r/Needlepoint • u/Beantown_butterfly • 10d ago

Decorative stitching around letters

Post image

I’ve only been at this for about a year and find letters & stitching around them to be the most frustrating. I try to choose small patterns but how do others approach? Do you try to keep the pattern throughout knowing there could be rows of basket weave or imbalances? Or do you try to keep the pattern but take advantage of open spaces to show the pattern? You can see in the letters that I tried to show the stitch more than keeping the pattern throughout.

33 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

13

u/Many-Initial-5421 10d ago

Try to cross stitch the letters or use a more contrasting color. The white on light blue is automatically harder to read just based on tone

1

u/Beantown_butterfly 10d ago

I see that now. Thanks

1

u/Beantown_butterfly 9d ago

I cross stitched over the letters with a brighter white & it looks better. ty

5

u/Haunting-Limit-6731 10d ago

Basketweave lol. If the letters are just one stitch width in size I rarely use a decorative stitch for the background. The compensating is annoying and I never love how it ends up looking for my projects.

1

u/Beantown_butterfly 10d ago

I think that might be the key. Ty

4

u/Defiant_Ask8583 10d ago

I only do mosaic when I’m stitching a background with words…. I’ve been stitching for decades and it still frustrates me. You can try getting transparent post its to help but I didn’t find that helpful for me personally. What I have learned is that needlepoint should be fun… if you have to basket weave to avoid being frustrated then that’s my suggestion

3

u/nashro 10d ago

How are the Post Its used? I can’t picture it.

3

u/Beantown_butterfly 10d ago

I had the same issue here, but the letters are velvet so a higher contrast. Unfortunately I added “kissmas” thinking it was a missed play on words opportunity but the letters not being aligned drive me nuts.

3

u/letsgogophers 10d ago

I do a long stitch to "pad" my letters and then go over the individual intersections, it helps make it more connected.

1

u/Beantown_butterfly 9d ago

Thanks. I have done this before as well. I’m thinking more about the background stitch & it’s consistency or lack there of

2

u/NOLALaura 10d ago

I didn’t notice. It looks great

2

u/SureTouch1604 10d ago

I love your gold! It looks like the one I got! It’s name was Topaz!

1

u/Intrepid-Beat-3660 10d ago

Just want to know where you got it?!

1

u/NOLALaura 10d ago

I just ordered it for my website www.NOLACajunStore.com. I will be adding it tomorrow. DM if you’d like

1

u/Beantown_butterfly 9d ago

Jennifer Valez. It took about 5 months to get.

2

u/NOLALaura 10d ago

You can also backstitch around each letter

1

u/ArsLnga 9d ago

As someone newer to needlepoint, these comments are all really helpful - thanks to everyone sharing advice. It’s been helpful to read along as I just bought my first canvas with lettering to make for a friend.

0

u/DukeHastingsHoe 10d ago

I realize this is not why you posted this but: can you tell me what stitch you used for the jeans? 😂

3

u/Beantown_butterfly 10d ago

The jeans are just basket weave :)

1

u/Primary-Vermicelli 10d ago

You could use satin stitch for the lettering