Avoiding Visible Gaps and Uneven Tension

What you will learn

• Diagnosing coverage problems
• Railroading strands
• Consistent pull

Materials and tools

• 14-count Aida cloth, white or cream
• Tapestry needle size 24 (blunt tip)
• Six-strand embroidery floss
• Embroidery scissors
• 4 or 5 in (10 or 13 cm) hoop (optional on stiff Aida)

1. Check the strand count against the fabric: 2 strands on 14 and 16-count, 3 on 11-count. Too few strands leaves gaps.
2. Let the needle hang and untwist every few stitches. Twisted floss is thin and round. Untwisted floss lies flat and covers more.
3. Try railroading: as you pull a stitch closed, put the needle tip between the two strands so they lie side by side.
4. Pull each stitch only until it rests on the fabric. If the holes in the Aida look enlarged, you are pulling too hard.
5. If stitches look loose and loopy, pull a little firmer and use a hoop to keep the fabric taut.
6. Stitch each row in the same order so the thread on the back pulls in the same direction every time.

Tips for a neat result

• Aim for good coverage from normal viewing distance, about arm's length. Close-up perfection is not needed.
• A stiffer fabric or a hoop evens out tension quickly for beginners.

Common mistakes and fixes

Check your result

• Crosses look equally plump across the piece.
• Aida holes are not stretched.