Thursday, July 21, 2011

The devil's in the details!

Ah! The dreaded backstitch.......it looks great when done but seems such a chore to do. I have to admit that I'm not one of those people who hates back stitching....I dislike it, but usually I'll get on with it as I know it will pull the design together and look great when completed. But, after a few nights backstitching the Mighty Samurai, I'm beginning to fall into the 'I hate backstitching' category! At first it was quite easy. I was backstitching the branches and that wasn't too bad. Then came the backstitching of the Samurai, well as if it wasn't hard enough to figure out the colours on the stitching (they are all blended with very, very subtle colour changes), but the chart is AWFUL! The backstitch lines are printed so that the line is almost half a square below where the backstitch would/should be. There are two different coloured lines in the same space but it doesn't tell you which to stitch first. And does anyone else have a problem distinguishing the  difference between the 'thick red lines' and the 'thin red lines'  on the chart? I've a feeling it's going to be slow going!

This is where I've got to so far....


This is a close up of his face....


I'm not sure about his nose....something doesn't seem quite right, but I've checked the chart and all is as it should be. Maybe I'm just focusing too much on his face and once more backstitching is done, hopefully all will look fine.

Anyway, I think he's growing into a handsome fella!

Until next time...happy stitching!

Rhona


10 comments:

Ginnie said...

I have to admit I quite enjoy back stitching!!
Although saying that I try to do the back stitching as I go along and rarly leave it to the end!
His face looks great really brings him to life.

Nicola said...

The detail on his face is amazing. Looking great xx

Mouse said...

i back stitch as i go along much better then you don't dread it at the end ... he is looking handsome and the detail is fantastic . close up his nose looks like its got a dint in it .. but when you look from a distance it is how it should be ..lol love mouse xx

Anne said...

Oooh he is handsome!! I had the same problem with my Geisha girl. Couldn't tell what the thin or thick blue, black, red lines were and where to start them or end them. That's Dimensions for you. I find I don't like their charts much. Good luck on backstitching, and just follow your instinct and backstitch where you think it should be, not what the chart says!

cucki said...

wow..it is really looking so stunning..well done dear xx

Unknown said...

I think he is looking very studdly! Great job backstitching.

Sheila said...

I also leave backstitching to the end and cannot tackle it if I'm too tired. Your samurai looks excellent ... nose and all!

Pumpkin said...

I think he looks FANTASTIC! Keep up the good work :o)

Lynn said...

He's a very regal fellow indeed! The BS is really pulling it all together and it looks fantastic.

Poppypatchwork said...

Your doing a good job bringing him to life, it going to look fantastic when he is done