Compensated edges should look neat and clean - just what do I mean by this?
Let’s look at a stitch sample:
 |
| Stitch Sample |
As you can see, the bottom edge is compensated, let’s take a closer look:
 |
| Travel Thread Showing Through from Back |
The reason we see this thread is that the compensation edge from the green stitch travels along the back behind the holes in the canvas at that bottom edge.
 |
| Path of Travel Thread |
You really do not want anything to show behind those holes:
 |
| No Travel Thread Showing |
If you look carefully at this sample you may be able to see just where that thread travels:
 |
| Travel Thread Behind a Stitch |
If you see travel thread showing through along the bottom edge of a compensated area you have several choices to fix the problem:
- Pull that thread up with other stitches,
- Purposefully find a new, hidden travel path by turning the canvas over and running the thread behind other stitches (while you are stitching with that thread),
- Or after stitching use a length of sewing thread and whip those stitches out of the way (this will only work if you have not caught the travel thread in stitches from other sections - in this case the cross stitch variation).
A little extra work with making sure your compensated edges are clean and neat will make a big difference on the quality of your work.
