This lovely bit kit has been in my queue for quite a while, winking at me to finish her. I finally got her out and completed the stitching and am now embarking on finishing.
Here she is:
You'll notice that I added a little extra border at the top and bottom of the design. I can't seem to follow directions, ever.
The reason for the border is that I needed just a smidge more design area to cover the top of a box I have planned for her. She's going to sit on my night table and wake me up every morning sometime soon. I'll post photos of the finished box once she's all done.
For now, here's her back side.
Lovely colors!
There are several things I do to keep my backside looking spiffy. lol
First, I generally use floss in 2 yard lengths (you read that right). Next, I use the loop method, so I'm only weaving one end back under. I also "cheat" and carry my floss under a few adjoining stitches on the back if I have a gap between stitches of the same color. I don't skip over more than two stitches (but I do weave behind them). I have several needles/colors going at once if I'm using lots of colors to help with the weaving and because it helps me count more easily.
In terms of the 2 yard floss length, when you use the loop method, you're halving that to a yard. Then, when you thread the needle, you're nearly halving it again to a smidge over 18 inches. Then you can simply pull your floss gently as you go to get more length until you run out. I realize this is lazy as all get out, but I find it's usually much more frugal in terms of floss usage and I have neater backs because I'm not weaving so many ends.
Since I'm self taught (mostly) I'm probably breaking multiple rules that more formally trained stitchers employ. Any way you stitch is your way, so it's the perfect way for you to stitch until you change your mind and try something new. You're the boss of your floss!
Love this! I can’t believe how neat the back is!
I love the border! How exactly do you neat stitchers make the backside so uniform? My work is all over the place, I can't seem to settle on going simply from left to right. My impulse is to use up the entire length of floss I've cut, and that leads to a funky looking back. TIA! :)
Sigh. So beautiful. You made me smile — once again!
Beautiful work. Can't wait to see this beauty finished as a box.