BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Crochet Embroidery on Afghan

When doing embroidery or cross stitch on an afghan-stitch background, how does one hide the knots, especially when the embroidery is done in a darker color than the afghan background? It seems to me that weaving in the thread ends would not always work. I am wanting to do my first embroidered afghan and can not imagine how I would be able to make it reversible. I have never actually seen a completed embroidered afghan in real life. Only photos, which do not show the reverse side of the afghan. Perhaps they are not meant to be reversible?

Judy in Oregon

As far as weaving in the thread ends, I recently read a reply by our tatting host that seems a good method:

Rather than have a trailing thread, loop the old and new threads together and keep the shorter piece alongside the longer strand which is now doubled for a short length.

If you do your embroidery catching just the top of the loops of the afghan then it should look ok from the reverse side. That's the technique I use.

Maybe others have different ideas?

Susan <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thats how I hide them also. I don't do much of embroidery on crochet, I will usually re write the pattern so I can do it in tapestry crochet. Here is a really good tips page http://tutorials.crochetcabana.com/ltc-tunisian.htm that has some really nice pictures and about halfway down the page there are the tips for cross stitching on Afghan stitch.

Judy, the only time I did a embroidered afghan, I did in counted cross stitch on the afghan stitch which is perfect for that. In that case, one hides the tails under the stitches. It is NOT a reversible afghan. It was a beauty though - the merry-go-round horse baby blanket...wish I had pics.

For some time now, i've wanted to try an afghan with cross stitch on top. However, afghan stitch is not one of my favorites. it makes my hands hurt too. does anybody know, or have instruction on how to cross stitch on top of sc or hdc? would it even work i wonder...?
I recently, for the first time, made an afghan using 'weaving'. and i really enjoyed that too.

Thank you, all, for your help. Eva, I will definitely be looking at the link you suggested. Butterfly67--I, also, do not particularly care to do the afghan stitch. If you work rows of sc in the back loop only, starting each row at the same end, you can create a background that is very similar to the afghan stitch using a regular crochet hook. (I.E.; do not turn work, cut yarn at end of each row and start next row at the same end as you started the previous row. If you measure your yarn ends each time, you can create a fringe at the same time you work each row. Or you can weave in all the ends as your work progresses if no fringe is desired.) It works best if you use a fairly tight stitch for this type of background.

Judy in OR

hi i made both of my kids afghans for christmas that i did cross stitch on, and what i did was make a backing of fleece for it and just whip stitched it on. turned out adorable. kids love them <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />