Lovely 1907 Home Sampler cross stitched with interesting original backing
Lovely 1907 Home Sampler cross stitched with interesting original backing
US $9.50
Primitive cross stitched sign with a battery operated candle
Primitive cross stitched sign with a battery operated candle
US $25.00
Vintage Wood Serving Tray Cross Stitched Hunt Scene Equestrian Horse & Hounds
Vintage Wood Serving Tray Cross Stitched Hunt Scene Equestrian Horse & Hounds
US $99.95
REPRODUCTION CROSS STITCHED SAMPLER
REPRODUCTION CROSS STITCHED SAMPLER
US $19.99
REPRODUCTION CROSS STITCHED SAMPLER
REPRODUCTION CROSS STITCHED SAMPLER "BE YOU TO OTHERS KIND AND TRUE"
US $29.99
Vintage Knotty Cedar Frame with Cross Stitched
Vintage Knotty Cedar Frame with Cross Stitched "The Lord's Prayer"
US $22.00
Vintage Mid Century Baby Quilt Cross Stitched Animals Dog Cat Crib Toddler
Vintage Mid Century Baby Quilt Cross Stitched Animals Dog Cat Crib Toddler
US $10.00
Vintage Cotton Quilt Hand Stitched Green Flowers Cross Stitch Embroidered FULL
Vintage Cotton Quilt Hand Stitched Green Flowers Cross Stitch Embroidered FULL
US $239.99
Antique Rolling pin with Hand Stitched Cross Stitch sleeve - Yellow Ware
Antique Rolling pin with Hand Stitched Cross Stitch sleeve - Yellow Ware
US $24.95
Three pure linen antique towels, small red JB cross stitched monogram
Three pure linen antique towels, small red JB cross stitched monogram
US $60.00
Vintage Antique Hand embroidered sampler Linen Fine Cross Stitched 14x11
Vintage Antique Hand embroidered sampler Linen Fine Cross Stitched 14x11" Framed
US $79.50
Vintage Cross Stitched Floral Napkin Set of Four 
Vintage Cross Stitched Floral Napkin Set of Four 
US $12.95
Romantic WONDERFUL Hand Embroidery DRAWNWORK Cross Stitched Tablecloth & 6 Napk
Romantic WONDERFUL Hand Embroidery DRAWNWORK Cross Stitched Tablecloth & 6 Napk
US $24.99
SMALL WHITE LINEN DOILY WITH BLUE HAND CROSS STITCHED TEA POT & CUP, CIRCA 1920
SMALL WHITE LINEN DOILY WITH BLUE HAND CROSS STITCHED TEA POT & CUP, CIRCA 1920
US $2.99
★1860 antique CHILD BIB SAMPLER CROSS-STITCHED CHICKS
★1860 antique CHILD BIB SAMPLER CROSS-STITCHED CHICKS
US $42.50
WONDERFUL Antique SAMPLER Cross Stitched ABC's ~ FOLKY
WONDERFUL Antique SAMPLER Cross Stitched ABC's ~ FOLKY
US $59.95
Antique GRAIN SACK feedsack feedbag RED Christmas table runner ~ Cross-stitched
Antique GRAIN SACK feedsack feedbag RED Christmas table runner ~ Cross-stitched
US $75.00
Vintage Handmade Cross Stitched Abc Sampler - Man Woman
Vintage Handmade Cross Stitched Abc Sampler - Man Woman
US $202.50
Vtg Wood Wash Board w
Vtg Wood Wash Board w "Old Dutch Cleanser" Cross Stitched Decor 24" x 12-1/2" VG
US $20.99
LIGHT WEIGHT SUMMER BEDSPREAD WITH HAND CROSS STITCHED EMBROIDERED BASKET, C1930
LIGHT WEIGHT SUMMER BEDSPREAD WITH HAND CROSS STITCHED EMBROIDERED BASKET, C1930
US $45.00
ANTIQUE Vintage Embroidered Cross Stitched Nursery Rhyme 15x8
ANTIQUE Vintage Embroidered Cross Stitched Nursery Rhyme 15x8
US $39.99
ANTIQUE Vintage Embroidered Cross Stitched Floral  Pillow Case 23x17 *Vibrant*
ANTIQUE Vintage Embroidered Cross Stitched Floral Pillow Case 23x17 *Vibrant*
US $69.99
antique linen sheet, 82
antique linen sheet, 82" wide, with red cross stitched MR monogram
US $100.00
antique French metis sheet with cross stitched ME monogram
antique French metis sheet with cross stitched ME monogram
US $30.00
Anitque Cross Stitched School House Sampler Framed Unfinished Maine C.1850
Anitque Cross Stitched School House Sampler Framed Unfinished Maine C.1850
US $140.00
Antique Cross Stitched Sampler - God Bless Our Home
Antique Cross Stitched Sampler - God Bless Our Home
US $225.00
Antique Oval Wood Frame with Plank Back & Cross Stitched Picture 13.25
Antique Oval Wood Frame with Plank Back & Cross Stitched Picture 13.25"x11.25"
US $12.99
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Cross Stitched
What is the back of a cross-stitched item supposed to look like? Am I doing it wrong?

I've been told the back of my cross-stitched projects is wrong. The back and front look somewhat similar on my projects, but I've been informed it's supposed to not have much thread showing on the back behind the stitches and that the threads should be going in vertical and horizontal lines. The back of my work all appears as diagonal stitches.

I can make it vertical and horizontal as I was told by stitching in the opposite direction, but I like the back looking more finished, and it's a lot easier to run the tails of the threads underneath and hide them, as knoting the threads is a no-no.

Is there any harm in doing it my way? Will it have long-term negative effects on my work? Does it make the piece more difficult to frame? Am I going to be in big trouble because I do it differently? Help!

You aren't doing it wrong at all. There are a number of different ways to do cross stitch, and yours just happens to be a way where the back and front look pretty much the same.

You won't be in trouble, and won;t have long term problems. You will, however, use a lot more thread. This is something that you have to remember when stitching a kit that comes with threads - you may need to buy more thread.

The most important thing with any stitching at all is to ensure that your back is neat, with no knots (these will eventually show up on the front of the piece as a lump - and be really obvious) and no long threads from where you have "jumped" from one area of colour to another.

As long as you enjoy your stitching - that's important!



Items Recently Purchased From This Site:

Vintage Mid Century Baby Quilt Cross Stitched Animals Dog Cat Crib Toddler, Primitive cross stitched sign with a battery operated candle, Antique Rolling pin with Hand Stitched Cross Stitch sleeve - Yellow Ware, Lovely 1907 Home Sampler cross stitched with interesting original backing, Romantic WONDERFUL Hand Embroidery DRAWNWORK Cross Stitched Tablecloth & 6 Napk, Antique Oval Wood Frame with Plank Back & Cross Stitched Picture 13.25"x11.25", Vintage Knotty Cedar Frame with Cross Stitched "The Lord's Prayer", REPRODUCTION CROSS STITCHED SAMPLER "BE YOU TO OTHERS KIND AND TRUE", REPRODUCTION CROSS STITCHED SAMPLER , antique French metis sheet with cross stitched ME monogram, ANTIQUE Vintage Embroidered Cross Stitched Nursery Rhyme 15x8, ANTIQUE Vintage Embroidered Cross Stitched Floral Pillow Case 23x17 *Vibrant*, LIGHT WEIGHT SUMMER BEDSPREAD WITH HAND CROSS STITCHED EMBROIDERED BASKET, C1930, SMALL WHITE LINEN DOILY WITH BLUE HAND CROSS STITCHED TEA POT & CUP, CIRCA 1920 , Vintage Cross Stitched Floral Napkin Set of Four , Three pure linen antique towels, small red JB cross stitched monogram, Vtg Wood Wash Board w "Old Dutch Cleanser" Cross Stitched Decor 24" x 12-1/2" VG, Vintage Cotton Quilt Hand Stitched Green Flowers Cross Stitch Embroidered FULL, Anitque Cross Stitched School House Sampler Framed Unfinished Maine C.1850, Vintage Wood Serving Tray Cross Stitched Hunt Scene Equestrian Horse & Hounds, Vintage Antique Hand embroidered sampler Linen Fine Cross Stitched 14x11" Framed, antique linen sheet, 82" wide, with red cross stitched MR monogram, Antique GRAIN SACK feedsack feedbag RED Christmas table runner ~ Cross-stitched, WONDERFUL Antique SAMPLER Cross Stitched ABC's ~ FOLKY, ★1860 antique CHILD BIB SAMPLER CROSS-STITCHED CHICKS, Vintage Handmade Cross Stitched Abc Sampler - Man Woman, Antique Cross Stitched Sampler - God Bless Our Home,
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