This right here is the main reason I went poking around for this place in the first place- how do you keep your stitches looking really, really neat?

I don't know if its the fact that I change projects *a lot,* on all kinds of fabrics in every size and color out there, but I recently started a medium-ish-sized project on white 25 ct evenweave (which I have never had trouble with before) but my stitches just look horrific. It could be the lighting, or I could be unfairly judgmental of my own work (like I would ever do that...) but it seems like whatever I try, it doesn't make it any better. I've played around with railroading and laying my stitches down, but I haven't seen much improvement yet.

Although, for some reason, I have noticed I have a really hard time keeping lighter colors neat and this piece is composed almost entirely of pale blues. I've compared it to other projects I've done before, and although none of them look great, none of them look this bad, either, and its not just a color tone issue. I think.

When I stitch, I zone out and auto-stitch large sections. I have no trouble keeping the stitches laying the same direction-- that one got beat out of me years ago-- but I might have trouble with tension or stitching them in the same manor. I'm not sure how to fix that, though, since I "un-focus" so much.

Rant over! Phew, had to get that all out. My question is basically- how do you keep your stitches neat? And am I the only one who can't stitch with white floss to save their life?

Do you use a frame or hoop or q-snap? That could help with tension when switching between various projects on different fabrics. Or alternatively, if you do stitch with a frame, have you tried in hand?

I tend to find blends are the hardest to keep my stitches neat with, especially blends on a fully stitched piece. Also confetti makes it harder with all the fastening on and off just for single stitches in the same area. I'll railroad to help with it, but on my SQ which is also on a very peculiar linen type aida, I've had to accept they're going to look a bit uneven and if I step back from it, I can't tell.

I'd recommend railroading, and I also frequently dangle-to-untangle. I also accept that on linen my stitches are going to be uneven and not quite square.

And of course we are all our own severest critics, partly, I think, because we look at the work close-up for a very long time!

I have never really bothered much about railroading but I recently HAD to railroad a light colour as it was looking dreadful without. Got quite used to doing it too and now mostly do it.

I find that just using a hoop helps to keep my stitch tension even.
I am working on a project now, that I've hooped for most of it, but I did one part that is in a corner just holding in hand. I can see the difference- but also I "know" which one it is.
Ask another person if they can tell. Or tack it on a wall and take a few steps back. It may only be noticable when its 3 inches from your nose.. but when are you going to be that close to it when you are done??
Or it may be the fabric itself. I tried using a 25 ct linen not long ago but thought the weave was too loose. Or maybe my thread was too thin and didn't give the right coverage (I was using pearle cotton) But something was off and my stitches didn't lay right, or loosened after making other stitches in same area. Switched the fabric and I am soo much happier with it.

You sound as if you're pretty aware of all the pitfalls, and zoning out usually means steady stitching, in my experience. And you might notice irregularities more with large patches of the same colour, too. Have you ever used a laying tool? Here is a tutorial that shows you how. It does make a difference, although I confess that I just use a larger needle, and it does the same thing as fancy ones! http://www.needlenthread.com/2010/11/how-to-use-a-laying-tool-video.html

I'm hoping to get this particular project done in the next week or so, as I've got a very large cross country move coming up the week after, and after uprooting myself like that, I have a hard time going back to a prior project. So at this point- LalalalaIdon'tcaaaare, but on my next project, you bet your buttons I'm gonna be trying out laying more vigorously. (Thanks for the tute, by the way. =D)

I've been using a hoop; I can't not use hoops cause my hand cramps up way too easily without one. I still can't shake the feeling though that whenever I re-hoop, the fabrics at a different tension than previously-- is that ever an issue? I've never noticed anything before but this project has made me incredibly hypersensitive.

What size hoop do you use. I find I can keep my tension regular with a 6 or 7 inch but not anything larger. I railroad all the time, It's quick once you get used to doing it, but for more than 2 threads I use a laying tool. Good luck on the move and in getting your project done in time.

I think the one I've been using is a size 8? Not sure, I'll have to check. I'll try using a smaller one and see if that helps any.

I know this may sound silly but have you tried looking at your work in a mirror? An old trick we were taught at college is to stand in front of a mirror (not too close!) and hold your work up. This was with artwork, although the same should work with a stitched piece. If it looks OK in the mirror, it passes the test. It also gets you away from being too close to the work to see it properly and of being over critical, if that makes sense?
I still use the mirror test for most of my artwork.

Now that's a great idea! Not something that would ever have occurred to me.

I use a small 5 inch plastic hoop and that helps a lot with the tension of the stitches. Those wooden hoops that you have to tighten don't work for me.I also drop my needle and thread every so often so it unwinds itself a bit, and that helps with stitch neatness. I don't stitch overly tight but I make sure every stitch is pulled firmly through and not loose each way. I guess I don't know what railroading means. What does it mean?

Railroading is a term used by stitchers to describe a specific stitching technique. When using this techniques, the floss is smoothed down with a laying tool or tapestry needles and floss strands lay side-by-side - like the rails of a railroad track.

Thanks for explaining what railroading is. It sounds complicated ! I find that if I stitch half crosses one way then go back and cross them the other way, it keps my stitches neat. I hope to pick up some tips myself as I come back to crosstitching.