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I've got a little problem. So I've been stitching my current project without a hoop. Cross stitches were no problem, but the half stitches messed up my work pretty badly. It's all crooked and stretched. Is there any way I can fix this with ironing or something else?

I think stitches sort of settle I to place once I wash and iron my finished pieces.
But.. often we are our own worse critics. Photos can help us see what can help.

Elinoir wrote:I've got a little problem. So I've been stitching my current project without a hoop. Cross stitches were no problem, but the half stitches messed up my work pretty badly. It's all crooked and stretched. Is there any way I can fix this with ironing or something else?

As I read this, I'm thinking that you're stitching in hand? without using a hoop or Q-snaps or anything, yes? I'm not sure how the half stitches would do what you've described since they're just one leg of a full cross and you didn't have problems with the full stitches. You could try ironing it or wash it and block it to try to get everything squared again.

Yeah I'm stitching without a hoop. I made a picture to clarify it. It's really bothering me while I'm working on it

Hi and welcome!

To be honest that looks absolutely fine to me. Your stitches are even and lay nicely and all 'point' the same way, I find half stitches always look a little weird to me until I have the picture finished and framed etc.

I think if it really bothers you, it can be solved by washing and ironing once you have finished the project.

Lovely stitching by the way

I think that it is fine and as others have said we are our own worse critics. I usually find once I wash my work it evens out

Hm ok, thanks

You don't sound convinced yet, but I agree with the others, that your stitches look very neat and uniform. I haven't stitched in hand so think you have done a really good job maintaining the tension needed for such consistent stitching. Half stitches often don't look right to me until a piece is finished and I can clearly see how they are background or meant to look softer than the main picture.
Sometimes stepping away and looking at your piece from a difference, or taking a photo will help you see the piece in the right perspective that up close looking doesn't give you.

Carole

It looks to me as if your half stitches are going ////// but your crossed ones \\\\\

But on saying that it looks textured which is great

Reta wrote:It looks to me as if your half stitches are going ////// but your crossed ones \\\\\

But on saying that it looks textured which is great

Hmmm...that is how I have always done my half cross stitches. You mean after all these years, it's wrong? Heck, I'm too stuck in my ways to change now.

My ornament is so little and I too am using a loop. The leg of my guy is smashed and deformed too. I am praying that it will bounce back after I finish too. I am being very aware to make sure I do not put his legs in the hoop anymore.

I would post a picture, but I have a dinosaur phone. When I do my 2014 projects I will figure out how to do pictures. Just got to get it done before Christmas.

I agree with everyone else, we know what it is suppose to look like, no one else does.

fccs wrote:

Reta wrote:It looks to me as if your half stitches are going ////// but your crossed ones \\\\\

But on saying that it looks textured which is great

Hmmm...that is how I have always done my half cross stitches. You mean after all these years, it's wrong? Heck, I'm too stuck in my ways to change now.

I do the same thing--guess we both are stitching wrong lol

karen4bells wrote:

fccs wrote:

Reta wrote:It looks to me as if your half stitches are going ////// but your crossed ones \\\\\

But on saying that it looks textured which is great

Hmmm...that is how I have always done my half cross stitches. You mean after all these years, it's wrong? Heck, I'm too stuck in my ways to change now.

I do the same thing--guess we both are stitching wrong lol

I didn't know it was wrong. The guide that comes with the kit tells to do it that way.

Thanks for all the response by the way, I guess it'll turn out fine.

Elinoir wrote: I didn't know it was wrong. The guide that comes with the kit tells to do it that way.

Thanks for all the response by the way, I guess it'll turn out fine.

I honestly think it is quite okay to do it that way--I learned to stitch my half stitches that way from many kits. I think that the main thing is to make sure that all of the stitches are done the same---half stitches should all be stitched the same and full cross stitches should all have the tops facing the same way--hope that all makes sense

I did not say it was wrong ,Just pointing out thats what might make it look twisted

I think it adds texture to the finish

As long as you are all happy with your finishes thats what matters

Reta wrote:I did not say it was wrong ,Just pointing out thats what might make it look twisted

I think it adds texture to the finish

As long as you are all happy with your finishes thats what matters

I like designs that make good use of the half stitches...they can really add depth and interest.

Reta wrote:I did not say it was wrong ,Just pointing out thats what might make it look twisted

I think it adds texture to the finish

As long as you are all happy with your finishes thats what matters

fccs wrote:

Reta wrote:It looks to me as if your half stitches are going ////// but your crossed ones \\\\\

But on saying that it looks textured which is great

Hmmm...that is how I have always done my half cross stitches. You mean after all these years, it's wrong? Heck, I'm too stuck in my ways to change now.

I always wondered myself if half stitches were supposed to face same direction as the top of full cross but all the instructions I've ever seen show they are opposite. Also a few kits that I have that use both stitches, you can see in the picture of the finished design that they are opposite.
I did accidentally make them all the same direction in one project I started but honestly it doesn't look bad. I agree that it adds texture which is probably why the instructions are opposite but as long as you're happy with the finished piece I doubt it matters.