What does your back look like?

[Tobori]

Hello Everyone,
I am currently working on the Chatelaine Butterfly Lace design. I am almost done, and am curious how the backs of your designs look. I have made many patterns but never a Chatelaine, and I find it difficult to tuck in the ends of the thread to look nice and neat. With all the long stitches and "special" stitches, it's the first time I've dealt with these.
Is there anyone out there that would be willing to share pictures of the backs of your Chatelaine designs? I would love to see how you handle these patterns.
Thanks in Advance.
Ed

[Serinde]

Hi Tabori

I've never tried a Chatelaine design, but have done HAEDs. I'd guess it's easier to be neater because it's cross stitch and there are various ways to avoid stopping and starting threads. Specialty stitches do make that difficult!

While I like a neat back because it minimises waste and it makes it easier to finish and frame your piece flat without unsightly bumps showing through, I wouldn't worry about it overly as long as you aren't getting knots.

Love to see a pic of your Butterfly Lace, though! It's such an intricate design.

[Steam.Jo]

I have not got/done any of the Chatelaine designs but I note it is done on 32 count linen. Is that over 1 or over 2?

This is the back of my Rome piece:



It is worked on 36 count linen using single strand over 2. I used a chinelle size 28 to thread the ends under one of the other stitches to finish off and I have learnt to leave the end over long and tunnelling under multiple stitch threads is tricky. Having purchased some big eye quilting needles I an tempted to try using the #11 to finish off.

Finishing off under longer stitching is much easier. A bit of planning where the last stitch is going to be does help finishing the thread.

Jo

[Tobori]

Hi Jo,
Thank you for posting that picture. I want to see what the long stitch areas look like. Mine looks similar to yours when it comes to the cross stitch sections. The ones that are really hard are like long stitch areas that start some distance from where you can tuck the thread in. I am very new here and can't figure out how to include a picture.
Again, thank you for your response.

[Tobori]

Hi Tabori

I've never tried a Chatelaine design, but have done HAEDs. I'd guess it's easier to be neater because it's cross stitch and there are various ways to avoid stopping and starting threads. Specialty stitches do make that difficult!

While I like a neat back because it minimises waste and it makes it easier to finish and frame your piece flat without unsightly bumps showing through, I wouldn't worry about it overly as long as you aren't getting knots.

Love to see a pic of your Butterfly Lace, though! It's such an intricate design.

Thank you. I think I may have figured out how to post a picture.
Ok, the first image is the front of the design. 2nd is the back. There's nowhere to tuck the tread in that's "tight". Since it's all long stitch, the stitches are very lose and will likely slip out. Hopefully what I did isn't too unsightly.
https://postimg.cc/gallery/nHPLrHL

[Steam.Jo]

If you mean like satin stitch I just leave the thread behind the filled in area. If it is more like our outlining I would loop the end under the previous stitches.

Starting off: you have not said if you are using single or double strand and if they are mixed coloured threads, if two stands of the same colour then you can easily start with the centre of the thread providing a loop to catch hold of the top thread. I don't like that and would just stitch over the starting strand.

You have just posted these:





I would be tying off more frequently.

Jo

[Steam.Jo]

Here we go my TW Harvest sampler (Sorry I had to use a flash to get the photos):



And various part of the underside:









I try to not travel threads far between stitching

Jo

[Tobori]

You do beautiful work! Usually my work looks pretty good. I used to go the a needlepoint shop to buy my supplies, and the ladies got a kick out of my work because I was very neat. But this Chatelaine is a huge job!
The stitching I'm talking about is multicolored silk thread. One strand. I've never worked on something that had so many different stitch patterns and thread variations. My wife and daughter tell me that it seems like I have been working on this one forever, and it feels like it. But I'm getting close the the end.

[Serinde]

Big projects are labours of love, that's for sure. Your stitching is lovely!

Regarding securing thread, have you ever used an away knot? This might help you: https://www.needlenthread.com/2008/09/s ... photo.html

In our forum's topic on Tips and Tricks, you'll find this about posting images in a thread: viewtopic.php?t=31888.