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Little in-betweener project before I really sink into my next big one!

This is stitched on 32ct Opal Lugana from Mystic Hand Dyed Fabrics (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2978805 ... SEARCH_BOX)
It's a pattern from "Oriental Cross Stitch" by Debbie Minton published in 1999.

I'm a little peeved at how much she likes to use 3/4 and 1/4 stitches paired together, but I'm through the worst of it so I suppose I'll get over it.



I like to add a color story before I start because you always need a little Instagram fodder


And now, chicken legs are activated, and you can very clearly see on the bent leg the sheer fractional frustration. I almost threw the book across the room, not going to lie.

That looks interesting. I do love Japanese style pictures, and you've made a good start.

As for the fractional stitches.. Annoying. You could consider taking a slightly different approach. Where fractional stitches are specified, change from full crosses at 14-ish count skipping one fabric hole to tent stitches at 28-ish count, skipping no holes. That would look OK if the picture is mounted behind glass when done, otherwise it might look a bit odd. It's one response to the number of fractional stitches, but maybe not the best.

Regards,

Richard.

Thankfully you have survived it to make a brilliant start on this gorgeous one.

richardandtracy wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 11:42 pm That looks interesting. I do love Japanese style pictures, and you've made a good start.

As for the fractional stitches.. Annoying. You could consider taking a slightly different approach. Where fractional stitches are specified, change from full crosses at 14-ish count skipping one fabric hole to tent stitches at 28-ish count, skipping no holes. That would look OK if the picture is mounted behind glass when done, otherwise it might look a bit odd. It's one response to the number of fractional stitches, but maybe not the best.

Regards,

Richard.

I originally started by adjusting to halves as I went then realized I "adjusted" myself out of the graph and couldn't accurately follow the pattern anymore. I have a handle now on what she wants out of it, but it was sure annoying. There was LOTS of going on when I was fixing it.

How frustrating with so many fractional stitches but this really is a very nice project!! Looking great so far!!

Nice design. I remember that designers were all for smoothing curves with fractionals back in the day. Wonder if they are still a thing now? I always thought that perhaps they were frustrated free embroiderers and would have probably preferred needle painting or silk shading for which there was only a specialist market?

Not easy but the effect is very good! It is a beautiful and delicate design. Looking forward to the next update...

Serinde wrote: Sun May 24, 2020 7:59 am Nice design. I remember that designers were all for smoothing curves with fractionals back in the day. Wonder if they are still a thing now? I always thought that perhaps they were frustrated free embroiderers and would have probably preferred needle painting or silk shading for which there was only a specialist market?

That could be? Right now I'm playing "fabric chicken" because I straight up cut this fabric within an inch of the pattern and now it's sliding out of my Q-Snap. So I dug out this really solid plastic hoop to squeeze the edges in to get this corner available!

I sure hope the dear old plastic hoop works ok for the rest of the time.

Beautiful start. Seems to me, like Seinde said, that fractional stitches used to be in so many of the designs I stitched. You are doing a great job and I am looking forward to your updates.

Carole

I will put up my hand and admit to using them quite a bit in the few cross stitch designs I've done... perhaps Serinde is right and I was always a frustrated freestyler at heart

It does make for beautifully smooth lines though, and you're doing great with them!

Your crane is going to be beautiful, fractionals and all.

Thanks so much! I've finished the right hand side, so I'm doing a little bit of backstitching so I don't have to do some hinky fabric holding later

Its looing great and a very good idea to do some backstitching as you go.

Yes, it can be such a chore when it all comes at the end! (I'll be saying something similar about plunging in my own thread later)

Absolutely lovely stitching!! I don't blame you at all on doing the backstitching as you go!! Looks so pretty!!!

I'm smacking myself a little over the head on this because I had a soft white-blue variegated silk that would have been amazing for snow and I totally forgot I owned it. Oh well!

That happens at times to all of us. I was hunting for a particular thread recently and discovered a small box full of all sorts of unusual floss which I had totally forgotten about.
I agree the variegated silk would have looked lovely for the snow but what you have there is lovely too. A good update

Yup, I think we've all been there! Fortunately the white version look suitably snowy and cold as well.

Your piece is looking beautiful and forgetting about stash you could have used is a fairly common trait, I think. This is looking lovely!

Carole