Day 3 - Babylon 5 Chalkboard Cross-Stitch Pattern

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Instructions
Materials

• Black 14-count Aida fabric.  (Finished design will be 5x7 inches.)


• White cross-stitch floss.  (One skein will be more than sufficient.)


• Size 24 tapestry needle.


• Hoop if desired.

Cross-Stitch How-To

• If you've never done cross-stitch before, it's not as daunting as it may look!  Here is a basic how-to guide.


• All Xs are two-ply cross-stitch.  All thick lines are two-ply backstitch.  The narrow lines inside the 5 are one-ply backstitch.  ("Babylon," "2258," and the border may be backstitched in one-ply if desired, for a more finished look.  I recently finished a different chalkboard cross-stitch and I thought it looked fine without the additional backstitching.)


• Small dots are french knots, two-ply, wrap once.  French knots are not necessary if you'd prefer to leave them out.


• Remember - don't knot your fabric in the back!  Always start new thread by running your needle under a few stitches on the back.


• It can be difficult to see the holes when stitching on black fabric.  Stitch under strong light, and put a white/light-colored piece of fabric or towel on your work surface or on your lap.


• The long diagonal lines are all stitched one of three ways.  The thread either goes: (1) from one corner to the other, (2) over two holes or up one (or over one and up two), (3) over three holes and up one (or over one and up three).  I personally hate backstitching on patterns where it's unclear which holes I'm actually supposed to be coming out of, so I made sure to make it as clear as possible.  Long straight lines will maintain the same ratio throughout; for example, under "Babylon," it's all over-three down-one.  So if you're having trouble seeing, look at where the start and end points are, determine one ratio, and continue throughout.

Pattern

• Full-size enormous version here.

Finishing

• Hand wash in cool water with a few drops of dishwashing soap.  (I just use a big mixing bowl.)  Rinse.  Lay flat on a towel and roll towel up - do not wring out fabric.


• Lay face-down on a clean, dry towel.  Press gently with a hot iron, being careful not to scorch the fabric.  (Quick, light sweeps, always starting from the center.)  If you don't have an iron, you can leave the fabric to air dry overnight.  The ironing will "pop" the stitches on the front, making them fuller.


• Washing and ironing can be skipped since this is on black fabric, and any slight stains from the oils in your skin will be much less visible.  I would recommend pressing the fabric under something heavy, just to get the wrinkles out, if you choose not to wash and iron.


• Piece can be framed or displayed in a wooden embroidery hoop.  If the latter, make sure you leave your fabric large enough for your desired hoop.  Finishing instructions for both framing and displaying inside a hoop can be found online.

Variations

• Black fabric and white thread will give you the chalkboard look.  Another dark fabric can be substituted if desired - Aida can be found in a variety of colors.  Dark green or blue would look very nice.  White fabric and black thread is also an option, as is white fabric and colored thread, either monochrome or not.  Feel free to stitch however you like!


• Different size fabric may be used - 16 or 18 count Aida, or evenweave - but the final dimensions will be different.

If something isn't clear in the pattern, please let me know!

Comments

[alexcat.livejournal.com]

I haven't done any cross stitch in 30 years but I may try this one!!

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm like a cross-stitch proselytizer; I think it's a perfect craft.

[muccamukk]

This is such a neat design. I kind of want to do it in bight colours and make it like a neon sign for a jazz bar.

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Ooo, that would be really neat - bright bright colors would pop against black fabric for sure.

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

Lovely. :)

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[ghanimasun]

Did you design this yourself? It looks very cool. I'd love to see a finished version as I know nothing about these types of crafts!

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

I did, though I based the basic proportions and borrowed some of the fonts from a coffee chalkboard cross-stitch I recently did. I do plan to stitch it up at some point, though I have a couple cross-stitches to finish first before I start a new project, so it will probably be awhile.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Very shiny! Lovely to see more b5 craft and more fandom embroidery!

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I usually just do fanfic or icons/graphics for these sorts of things, so I wanted to do something a little different for a change.

[avidbeader.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this is giving me ideas. I need to buy some graph paper...

[jacquelee]

Wow, this is really awesome! I've never done any cross stitching, though I occasionally do some half cross stitching.

[ruuger]

Wow, this is awesome. It makes me want to go and try to find all my old cross stiching gear :)