I'm just curious...

[Kuschelschaf]

This is the first cross-stitch kit I ever purchased around 10 years ago. I love it and I amd dying to work on it. I however, hate working on aida (it has a time and place, but if the fabric shows or it has fractionals, I'd prefer an evenweave).

The background fabric is navy blue. I'd want to use a hand-dyed instead. So, I'm looking at these by Picture This Plus!:

Gothic
and
Mystic

I think Gothic is super pretty and is my favorite of the two, but I'm not sure how the purples would work with the wolves. Which would you prefer?

Also I keep putting off this kit because I don't know how to do couching and I'm afraid to try it Most of the backstitching of the wolves' fur is couched. I watched YouTube tutorials but it doesn't make sense how I would translate it into the pattern.

[Nicola Main]

Both are gorgeous fabrics but I think I actually prefer the bottom one. Just searched for couching stitch as had never heard of it but it looks interesting! I found this tutorial on it https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/working ... ch-3862766" target="_blank I'm sure you will make the right choice and maybe do some practice couching on a spare bit of fabric until you get the hang of it?

[Squirrel]

As much as I love the first piece of fabric I agree that the 2nd one is THE one for this design. It will look gorgeous


Like you I was wary of trying couching but found is so very easy and now I love it. Just make sure that you don't pull the base thread too tight or too loose. The secret seems to be have it firm so that the couching stitch lies evenly over it.
I am sure you will manage t very well.

[Mabel Figworthy]

The purples are lovely but because of the original fabric choice and the wolves themselves I'd go with the blue one, I think - but if the other fabric really speaks to you, well... Perhaps you can do some Photoshopping to combine them to see the effect? (Happy to have a go for you if you send me the pics).

As for couching, Do Not Fear ! The thing to remember is not to pull the working thread (the one which you take over your ground thread) too tight, unless you want to do underside couching, which is a perfectly legitimate technique but not what you're aiming for . Seriously, just place the ground thread where it needs to go and at regular intervals take small stitches over it which you pull tight enough to keep the ground thread in place but not so tight that the ground thread gets distorted. Have a go on a doodle cloth first to get to grips with your tension, and you'll be fine!

[Angelite]

They are both lovely but Mystic is definitely the one I would personally choose if I was stitching these wolves but at the end of the day, it's you that will be working on it so if the purple speaks to you then I say follow your heart and go for it! I have never heard of couching either so now I am going to look at the link to the tutorial Nicola posted. Always something to learn

[rcperryls]

Another vote for Mystic even though I absolutely love Gothic (purple being my favorite color). What a beautiful project this will be, whichever you choose (I also agree that you should choose what feels right for you) so if it was me I'd get both fabrics and look to see what would look good on Gothic! Or just have it to look it.

Carole

[wendywombat]

I'd go with Mystic too!

I love this design.
Be Brave and get it started!!

[mauveme]

I would choose Gothic in a heart beat but imo the mystic is better suited for the design.

[Serinde]

The gothic cloth is gorgeous, mostly due to that lovely purple. But it would be covered up by the stitching of the wolves, I suspect. I would go with Mystic, myself; equally beautiful.

About the couching stitch... I'm not sure what it adds, frankly. Can I suggest you look at the Faby Reilly page and have a look at the way she uses back stitch in her designs' outlines? I was always a bit undecided about this style -- until I did a few designs by her -- and what I noticed was how the outline, while not slavishly following the exact stitches, tricked the eye into seeing curves and forgetting about the outside legs of the cross stitch. That's how I'd do those couched runs of thread on this lovely design.

[karen4bells]

I love them both, but being a bit of a rebel, I would be more apt to go with Gothic--so hard to really make a choice, so if I had the funds I would order both fabrics, then once I received them I would see just how the purples show up in the actual fabric--it may just work out--if that makes sense. That way you would have another beautiful fabric on hand for your next design

[Ciors]

They're both absoloutely stunning fabrics but I think I'd, personally, go with Mystic. However if ordering both is an option then I'd totally do that!

As for couching? Never heard of it! Will need to check it out.

[Angel]

Lay the threads out on the fabric and see if any just really don't work with it. If they don't look off then the design will probably work well, but I also prefer the blue one for the design.

[richardandtracy]

Either would work well. But of the two, I'd go for Gothic as being marginally better for the picture.
I'd flip the fabric so the turquoise area was top right, around the moon.

It'll look really nice, whichever you go for.

Regards,

Richard.

[Serinde]

Either would work well. But of the two, I'd go for Gothic as being marginally better for the picture.
I'd flip the fabric so the turquoise area was top right, around the moon.

Might add a bit of northern lights...

[richardandtracy]

As an aside, I'd love to see them in the wild rather than on TV. The yacht 'Northern Light' and it's crew of Rolf Bjelke and Deborah Shapiro were an inspiration for many years, being the first yacht to go from north ice to south ice.

Back to the point. The turquoise would be a bit like a stratospheric ice crystal halo around the moon. So perfect for howling at...

Regards,

Richard.

[karen4bells]

Either would work well. But of the two, I'd go for Gothic as being marginally better for the picture.
I'd flip the fabric so the turquoise area was top right, around the moon.

Might add a bit of northern lights...

My thoughts exactly!!

[Kuschelschaf]

Wow. I'm so glad I asked I was starting to think Mystic and now I'm leaning towards gothic (after the whole moon comment).

[CavyMom]

Both of those fabric options are beautiful. As for the couching, it's worth the effort. It can provide a nice effect because you can make it look like it's curving smoothly which I've never been able to do with backstitch. Mabel gave you great advice. The first time I tried couching, I didn't test it out on scrap fabric, and I didn't space my working stitches close enough together. When I took it out of the hoop, the ground thread completely lost its shape. Whoops! Can't wait to see what fabric you pick.