Backstitching: A Love-Hate Relationship

It's a complaint I often hear from stitchers: I hate backstitching!!!

I can certainly sympathize; I often find myself growling at a needle that keeps splitting stitches or moaning that it's plain boring. But every once in a while I find myself backstitching and enjoying it.

How could I like a thing that is universally derided in the stitching world? The answer has finally dawned on me: the type of backstitching makes all the difference.

Take the above piece, Lavender Blossoms Heart by The Sweetheart Tree, as an example.  The stitcher is required to backstitch through an area that has already been cross stitched. While there's no doubt that the backstitching truly enhances this work, I loathe it. I moan and groan and curse the designers who think that I would want to spend my precious free time torturing myself in such a manner. And then I finish the backstitching and bless the aforementioned designers for their beautiful patterns. (No, designers, you just can't win!)

Now take this piece of work: Blueberry Heart by The Sweetheart Tree.

In this piece, the backstitching is the design, so there's no need to stick a needle into a hole that eight threads have already taken up home in. It's simple and pleasant with a beautiful result. Even the backstitching near the cross stitched blueberries is mere outlining, which isn't complicated. This is the kind of backstitching that I like; I find it very relaxing.

The outcomes in both kinds of backstitching are gorgeous, but I don't think I will ever be convinced to like the first type of backstitching- it's just too frustrating for me!

 Speaking of backstitching, I had to make a change to my Around the World SAL. There is a section in Part I that calls for backstitching around some ray stitches and Norwich stitches. The backstitching color was meant to be Flower Color #6: light yellow in my scheme. However, since the ray stitches were metallic brown and the Norwich stitches dark yellow, this color combination was...

...this.

Revolting, no? So I switched the backstitching to Floral Color #7, which is dark brown in my piece.

Sweet relief!

I sewed up my first needleroll- Merry Christmas by Down Sunshine Lane. It's much skinnier than I expected, but I'm still pleased since it was my first.

Finally, the winner of my giveaway! Please give a loud congratulations to...

Tracy!

Congratulations! Please email me at Anne.Sans.Tete@gmail.com with your address, and I will send you the Pretty Pinks frogging needle & scissor fob set.

The mistake in the Around the World SAL? The Lazy Daisy flower on the left was off by a half of a stitch! It's been frogged.

Best Stitches & Wishes,

Of Babies, Frogs, & Beads

The best news first: Debi M sent me the loveliest piece of stitching!

I saw this piece in her photo album, and when she said she would send it to me, I thought she meant the pattern. So I was quite surprised when the finished piece arrived!

I was drawn to it because I don't see many patterns related to the theme of stitching, and this one is really cute. Thank you so much, Debi!

Two baby carriages finished this month! I started the pink one in...*cue blushing*...2009!

My friend's favorite color is silver, which was a difficult color to match to fabric. I started on black, but it seemed very doom & gloom and required a change.


 I ended up with the pink & white striped aida out of sheer desperation. I simply couldn't think of another fabric to use.






The backing fabric, on the other hand, was a breeze! Perfect for any baby, don't you think?

Another friend of mine had her baby at the beginning of January. French Country Baby Carriage is the only baby pattern I have, so I made another! Plus it's cute. I used Carrie's Creation silk in Aurora.

I've started my Around the World in 80 Stitches SAL, and (so far!) I love it. The Lindisfarne stitch- the orange flowers- was a real joy; the Lazy Daisy flowers...well, they're stitched.

I did the second heart first because I'm a left to right stitcher.

The fabric is 28ct. Mushroom lugana, and I'm using these flosses: WDW Moss, Grasshopper, Guacamole, Cayenne, Aztec Red, Sweet Potato, Autumn Leaves, Marigold, Squash, Chestnut, & Hazelnut; GAST Chalk; & Rainbow Gallery PB49.

I'm contemplating changing the beads; while the blue is a lovely shade and I like the gold beads, I don't feel confident in this choice. I have some frosted beads in gold and purple that I am going to try out on the first heart. Compare the hearts; make a decision; live with it!

There is one small mistake- one flower is a half of a stitch off.

Can you see it?  
I CAN!

It will have to be changed. I just can't stand it!


If you do find it, email me (Anne.Sans.Tete@gmail.com), and I'll give you an extra entry in the giveaway [see below].

While planning this piece, I've relied on Ruth's sound advice about fabric count and arranging the color palette; while stitching, Carole's close-up photos of the various stitches have been of invaluable assistance!

At the moment, I am stuck on the Berwick stitch.  I find it, um, frustrating, to say the least.

I was on a frogging needle/scissor fob roll for the last part of the month. It was all set in motion by Jane, who saw my needle/fob offer and asked me to make her one.

She likes blues and seashells, so I created a beach themed needle for her: brown for the sand, blue for the water, and white for calm & simplicity. The beads are rather sparkly, which really adds to the feel in person.

Since I had all of my tools out, I decided to play around a bit, and these were the results:



I wanted something a little more fun & festive for the reindeer than the usual straight line, and I added the jingle bell for a little lightheartedness.

Definitely keeping these!

I made this needle as an extra, just in case the ladybug needle gets lost. Since I had a needle, I had to make a matching fob!

 
 
I made this chatêlaine last month, but I needed a scissor fob to go with it. After hemming & hawing about what to do, I finally settled on the grey squirrel with a mini jingle bell.

You may have noticed there are jingle bells in all of the pictures- I love the mini jingle bells!

To celebrate Valentine's Day, I'm giving away this needle & fob set to one lucky winner!


Just leave a comment with a way to contact you, and I will put your name in the drawing. International entries are more than welcome.







The giveaway will end on Valentine's Day, and I will announce the winner on 15 February.



Good luck to everyone, and thanks, once again, for reading my blog!




Best Stitches & Wishes,