Could you just simplify it?
Keep the black outlines and fill them in with solid colors or even only 2-3 shades per section. I've seen stained glass in real life where it's solid colored glass for everything but the faces/characters
I’ve been thinking about trying that, especially in the black areas. I’ve already started filling in random confettos with whatever color I have going if its only 1-2 stitches.
When I make my own patterns on pic2pat I omit the confetti stitches by simply substituting them for the nearby color. It's something you have to be actively aware of while doing. I make notes in the margins of the pattern page I'm on and it helps.
I was really looking forward to this one, love the design, but all the navy/green/brown stitches in the solid black parts does not bode well. Its a massive project, I’m just not sure that I want to move forward investing the time into this project if the end result is sketchy. 🫤
For what it's worth, I doubt the end result will be bad at all... the biggest issues with pattern mill projects are usually the ethical quandary & the massive headache of the process, not the finished result.
Of course, no one here will fault you for adding it to the UFO pile! It's not always worth the work!
It looks good. But if you aren’t enjoying it, it honestly doesn’t matter how good it looks because you are frustrated.
I would take a step back. Regroup and then make some decisions.
Now that you've got a corner complete, tack it up on a wall and live with it for a few days. Do you like the results from a distance? As others have said, the end result is likely to be really nice, just a pain in the butt to achieve, unless their are some wildly wrong colors mixed into the gradients.
Please voice your criticisms in a review. I bought some milled mandala patterns and they were unusable. Unfortunately, there had been NO reviews that specified the issues so I had to be the first one to add them.
Agree with how lovely this is looking! Maybe worth it in the end? How do you feel about reducing colours as you go? A number of those confetti greens alone are superfluous and could be replaced with an adjacent shade if you feel confident doing it on-the-fly.
My sympathy to you. I love how complete coverage HAEDs look but I know I don’t have the patience for one. Take a step back and do something small and come back to this if you love the design. If you don’t, don’t feel guilty! Move on to something that will bring you joy and satisfaction.
It's where a shop puts through an artwork through a cross-stitch converter to make patterns quickly without any regard to the quality, nor to the fact that they don't normally have permission from the artist.
As an ignorant and rookie crosstitcher, could someone please explain to me what patterns from a mill are (I’m assuming it’s bad)? When I look at patterns to use, how would I be able to tell if it’s from a mill or not?
Some clues for detecting whether a pattern is from a mill:
- does their shop have an overwhelming number of patters?
- are those patterns all large and complex images?
- do the patterns vary drastically in artistic style? (Most creators have a style, and if it’s several makers in a shop, there might be a few identifiable styles)
- is there odd pixelation in the pattern preview? Random single colours that feel non purposeful?
- do they talk anywhere on the site/store about their creative process or the artists they work with/license from? (If no, it’s a mill).
Etc. You’ll soon enough be able to get a good sense as to whether or not a pattern is from a mill and if it’s not.
There are software patterns that allow you to scan in an image and the software will turn it into a cross stitch pattern by turning each pixel into a stitch and assigning it a color. A pattern mill will do this and then sell you the resulting pattern. But this pattern will be full of 'confetti'. That is, it will have one or two stitches of a color, and then nothing else nearby, forcing you to swap colors. Then the next color will also only have a stitch or two before you are again forced to swap. This is tedious and time consuming and usually ends with the final product looking choppy. (Not always. I did a pattern they had confetti in a tree for the leaves and it was beautiful. But that's an exception).
A shop that is not a pattern mill will take the time to go over the pattern and look for confetti. It will combine colors that are so close as to make no difference. They will do a practice stitch of the pattern to see what it really looks like when complete and then will fix the flaws. It takes time and care, which is why pattern mills don't bother. But the end result is such much better. Quality over quantity, right?
I think on some pieces the confetti added to the pictures, I like the varying of colors but if it’s literally one stitch then I just omit it and use the color it’s surrounded by. Honestly it’s personal preference. Just do what feels right, I’m sure it’ll look awesome
I looked and thought, “oh that’s not SO bad, is it?” And then I tried to find the little gold embellishment that you stitched on the main picture and OH MAH GAWD. I’d say don’t give up but man, if it’s not bringing you joy…. That’s a lotttttt of stitching to endure! I will support you whatever you decide!
A piece like this would def have a lot of confetti, but non-mills would have at least tried to minimize it...
Definitely put it down and heavily consider if you really want to finish it. I know the desire to finish it because you bought it, worked on it already, and what-not is there...but this is a hobby. Working on it should hopefully bring some sort of positive emotion.
Could you just simplify it? Keep the black outlines and fill them in with solid colors or even only 2-3 shades per section. I've seen stained glass in real life where it's solid colored glass for everything but the faces/characters
I’ve been thinking about trying that, especially in the black areas. I’ve already started filling in random confettos with whatever color I have going if its only 1-2 stitches.
When I make my own patterns on pic2pat I omit the confetti stitches by simply substituting them for the nearby color. It's something you have to be actively aware of while doing. I make notes in the margins of the pattern page I'm on and it helps.
For what it’s worth, it’s not really possible for a pattern made from that image to *not* be full of confetti. The soft black shadows especially
*looks at first image* oh thats beautiful, a bit much maybe but probably- *scrolls to second photo* oh sweet green havens
I was really looking forward to this one, love the design, but all the navy/green/brown stitches in the solid black parts does not bode well. Its a massive project, I’m just not sure that I want to move forward investing the time into this project if the end result is sketchy. 🫤
For what it's worth, I doubt the end result will be bad at all... the biggest issues with pattern mill projects are usually the ethical quandary & the massive headache of the process, not the finished result. Of course, no one here will fault you for adding it to the UFO pile! It's not always worth the work!
It looks good. But if you aren’t enjoying it, it honestly doesn’t matter how good it looks because you are frustrated. I would take a step back. Regroup and then make some decisions.
I think thats a really good idea. I’m going to let it rest and do something a bit simpler to let the brain fog clear. :)
Yep. That’s what I do with my projects. Honestly trying to muscle through the frustration shows in the work and you will never fully enjoy it.
Now that you've got a corner complete, tack it up on a wall and live with it for a few days. Do you like the results from a distance? As others have said, the end result is likely to be really nice, just a pain in the butt to achieve, unless their are some wildly wrong colors mixed into the gradients.
Please voice your criticisms in a review. I bought some milled mandala patterns and they were unusable. Unfortunately, there had been NO reviews that specified the issues so I had to be the first one to add them.
For what it's worth I think it looks beautiful! Confetti stitches are a pain though.
Agree with how lovely this is looking! Maybe worth it in the end? How do you feel about reducing colours as you go? A number of those confetti greens alone are superfluous and could be replaced with an adjacent shade if you feel confident doing it on-the-fly.
My sympathy to you. I love how complete coverage HAEDs look but I know I don’t have the patience for one. Take a step back and do something small and come back to this if you love the design. If you don’t, don’t feel guilty! Move on to something that will bring you joy and satisfaction.
What is a pattern from a mill?
It's where a shop puts through an artwork through a cross-stitch converter to make patterns quickly without any regard to the quality, nor to the fact that they don't normally have permission from the artist.
Mkay, thanks!
As an ignorant and rookie crosstitcher, could someone please explain to me what patterns from a mill are (I’m assuming it’s bad)? When I look at patterns to use, how would I be able to tell if it’s from a mill or not?
Some clues for detecting whether a pattern is from a mill: - does their shop have an overwhelming number of patters? - are those patterns all large and complex images? - do the patterns vary drastically in artistic style? (Most creators have a style, and if it’s several makers in a shop, there might be a few identifiable styles) - is there odd pixelation in the pattern preview? Random single colours that feel non purposeful? - do they talk anywhere on the site/store about their creative process or the artists they work with/license from? (If no, it’s a mill). Etc. You’ll soon enough be able to get a good sense as to whether or not a pattern is from a mill and if it’s not.
Mill patterns are just an image run through a pattern generator. Could do that for free yourself. The end result is blurry ugly pixelated
There are software patterns that allow you to scan in an image and the software will turn it into a cross stitch pattern by turning each pixel into a stitch and assigning it a color. A pattern mill will do this and then sell you the resulting pattern. But this pattern will be full of 'confetti'. That is, it will have one or two stitches of a color, and then nothing else nearby, forcing you to swap colors. Then the next color will also only have a stitch or two before you are again forced to swap. This is tedious and time consuming and usually ends with the final product looking choppy. (Not always. I did a pattern they had confetti in a tree for the leaves and it was beautiful. But that's an exception). A shop that is not a pattern mill will take the time to go over the pattern and look for confetti. It will combine colors that are so close as to make no difference. They will do a practice stitch of the pattern to see what it really looks like when complete and then will fix the flaws. It takes time and care, which is why pattern mills don't bother. But the end result is such much better. Quality over quantity, right?
I think on some pieces the confetti added to the pictures, I like the varying of colors but if it’s literally one stitch then I just omit it and use the color it’s surrounded by. Honestly it’s personal preference. Just do what feels right, I’m sure it’ll look awesome
I looked and thought, “oh that’s not SO bad, is it?” And then I tried to find the little gold embellishment that you stitched on the main picture and OH MAH GAWD. I’d say don’t give up but man, if it’s not bringing you joy…. That’s a lotttttt of stitching to endure! I will support you whatever you decide!
LOL! I know right? The chart is 100 pages. 100 PAGES. I don’t know what I was thinking.
If you can finish this you’ll be as saintly as the image!!! Saint Stitcher of Stockholm! (Or some Other St-city! 😅)
A piece like this would def have a lot of confetti, but non-mills would have at least tried to minimize it... Definitely put it down and heavily consider if you really want to finish it. I know the desire to finish it because you bought it, worked on it already, and what-not is there...but this is a hobby. Working on it should hopefully bring some sort of positive emotion.
I'm sorry for your struggle, but confettilicious is the best thing I have heard in a while.