Well, Fran, if my assumption is correct, you would cover the entire fabric with stitches. So the "top part" would then become light yellow. Cute pattern, but a lot of work. Good luck.

There are several ladies that custom hand-dye fabrics. You tell them what you need and they would dye the fabric for you- so top and bottom would be different colours, and you would not have to stitch the entire background. One I hear good things about is: stephsfabbys.com Good luck !

I would not suggest a colored fabric, since a little of the color shows through the stitching.

I agree with JHewes. I would get ivory, bone or beige color fabric and stitch the blue part which is less and don't have to stitch around anything, than the yellow part. Cute pattern.

I have the pattern but have never had the nerve to try it. You buy the fabric that they tell you on the pattern. Then it tells you on the pattern how to bleach the top part to change it from blue to ivory. The instructions are all there. I think the recommendations from the experts above are very good though and if you change the fabric you will need to use one of them. Would really like to know how it turns out if you get the pattern. There is a picture of it finished, using the fabric called for and bleached, on the website of one of the other companies that sell cross stitch supplies and it is quite beautiful.

I have a problem with chlorine, even in cleanser, so I'd never try it. Seems weird too, since there's so little blue. However, Aida is inexpensive & you wouldn't be out much if the job failed.

Never knew that they would tell you how to bleach the fabric to make it like that. That's incredible! I would, too, like to know how that turns out.

I stitched this piece & it is beautiful. I did it on 28 ct. linen, Luguana in a cream color. I think it shows better on a light color.
Why do you want to do it on a darker color?