Stitching Speed and other questions

[Ianthaniel]

[It's Viridian! ]

So I was working on mine last night and everything's going beautifully well. The only issue I'm having is that I have a lot of color changes in each 10x9 square (sometimes 6-7). I'm wondering if anyone has any advice to stitch these types of areas faster.

I was thinking of loading up several needles, with all the color changes I need and just leave them until I'm ready. I'm not sure if I'll run into any problems with that method. Any advice?

My second question is the back. Mine looks like cat vomit. Is there anything I should do with a particular floss when I'm done using it?

Thanks for the help!

[carolynbb]

I'm going to be NO help on this thread, since I go pretty slowly through the confetti sections and my backs also look like cat vomit. ! Maybe my contribution can be "you're not alone!"

[Arianwen]

I load up as many needles as I want (I can go up to about 25, I have the pako needle organiser ) and I find that speeds everything up a LOT.

Where I havea lot of colour changes I look to see if there is another stitch or two of the same colour nearby - anything within about 5 squares/stitches is ok - and then i jump and either do those stitches too, or 'park' the thread so that Im ready to do the next stitches and dont have to deal with fluffy backs.

Mig had a good strategy - cant remember which post though. He has a good pair of embroidery scissors, and when he finishes a thread off, and has secured it, pulls the remaining thread straight up, lays the scissors flat to the fabric and snips the thread off as close to the fabric as possible - I've tried this and it really does work - as long as youre careful.

Honesty though I wouldnt worry about the backs, theyre normally not on display so noone will see them. As long as you dont have lots of knots etc it shouldnt show through

[Ianthaniel]

I definitely have 5-10 needles that I can load up. I'm meticulous with my cross stitching as I finish whole squares, and try not to leave them, so loading up needles is what my plan is. I tried following a color around and it went, um, not well.

As a knitter as well, I know knots and cuts are bad. So I've been weaving in ends underneath the secure stitches in the back. It still all looks like complete vomit but it's going to go on a mat and then a frame, so I guess you're right in that it doesn't matter whatsoever.

I'm hoping having the needles loaded will speed things up. I imagine it will!

[willow]

Do you use the loop method to start your stitches off as thats one less end to worry about.

[Ianthaniel]

I started the loop method last night and that does it make it a LOT easier to deal with one of the ends.

I tried the loading needles last night and it worked out great. I worked much faster, even if the prep for each square took longer than usual but that's okay. It made this pattern much more enjoyable.

Thanks for the help, guys.

[Nachstenliebe]

Well as long as it only looks like cat vomit and doesn't smell like cat vomit I wouldn't too concerned. but I know clean backs are very important to some people..

I don't have any advice on how to do it quicker.. I'm more of a enjoy the stitching at a leisurely pace type person.. which means I'm awful in a deadline
Faith

[Ingahaim]

My backs don't look very neat, and I don't mind really, the front is what counts. I don't stitch very quick either, but I love to stitch though

[Ianthaniel]

Well as long as it only looks like cat vomit and doesn't smell like cat vomit I wouldn't too concerned. but I know clean backs are very important to some people..

I don't have any advice on how to do it quicker.. I'm more of a enjoy the stitching at a leisurely pace type person.. which means I'm awful in a deadline
Faith

Oh, I stitch leisurely too. But it was taking me 10-15 minutes to switch threads and then make a single stitch before switching again. Leisurely is good. Slow as molasses is bad.

[ChicagoMay]

Mine looks like cat vomit.

LOL I laughed out loud. What are you feeding your cat? it should not be that colorful!!

[Like_Fine_VVine]

[cassle]

Uh oh uh oh.. I forgot what the loop method is..? Usually I just use the same method to start and to end the thread....

[cassle]

Okay, I just remembered about it again, lol..

[vanessanjf]

I use a pako needle organiser too. In fact I am using 2 on my HAED Wrath and I have a needle threaded for every colour needed in the chart. This definitely speeds things up. As for the back I have no advise as my backs are a bit messy too but I don't worry about that because who is going to know once it is framed?