'm almost done then, and it really ties everything together.
(And even if we happen to be missing something... well... mine still look good...??)

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[info]jadecat
2004-08-10 03:19 pm UTC (link)
Mine too. :) So I guess we're all right?

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[info]moonstrucky
2004-08-10 03:28 pm UTC (link)
I would guess so ;) If we're not, we're doomed, obviously.

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[info]jadecat
2004-08-10 03:54 pm UTC (link)
Oh dear...

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[info]laridian
2004-08-10 03:18 pm UTC (link)
I like backstitching too! It's the best part, for me. Making it look all finished and it seems to go quite quickly.

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[info]darkravenette
2004-08-10 03:28 pm UTC (link)
Exactly. Not to mention the fact that after a long project, it's like seeing the finish line at the end of a race.

And holy Monkey Island, Batman. You have a Guybrush icon!

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[info]adolwyn
2004-08-10 03:29 pm UTC (link)
HEEE! I love your icon. I laughed my ass off when I saw it in the [info]treepretty community.

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[info]darkravenette
2004-08-10 03:40 pm UTC (link)
Gah! And it disappeared when I went back to edit in her name for credit. Curses. But yes, it made me laugh hysterically.

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[info]laridian
2004-08-10 03:41 pm UTC (link)
Arrrr!~ I've got a few of 'em. :) The above one is just perfect for all those happy moods. ^_^

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buffalogal
2004-08-10 03:46 pm UTC (link)
I saw your icon and said to my self "holy crap that's Guybrush Threepwood!!" hehehehe

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[info]squirrella
2004-08-10 03:19 pm UTC (link)
Backstitching is just like French knots--you either love it or you tear your hair out in vain.

Or, something like that.

The piece I'm working on now is divided into 9 separate charts. I'm electing to finish each section as I go, complete with backstitching. For this particular piece, the bs'ing is welcome because it allows me to work with one color for longer than, say, 20 stitches.

But, yeah, it probably just comes down to personal preference. If you like doing it, you're most like not doing anything wrong, you're just that kind of stitcher.

:-)

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[info]girrlkitty
2004-08-10 03:24 pm UTC (link)
I do most of my projects that way, splitting them up into sections, and doing everything, including backstitch before moving on. I actually really enjoy that part, since it makes the image really pop. Now french knots, on the other hand, I can't stand. I finally switched to seed beads, and I will never go back. (grin) I actaully really like the way the bead work looks on the finished project, and I don't have to spend hours cursing at the thread.

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[info]firefly_124
2004-08-10 07:23 pm UTC (link)
I like the idea of using seed beads instead of French knots! Thank you!

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[info]janey908
2004-08-10 11:45 pm UTC (link)
great idea! I have a piece that involves many french knots for 3 women's necklaces. Quite frankly, I am not looking forward to doing them. But I think putting turquoise seed beads would look even better than my lame french knots. :)

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[info]sulinpanda
2004-08-11 12:09 am UTC (link)
That's what I do: use seed beads instead of the knots. It's sooooooo much easier.

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[info]girrlkitty
2004-08-11 06:37 pm UTC (link)
I have found the same thing! My french knots look horrible, but when I get a new project and it involves them, I take those colors to the store and pick out beads that are close to the thread color. That way I stay true to the piece, but it gives it a nice 3D effect and I don't have to waste hours trying to do them only to end up with half of them pulled out anyway. :-)

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[info]asoneill
2004-08-10 03:56 pm UTC (link)
French knots are the bane of my existance.

Just had to let that out. :)

I like backstitching, but it can get monotonous. It really can make a piece look finished, tho.

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[info]firefly_124
2004-08-10 07:22 pm UTC (link)
I guess that must be it. I'm not overly fond of French knots (love the idea of using seed beads instead, actually), but backstitching seems to go quite easily.

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[info]empty_picture
2004-08-10 03:23 pm UTC (link)
I like backstitching. It's the best part for me. It ties everything together and adds detail. It goes by too fast for me. I love it!! :)

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[info]esmerel
2004-08-10 03:40 pm UTC (link)
I find backstitching annoying. On one hand, it's the last detail, so you're really *close* to being done, but if there's a lot of backstitching, there's just so much LITTLE CRAP that needs finishing!

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[info]mortaine
2004-08-10 04:42 pm UTC (link)
Here's a question. When you backstitch, do you stitch every single gridline, or do you skip over when there's a long line?

If you stitch every single grid, you might find it irritating.

Personally, I don't have a problem with backstitching. My banes are half and quarter stitches, which, because I am also self-taught, I don't really know how to do properly. I guess I should switch to evenweave so they go more easily.

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[info]kyrie3k
2004-08-10 04:46 pm UTC (link)
Heh, I *used* to do it every grid for some of my earlier projects, until I realised I could skip over quite a few of the gridlines and it was better to do so for the most part (i.e. when I had some whiskers on a tiger cross stitch to do). It makes things take less time, and of course it would have made the whiskers more prominent. You live and learn.

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[info]sulinpanda
2004-08-10 07:05 pm UTC (link)
In general, you can tell from the pattern if it's supposed to be every grid, or from end to end. I find that if the piece calls for every grid, it looks better.

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[info]firefly_124
2004-08-10 07:24 pm UTC (link)
When there's a long line, I usually skip over 4-5 squares at a time. I can see how doing each gridline would get very annoying very quickly!

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[info]ladybird97
2004-08-10 07:43 pm UTC (link)
Yeah - it can be a real pain to do every gridline :) But I always feel like it's worth it at the end. And I tried skipping squares once a long time ago, but the thread pulled and the lines ended up crooked and looking really bad, so now I faithfully do every square every time.

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[info]sulinpanda
2004-08-11 12:10 am UTC (link)
I agree - I think it looks better on the finished project.

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[info]kyrie3k
2004-08-10 04:44 pm UTC (link)
I don't find backstitching too much, but that might be because I don't leave it all until the end. I tend to work on sections and do everything there then move onto the next part (except the french knots and beads if any). I find that way I am not doing it all in one go, which I can see could get a little tedious when there's a lot to do. :P

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[info]darkravenette
2004-08-10 05:06 pm UTC (link)
By the way, firefly, I just noticed your QoW mood theme. Very cute. I'm going to have to tell Aeire about it.

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[info]firefly_124
2004-08-10 07:20 pm UTC (link)
Heh, thanks but I can't take any credit. [info]linguafranca offered it on the [info]qow community awhile back.

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[info]ckat41
2004-08-10 05:48 pm UTC (link)
Well, its not more time consuming to me, I just dont like doing it. LOL. Some projects though, its necessary because its what completes it, or makes it 'pop'!

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[info]jennala9
2004-08-10 06:14 pm UTC (link)
Well I don't do more than 4-5 gridlines at a time cuz otherwise it can become really loose. I was under the impression that that was how you were "supposed" to do it. But even though it's annoying, it is nice to be officially finishing up the project and see how much better the image looks...I'm just worried cuz I'm working on a big project right now and feel like if the backstitching on a small one takes forever, this is going to suck!

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[info]sulinpanda
2004-08-10 07:06 pm UTC (link)
I neither like nor dislike it. I think some of the feelings are "I'm so close, hurryhurryhurry!" It can also depend on how *much* backstitching there is on the piece.

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[info]aidenicephoenix
2004-08-10 08:16 pm UTC (link)
I also love backstitching. Granted, I've only finished one piece, but still. There was one area where there was a LOT of backstitching and I put in Gothika and started working on it. Through that entire movie, I only finished half the backstitching in that small area. But, I think it's cool, because it makes the picture come together and really look more completed than it did before the backstitching.

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[info]rhianona
2004-08-10 09:56 pm UTC (link)
For me, backstitch is not so much of a pain as tedious. It means that the project is almost over - and I just get impatient to finish it so I can start a new project. Pretty similar to how you feel.

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[info]bekki_n
2004-08-10 10:37 pm UTC (link)
I dislike backstitch, not because of the time involved, but because you're at the end of your project and just want it done dammit!!

Also, to me, it just feels too close to hemming, which is *work*, not fun, like cross-stitch

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[info]azriona
2004-08-11 01:28 am UTC (link)
*grin* I think we must be polar opposites: I like both hemming and backstitching. Mostly because I find that I don't have to pay such close attention to either of them, I can just sort of go with it ...

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[info]bekki_n
2004-08-11 07:35 am UTC (link)
Hehehe, that makes sense, but just not me at allll!

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[info]janey908
2004-08-10 11:43 pm UTC (link)
I'm glad you posted this, firefly_124. The last time I read a similar post, I was also confused as to why people hated it so much. But now I see that I've been doing it right all along, but mainly people have a preference; doing it and loving it, or doing it and whining. lol

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[info]corpslave
2004-08-12 01:57 pm UTC (link)
I don't mind backstitch... french knots remain to be seen. I've read about how they should be done, but I've never had a pattern that called for it. I only started a few years ago, and since then I've done a wedding sampler, a bookmark, and one of those small kits that comes with the glass frame. I dropped a bigger project I was working on to do a birth sampler, which should technically have been done last month when my nephew was born. That one has a lot of backstitch compared to previous projects, so we'll see how I feel about it after I'm done.

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