Design Competition

CEJHNeedlework · Post by **CEJHNeedlework** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:04 pm

Once Upon a Time Cross Stitch & Country Crafts had a competition for a small design in every issue. The magazine no longer does this and I can't find a publication or website that does this. It isn't that I want to win or that I want prizes. I want to be given a theme and format to work on. Some of the best designs were made for prefinished items, or fabric types. Also, I would like a deadline to keep me focused and working.

Does anyone know where I might find this type of competition?

Jilly · Post by **Jilly** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:12 pm

No, sorry

mags · Post by **mags** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:13 pm

No I don't either - great idea though.

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:47 pm

Why not start one here? It could be like the Trading Card exchange that we did/are doing (see this thread, only with a set theme or fabric or colour scheme or whatever you like.

Serinde · Post by **Serinde** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:31 am

Mabel, I had the same thought. I have absolutely no clue how to design something. Perhaps someone(s) might think about setting up a small design masterclass, to teach the basics, as a sort of super-stitch-along? Then we could move on to designing the sort of little designs you were asking about, CEJHN.

(And what's wrong with prizes, anyway?)

mags · Post by **mags** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:16 am

I would be interested in this.

CEJH
Just thought about Sharon Bs Take it Further Challenge - which encompasses all sorts of ideas that could be applied to cross stitch.
http://takeitfurtherchallenge.blogspot.com/

mags · Post by **mags** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:38 pm

I see Emily on The Floss Box has also started doing a monthly challenge herself:

http://blog.theflossbox.com/?p=1191

CEJHNeedlework · Post by **CEJHNeedlework** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:45 pm

Well, I suppose we shall have to do for ourselves. As far as explaining how to design I would say that it varies. Some people can pick up a piece of canvas, choose their colors and just stitch out what they want. Some people use graph paper and colored pencils.

I knew an older women that came into the Kinkos I worked at to get help with the color copy machine. She would enlarge her favorite pictures to twice her desired stitch size then place a wire mesh over it and look straight down at it while graphing the pattern on paper.

I use PCStitch myself and I know there are lot's of programs designed to help make charts that look professional.

To me, it doesn't matter how you design your piece. If we were to have a competition here I think the best thing to do would be to post pictures of the finished piece and then let folks vote for their favorites. I don't know HOW we would do that. It would be like a Gallery and "comments" could be votes I suppose. Any thoughts on how to show the work all together and vote on the forum?

~threadbear~ · Post by **~threadbear~** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:14 pm

You could ask for the pictures to be made into a sticky thread and number the pictures on there. Then start another thread in the form of a poll for people to vote and leave comments on, that way they could quickly locate the picture thread first to make a decision on voting, especially if the poll one had a link to there.

CEJHNeedlework · Post by **CEJHNeedlework** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:29 am

Thanks threadbear that should work!

As for the design master class, I have an idea! If we are all learning together how to make a basic design and chart it by hand or on our own software why not do something like make designs that fit in a standard afghan readily available in shops on both sides of the pond. That way when people post their designs people can gather them up and stitch their favorites. Almost like everyone contributing a patch for a quilt. Except it is better because everyone could have a forum afghan of their own.

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:22 pm

What a lovely idea! I've got an afghan in the pipeline, so to speak, but bought two as a job lot so number two could become the forum one

Afghans are great for me as they are a big projects which consists of lots of little projects -- instant sense of achievement after every design!

hada56 · Post by **hada56** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:09 pm

good luck! I couldn't design a cross stitch chart even if my soul depended on it

, but I'll see how this "competition" comes along.

CEJHNeedlework · Post by **CEJHNeedlework** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:30 pm

What type of afghan? There are so many and so many different design sizes. I have a Charles Craft Lady Elizabeth which supports designs approximately 6in wide either 84 stitches over one thread or 42 stitches over 2 threads. It has 20 spaces.

Which afghan should we all design for? Maybe we should see how many people are willing to design a patch and then pick the afghan that works the best for that number? This is a beginners start-up thing, no competition, just design something for fun to share. Maybe I should start a new topic called Afghan Patch Designs? or Group Design-a-Long for Afghan Patch and find out who is interested.

Mabel Figworthy · Post by **Mabel Figworthy** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:12 pm

True, I'd forgotten there are so many different types; the ones I got are Baby Alphabet afghans, with 26 squares around the edge, each with 63 threads, but I would like to do one of the bigger ones.

I suppose that very often you can make a design 'fit' by choosing to work over one thread instead of two, or vice versa. I'd be interested to join the thread, although I couldn't vouch for quality

CEJHNeedlework · Post by **CEJHNeedlework** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:27 pm

Okay, I posted a topic called "Forum Afghan Design" in the General Section. I am hoping we will attract people willing to give this a shot.

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