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I'm losing the will to live doing the back-stitch to my Charlie'a Ark kit. I usually get an 1-2 hours an evening to stitch and I normally set to with gusto and make the most of it but since I've had to start the back-stitching I've quickly got bored and annoyed to the point I'm avoiding it. I've told myself that I'm not starting another project till I finish Charlie as I'm worried I'll have loads of UFOs eventually.

I need to find some motivation to clear the final hurdle and I do want to finish it as it's my first big stitching project. I'm just find it so hard to get the needle in the right place when I have to punch it thru the aida. Its got to the point where I'm making most of it up as I go along and it driving me crazy now

I may have inderstood you wrong, but if you are finding it difficult to go through aida blocks - try using a sharp needle instead of the usual tapestry needle.

mags wrote:I may have inderstood you wrong, but if you are finding it difficult to go through aida blocks - try using a sharp needle instead of the usual tapestry needle.

I'm using a size 28 needle on 16ct aida at the mo as this is the sharpest I have. What other types can anyone recommend?

I often use an ordinary (as in one you would use to sew up a hem, do any sewing other than cross stitching) embroidery needle when there is a lot of back stitching and especially if it has to go through a stitch.

I know its tedious to do but it does make such a difference to the finished piece. As I was often told as a child, the sooner you settle to do it the sooner its done"

Sally

I too loathe the backstitch.. but I like blackwork.. can't quite figure that one out as they are the same thing.

I leave the backstitching until the end and at the point I am looking forward to, and kitting up, my next project. I just want to be done so I can play with something new. So.. what I do to keep myself from having a pile of UFO's that only need backstitching is I tell myself I need to do one thread length of backstitching before I can play with my next project. (usually my backstitching is when working from a kit that has precut floss) And can only stitch one thread length on my new project. I flip flop back and forth between the two until the backstitching is done on the first. I can manage it if it's only one thread length at a time. (Although I may change that thought when I start the backstitching on my Winter Cardinals.. it looks to be endless!)

I used to do that and it drove me crazy.

Now I try and backstitch as I go - I find it so much easier that way and you know you have totally completed x amount of the kit.

Try a smaller/sharper needle as Squirrel suggested.

Hope you finish it soon!

MaggieM1750 wrote:I too loathe the backstitch.. but I like blackwork.. can't quite figure that one out as they are the same thing.

I leave the backstitching until the end and at the point I am looking forward to, and kitting up, my next project. I just want to be done so I can play with something new. So.. what I do to keep myself from having a pile of UFO's that only need backstitching is I tell myself I need to do one thread length of backstitching before I can play with my next project. (usually my backstitching is when working from a kit that has precut floss) And can only stitch one thread length on my new project. I flip flop back and forth between the two until the backstitching is done on the first. I can manage it if it's only one thread length at a time. (Although I may change that thought when I start the backstitching on my Winter Cardinals.. it looks to be endless!)

hahaha same here Maggie.. although lately I have't minded backstitching so much.. I think it becomes really challenging the bigger design. I'm also starting to like the idea of backstitching what you can as you go along. Breaks up the most tedious parts.. too late for that with Charlie's Ark, but maybe you can try that next time.
Faith

You definitely need an embroidery needle which has a sharp point for backstitching that isn't through the holes.

Nachstenliebe wrote:

MaggieM1750 wrote:I too loathe the backstitch.. but I like blackwork.. can't quite figure that one out as they are the same thing.

I leave the backstitching until the end and at the point I am looking forward to, and kitting up, my next project. I just want to be done so I can play with something new. So.. what I do to keep myself from having a pile of UFO's that only need backstitching is I tell myself I need to do one thread length of backstitching before I can play with my next project. (usually my backstitching is when working from a kit that has precut floss) And can only stitch one thread length on my new project. I flip flop back and forth between the two until the backstitching is done on the first. I can manage it if it's only one thread length at a time. (Although I may change that thought when I start the backstitching on my Winter Cardinals.. it looks to be endless!)

hahaha same here Maggie.. although lately I have't minded backstitching so much.. I think it becomes really challenging the bigger design. I'm also starting to like the idea of backstitching what you can as you go along. Breaks up the most tedious parts.. too late for that with Charlie's Ark, but maybe you can try that next time.
Faith

Think I'll do the 1 thread idea for Charlie n try doing it as I go along in future n c how that works out for me

Backstitching as you go stops you from being left with it all to do at once...

Same here Emma, I hate backstitching. It's the one thing that makes my WIP become a UFO.

toni99 wrote:Same here Emma, I hate backstitching. It's the one thing that makes my WIP become a UFO.

This happens to me more times than I like. I had one piece I got out of the UFO pile 7 years later and finally put in the backstitch. Odd thing is it only took me a couple of days.

pamelam wrote:

toni99 wrote:Same here Emma, I hate backstitching. It's the one thing that makes my WIP become a UFO.

This happens to me more times than I like. I had one piece I got out of the UFO pile 7 years later and finally put in the backstitch. Odd thing is it only took me a couple of days.

Sounds about right. Am gonna bring him into work and do it during my lunch hour and then I can work on my new project at home.