AIBU to think MNers can save my cross stitch?

[CryingOntoMyCrossStitch]

Argghhh. I am a recent convert newbie to cross stitch and foolishly foolishly started quite an (for me at least) intricate design which has borders etc. I've outlined some of this finished design with black thread.

No doubt experienced cross stitchers will know what I'm going to say! The black thread is either rubbing or bleeding into the stitches and a lot of it is gold so now they look dirty. I can't unpick it all but any ideas how to stop it getting worse whilst finishing the rest? I was wondering about spraying it with hairspray. This may be a worse mistake...

In future I will wash and dry my threads before starting and leave the outlining until I've finished the whole thing

I do think it's looking really nice though so far, if slightly amateur and wonky, and it's a present for my mum. I've spent five weeks on it and can't bear to totally fuck it up at this stage - I have a lot more still to sew! I have already sworn and cried over it and one of the borders is slightly unsymmetrical as I missed a row

Any ideas? I promise I will post a picture when I've finished if someone can help me advice gratefully received!

I already pricked my finger and bled onto an unsewed bit of the fabric but luckily it rinsed out straightaway

This is exactly why I don't start new hobbies. Ineptitude and perfectionism aren't a good mix.

Best thing to do is to use it as a learning experience and move onto the next one.
Are you using DMC threads? They are typically the best quality (imo) so the bleeding shouldn't happen.

I wouldn’t do the hairspray thing but someone more experienced may be better placed to tell you if that’s a good idea. Could you increase the number of gold threads although that may look weirdly bulky. Perhaps get a clean soft ever so damp cloth and wipe the black threads to pick up any fluff it’s shedding?

Also from experience stop staring at it so hard. I am ever so fussy and when I’m quilting will notice every single time my points are out. In reality no one is looking at it as closely as I am! Also your mom will appreciate it regardless - again, don’t do what I do and point every single thing that’s wrong with it when giving it to them!

"Stop staring at it so hard" are you my DH? That's exactly what he said

No they aren't DMC and also annoyingly there is no make/numbers on them so if I run out I'm fucked as I can't go out to match them.

(People also posted on AIBU thread where I posted by accident so I'll post the same updates on each thread)

Go on then, don't look too closely as it looks better from a distance There is about 40 rows left to do on the top with a different pattern.

I've actually considered putting latex gloves on so no oils from my fingers can rub the fabric. Is this a bit Hannibal Lecter or a good idea?

Well actually they may be DMC but of course I can't tell. My last project was Anchor and they were coded plus the pattern was preprinted onto the fabric. Which was a lot easier. I'll add that to the list of things I've learnt the hard way.

Oh I think it looks fine!

It's very intricate - good work

Thank you! Have also had nice feedback on my duplicate thread and a tip of using sellotape which seems to have blotted the excess off and it looks much better. MN always comes up trumps!

That’s beautiful! I much prefer counted cross stitch tbh. I must remember to do some of the many many kits I have at home...

It’s lovely, and most folk won’t look as closely at it as you are while you’re stitching. I’d caution against washing your threads before starting - DMC or Anchor will be fine to wash the whole project when it’s done as they’re colourfast, if the floss isn’t colourfast it’ll loose it’s colour in the wash and you also risk loosing the texture of the floss so it might not like well once stitched.

Your project looks lovely, and you’ve learned something so winner on both counts.

Thank you all! I'm really looking forward to my mum being able to have it - she is Irish and I thought it would be nice for whenever she is able to have visitors to her house again. Sadly it won't be me and I won't be able to give it to her personally as I am shielded, which makes me really sad.

Hence the new hobby!

Looks lovely! I said on another thread that stitchers are so much more tuned in to what tehy perceive as errors. I stitched a sampler for inlaws and misaligned part of it by a couple of stitches, to me it is SO obvious and the first thing I see when I look at it.

Nobody else notices.

Well I thought I would update you kind people with the finished article! I'm actually really pleased with it (especially from a distance) and it has literally kept me going the last couple of weeks as life is so shit.

Also I wanted to tell you something lovely - I did run out of the thread supplied due to having to unpick rows plus my total inability to floss without it going into a huge tangle (I've cracked it now). Obviously I can't go out to match them and the maker of the kit is based in the US and closed due to CV. I contacted Stitcher (I don't work for them I promise as you can see from my efforts!) and they matched the threads for me from a photo and sent me lots of replacement thread and wouldn't charge me.

Isn't that lovely?

Fabulous - great job! Lovely design too.

Lovely! Wjen i read your op i was expecting something horrific so was a nice surprise to see your pic and see such a nice piece!

I totally get the feeling of realising a mistake/imperfection and it being all you can focus on, i recently took back loads of work as i had used the wrong number of threads (ie 2 instead of 3 for different effect) dp thought i was crazy cos he couldnt notice the difference but i couldnt leave it because i knew that it would be all i would think about when i looked at it!