Ever since I started embroidering (or ‘broidering, as Sophie calls it) — and showing off my not-so-handiwork — I’ve heard the same thing.

Don’t worry about the back! It won’t show! Who cares?!

Yeah, the back doesn’t matter, I learned the hard way, til you go to try to frame the piece. Smoosh this stuff down and you’ve got a problem – if you go through embroidery thread like I do.

OK, lesson learned. Figure out how to be neater — or buy thicker fabric. I’m heading to the remnant store asap.

In any case, I’ll take my lumps. It’s still a fun hobby (for a girl who always took pride in not having one) and at least one piece of embroidery from this first round turned out lump-free: our valentine.

Next time, I’ll ‘broider something of Sophie’s. This was a fun joint-effort — as it says on the back of the card, “drawn by annabelle, stitched by amy, valentine’s day, 2010.”

Here’s the one we made for Ray. Annabelle drew him holding “paws” with Jack the puppy. (Note the lumps.)

May you have such happy collaborations with your loved ones, lumps and all!

(And good luck getting that Presidents of the United States song out of your head. I can’t.)