Sorry for the crappy video screengrab, but this is already back in the q-snap now and as per usual I forgot to take proper photos first…

Anyway! This is my project Autumn Stories, based on art by Marine Loup and available from Paine Free Crafts either as a kit or just the PDF. I’ve been stitching on it for about a year and a half I think, and have just recently hit the 25% mark according to Pattern Keeper! Pattern image below for reference:

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Posting this today partly because we might have new people finding us from the Reddit migration in which case hello newbies! But also because before I started this, full coverage terrified me, but in reality not only is it no more difficult than regular cross stitch it’s actually extremely relaxing and satisfying too.

So if you’ve ever found yourself eyeing up a full coverage project, I hereby enable you to go for it!

In fact this technically isn’t cross stitch. I’m super cheap and realised that if I stitched it all in tent stitch over 1 on 28ct, I could use half the floss and be done in half the time as compared to full cross stitch over 2! It’s obviously going to turn out half the size but I love it so far, consider that a lifeprotip lol.

Since it was my first time I’ve still not really settled on a technique. Tried working in the 10x10 blocks and parking, tried doing cross country one pattern page at a time, now I’m doing a sort of weird hybrid. Basically making it up as I go.

Do you have any long term full coverage projects to share? What’s your favourite technique for approaching them? Any tips for recovering emotionally after 3 months of stitching solid beigey background?

  • Boz (he/him)
    2•1 year ago

    I love the colors, and your work is so tidy! I hope you share again when it’s done, I’m sure it’ll be awesome.

    Sadly, I have no tips for recovering from excessive beige. I would probably expire if I had to spend three months on solid beige.

    • @thegiddystitcher@lemm.eeOPM
      1•1 year ago

      Thank you! It was the colours that drew me to this pattern in the first place, I’m a sucker for Autumn. Did consider just leaving the background off entirely and stitching just the middle bit but it’s honestly been a lot less tedious than it sounds. Every couple of weeks I got to do a few stitches in a shade of light brown instead 😂

      • Boz (he/him)
        1•1 year ago

        I suppose stitches in beige feel about like stitches in other colors, I’m glad you’re okay. What would get me in the long run is trying to see beige stitches on white/cream background well enough not to mess up. I am prone to eyestrain, so I always regret it if I go too subtle.