Late last spring I found a ton of free cross-stitch patterns based off anime shows and films. They were all created by a screen name littlemojo, but, unfortunately, her site was no longer up and working. A bunch of fans shared the patterns they had saved, but, on another unfortunate note, those websites are no longer running. Luckily I was able to pull a few before everything disappeared.
I am a huge Studio Ghibli fan, so I chose Howl's Movie Castle as my first project's theme. The pattern is a movie still of Sophie and Howl with the background removed; it is from the beginning of the film if you are wondering.
This was the first cross-stitch of this scale that I have completed. Usually, I just stick to small Christmas ornaments - easy and quick. This is 151 x 91 stitches; it took me about 4 months to complete if I take out all the months I wasn't able to work on it.
Here is the halfway (-ish) mark:
The Completed Piece (Victory!):
I really love this pattern, so I decided to keep it, instead of gifting it like I often do with my crafts. There is a special in town for cross-stitching and framing, so I'll probably go by there in the near future to get it backed and framed.
If you are interested in this pattern or patterns from this genre of entertainment, leave me a comment and I'll try to help you find what you are looking for.
Movie Side Note: If you like animation and fantasy, this is a beautiful and great film that you should see. It is actually based on children's book. I recommend the book as well. The two mediums differ greatly, but this is a case where neither is less satisfying because they are both great enough to stand alone and have their different stories.
Next crafting related post will be about the start of the formidable Doctor Who scarf. Actually, it isn't that formidable anymore now that I've edited the pattern for everyday wear. Expect it in the next couple of days Doctor Who fans.
