Should I be able to see light?

Tips, Tricks & Techniques - anything to help fellow cross stitchers.

Moderators: rcperryls, Rose, karen4bells, Serinde, Alex

Post Reply
Lozze
Posts: 81
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:48 am

Should I be able to see light?

Post by Lozze »

On my current WIP (the Kinkade) when I hold it up to the light I can see gaps in between. It's not visable otherwise but am a bit worried.

Is this normal?
WIP

Winnie the Pooh birth sampler - finished bar name and backstitching
'Beauty and the Beast Falling in Love' Disney Dreams Collections
geekishly
Posts: 3882
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:53 pm
Location: Michigan, USA

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by geekishly »

Do you mean through the holes?
- Luca

WIPs
Joan Elliot's "Grace"
"Sephina's Secret" by Illustrated Ink
Small Projects - Belle & Boo girl w/dove

my blog
Reta
Posts: 1185
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:18 pm
Location: Warwickshire UK

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by Reta »

Its Normal :D

Who else but you is going to hold it to the light

As said before on here Hold it up in front of you and look in mirror
User avatar
BizzieLizzie
Posts: 2029
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:12 pm
Location: Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by BizzieLizzie »

I'm with Reta on this one. If it's not noticeable from a sensible distance without holding it up to the light, it's not a problem. If you're having it framed it will be mounted on a board anyway.

If, on the other hand, the fabric is clearly showing through between the stitches even at normal viewing distance you might want to adjust your tension and/or the number of strands you use for that count of fabric.
Sew many patterns, sew little time!

WIP
HAED Drawing Room
HAED Stitchers Retreat
Lion Profile
Coniferous Forest

User avatar
rcperryls
Posts: 32992
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:36 pm
Location: SC, USA

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by rcperryls »

One of the most common things we all do, it seems, is to look at our stitching in ways that no one else will look. :doh: Up close to your nose and up to the light. And there is no doubt in my mind that we are all our worst critics. As Reta said Hold it up in front of you and look in the mirror. Get someone to hold it up away from you or at least look at it at arm's length. I find that taking a photo is also helpful because it seems to provide that more distant view that is how others will see it.


Carole
:thinks:
WIPs
Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
2022 Finished: Star Wars Afghan: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Finn, Rey, Poe, Han Solo,Darth Vader, BB8,Luke Skywalker
User avatar
Cecilia
Posts: 6065
Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:13 pm
Location: England

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by Cecilia »

BizzieLizzie wrote:I'm with Reta on this one. If it's not noticeable from a sensible distance without holding it up to the light, it's not a problem. If you're having it framed it will be mounted on a board anyway.

If, on the other hand, the fabric is clearly showing through between the stitches even at normal viewing distance you might want to adjust your tension and/or the number of strands you use for that count of fabric.
I agree. My first thought was that your stitches might be too tight.
Completed 2017: Anniversary Sampler by The Sweetheart Tree

Love comforteth like sunshine after rain. Shakespeare
User avatar
Rose
Posts: 34059
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:24 am
Location: Gilroy, CA

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by Rose »

As the others have already said you need to look at it from at least arms length or more to simulate how it will be viewed when finished.
If you are looking for some one to help change you, look in the mirror
Lozze
Posts: 81
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:48 am

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by Lozze »

I did the mirror trick and arms length (away from the light) and no issues. Glad to hear its normal!

I do have the odd stitch I'm not happy with but not a lot I can do to change :-(
WIP

Winnie the Pooh birth sampler - finished bar name and backstitching
'Beauty and the Beast Falling in Love' Disney Dreams Collections
User avatar
Mystonique
Posts: 2032
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:10 am

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by Mystonique »

rcperryls wrote:One of the most common things we all do, it seems, is to look at our stitching in ways that no one else will look. Carole
:thinks:
Lol one of the ladies in my tapestry class uses a bugs eye magnifiier to inspect stitching ... if there is a fault she will find it, she's very good at it.

I'm not sure, in the end, that I like her work more than my own (faults and all) though lol. There is such a thing as too perfect.
Myst..
User avatar
BizzieLizzie
Posts: 2029
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:12 pm
Location: Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by BizzieLizzie »

Mystonique wrote:Lol one of the ladies in my tapestry class uses a bugs eye magnifiier to inspect stitching ... if there is a fault she will find it, she's very good at it.
I hope she only does that with her own stitching, otherwise she might find herself with no stitchy friends! (Sounds like she'd make a great competition judge, though.) :lol:
Sew many patterns, sew little time!

WIP
HAED Drawing Room
HAED Stitchers Retreat
Lion Profile
Coniferous Forest

User avatar
Mystonique
Posts: 2032
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:10 am

Re: Should I be able to see light?

Post by Mystonique »

:lol: oh no, she shares her bugs eye with anyone who has their work out near her long enough ... there are those who've told her to sod off in no uncertain terms. Me, I find her super helpful - she's always makes very constructive comments about how to avoid or fix.

Speaking of fixing - how is the light through the fabric looking in the mirror? Have you tried it? It's really a usefull way of determining if things "look" right (well for anyone who doesn't have a bugs eye lol).
Myst..
Post Reply