Expert: Angela - 6/9/2007

Question
Hello Angela!

First of all, let me congratulate you on all of your excellent advice! I have pleasantly enjoyed reading many of your answers to different questions in cross stitching, and expanding my knowledge on the subject.

My problem is the following… I have a beautiful pattern from a kit I bought a long time ago. I finished it and it’s absolutely adorable! (It’s a teddy bear sitting on a moon with stars, a baby theme). Since my sister is pregnant, I want to do this same pattern but much bigger, for a quilt (mixed: cross-stitched pattern in the middle and patchwork and quilting as a frame) for my future godson (daughter).

The original design is 60 stitches wide x 70 stitches long, for a finished size of 4.3 x 5in (5 x 7in frame size) done on a 14 count Aida fabric.

I used a handy calculator I found, and determined that if I tripled the stitches count (180 x 210) using the same fabric count, I would get approximately the right size for my quilt design.
This was my first idea, and I thought I would just simply take one square of the pattern (equivalent to one cross stitch) and make it into 3 x 3 cross stitches (like this)

           xxx
x  -->   xxx
           xxx

But then, analyzing it a little further, I realized that by expanding the “unit value” of the pattern I would have lots more horizontal and vertical lines that I could possibly use in my favor to round up the design. By rounding up I mean, making it look curvier. It is quite inevitable to have some figures come out square looking in cross stitching. And the bigger the pattern (the more stitches it has) the more possibilities you have to create a gracious looking curve. And even more so in this particular patter, that has a moon!!!

So the other possibilities I’m considering are:

* Trying to find a smaller count fabric (which would give me bigger stitches), and I could end up reducing my enlarged patter to double instead of triple. [this option is quite difficult in my country, finding decent Aida fabric is difficult to start with, so options in counts are almost out of the question]
* Using 3x3 stitches with the same 14 count Aida fabric. (Using three fabric squares for one cross stitch) and just leaving it “as is”.
* Taking a rather large piece of graph paper and transfer the patter to the 3x3 enlarged pattern, and fix the square figures into more curvy ones (this is my last and desperate option, because of how much time it would actually take me to fill up and fix a 180x210 pattern plus my inexperience with drawing or “fixing” patterns)


Any suggestions are immensely appreciated. It’s my first niece (or nephew) and I’m very excited. I have a little experience in cross stitching, but I’m very eager to learn and have lots of love to put into this project.


PS: please excuse any syntax and/or grammar errors. My English is very rusty and in dyer need of practice.

Sincerely
Dani Marcano
Merida - Venezuela


Answer
Hello, Dani ;)

First of all... CONGRATULATIONS on becoming an Aunt. :)

Unfortunately, I've had no experience with enlarging patterns, so I'm not sure if I'd be of any help to you on this one.

The only thing I can suggest is try to stitch over 3 threads of the 14 count Aida for a few rows, and see what the results are.  IF your country sells 11 count Aida, you COULD always try that, but I'm not sure if you'll get the size you're looking for.  You may try your own ideas (they all seem to be pretty good ones), and see if any of them will work.  That appears to be a rather large design that you're trying to accomplish.

I honestly don't know what to suggest on your question.  I only hope that one of your ideas will be the correct on enabling you to achieve the results you're looking for.

Please keep me informed on this as I'd like to know which method you chose for your idea. :)

Good luck, and happy stitching! :)

Sincerely,

Angela :)