Just finished this past weekend! Material for back?
Hello everyone,

I posted a while ago about the Starry Night project I was undertaking. I got through 10+ colors and only about a thousand stitches (and most of is was 310 black) before itching to do smaller projects... I ordered four ornament kits and just finished this bear. I have to stay, stitching on plastic canvas is fun! it took a couple of tries in the beginning to get used to, but once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed it.

The only thing to be careful about is the backstitching-- they call it "alternate" stitches in the pattern and it's so that you wouldn't accidentally cut it while cutting the plastic canvas after you are finished.

I'll be rushing off to the craft store after work today to find a nice backing for it. Any suggestions? This is my first ornament, so I'm not sure what kind of material to use (felt?), or what kind of glue. The finished project is very similar in color to the picture here, so color suggestions would be great as well.

I was planning on giving this to my mother in law for Thanksgiving but I don't think I can part with Merbear. (My husband named him, saying he looks like he's half mermaid.)
Posted by: jellokat on 11/24/14
When I do small ornaments what I use for the backing is fusible interfacing to cover the stitches then top it with a piece of colorful felt glued to the backside. Makes a very pretty backside for hanging on a tree.
by: syagel on 11/24/14
Syagel, do you ever add beads or sequins or other embellishments to the back....like an embroidered name and year? Just got a flash in my mind's eye... :) Calligraphy would be pretty, also....
by: shorterhorse on 11/24/14
Vcess I have at times put one of my stitching labels on the back of my ornaments if it is a gift.
by: syagel on 11/25/14
Syagel, thank you so much! I did not know about fusible interfacing before--I looked it up and it looks very helpful.
Vcess, I think that's a great idea. I'm going to try to figure out how to add personalization to the back. How is your Starry Night going? I would love to see your progress, if possible. :)
by: jellokat on 11/25/14
I'm only about 8000 stitches in so it's just starting to look like a bigger, very colorful blob...slow going, but finally hit some areas that went a little faster and encouraged me to hang in there. Never realized color relationships were so complex....starting in the center certainly makes for an interesting journey. :) Halloween, a baby shower and a bit of Christmas took me off course, but I've started to work on it a little more regularly in the last week....so only 65000+ more stitches to go! :)
by: shorterhorse on 11/25/14
Well, I used to do cross-stitch kits all the time. It has been a while and I bit off a little more than I was prepared for. I am working on Christmas sleighs on a plastic canvas. Please don't laugh too hard, but which is the front and which is the back? One side is white and the other is a goldish-brown.
by: kmpalmour on 06/30/20