#understitch

Here is my pattern - I opened it up in paint.net (well, created and refined it there from sprite sheets I downloaded) and turned on the pixel grid.

I’m using 14 count Aida cloth, which means there are 14 little holes every inch. It seems to be the standard. Here, I’m realizing very quickly that the white stitches don’t show up very well, and truncate my plan of drawing all of him to just drawing his head, and buying some black aida cloth for a bigger project later.

Eye see you!

He basically has a face at this point!

Smile for the camera!

His face is done! Well, I hadn’t yet stitched in the white for his lower teeth and jawbone....

Finally finished his scarf! Also messed up slightly, but only I know where~ ...I adjusted for it, since it was a pretty small issue. This is just my first project, after all... some mistakes are to be expected. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. All the white and black are finally done! Now for his scarf!

Wow that red was vibrant! I picked the brightest, most vivid red I could find. Nothing less than the most vivacious colors for the Great Papyrus!

And he’s finished!!!!!!!! He sat like this for quite a while as I struggled to figure out how to display him...

But I cut him out and prepared to wash him. I made him way too close to the top of the fabric ^^;;

My mom helped with this part! She has the most beautiful cross-stitch I’ve ever seen - I thought they were professional stuff, bought for a high price in stores until now, but no! She made them all herself!

-quick interlude with one of her pieces- -future goals-

I eventually decided on a cheap and easy way to frame him for a, well, photo frame. I used a piece of cardboard (chipboard, really) with a white back as a solid frame. This is not a lasting solution - I’m pretty sure the acid from the cardboard will sink into the thread and slowly die it with age. However, this isn’t exactly a piece I’ll be passing to my grandkids (somewhat hampered by my lack of plans for marriage and or kids), so I decided it would suffice for my first piece : )

And it did!