Backstitch tips

[Wise Owl]

Hi, sorry for the very basic question.
I’m finishing off my piece and I’ve had some niggling questions in my head to ask someone eventually. But I don’t know anyone else who cross stitches, so you guys are my saviours

-The best way to start the thread?
Do I run the thread under a few stitches and then start, is there a safer way to secure the start, should I even worry about this too much?

-Backstitch in the frame/hoop or in hand? Or is this just personal preference and it doesn’t matter?

-Securing the thread when finished, how to people secure the thread, run the thread under a few stitches?

[Mabel Figworthy]

Depending on how long the backstitches are, sometimes I just leave a tail at the back and cover it in the first stitches (takes a bit of turning work over to check), sometimes (shock horror) I use a knot, and if I can be bothered or I want to keep things very neat, I use an away knot: knot your thread, take the needle down a good long way from your starting point (so the knot sits at the front), do your stitching, cut the knot, thread the tail into your needle and fasten off by weaving under the backs of stitches.
Which immediately answers question 3 as well
As for the hoop/frame thing, I hoop/frame everything, Lyudmila nothing, others are somewhere in between - whatever works for you!

[Serinde]

Can't add anything to that, really.

[fccs]

Yeah, what Mabel said.

[Mabel Figworthy]

[rcperryls]

What Mabel, Serinde and Debby said.

Carole

[Wise Owl]

Thank you so much Mabel and everyone
I can’t wait to meet some cross stitchers in person and ask these little questions to make sure I’m doing everything ok.

[rcperryls]

Just wanted to emphasize that there are no "little" or "silly" questions. If you need to know something or are curious about something, ask. No one began knowing all the answers. I stitched for at least 20 years before joining the forum and was still a "beginner" because I knew very little more than what I knew the first day I picked up a needle. So ask away and I hope soon that you will be able to meet some stitchers in person when the pandemic is over. Until then (and after then too!) we are here.

Carole

[fccs]

I agree with Carole. No question is too little, and although I’ve been stitching for a few (!) decades, I’m still learning.

[Serinde]

Exactly so.

[wendywombat]

No such thing as a silly question. Only a question to which you do not know the answer.

There is a wealth of information to be had and often someone here will know where to look.

[Wise Owl]

Thank you so much everyone.
There is so much to learn and I can’t wait. And yes indeed you are all so kind to help, I’m sure I will continue to lean on your knowledge.