This is an interesting stitchqueries note, and new stitchers worried about the back being messy is something I hear so often.
the note in my inbox reads;
I’m sitting here looking at my two projects and the backs are quite a mess of threads. There aren’t tangles or knots, but there’s some cross-overs and places where I tucked tails. Am I doing this wrong? Thanks in advance for the help. I’m feeling a little discouraged here.”
First, I want to say that you are not doing it wrong. Let’s just get that out of the way. Your cross-over spots and tucked tail ends are perfectly normal in needlework. Anyone that tells you the back must be perfectly tidy all the time is being kind of a pushy jerk that wants it done their way or not at all. Honestly, in my opinion, there is no wrong way to do a hobby as long as you’re enjoying yourself.
I see those posts in groups and on Insta where the back and the front are nearly identical, and I feel that same sense of wow and amazement. It really is stunning to see. Maybe a bit intimidating even. But in the vast majority of situations, it doesn’t matter a single bit what the back of the project looks like. Not even a little. No one is looking at the back of the project.
side tangent…. I also see some folks in those stitching groups requesting that others post photos of their project back as well when only the front progress is posted… and that’s just rude. And worse, when someone does comply and shows the back, they are then critisized for it not being perfect. Please, don’t be that person. If they wanted to post the back, they would have posted it. If you want to show off your project’s back, have at it, but don’t pressure others to do the same.
What about the back side of cross stitch for competition pieces?
No one is going to un-frame your work and examine the back of your piece. I’ve never seen that happen in any needlework judging, and I would probably be horrified and angry if I did. A lot goes into framing a piece and if someone took it apart just to look and see how many times my threads crossed or if my tucked thread tails were a certain length, I might turn into a big angry green Hulk.
They will look for smoothness overall and they don’t want to see knots or mess showing through the front of the piece, but most of the time a perfect back is not part of the judging criteria. Even tension and general appeal of the piece are usually on the list, though all of the variables are going to vary by competition. Obviously, you’ll want to review the criteria before entering just to be sure what they’re looking for just to be sure for each individual competition that you enter.
The Bottom Line….
At the end of the day, what truly matters is that you are enjoying stitching, no matter what the back of your cross stitch project looks like and no matter what anyone else thinks of your work.
Comments are always welcome and appreciated....