Stitching letters
I am making this for my mother in law as a christmas present as she had just lost her cocker spaniel earlier this year to old age. I already have the pattern but have yet to buy the fabric and supplies. I would like to stitch out the name of her dog at the bottom as a memorial.

How much extra room should I leave on the fabric for the name? The dogs name is Taffy if that helps.
Posted by: hodgeymegan on 09/06/15
It will depend on the alphabet font that you choose. How large do you want the letters to be? Start 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the bottom of the stitching and then add the height of your letters.

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by: NANCYE G on 09/06/15
I will be doing this on 14 count white aida and I don't plan on it being fancy or anything, as I've never added anything additional to my cross stitches before (This is the first pattern I'm attempting, I've always only done kits, but couldn't resist this one as it looks just like her dog). I think just standard block lettering is what I'm going for, unless I can find something else that catches my eye.

Thanks for the measurements, as that was mainly what I was unsure of, didn't want it to look to scrunched together.
by: hodgeymegan on 09/06/15
Megan it isn't the count of your fabric you have to measure. It is the size of the letters you choose. Do you have a leaflet with cross stitch alphabets?

GOOGLE - "free cross stitch alphabets" You will get a gazillion choices of different styles. Use graph paper to spell out the name TAFFY. Try a couple of different styles. Decide which one you like best. If you choose a style that is 7 stitches high -- that will add an additional 1/2" to your piece.

If you don't have graph paper GOOGLE --"free graph paper" and you are on your way
by: NANCYE G on 09/06/15
Thanks so much! I'm going with the madrid style I found on stitchpoint.com. I can't wait to get started and see my mother-in-laws face when she sees the framed memorial christmas morning.
by: hodgeymegan on 09/06/15
Be patient. This is not sn easy pattern with all the blacks. Christmas? MAYBE. She'll love it whenever.
by: jlhewes on 09/07/15
YIKES -- that is a lot of black. Description says that the pattern uses 20 different flosses! You should probably grid your fabric before you start. It will make it easier for you to stay on track.
by: NANCYE G on 09/07/15
I've never gridded before. As i mentioned usually I do kits but couldn't resist with this one. How would I grid the fabric?
by: hodgeymegan on 09/08/15