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Some of you may remember that my sister brought me this DMC Kit of Henry VIII and his Wives

after she was in England last year when my niece was doing a semester at Oxford.
I generally dislike kits, but would like to work on this partly because I love Tudor History and because it was such a thoughtful and personal gift (my love of Cross Stitch and of Tudor History). The threads are DMC, but the fabric is 16 ct aida. Neither the count nor the fabric is my preference. So I found these two hand dyed fabrics at 123Stitch (I looked at a lot of different sites). Which do you think is a better choice?

This is a pale lavender 28ct Lugana

My thinking is purple (or shades thereof) is the color of royalty.

or this pale pink 28ct Jobelan

The Tudor Rose led me down the pink/pale red path.

I am planning on stitching 2 over 1 tent stitch. Never done this with anything other than HAEDs, but figured it is worth a try as it will be smaller and stitch faster. Why I have decided I need another new start (still have Cat Lessons languishing and meowing at me pretty loudly) I have no idea, especially since I have another HAED start planned for the new start SAL this month.

Anyway, any and all opinions would be most helpful. Its okay if you tell me this is a dumb idea.

Carole

I like the first purple one.

When does the HAED New start SAL start?

Thanks for your response, Emma. The purple is a bit more subtle background for such a busy design (the dresses). Plain old white seemed boring to me. I'm pretty sure the SAL is the end of the month. When there are 5 weeks in a month, I think it is the last week that they have a "new start SAL". I know that Sam posted and asked if anyone was planning on starting then, since she has a BAP she is going to start. Got me thinking (as if it takes a lot to get me going on a new start) that I haven't started a new HAED in a while.

Carole

I just checked on the HAED BB, which I haven't been on for ages and it starts on the 30th Aug. Have a SAL starting on 1st Sept for Tilton Olde World Map so will see about the HAED New start as well.

I have decided to make up thread cards for all my WIP's and merge my thread into one master set, haven't got what I need to make thread cards and whilst it may be easier to make the project cards up whilst the thread is still separated until I get them merged I can't recall work out what I need to start the map and a new HAED!!!

I agree that the first one seems more fitting to the colors of the design.

LadyS wrote:I agree that the first one seems more fitting to the colors of the design.

That's my choice too!!! I love it!!!

My instinct says to go with purple...It just feels more royal what a thoughtful gift!

I'm with the others and say go with the purple. With the pink I'd be afraid that it would clash with the red flowers at the top (not sure if they would or not, it's hard to tell from the pic).

mechie

It's purple for me too!
I bet those gowns are going to be wonderful to stitch. The colours and detail will be fun to create.
Can't wait to see your work on this one!
Cheers

Pur-ple! Pur-ple! Pur-ple!

Of course, I'm always going to say purple, lol... But I really do like it better for the piece.

What a lovely gift,Carole.I like your second choice purely for the link with the Tudor Rose. Henry VIII and the Tudors are my favourite Royal history and have always facsinated me, the good and the bad of it.
Whichever fabric you choose, this project will fantastic.

im also with everyone on the purple lovely design!

Thanks everyone for your help. I will probably go with the purple. My plan is to take it with me when I am in Florida at the end of the month. My sister will be there and I should have plenty of stitching time. Going to take that and my HAED new start also. And I usually take my LOTR since it is easy to stitch in airports, especially now when all I have is a page and a half of black to do to finish out the top row.

Carole

Purple!