OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: by Passione Ricamo (Laura Lattuda)
• Materials: Porcelein Belfast linen by Silkweaver, DMC, Petite Treasure braid, Mill Hill beads
• Size: 17.2 x 15.2 inches
• Time to stitch: 27 days since January 2021

Presenting a bucket list piece, finished!  

I’d had this pattern in my stash for ages, I just loved the fairy on the grassy knoll, enjoying the sunrise.  I too appreciate a mountain sunrise, and have been able to revel in it a few times, like in Hawaii.  How awesome it would be to flit up the mountain on majestic wings like hers.  The pattern is huge, with amazing detail, quite a lot of backstitching, and plenty of beads.  The chart pack is put together very well, with certain sections blown up, some shown in color, while the big chart is black and white.  Those blown up sections were very helpful since the backstitching hid some of the symbols for the face.  

Her face is just lovely, tipped up to bask in the sun and smell the roses.  She has a tiara, tattoos, gorgeous hair, and the most amazing ball gown.  The design has a great sense of perspective, too, with the mountains in the background.  

The fabric is a very faint pink.  She fits on a FQ of 32 count fabric, with not much to spare.  There are a number of fractional stitches, so evenweave fabric works best.  Quite a few DMC colors are used, around 4 dozen.  Also there is extensive stitching in 6 colors of petite treasure braid, though one is used only for backstitching. The abstract floral pattern all over her dress is backstitched in royal blue PTB, and that was a bit of a challenge, with some of it piercing the middle of stitches, most of it landing halfway on the side of the stitch.  But then, it is quite intricate, I suppose it wasn’t possible to design it otherwise.  Most of the other backstitching, like the tattoos, was easier, landing in the corner of stitches.  So there are 5 colors of backstitch, and 2 colors of beads (ice and crystal blue).  Per the chart directions, I mixed the beads together in a small dish and attached them at random, though I tried not to do more than 2 or 3 of the same, consecutively.    

My favorite aspect of this design is possibly her tattoos (I mean, how often do you see tattoos in cross stitch?), or maybe her fabulous dress.  The blue tones are so pretty and the beads add a nice sparkle, as does the hem in silver petite treasure braid.  The wings are so detailed, with several layers, the veining, and lots of sparkle from the white, 2 purples, and gold petite treasure braids.  This project is truly art, IMO, and I look forward to stitching more by Passione Ricamo.