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Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:19 pm
by karsa6245
Since doing my parrot i have alot of confetti stitches on the background a terrible amount, and i was wondering whats the best way to end it or well start it as i've taken to doing one square if theres only one in the 10x10 box (even though there will be some in the next 10x10 box) then ending the thread and its made the back quite ridiculously fluffy! with all the thread ends, what's the best way for confetti stitching would you suggest? as this is becoming quite tedious for me, i have read a couple of threads on parking the threads for the next box if its in the next 10x10 box, would this be the best way? any suggestions would be nice ^^ starting to lose motivation as having to end my threads all the time! :thinks: :thinks: thanks :D

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:06 am
by Rose
I don't like to work in 10X10 rows for this very reason. I like to take a color and go as far as I can with that color. I will skip as many as 5 to 7 stitches as long as they will eventually be stitched with another color.

For starting I use the loop method I cut my thread twice as long as I want it to be I then take the two ends and place them together and thread them through the needle. This leaves a loop at the end of the thread. I then come up in the first hole and down in the diagonal hole. On the back side make sure that you place the needle through the loop that was created with your thread.

For ending it depends on what is available but I will run the nedle underneath 4 to 5 stitches in one direction then turn around skipping the last stitch that was used and run the thread in the opposite direction thus anchring the threas under the stitches. I know most stitchers think it is a scandle to make a knot at the end of your thread but if I find it is needed I will make a knot to finish.

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:29 am
by rcperryls
I have mostly been a stitcher similar to what Rose said though I have been known, depending on the design to go as many as 10 stitches apart, if I think it will be covered by other stitches. I like to do the individual stitches first and then cover the threads with the stitches in between (I'm not sure if that makes sense). With one of my HAED projects I am doing 10 x 10 squares because it is on 25 ct evenweave and harder for me to keep track of the stitches, though I do not stick that as a hard and fast rule. I am parking threads for the first time but only 5 or 6 threads if that many. Typically I will stay with a thraead until it is either used up or there are too many spaces until the next one. Then I will end it very similar to what Rose described. I hope I haven't confused you. The key is finding something you are comfortable with so that the stitching doesn't become a chore.

Carole
:D

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:47 am
by Mrs Milkybar Kid
I am similar to Carole and Rose - in that I will take a thread as far as I can within reason before I finish it off. Another tip from the HAED BB that I am trying out on Butterflies Galore is once my thread is finished within a certain area I take it down a few inches (or you can put it to the side) and pull it to the front of my work - then as I stitch down towards it my stitches are securing this thread on the back, then I just snip the end off when I get to it. It saves constantly turning your work over and also means if you have a stitch in an area with not many stitches around to secure it, it won't matter.

Sorry if I've confused you :? !

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:32 am
by karsa6245
wow thankyou so much for the helpful replies! nothings confused me :D understand what u mean! i'll definiely use parking then as i'm finding finishing a thread so much is starting to frustrate me and i'll look at the other confetti parts and yes feel like it's a chore :doh:, i've never tried the loop method before but tad confused wouldn't it double the thread you were using? so twice the thickness? or would you take one of the ends out the needle when u've put them through the loop?
thankyou ladies :)

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:18 pm
by mechie
For the loop method you still end up using the same number of strands while stitching, it's just the starting that's a little different.

Say you usually stitch with two strands of about 12 inches. If you wanted to use the loop method, instead of getting 2 12 inch strands you would get 1 24 inch strand and fold it in half. Thread the cut ends through the needle and start you stitch like normal except at the back of the fabric you now have a loop. When you put the needle back through to make your first / make sure you thread the needle through the loop. Then stitch your next \. Now you have a secured thread and are stitching with 2 strands, just like you would have been before.

I hope that makes sense.

mechie

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:21 pm
by Nachstenliebe
I can't work in just a 10 by 10 frame.. personally that would drive me crazy! In a page setting I usually work up to half of the page.. I work most of the solid blocks of color and then fill in with the confetti.. I don't cut off and start over.. I just go through my area.. My back isn't pleasant by any means though :oops:
Faith

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:36 pm
by karsa6245
That makes alot more sense thank you :) I'm currently using three threads as i felt like i didnt get enough coverage but i can work around that somehow but my method of starting the thread wasnt very good as i was just trapping the end under my first few stitches and wasnt very secure so thankyou for that idea :D i will admit doing 10x10 is driving me mad also but helps as i tend to count wrong lots but im doing 3 squares at a time so really im doing 30x10! but thankyou ever so much cleared it all up and feel like i could get it done with a bit more relaxation now :D
:dance: :wub:

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:54 pm
by Rose
Actually I guess I should have said that the loop method only work if you are working with even number of threads. Sorry I had just assumed that you were working 2 strands.

You can use the same method to start as I do to end if you are using an odd number of threads if you anchor the thread it is just as good as the loop.

Also I am not sure if you do this but another good idea that most all of us use is make a "working" copy of your pattern then either with a pencil, highlighter, or colored pencil as you stitch you can mark off the squares that you have done. This helps keep you focused on the area tha you have finishe and what you still need to do.

I personally do not do this next idea but many members do and have great success with it and that is grid the fabric. They get a marker at the local LNS or fabric store. These wash out in the end when you have finished your work. They mark out a 10X10 grid on the fabric with the pens. This helps them know where they are with in there marked areas. If you look at some of the threads in the SAL Section of the forum you will see the gridding in the progress pictures.

I hope I am helping with these ideas and not making your head spin. :wink:

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:10 pm
by karsa6245
haha thats okay ^^ i would of used two as was suggested on the chart but just didnt seem like i was getting enough coverage so thought would go with three :thinks:

I think i'll definitely do the way you end as i find stitching over the end of the thread doesnt make it very secure and can be quite frustrating as some of the crosses look a bit loose but arent terrible noticable! I did see that some of you were using a highlighter on black symbol charts so thought i would do this :D so now i can definitely see where i am :)

I did my first gridding for this project using a normal cotton which was a bit of a mistake as its not smooth enough to get out the stitching so having to cut it off but its giving me my 10x10 grids even though i would of loved a fabric pen but couldnt currently afford one :doh:

Thanks and it didnt make my head spin at all ^^ the parking is definitely helping for my confetti stitching though and not having to end my thread every square

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:34 am
by Corey.G
I thought I'd share how I do mine too. I notice a lot of people do the loop method to start but I find it's hard to cut off and restart with that method. How I start my stitches is I do my half stitch, then when I bring my thread up to make the other half, you have a tail of thread. I make the tail small, and use the loop you created on the back to secure it and then bring your thread down to finish the stitch.

For finishing confetti stitches, if I use evenweave I run it under the single confetti stitch at the back, once going horizontal and one vertical. But since I mostly work o. Aida, I run the thread underneath the stitch, and then I run it under the Aida itself. Aida weaves and when you look closely you can see how it weaves and I run it under one or two of those, and it doesn't show through on the front. Here's a pic to explain what I mean.

Image

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:27 pm
by Lessa54
Another option which I'm using on my SQ project (again mired in confetti and with blended threads so loop doesn't work), is the pinhead stitch. It's a little hard to explain, but it's a way of starting either on aida or working over two on evenweave/linen. I guess in theory it would work over 1 on evenweave, but would be a very small area to work it in. This is a link to the tutorial for linen - http://www.scarletquince.com/pinhead_linen.php" target="_blank and the one for aida - http://www.scarletquince.com/pinhead_aida.php" target="_blank

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:51 pm
by jacindal
I use the loop start method and I find as using a shorter length of thread for most starts I make less mistakes. I then finish ff the thread by running it under at least five stitches at the back if available.

Re: Best way to finish off confetti stitching

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 1:32 pm
by Fizzbw
I use an adapted pinhead stitch (I think it's adapted, saw it on here!) I do make a small knot in the end of my thread so I don't pull it through, and make the first half of the cross stitch in two halves, going down into the middle of the fabric and then do a normal stitch over the top which hides the split stitch underneath. I'll then finish with a proper pin head stitch if it's on it's own or just thread it through the neighbouring stitches if it's surrounded.

It's easier to do on even weave of course, but I manage even on 18 count aida no problems.

Niki xxx