Medieval Owl SAL

This has got to be one of the most complicated patterns I have ever offered as a SAL. But he's so fun I couldn't resist! I found this little chap hidden away in an illuminated manuscript some years ago, sadly I can't remember which one any more as that would have been fun to include right now but I'm pretty sure it was a bestiary, and have been fiddling around with the pattern ever since.

When I first talked about him in the SAL overview post I had him at 34 colours, now he's just 26. Not much difference but if you only need a colour for 2 - 8 stitches and you have to buy the colour it's a pain in the rear end, one I was able to avoid for you. Unfortunately there are still a few colours with less than 20 stitches - but sometimes it's unavoidable.

And this is the owl in it's entirely! I removed the background to cut back on the number of stitches and colours. As the owl is from a medieval manuscript a parchment like fabric would look perfect - pale brown hand dyed, tea or coffee dyed, or perhaps a more rustic style Aida or evenweave.

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What:

• This is an embroidery of a medieval owl.
• The pattern is 150 stitches wide x 128 stitches long.
• The pattern is 8122 stitches.
• The pattern is whole cross stitch only - no backstitching or speciality stitches!
• There will be twelve monthly patterns, each will be between 648 and 756 stitches.

Where:

• All patterns are posted here on my blog.
• There is a Facebook group to share progress and talk about the project here.

When:

• Patterns will be given every third Tuesday of the month - there is a "calendar" in the side bar so you can see the exact dates.
• I will start on the 15th of January 2019.
• You can see which month you will get each part of the Owl in the picture above.

Fabric:

• I have rounded up the numbers working from the actual size of the stitching to make sure you have enough fabric. 
• Fabric amounts are given based on stitching over one bunch of Aida or over two threads of evenweave. 
• If you decide to stitch over one you will of course need less fabric. 
• I have given 3 inches / 7.62 cm of fabric on each side for framing. 
• If you wish to calculate the fabric for yourself based on your plans then this is a helpful tool. 

Size in inches:

• For 14ct Aida/28ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 10.7 inches x 9.1 inches.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 17 inches x 15 1/2 inches.
• For 16ct Aida/32ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 9.4 inches x 8 inches.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 15 1/2 inches x 14 inches.
• For 18ct Aida/36ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 8.3 x 7.1 inches.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 14 1/2 inches x 13 1/2 inches.
• For 20ct Aida/40ct evenweave.
• The pattern is 7.5 x 6.4 inches.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 13 1/2 inches x 12 1/2 inches.

Size in cm:

• For 14ct Aida/28ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 27.18 cm x 23.12 cm.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 44 cm x 40 cm.
• For 16ct Aida/32ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 23.88 cm x 20.32 cm.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 40 cm x 36 cm.
• For 18ct Aida/36ct evenweave:
• The pattern is 21.08 cm x 18.04 cm.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 37 cm x 35 cm.
• For 20ct Aida/40ct evenweave.
• The pattern is 19.05 cm x 16.26 cm.
• It requires a piece of fabric that is 35 cm x 32 cm.

Floss:

• Floss is calculated based on using two strands over one (or two for evenweave). 
• Skein amount is given for DMC floss which has six strands and eight metres long - if you use another brand you may need more floss. 
• If you decide to stitch with one strand of floss over one fabric thread you will of course need less thread.
• I am giving the floss amounts for 14ct only as it's just too much work to do it for all sizes of fabric and like this you will have enough.

Floss use:

• 0.1 skein of DMC  154 grape - vy lt
• 0.1 skein of DMC  310 black
• 0.1 skein of DMC  413 pewter gray - dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  433 brown - md
• 0.1 skein of DMC  451 shell gray - dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  535 ash gray - vy lt
• 0.1 skein of DMC  610 drab brown - dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  611 drab brown
• 0.1 skein of DMC  640 beige gray - vy dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  645 beaver gray - vy dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  647 beaver gray - md
• 0.4 skein of DMC  779 cocoa - dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  801 coffee brown - dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  838 beige brown - vy dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  839 beige brown - dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  844 bever gray - ul dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  938 coffee brown - ul dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC  939 navy blue - vy dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC 3021 brown gray - vy dk
• 0.5 skein of DMC 3031 mocha brown - vy dk
• 0.8 skein of DMC 3371 black brown
• 0.1 skein of DMC 3740 antique violet - dk
• 0.2 skein of DMC 3781 mocha brown - dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC 3787 brown gray - dk
• 0.1 skein of DMC 3790 beige gray - ul dk
• 0.2 skein of DMC 3799 pewter gray - vr dk

I hope you are as excited as I am to do this SAL - it will be a challenge but the end result will be fun! I hope to see many of you in the FB group as well as here! If you have any questions please do ask! Either here or in the FB group works and I'll answer ASAP!