Don't worry about the back at all. You are right about confetti stitches and I guessed too. It sounds like you are working just right. When doing extremely simple designs and you are using the "stick-stab"method, not the sewing method it is easy to make the back really neat. However, you are doing difficult designs and doing them well. Besides, there is no such thing as "perfect". Wow, I have used 6 strands on afghans but not on a project. You are right about six strands-there is no way to make them neat. I love what you have done and you still amaze me since you have recently started. You are doing great. Thanks for posting your progress. It is fun to see someone's work in the different stages. Pam

The first thing you have to remember is that a bunch of us began a long time ago...designs were different, blockier, very little shading, maybe 16 colors, or less...so, very little confetti. A complicated pattern (larger) might have 25 colors...still, not much confetti. Now, a small, 2 1/2 x 3" might have 16-20 colors. The coveralls might have 95-150 colors...less complicated 60-90 colors. All you can do is, try to keep to no long tags, try to end in the same color "patch", use loop method to begin, and try not to "travel" a lot.
When I came back to stitching, my first coverall was Starry Night...29 colors in the middle 100, 10 x 10 square. I was horrified by the back! I restitched the first 30, got lost, learned to grid, received major support and encouragement from a bunch of wise women in this chat room...Next stop, a bunch of smaller projects to untwist my brains while stitching that monster... 😊
Just do your best. Don't let the minutiae harsh your stitching buzz! Yes, I'm THAT generation! 😊

V explained it totally right. Pam

And if when somebody looks at your work, and the first thing they do is turn it over to check the back. smack them. Diane

With a hammer! And a smile! 😊

When I first started stitching waaayyy back in the day, my father would always flip my finished work over and without fail, he'd say, 'well that won't win any prizes at the fair.' No surprise, after awhile I quit stitching...but then we moved away, and I took it up again while I was raising my kids. I'm still really self-conscious about the back of my work, though. My father is gone, and I've moved back to be close by my mother, and I gotta tell you, every time I make her something, the first thing she does is flip it over and look at the back! The big difference is, SHE always says, 'Oh your backs are so neat!' Personally, I still think they're a mess. But I'm getting far from my point...this lovely bunch of stitchers here have helped me so much, I've learned a lot of things in just the few months I've been coming in here, but mostly to relax. I sometimes forget, it's a hobby! My most recent WIP (work in progress) is a 50th anniversary card for a couple of close friends. There aren't many colors, but there's confetti and metallic threads, Here's how relaxed I am...I know it's going into a tri-fold card, so the back will be covered...I'm ending some of my threads with (GASP!) knots! Don't pick up any bad habits from me Sylvia!

Diane, you are right. And V if I smack them with a hammer, I refuse to smile! Nessie, this fun thing I am working on is going to be a birthday card and guess what, I just looked at my back and it sure wouldn't win any prizes. You are right. This is a hobby and something that's supposed to be fun! If anyone sees the back of my work, it will be because it has been taken out of a frame and more than likely, I am not going to be there when they do! Pam

The backs of mine look like macrame, done by a 3 year old. I start out with the best intentions, but somehow something always goes wrong. I shrug my shoulders, roll my eyes, and move on.

I think a bazooka would be the answer to anyone attempting to look at the backs of cross stitching projects.

And, the smile is for yourself... 😊