Project Completed!

[bk_forever]

I've been working on this for a couple of weeks, charting the design before stitching it, and I'm rather pleased with the result. The coffee cup motif is from Cross Stitcher Issue 262 and the main alphabet is from Issue 265. I designed the border myself. I plan to stitch it again, but with a wider border to fit in a frame I bought.

Here's the completed stitching...






Reverse View - I'm pleased with how tidy it is.






And here's the finished product. I was going to fringe the edges, but that just didn't seem right for Ianto. He's always so precise and neat, so I left it.

It was supposed to be stitched on 18 count, but I think I ended up using 16 count by accident, lol!

Comments

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Very nice! It's been a long time since I stitched anything. In fact, I still have an unfinished product because in the meantime I seriously fell out with the actor on the picture...

What exactly does 16 count / 18 count mean? Is it now smaller or bigger because of this?

[bk_forever]

The count is the number of holes per inch so 18 count has 18 holes per inch and 16 count has 16 holes per inch, so the project is a bit bigger than I originally intended. Also, I was only using one strand of thread because I stitch faster that way, so the fabric shows through more than it would have using 18 count. Still, I'm pleased, I think the design turned out quite well.

Thank you. I hope you get inspired to stitch again at some point, it's a very enjoyable hobby.

[lexxiescott]

Oh, that turned out so awesome!!! I love it. *grins* Very much in Ianto's style. I'll keep my eyes open in November and snap a picture if I can find it.

Beautiful. :)

[bk_forever]

Thank you! I just finished it this afternoon and was so pleased I just had to get the pictures posted right away. Now I want to design a wider border and stitch it again. I bought a very nice frame for it.

Tomorrow I must get back to writing, if I can get my brain in gear.

[iantojjackh.livejournal.com]

That is so pretty. Is that what you are sending to Ianto's Shrine?

[bk_forever]

That's the plan, if you and timelordshines don't mind taking it. I'd really appreciate it as I know I'll never get there myself.

Thank you. I'm very pleased with the result!

[iolo1234.livejournal.com]

This is beautifaully done.
K
xx

[bk_forever]

Thank you, I had fun doing it. I designed one border but it was too fussy so I threw it out and created something simpler and more classy. I think it works well.

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

How lovely. I definitely think Ianto would prefer neat edges. It's so pretty!

[bk_forever]

Thank you. Yes, I think the neat edges are just more Ianto-ish, fraying them would have spoiled the effect.

[katwillow.livejournal.com]

I am very impressed with your tidiness.

That in itself is an achievement (and the whole thing is just adorable)

[bk_forever]

It's a lot easier to be tidy when working with one thread - I tend to get a bit messy with two! I wanted the back as neat as I could get it so that it would lay flat and threads wouldn't show through too much. It took a little extra care and time, but I think it was worth it.

Thank you. It took a while to find a coffee cup design that would work, I needed something small, but this one was just perfect. I'm so pleased with the result, it's turned out even better than I'd hoped.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

That is lovely, just lovely. You did a fantastic job. It's homey, neat and tidy--I know Ianto would approve.

I see from the other comments its for the shrine--that's awesome! One thing I noticed when I was there was it's pretty open to the elements--there's not much ledge overhanging the wall that people affix things to. Have you considered putting it in some sort of plastic cover to protect it? It will last a lot longer that way. :)

[bk_forever]

Got that all covered - literally - I bought a plastic cover for it last week, before the stitching was anywhere near finished, all I have to do is seal it in, but I photographed it first because of flash reflection. The cover's a little bigger than the finished piece, but I don't think that matters. It'll proect it for a while anyway, it's a strong one. Just need to use some waterproof tape to seal the open end.

Thank you, I'm glad you think so. Ianto's approval is important!

I'm happy with the result and I'll enjoy stitching it again for myself =)

[kul-breez.livejournal.com]

This is really great!

[bk_forever]

Thank you! I had fun charting it and I was really pleased with the way the border looks.

[totally4ryo.livejournal.com]

That's gorgeous! I take it that you designed the pattern?

This is inspiring me to do something like this.
It also reminds me that I have so many cross stitch projects I need to finally finish, including one of the TARDIS.

It also reminds me that I really need to finally finish something for the Shrine.

[bk_forever]

Thankyou.

Yes, aside from using coffee cup motifs and an alphabet from magazines, I designed it - the border is all my own work - and charted the design before stitching it. I wanted something classy and I think I suceeded, I'm pleased with the result.

Yay for inspiring you to get back to some stitching!

I just need to finish this by sealing it inside its plastic cover and find some way to make it easy for timelordshines and iantojjackh to fix it to the shrine, then get it sent in time for their trip!

[blossomlegs.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! Much time and talent!

[bk_forever]

Thank you, I'm rather pleased with the finished article. It didn't take too long to stitch though, the most time consuming part was backstitching around the border.

[too-beauty.livejournal.com]

OMG! that is awesome and as neat as our Ianto!!!!

[bk_forever]

Well, it had to be neat so that Ianto would approve! I needed to do my best work in his honour =)

Thank you, glad you like it!

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful you are very talented.

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

Cross stitching is really easy, the holes are already there, you just have to follow a chart. I'm useless at any other kind of sewing. o_O

[milady-dragon.livejournal.com]

I love this! It's beautiful and all the work you put into it...just lovely.

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

I hope Ianto and Jack approve.

I enjoyed the challenge, especially designing a border for it as it wasn't originally going to have one. I just thought it needed something else.

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

That really turned out beautiful, I love it, the motive fits Ianto perfectly! :)

[bk_forever]

Thank you! I searched through a lot of magazines to find a suitable coffee cup motif to use, I knew I wanted that for Ianto. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. Now I just need to add the finishing touches and send it to my friend who is taking it to Ianto's Shrine in Cardiff for me. I've been wanting to do something to hang there since it started, but I never had a way of getting something there until now.

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

This looks gorgeous!
Can't wait to see it in person. :-)
We will make sure we find a good spot to hang it where everyone can see it. I will take lots of photos of it in situ and send them to you of course. If you want photos of anything else Torchwood related, let us know :-)

[bk_forever]

I will, thank you so much! *hugs*

Just got to finish sealing it into its cover, then get it packed for posting. Should have done that today, but I've been writing instead =S

[daniforblue.livejournal.com]

Better late than never. ;)

Amazing work. Your skills always impress me.

[bk_forever]

Thank you! *hugs* I was really pleased with the result. A friend of mine will be taking it to Ianto's shrine for me in a couple of weeks. Then I'll have to stitch it again for myself.

[jsks.livejournal.com]

That is beautiful.

[bk_forever]

Thank you! It's hanging on Ianto's shrine in Cardiff now =D