Tips for better long and short stitch

[mauvedragon]

Does anyone has tips for improving my long and short stitch? I'm having trouble getting my stitches close enough together both horizontally and veritcally as I stitch across the area.

This is only the second time I've used it. The first area looks like pointilism, the area I'm stitching now looks better but I'm still not happy with it.

[Dionne White]

Without seeing your work, or your stitching envronment, my best suggestions is exceptionally good light and a sharper, finer needle

[Carol-Anne]

Hi Mauvedragon. I'm no expert on long and short stitch. I'm just about to begin a project that has long and short so I am hoping to learn how to do it properly.

I think it would help others give constructive advice if you were to post a picture of your long and short stitching.

Do you put your work into a frame. Personally, I like to frame up virtually everything that I stitch, but for l&s, I think it is essential.

CA

[sharonb]

Mary Corbet over on Needle n' Thread has done a fantastic 9 part series on working this stitch if you use the search function on her blog you will find them
Here is a her blog URL
http://www.needlenthread.com/

Also thread can make a difference with this stitch a thread that stays fluffed out - like wool will work much better than a tightly twisted thread - the fluffed out thread seems to fill the gaps more. A tight thread will just sit in lines instead of shading.

Back again just found them listed under techniques here is the url
http://www.needlenthread.com/2009/08/long-and-short-stitch-lessons-...

[Mary Corbet]

Thanks, Sharon, for the link to Needle 'n Thread!

Mauvedragon - there's also a few videos on there, if they'll be of any help.

If you have to use fine thread because it's the look you want or your project calls for it (for example, one strand of DMC), your stitches should be longer than you think they should be, and when you go back up into them, "go deep"! Make sure you're splitting the thread coming up in the stitches, rather than going down, as this also helps to spread the thread and fill in gaps.

I echo Dionne's comment on finer needles and really good light, and Carol-Anne on using a frame or hoop! You might even hold your work up to the light now and then, so that you can see if you're gapping too much in your stitch placement. I do that all the time to gauge the spacing on finer stitching, because the gaps aren't always visible when you're looking at the work from the front after stitching for a while under bright light...

sharonb said:

Mary Corbet over on Needle n' Thread has done a fantastic 9 part series on working this stitch if you use the search function on her blog you will find them
Here is a her blog URL
http://www.needlenthread.com/

[mauvedragon]

Frame or hoop? I tend to use hoops because I work small.

[Carol-Anne]

Either. I was referring to any device that will keep your fabric taught. :-)

CA

mauvedragon said:

Frame or hoop?

[mauvedragon]

The whole WIP is shown here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/mauvedragon/4854057556/in/photostream/

The first section of long and short stitch: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mauvedragon/4853441209/in/photostream/

Second section: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mauvedragon/4854060740/in/photostream/

Hooped up for the next section: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mauvedragon/4854067304/in/photostream/