Christmas Teapot Ornaments
The instructions say to use two ply for back stitches. I started this and it looks very dark. I have never seen a project that called for more than one ply for the back stitching. (Two ply was for cross stitches.)

Is this a typo in the instructions?

Or is this backstitching intentionally supposed to look different from my other projects?
Posted by: ja_clark on 02/03/18
Hi,
First, I’m one of the stitchers that frequent this chat-board regularly and saw your chat. Many of us have the attitude that there is no such thing as ‘cross stitch Police’, therefore, just because the directions say to use two strands, if YOU don’t like the way it looks, just backstitch with one strand. You are the ‘artist’ in creating(stitching) these ornaments, you should be happy the way they look!
I bought a pattern - Rede Sampler by The Sisterhood- that had one color (310) DMC black and the instructions STATED ( but I replace with the word ‘suggest’) using a dark gray fabric. Well, I changed the fabric color to a light marbled earth-tones Jobelan fabric and matched up 5-6 different DMC floss colors for vines, bird, leaves, etc. on the pattern, plus a Kreinik blending fillament (red) for the heart on the pattern and it came out pretty good. No one came knocking on my door. Have fun! 😃
by: Bermuda on 02/03/18
Bermuda is right-you should be happy with your work. Personally, I have never used more than one ply for backstitching. Bermuda is very skilled and I agree with her. Have fun.
by: pamelastine11 on 02/03/18
I have stitched these and on the first one I also started backstitching with 2 ply and didn't like it at all. I ended up using 1 ply for all of my back stitches. I never inquired if that was a typo or not. I just went with what I liked best.
by: tspitz on 02/03/18
What do you mean that there are no cross stitch police, Bermuda? I was sworn in (or at) many many years ago by the Chief and my youngest daughter is now a sergeant in the CSP, too. She recently went to our beach patrol here and was able to arrest a stitching group of seniors for violating the laws regarding not stitiching without a buff guy, suntan lotion, umbrella drinks and a beach chair! That is three felonies each. There were 7 little old ladies. They filled an entire dorm in the jail. So there.
by: Su Pitt on 02/04/18
Like the others have said there are no cross stitching police so do what you want. I would have been arrested years ago if there were because I stitch what I like and do change things quite often. When backstitching I only use one strand of floss though and it looks great.

Have a good day stitching. Will be doing that while watching the Super Bowl today. Go Pats!!!
by: syagel on 02/04/18
I must’ve missed explaining about the CCSPBP ( Counted
Cross Stitch Police Beach Patrol):::
Your Right Su! You mean at ‘our beach’!!
Without all the new arrivals here to ECS thinking some of us have gone off our ‘rocker’ - the beach we speak of is an
Imaginary beach but is used by some of us stitchers use,
A sort of mental ‘relaxation technique’ of putting yourself mentally. Our beach looks like a Hawaiian beach, ie. Sand, palm trees, the ocean waves coming on shore. You pick out the colors of your wide-striped cabana lounge chair,
Mine is white and turquoise. A walkie-talkie attached to your chair is directly connected to the 50,000 square foot cross Stitch store 3 blocks down- place your order of cross Stitch Products with your walk ie-talkie and within 20 minutes a well- muscled tanned young man delivers your cross Stitch supplies right to your cabana chair. No Charges, no cost involved.
Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it? But with stresses in life being what they are, taking a ‘time out’ and going to ‘the beach’ does help relax....😃
by: Bermuda on 02/04/18
Outlaw Syagel? Enforcer SuPitt? 😰😆😆😆😆
by: VCESS on 02/04/18
Hi !
I’d do it on my own and you should do the same ja_clark!
I’ve recently received this kit and what I find really difficult is the final size so I ‘ve decided to do the doble size for each square. It takes more Fabric and obviously threads... have a nice week!
by: Kara on 11/11/18
This leaf had numerous fractional stitches. I tried a few and tried without and choose the latter. It wasn’t worth the grief the fractional ones were giving me and I think it looks just fine without them.
by: MaryJoDenmark on 11/12/18