This announcement has been a long time coming…

Like a loooooooooooooooooong time coming. Who would have figured that a global pandemic could effect someones creative mojo? And there was some additional little things like moving house and decorating that took up their fair share of time.

But I am so excited to tell you all that a brand new Stitch Your Own Adventure is finally coming to Cunning Cross Stitch!

Some of you may be wondering what the heck is a Stitch Your Own Adventure, and if you didn’t take part in the last one (sorry this isn’t available any more), then you may want to check out the explanation post I wrote at that time. You’ll also want to download all the files now before it leaves the website ahead of the next SYOA starting.

The basic idea is that you mash together a Stitchalong and a Choose Your Own Adventure book until you get a fun deep dive adventure into a fandom where the final piece will be uniquely yours!

Schedule

All times will be 00:05am (five minutes after midnight) in Britain

Supply List – NOW!! (keep reading below)

SYOA Letters from Hogwarts leaves the website – 31st August 2023

Introduction – 1st Sept 2023

Chapter 1 – 31st Dec 2023

Chapter 2 – 1st March 2024

Chapter 3 – 1st May 2024

Chapter 4 – 1st July 2024

Chapter 5 – 1st Sept 2024

Chapter 6 – 1st Nov 2024

Like last time, the Chapters will be released every TWO months, this is to give you time to get stuff together, get things planned, and actually stitch. The months in between will have a Behind the Scenes post, which will give you a peak into the design process, a look at my concept sketches, fun little geeky references I was particularly proud of… and it will feature a gallery of your stitching!

The Stitch Your Own Adventure is fandom related, which means that it will be entirely free to download. Like last time, which fandom it is will be revealed when the Introduction is released! Do you all have any guesses as to what it could be?

Floss

A floss list for a Stitch Your Own Adventure isn’t straight forward.

Normally in a stitchalong, everyone is stitching the same thing, so a clear floss list can be provided at the start, you can buy that and know that you have everything that you need. In a Stitch Your Own Adventure, every instalment you will pick from different backgrounds and drop in elements. Some colours will be mandatory (they appear in the frame, or in all the background options for that chapter), and some will be optional (they only appear in some of the backgrounds or drop in elements).

It also means that the quantities needed for each colour of floss will vary, depending on what options you pick.

When you look at the list, it will be daunting. There is a lot of floss on there, but a lot of it is optional elements. I have given a breakdown of which colours are mandatory/optional for each instalment. So if you need to spread the cost of this project, then you will better know when you can hold off on buy certain colours.

Fabric

Size

The dimensions of the piece will be the same as the previous Stitch Your Own Adventure.

250 stitches x 250 stitches

Here is a link to a Cross Stitch Calculator if you need a hand figuring out the stitch count to physical dimensions conversion.

Type

Due to fractional stitches, it is recommended that you use an evenweave type fabric, such as a linen or lugana, but if you’re set against evenweave you can use aida (just be prepared with a sharp needle to help with the fractionals and to curse my very name).

Colour

It’s recommended that you go for a light, neutral colour of fabric.

Avoid dark or bright fabrics, especially greens or reds.

Difficulty Rating: ADVANCED

Make sure that you would be comfortable with the following:

• A large project
• fractional stitches
• working with multiple patterns
• planning ahead
• backstitching with multiple thread counts
• blends

Beginners are advised to save the patterns to stitch at a later date once they are more comfortable with these methods…

… or just ignore that and drive right in, I’m not going to stop you, but I will wish you luck

Gridding

The pattern is about as grid friendly as I can make it. All backgrounds and the drop in elements will have the major grid lines in the same place, but each individual pattern will have it’s own numbering. I have made sure to include elements of the border/frame in ALL the chapters main patterns to help you place them correctly.

Gridding for the middle part of the Introduction/Frame pattern in highly recommended (even if just the centre lines – This will make more sense when you see the pattern).

Pattern Trackers

I know that pattern trackers are popular among many of you. The shear number of pattern files (we are talking HUNDREDS) and the story sections of this project means that the files as they are supplied will NOT be compatible with pattern tracking programs such as Pattern Keeper.

If you NEED to use it, the files are a standard pdf, and you can chop it down to just the section of pattern that you can plug into your program. You can do this for your own personal use, but DO NOT REDISTRIBUTE RE-EDITED FILES.

Going Off Pattern/ Going Your Own Way

So, you fancy yourself an adventurer and want to wander off-pattern, or an option you wanted wasn’t included in my patterns and you just HAVE to include it? Here’s some things to keep in mind:

• This is YOUR project: Keeping to the pattern, or going off pattern, that is up to you. You’re the one that lives with the final piece, not me. Whichever path you tread, your own or what I designed, it is valid (I had people saying last time they felt theirs was “less valid” because they stuck to my patterns rather than going off-pattern, which is heart breaking).
• Don’t get ahead of the project: You’re excited, I get that, but don’t go throwing everything in before the whole project is released, you don’t know what is coming. If you need to, leave a space blank for a while until you see what I have planned for you.
• Source Ethically: If you’re going to use another artists work, then make sure you source their patterns ethically. Some websites (such as pinterest) are rife with stolen artwork, so avoid them. Also, credit them (and me) when you share pictures of your stitching.
• Share Ethically: Goes hand in hand with the last point. If people like your unique customization, most likely they will ask for the pattern. If you designed it, it’s up to you if/how you share it. But if you didn’t design it, point them to the original source rather than redistributing their pattern.
• Be kind: If you’re wanting to replace an element I designed because it’s not for you, you’re welcome to do so, just don’t bad mouth my original design in the process. This isn’t just for me (I mean, it sucks to work on something for years for people to say they hate it [glares at hogwarts castle]), but mainly for the people that DO stick to the original pattern. They shouldn’t be made to feel like their piece is lesser because they stuck to my design.

Fandom

Not yet…

These patterns are released for free, and have been designed as a homage to the original works. All rights remain with their respective owners. People have asked me how they could show some appreciation for the time/effort involved, for which I have set up a ko-fi account. This is entirely voluntary, and much appreciated.