As it is an all over pattern using a coloured cloth would probably be a waste as it will not be seen unless you are not going to stitch the background and are going to try and just stitch the shading behind the lady. Just another stitcher.

Jclifford!!! Good to see you! What have you been up to?

I think stitching the main design onto a lovely color fabric would be perfection! 😊. Mystic Stitch is usually full stitches only, but, if you think it needs the light highlight in the background, you might half-stitch it in a light silvery white. But using a color fabric would certainly eliminate the need for the whole background.

Hi jclifford!
Good to see you back! It sounds like you are considering just stitching the geisha and letting the ‘Twilight Mist’ or ‘Dense Fog’ fabric be the background color so you don’t have to cross Stitch the entire background. I think that would be beautiful! VCESS has a good idea about doing the lighter background area near her body in a half stitch if you desire. The decision is yours and you the artist would know the best.
The only suggestion tidbit I have( not that you asked) is:
to make sure you “test stitch” before you start with the white? Light cream? Floss
That is part of her gown’s neck area and the pale inner area of the lower right side of her gown so you don’t get ‘see-through’ of the Twilight Mist or Dense Fog Fabric in those areas.
I’ve been on a “avoid fabric see through because of not using enough strands of floss for good coverage” kick lately...VCESS is one of many witnesses to this.....

I just think the concern depends on the project, Bermuda...but some of the newbies take it too seriously and worry about it! Drive themselves nuts over it. Drive us nuts worrying about it! Relax for needle's sake! 😊 Enjoy your project! Be proud of what you accomplish! Don't worry about stitching to someone else's standards! 😊

OK, I will stick my two cents worth in here and say that the effect won't be the same without the stitched background. That beautiful background makes the whole picture come alive. Best wishes and happy stitching however you choose to finish it. Karen

Hello ladies! I haven't been on here in a long time. 2 years to be exact! I had breast cancer 2 years ago with chemo and radiation (to include breast surgery). I'm cancer free for now! Yay! 6 weeks ago, I had total knee replacement and am back at work - all is good.

I thought being out of work and recovering from cancer, I would be able to stitch my little heart out! Oh no, the chemo wiped me out! I had no strength or desire to do anything but sleep. I couldn't even eat! You would think I would lose all kinds of weight, but no, I only lost 12 pounds.
With the knee replacement, I was out 3 weeks, but 1 full week, I was on wonderful mind blowing drugs that I couldn't have held a needle if my life depended on it! But I've been stitching away now. I have so many projects to do and I'm doing my hardest to get to all of them, but I just keep buy more patterns.

I'm glad to be back and I've been going through the chit chat to see what I've been missing.

Welcome back glad to hear you are now cancer free YAY!!! back on your feet after the knee replacement and now back to stitching again! I do the same thing when it comes to buying patterns. I see something I like think yep great winter project and then I never seem to get to it or get it done, then it goes into the stash and then forget about it. Since we moved I am trying hard to not buy as much as I used to and to start working on my stash. I have gotten 2 done this year from it and working on 3 WIPS now. I hope you get to enjoy more stitching now that you are doing better. The hot pattern it seems that exploded onto the seen called is called Boo Butterfly. I have never seen a pattern get as much attention as this one. Good luck and just keep stitching.

Welcome back, jclifford! I am a relative newbie here, having found this chat board about a month or so ago. I am also a BC survivor, 35 years, and I know how chemo can really wipe you out. I did not have radiation nor lose weight on chemo, I gained it. Lots of it! I'm still trying to lose some of it.

I'm happy you are back to work and back to stitching! I don't know what I'd do without my stitching!

As to your question on stitching this beautiful project, I agree with Karen and definitely think the background should be stitched. I don't always feel that way and do a lot of projects without the background, but in this case, I think it highlights the window (or whatever that is). That being said, however, I also agree with VCESS. If you could find hand-dyed fabric with a light band running through it, I think you could totally eliminate stitching the background. This is really beautiful, it's going on my wish list.

Just glad to see you back and proud to know another SURVIVOR!!!! HURRAY!!! 😅