What's wrong with that? Are you a little jealous? Mine is not that neat. About 30years ago an acquaintance picked up a piece at the framer that had been done with the backside showing. Of course, the framer corrected his mistake!

Not jealous, just can't figure out how she makes it so precise.

It's all good! :) The idea is to NOT worry so much about the back that you don't want to show off what you've done on the front! Most of us were taught that the back should look as good as the front. That was also 50 years ago...or more. That was before dyed fabrics...except tea/coffee stained...and "cover-all's"--the beginning of evil influences on needlework backs.

If you're entering a work into a competition of some sort, sure, the back will/should be judged, but if you don't appreciate my work, that makes you an ignorant shank, not a great judge of needlework. :)

There are still things you should/shouldn't do that is on the back, but affects the front... No knots, ever. Don't carry dark floss past a few stitches on light fabric...it will show through. Probably a bunch more, but I haven't had coffee.

Point is...relax. Enjoy. Be creative and receive all the benefits that entails! :)

I have had a few people tell me they don't understand how the back of my fabric is so neat. I really don't know what I do, it just comes out that way. I must say though that my current big project isn't going to be that tidy on the back. There are far too many confetti stitches and it seems like I am constantly stitching 1 or 2 leaving a couple blank, stitching a couple more... skipping 4... Sigh...

I was always taught that the back should be as neat as the front when my mother taught me how to embroider and do stamped cross stitch back when I was a kid. I am now older and am self-taught on the counted cross stitch. I still try to adhere to that rule of thumb but I have to admit, the back of my fabric is not always as neat as I would like. But like one of the other stitchers commented, it's the front everyone sees. I stitch for hobby and enjoyment (and many gifts) so I try not to worry as much about the back as the front these days!
Happy Stitching!
Jacquie

I am always amused that when you show anyone a finished piece of needlework most of them immediately flip it over to the back. Experienced crafters as well as those who have never stitched... Why do we do that, do you think? 😃

If you look at my stitching you will know that your sister created a miracle!

I agree with VCESS that cross stitch patterns have become substantially more detailed, therefore the backs of projects are becoming increasingly difficult to keep nice. Look at the serious amount of 'confetti' in artist Leonid Afremov patterns offered over the last couple of years compared to patterns offered in the 60's and 70's

I also learned to cross stitch & regular embroidery as a child, MANY moons ago. Was always told by my grandma (who taught me the craft), that the back should be a neat as the front. When you stop & think about it, that was back when we were doing stamped designs on pillow cases, sheets, table cloths, dresser scarves, chair arms & backs, well you get the picture. My point is, that the backs of the projects showed, so you had to keep them neat. Now, most pieces get framed, & the back doesn't show. I still adhere to keeping the back neat anyway. My framer once remarked on how neat the back of my work is. She showed me one she had gotten in to frame, & I couldn't believe it! Oh well, to each his own,. To quote other stitchers here " there are no cross stitch police". Just do what you are comfortable with, & remember, it's all about the joy we get in stitching.

I don't worry about the back of my project. Just so the front looks nice. When I am done I press a piece of light fusible fabric to the back of my projects to cover them and help with framing. This has worked great for me for years. Like someone said with the more complicated patterns of today it is hard to make the back "pretty".