Tips for hiding thread on the backside

One of the advantages of hand embroidery is that you can use any fabric you want as a ground for your project. Yes, some of them are better and more convenient than others, but generally speaking, any will do. However, some types of fabric require special tricks. Today I suggest talking about semi-transparent fabrics and their whims.

I'm going to use my work on semi-transparent batiste as an example.

I was stitching a practicing bit to train my line stitches, and didn't think much about the choice of ground fabric - I took a piece of fine, batitste in tan color. When I stitch training bits, I'm not so much focused on having a clear backside, as I'm focused on polishing my stitch. But the thing about fine batiste is that it is semi-transparent.

In the picture below you can see that my finger and thread can be seen through the fabric. These bits of thread being seen through can really spoil the whole outcome of the work. So even though I don't have plans on framing this piece (I still didn't decide in what way to finish it) I try to hide the thread.

So here are little tips for that.

So, suppose I need to get from point A to point B, to start a new line. But if I do that in straight line, I will have an ugly piece of thread shining through the fabric.

One way to avoid it is to secure thread at point A and start anew at point B. This method will help you to keep the backside pretty clear, for sure.

But I have to confess that I'm a lazy stitcher. And if I can avoid extra beginning-finishing manoeuvres, I do it. So what I do is following: I follow already laid lines, fixing my thread under some stitches. This way the thread is being hidden from the viewer's eyes and nothing can be seen.