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How do I make the back of my projects neater? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. My backs are always messy thankyou

As unhelpful as it is, my tip is to stitch more.
Your backs will neaten up as you are more comfortable stitching.

Also, pop 'neat back' into the search box on the top of the page. That will pull up other discussions we've had.

And you'll see some pics which might help, too. A neat back saves thread and allows a finished piece to lie flat, but it's not the holy grail of stitching!

I had to come to terms that the back DOES NOT MATTER! As long as you don't have "nests" of string, because of framing purposes, you will be ok. The biggest concern is the front of your work! That is the only part that anyone will ever see.

A back is called a back because that is what it is. If it isn't going to be seen, I agree with the others that it isn't something to fret over. If it will be seen, as in an afghan that won't be getting any backing, then I try to make sure that I don't carry threads too far (for me that would be more than 4 or 5 stitches) without running them under the backs of other stitches. Otherwise, I might carry them a bit longer. I don't like to waste thread (I always worry I will run out just when I need a color for one or two more stitches) so while I try to be careful, I don't sweat it if I break my own rule. It's my rule after all.

Carole

The only reason the backs of my projects are amazingly neat (so I've been told.... some of the ones I saw pictured here were neater than mine!) is because I used to stitch on clothing. When you're working on a denim jacket, the back HAS to be really neat so you don't keep snagging it on your other clothes.

Other than that and making sure to avoid the aforementioned "nests" of string or knots, the back is the back and you really don't see it.

It seems to me that the only way of getting a really neat back is to use a design with large blocks of colour. If you have confetti, the back can't be neat & tidy, because each thread will perforce be darting hither & thither.

Regards,

Richard.

What is this thing you are talking about? neat back? huh? I do not comprehend.