If you read my introduction post then you already know I recaught the cross stitching bug because I got inspired by one of my video game t-shirts. The opening scene of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is a series of block prints telling the story of what happened in LOZ: Ocarina of Time and what happened afterwards (my shirt had the block print where Link fights Ganondorf). So I want to cross stitch the six prints shown in that opening scene.
Here's what one of them looks like. I know its pretty detailed for a cross stitch project, but I like the challenge.
There's a few things I'm going to change. All the inked parts are going to be more solid instead of being faded in spots. I think it would be too complicated for me to make it look like its faded and try to match all the varying degrees of blacks and grey to achieve it. There are also areas that give the look of a stamp and not all the areas weren't completely carved out properly and those little uncarved imperfections showed up in the print (like around the yellow triangle and on Ganondorf's arms in this picture)...I think I'll take those little uncarved imperfections out. I'm also going to try and change the Hylian text on the side. There's a translator for that font and when you translate the text on the picture it makes no sense at all. So I'm going to try and change it so that the text will translate properly and tell the story (hopefully it will all fit into that spot). I think I'm going to go with a colored fabric rather than stitching in the background.
I've never charted a design before so I'm not sure how to go about charting the images. Would the size of the project and the amount of detail wanted affect how to chart an image? And if I'm understanding the info on fabric counts and dpi correctly, that would mean if you had two fabrics in the same size with different counts the one with the higher count would give you more detail. Right? And how do you determine how many skeins are needed to complete a project? Anything else I should know before charting the images?
Hey there, that's actually a really good picture to convert into cross stitch from the looks of it. I normally chart motifs on squared paper, but I believe several people on here have software for charting projects that would perhaps be better.
If you can't find a good coloured fabric for your project, teabag staining would look really nice on it. (Take a piece of white material and a wet tea bag, it gives a mottled, old feeling to the piece).
I'm not sure quite what you're asking about the size affecting how you chart it. The bigger the size, the more detail. This goes for fabric count too. If you have a 18 count piece of fabric at 7" and a 14 count piece at 7" the 18 count will have more holes to work with so you can fit more in.
I've never known how many skiens complete a project. I generally buy one of each and then just replace as I go through them.
It's not that it would give you more detail, perse, but the stitches in a higher count of fabric would give the design a more "portrait" type look...
How big are you planning this to be?
Faith
I'm not 100% sure on size because it really depends on the image. There's four images that would be the size of the one I have on this post, but then there's two that are so long that they can't fit on the screen and they have the camera show a portion of the image and then scroll along the length so you can see the whole thing. One is vertical and one is horizontal. In terms of size, the horizontal one is like putting two regular images side to side and the vertical one would be like stacking about 3 or 4 on top of another.
Here's a YouTube video of the opening scene so you can see the other images. (Why didn't I think of this before?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEoRavExhfo" target="_blank
For the 4 images that aren't freakishly long I was thinking 12" for the width (If my math conversions are right it'd be roughly around 24" in length). And that would make the other two images be about 24"X48" (vertical) and 48"X12" (horizontal). I'm not entirely sure about doing 4ft long scrolls. I think those are going to be a huge undertaking to chart and stitch. Not that I don't think I could do it. But do they even have the cross stitch fabric pre-packaged that big? And I think with the project being 6 relatively large images that I would need some sort of rough estimate of how many skeins would be needed---the nearest place I know of that sells them is like 45 minutes away so I couldn't just go out and get more if I run out.
Just had a thought about what you were saying about using solid black rather than trying to represent the more faded bits -- you could always use a dark brown varigated thread - DMC Colour Variations or Anchor Multicolour - it might give a bit more texture than a solid colour and might keep the feeling of it being a woodcut/stamp too?
burgundyice wrote:Just had a thought about what you were saying about using solid black rather than trying to represent the more faded bits -- you could always use a dark brown varigated thread - DMC Colour Variations or Anchor Multicolour - it might give a bit more texture than a solid colour and might keep the feeling of it being a woodcut/stamp too?
Well, I don't want the feeling of the actual physical stamp (I'm assuming that's what you mean). I want the look of a stamped print. I would think the actual print on paper wouldn't have much texure going on so I think the solid black would work just fine. However, a solid dark brown might be an even better choice. I'm still having the old, discolored parchment look and choosing a cream colored fabric to match and still going with the kind of muted yellow and green you see in the Triforce and Link's tunic. I guess now that I think about it I want sort of an aged feel to it, but not so aged that the ink is completely worn out in spots. So it might not make sense to have a solid jet black because I think that might make the dark areas look very new and fresh. Wow...thanks! Might have not taken your suggestion entirely, but it gave me some new perspective and I did get something out of it.
I prefer 1-2-3 stitch for everything I get online... they're amazing! I hear Sew and So is a good place too... for hand dyed fabric I like Silkweavers and Polstitches is great too..
Faith
diddo on being useless with advice (but plenty of encouragement to a fellow nerd). All i know is in terms of fabric size 123 stitch.com sells REALLY big pieces. i'm using a piece of 20 ct aida that's 36x51 inches for my HAED. good luck with the zelda stuff! i do feel there is a lack of video game patterns out there and this seems like a great way to fill that gap!
p.s. if anyone does know of great video game patterns (aside from make ur own) i'll gladly stand corrected
WIP: HAED Vanity ~3000/240,000 at last i have 1%!!! still O_O have long way to go Day Surrendering to Night ~1600/48,462
"What I have shown is reality. What you remember...that is the illusion"
Flying_V_Goddess wrote:Where would be some cheaper places to custom order?
I go directly to the source when I can. Picture This Plus make fantastic hand-dyes and are without doubt some of the friendliest, most helpful people with whom you'll ever speak. http://www.picturethisplus.com" target="_blank"
twitchii wrote:diddo on being useless with advice (but plenty of encouragement to a fellow nerd). All i know is in terms of fabric size 123 stitch.com sells REALLY big pieces. i'm using a piece of 20 ct aida that's 36x51 inches for my HAED. good luck with the zelda stuff! i do feel there is a lack of video game patterns out there and this seems like a great way to fill that gap!
p.s. if anyone does know of great video game patterns (aside from make ur own) i'll gladly stand corrected
Support and encouragement helps. Sometimes I look at a project I've planned and go "WTF am I doing??? I must be nuts!"
Flying_V_Goddess wrote:Where would be some cheaper places to custom order?
I go directly to the source when I can. Picture This Plus make fantastic hand-dyes and are without doubt some of the friendliest, most helpful people with whom you'll ever speak. http://www.picturethisplus.com" target="_blank" target="_blank"
great link! nice selection there
Work in Progress
Dimensions Passion Flower Angel
Tempting Tangles Welcome SAL
Various small designs
I checked the websites you guys gave me. Unfortunatly, I didn't find what I wanted (at least for this project). Nice selection on other things so if this goes beyond Zelda (today The Legend of Zelda, tomorrow the world!) I might find something on those sites that will tickle my fancy. I did find a website that did have what I was looking for (the name slips my mind right now)...took me forever to find something in 16ct and in the color I wanted (looking at cream or lambswool). But if I want the size I want I have to order by the foot...and they want like $10 a foot (so $10 for a 43"X12" of Aida). Maybe its just my nieveness about cross stitching in general, but that seems a bit pricey. The most I've ever paid for a single piece of fabric was probably about $10ish, but that was like a whole yard. This isn't even half a yard. Could I do better or is this considered cheap for cross stiching fabric?
Just a wild guess; but, are you ordering from the Nordic Needle?
I'm afraid you'll find that $10.00/ft or $.83/inch is very reasonable for standard color, bulk produced aida. Hand-dyed aida or standard, bulk linen or other evenweaves easily start at twice that cost. For example: Last week I found a 1/2 yard (27"x36") of good (not great) quality, precut antique white Belfast linen for US$9.00. It was on sale at about 1/3 the original cost.
That really does not seem unreasonable to me. Aida and Linens are going to be more expensive then reular fabric. You could always do this on waste canvas and then that way you could buy the color of fabric you are looking for but then you are going to have to buy the waste canvas so probably not much cheaper then just buying aida.
If you are looking for some one to help change you, look in the mirror
great link! nice selection there 
