Best way to tackle a cross stitch pattern like this

Fiber & Textile Discussion and Questions
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Hi everyone,

I know there are some really great cross stitchers on the site and I was looking for some guidance.

I have a pair of deer patterns that I have had all of the floss for since 2015, because I wasn’t sure the best approach on how to tackle the pattern. It is a paid pattern, so I have include a snip of it, instead of the entire pattern.

There isn’t any solid coloured areas, the colours change and are all over the place. Most patterns I have completed have a solid component or small jumps between patterns. So this one has me a tad perplexed.
pattern excerpt

Any tips, tricks or resources would be greatly appreciated :slight_smile:

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Can you show the thread legend? I am betting that there are subtle differences in the colors for shading and highlighting. Many very realistic patterns I have done might have six or more shaded of one color, like brown, lt. brown, dk. brown, etc. I counted roughly 30 different colors in that small patch you gave! WOW…that is pretty intense stitching.

Can you show a tiny bit of the finished piece – the picture of the finished piece?

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I would make a thread card from a piece of scrap cardboard like those that come with kits, to avoid getting thread colours mixed up. And maybe thread several needles at a time so you can quickly go from one colour to the next. For the pattern, maybe make a copy so you can cross off the bits you’ve stitched so you don’t lose track of where you are on the pattern. That’s all I can think of, I don’t think I’ve ever stitched anything as complicated as this.

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All great tips! I thread several needles with thread when I have large areas to fill. Saves a lot of time and frustration of constantly stopping to thread.

I also make copies of my pattern so I can use a marker to cross off places.

I admire those huge, complicated pieces, but I am more apt to do simple patterns with very little backstitching. It will be interesting to see this piece, @CoffeeBeans !

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Thanks @AIMR - They are both great suggestions.

This is the thread legend.

Thread legend
Thread legend657×878 67.2 KB

And the completed picture.

Ophelia.PNG
Ophelia.PNG646×833 109 KB

I have posted a different deer cross-stitch piece previously. I really like woodland creatures and deer, even though they are a pest in Australia :rofl:

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It is gorgeous! I can see why there are so many colors now…wow…One good thing is that with so many colors, if you do make small mistakes, they will blend in.

I can see that the pattern piece you posted is part of the antlers…and yes, it looks like there is every color in it…just beautiful!

Deer are a problem here as well…we have built so much on their forest that they have nowhere to go except in the yards of our housing areas. Fortunately, we are at the base of a heavily treed mountain so they have lots of room, but I still wake up to see them foraging in the yard. It is unlawful to feed them or harm them in anyway. The best we can do is plant deer resistant plants and bushes.

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This is what I do as well! I loathe having to rethread a needle after only a few stitches, so I thread several needles and make sure their flosses are out of my way while I work with a different needle- so that I don’t accidentally catch something on the back in a place where I don’t want it to be. If that makes sense.

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Totally! I often leave my needles and thread dangling or secure them on the back and then pick up with the color I need…It sure beats tying a bunch of knots and rethreading over and over! Not sure with this pattern if you can leave 28 or more colors dangling…ha ha…this is a very challenging pattern, but the results are stunning!

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