Futurecast

Designer: Teresa Wentzler - ©2004 TW Designworks

Fabric: 32ct Purely Primitive Belfast Linen from Silkweaver
Design Size: Approx. 3.25" x 5.5"
Start Date: August 10, 2004
End Date: August 20, 2004

Please meet "Frances." She is a freebie from Teresa Wenzler which was released in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 7, 2004. I used the suggested colors in the chart, but stitchers are encouraged to choose their own hand-dye thread for the satin stitches in the border, and applying those colors to the dragon.

As I was deciding on a name, the dragon spoke to me, uttering "Frances." Two weeks later a hurricane by the name of Frances would hit Florida, causing all sorts of devastation. Did the dragon's crystal ball reveal more than I thought?

My version of Futurecast uses the same colors as TW's model, but the differences with mine are:

• The dragon is backstitched entirely in DMC 3802 except where pink meets pink in which I use DMC 801.
• I didn't backstitch the inner wing (where the green meets the pink).
• The crystal ball is backstitched with vintage gold Kreinik #4 braid.
• Instead of Mill Hill's Gold Magnifica beads I used Miyuki Delicas DB-034 Light 24kt Gold Plated beads (which I already had in my stash).
• The beads on the dragon are all gold.
• The border uses Cranberry and Olivine beads only, with mostly Cranberry at the top and Olivine at the bottom.
• I used Gray size "O" Nymo beading thread for the beads. If I had red/dark pink Nymo on hand I would have used that instead on the border. I attached the beads with an upright cross stitch so they lie diagonally.
• TW's is on 25-count fabric and mine is on 32-count.

One final comment... If I did this over again, I would use Waterlilies for the hand-dye instead of Watercolours, which is probably too thick for 32-count fabric. :-)

You can visit the Freebie Dragons Forum to join in the dragon stitching fun.