Monday, July 9, 2012

Americana Bigfoot



Hey there, do you remember this?


That's the Bigfoot piece I started for my husband almost two years ago. I put it down shortly after I started it, and didn't pick it up for two years. Oops. But there is good news! This stitchy story has a happy ending. I finished Bigfoot!

Bigfoot Embroidery Sampler Pattern by Badbird

I have dubbed him "Americana Bigfoot" because of the color scheme I used. It wasn't planned, mind you. I had stitched Bigfoot's head & face, and had outlined the banner as well, when I decided that I wanted to fill in the letters with a nice, bright red.


It's hard to tell in this picture since it's a mega close-up shot, but that is some tiny satin stitching right there, my friends. Oh my. Anywho, I decided that halfway through the "G" was a good time to ask my husband what his favorite color was. I hadn't chosen any colors for the flowers yet, and thought it might be nice to make them a hue that was husband-approved. After all, I was making this for him.

"What's your favorite color?" I asked.

"Blue."

"Blue? What shade of blue?"

"Uh, blue."

Grrr. "What shade of blue?" I repeated, hoping for aqua, my favorite color, but knowing better. "Sky blue? Aqua blue? Navy blue? Royal blue?"

"Dark blue. Navy, I guess."

Oh. Bleh. Of all the blues, that is my least favorite. But I wasn't making this piece for myself. At least navy blue would look good with the half-completed red lettering, which I was NOT going to frog, even if his favorite color clashed with it. And that's when it occurred to me that I could make an American Bigfoot. Red, white, and blue flowers would be perfect.


They turned out well, I think. :) But my favorite part of the piece is this star:
 

I love this detail, and it was so easy to do. I simply stitched the stars (there are two, one on each side of the banner) with long, straight stitches of navy blue (six strands of floss, maybe even eight, I don't quite recall), and then went over them with one strand of red.


Don't judge my French knots too harshly, please. I did them in the car on the way to visit my in-laws in California. That was not easy! Oh my gosh! I do not recommend doing French knots when you're in the car, traveling 75mph. But I was determined to have this piece done by Father's Day--which was the following day. Talk about a time crunch!


Those eyes...they make me shudder a little...they're so cold and beady....

If you are familiar with this pattern, you may have noticed that I didn't stitch it in its entirety. I left off portions of the top and bottom. I had my reasons when I transferred the pattern, but I don't remember them now, two years later. Who knows? No matter, though, for I am just happy to be done with this project. I was feeling pretty guilty whenever I'd walk past my WIP pile and see Bigfoot there, collecting dust.

6 comments:

Julie said...

It looks so good! I love the red satin stitching. :)

giddy99 said...

He looks awesome!

Anonymous said...

It looks great! Can you tell me how you keep your fabric taut while you're stitching? Thanks!

Kristi said...

Thanks, all!

Anonymous--I use Q-snap frames. I love them and I have one in every size! :)

Q-snap frames

SewAmy said...

He looks great. I think the conversation with your husband about the color blue is a Hoot!

Suburban Stitcher said...

that's fabulous! ;)