I Hate Removing Stitches!

[TheMainlander]

Sorry, but I have to commiserate with some kindred crafters.

So, I finally decided to tackle my first large project. 515x360 stitches, 20x30 inches on 18ct Aida. I prepared to start weeks ago, buying the pattern, buying the 150 or so colors of floss, winding all those colors on bobbins and organizing them, building a stitching frame big enough.

Two nights ago, I was finally ready to start my first stitch on the project.

You know the anticipation, the glee in finally starting a project, something new and exciting, especially when you spend any amount of time in waiting or preparation.

Two nights of stitching, aprx 5 hours. Enough so that I could actually see a shape in the fabric (even if it was more my imagination than anything else).

Then, today I sat down to start another session, but something doesn't add up... why can't I reconcile my new stitches against the work I've already done?

Because I dropped a stitch. Near the beginning. Almost 5 hours worth of work ago.

Now for what really irks me. Is it just me, or does it take LONGER to remove stitches than it does to put them in in the first place?!?! Trying not to stretch the holes in the Aida takes a ton of careful work and patience, two things that I am sorely lacking when I look at all my hard work coming out stitch by stitch. It's a darn good thing that I really love this project (and have sunk a TON of money into it!), because a lesser project would go in the garbage, never to be seen again.

I had to tell SOMEBODY who would understand. Have you ever tried complaining or explaining a problem to your SO, a non-stitcher? No sympathy, let alone comprehension! LOL

::end rant::

Anyways, I just had to let off steam. Thank you for a sympathetic ear. And, if anyone can empathize, tell me your story so I don't feel like I'm alone at being such a bad stitcher!

[DuckyBelkins]

Oh gosh I feel you! Once I realized I had to tear out 3 hours worth of work. I couldn't pick the project up for 3 weeks after that (a week for every hour I guess lol).

Anyway, yeah that really blows I'm sorry. Is there anyway you could fix it without removing the stitches? When you're removing thread I've found that cutting the thread being removed often helps the process along.

[jadely]

I have a seam ripper for just such an occasion. Even if some of the stitches are right, I want them all to feel my wrath... However, I've also ripped a perfectly good piece of aida in the process as well

[blackmageheart]

Doesn't happen to me so much anymore, but when it does, I hate it as much as you do. It takes so long to take em out! Sometimes I unpick, sometimes I use a stitch ripper.

But I have often found that if it's the first colour in the project, and the mistake is at the start...sometimes if I unpick it backwards (as in, from the first stitch I put in) then I can fix it up quicker. If that makes sense

BUT I FEEL YOUR PAIN!

[Ishtar]

I share your pain but on a lot smaller scale.. Only an hours worth of work... but it is on 25count (or is it 28? can't remember) linen... so a little more of a pain to undo as well.

This is why I shouldn't try and do it on the train

[TheMainlander]

I have a seam ripper for just such an occasion.

Doh! Never thought of that! I might have to pick up one of those...

[Ally]

When I do that, if I don't think it's noticeable to the finished product, I leave it. I've dropped numerous single stitches in my Epic Pokemon but since I don't know where I dropped them, I leave it. I HATE RIPPING OUT STITCHES with such a vengeful, fiery passion that if I do make a *big* mistake I'll probably drop the project altogether. Not a great way to deal with it, but it makes me want to tear my hair out! I had started the Snow White Horror pattern that's on here somewhere back when I first joined this site, missed an entire row but didn't notice until I was about 20 stitches from completing the first page, and it is now at the bottom of my craft box. Don't even what to think about that one!

[blackberrybear]

Like Ally, if it's not going to be noticed, I leave it and alter the pattern to fit around it. Though that dosen't really work when doing outlines. I have to rip out those mistakes and redo 'em. Like this morning, working on my swap gift, I had undone the work I did because the right side didn't match up to the left. Grrrr

[Yurtle]

I almost always change the pattern around to fit my mistakes! It's a rare occaion that I will undo my stitching. Way too lazy for that! The only time I would really consider it if it's something for here, like the Child's Play patches. If it's something for family or friends, oh well!!

[Yurtle]

I've never used a seam ripper for stitching. I woud hate wasting all the floss and what if I ripped too far in and didn't have enough to tie off the previous end and had to undo even more?!