Sunday, March 12, 2017

Cross Stitching Rooftop Prince (Part 2: Joseon Power Rangers Complete)

Previously on Aigostitch: 
Part 1 of Cross Stitching Rooftop Prince featuring cheap aida

Quite possibly the easiest kdrama ever to stitch.  No argyle sweaters that add 4 months to your stitching time (let's ignore the 8 month hiatus in between blog posts, shall we...)

But first, a quick instrumental break demonstrating the awesome nerdiness of the Joseon Power Rangers:




Wait one more (sorry this OST is too good to have only one mention).  This song is in honor of villainous cousin, Tae Mu, and all the times the camera zoomed in on his face for every mundane event (making plans to kill Yong Tae Yong, making a sharp u-turn on an empty road, etc)




^^Is that song really called "Cancer"?  What???

As someone who puts "detail-oriented" on my resume (just kidding, I don't actually do that...), I had a stressful decision to make.

In the majority of the show, Prince Lee Gak wears his hair straight down.

Lee Gak messing up my cross stitch plans by wearing his hair down.

I mean, this make sense. Park Ha isn't going to let him run around with his stupid crown in public.  However, this presented a huge dilemma for my stitching.  Having Prince Lee Gak with straight hair just like not the Lee Min Ho you're thinking of would be accurate to the drama... but that's lame as hell.  It's Rooftop Prince, not Rooftop Man.

Luckily, there's a good 3 minutes of omurice consumption in tracksuit/crown which is enough to ease my conscience, and allow me to keep "detail-oriented" on my resume (again, jokes. I don't actually do this...).

Lee Gak in tracksuit and crown making my cross stitch totally fine.  Just ignore the fact that everyone else wearing a hat in this scene too.

I'm not going to win historical accuracy points for my "crown", but it'll do for X's and 14 count.

So there you have them: immortalized in Aida fabric, DMC thread, and a $2.29 hoop ($1.80 with coupon?) from Michaels.  Incredibly pleased with these boys.  Aren't they cute?!?!
Long live the Joseon Power Rangers.


So far, we've seen Boys Over Flowers and Rooftop Prince.  What's next for the kdrama wall?  Stay tuned.... (or check out my Instagram if you don't want to wait 6 months)

Until next time,

Dani ^_^




Thursday, June 9, 2016

Cross Stitching Rooftop Prince (Part 1: Track Suits and Cheap Aida)


For the next addition to my kdrama cross stitch wall, I immediately thought of Rooftop Prince.  Of course, that might be because I just finished re-watching it...

If you haven't seen this drama, please do so.  Immediately.  It's time travel, hilarious, sad, rage inducing (in a good way), and has waaaaay less *cringe* moments than other kdramas.  In fact, I don't even remember if there's a forceful wrist grab.  Hm..... maybe I should re-watch.  Again.

Oh yeah, and there's also 4 main guys.  That also helps.  :D

In my previous stitch for Boys Over Flowers, noticeably left out is Jan Di.  Sure, one can argue I was just trying to focus on F4, but really I hate her.  This time though, I actually like the lead female, Park Ha, a lot. She's not pathetic, irritating, constantly drowning despite being a pro swimmer, etc.  However.... I couldn't resist just focusing on the gang of 4.  Sorry, Park Ha, maybe next time.

Rooftop Prince poster.  See, even this doesn't have Park Ha in it.

Here's my basis of inspiration.  There's another version of this exact pic with a white background instead, but then everyone looks ridiculous since they're not confined in a room (Prince Lee Gak bending for no reason, Man Bo with hand to the non-existent ceiling, etc).

So what do I need to get these track suits onto my cross stitch wall?



First, the sketch.   I can't draw.  However, if I can get some sort of resemblance with a pencil that I don't know how to properly use, then the stitch can't end up being that bad right?

My pathetic attempt to draw Rooftop Prince boys.  I'm not sure where there arms are either.
So clearly, color is needed.  Apart from the Prince, you have no idea who is who.  :|  Luckily, thanks to my obsession with DMC thread, I have several colors to choose from.

Materials for my Rooftop Prince cross stitch.  Here come dem bois!

Materials used:
  • 14 Count 15 x 18" Charles Craft Beige Aida******
  • DMC thread that I actually already owned
  • 10" hoop
  • Size 24 tapestry needle
******Unfortunately, I have learned yet another valuable cross stitching lesson.  Don't buy low quality Aida fabric.  I went to unnamed craft store that has a guy's name looking for Aida.  (Un?)surprisingly, the selection is worse than their DMC thread section.  I wanted some sort of beige or tan Aida fabric to be similar to my basis picture.  The closest thing I could find was some off brand stuff called "Lite Oatmeal."  Thanks to impatience to get started (and a 40% off coupon), I convinced myself Lite Oatmeal would be tolerable.  I could get over the color and the undesirable speckle things eventually.  At least now this means I can start stitching!  Except....


My off brand Lite Oatmeal Aida fabric with partially completed blue ahjussi.  Ugh.
 As stitching commenced, I noticed there was a weird unraveled bit of Aida right in the middle of fabric.  Seriously?!  There was no way to spot this dead center blemish prior to buying due to the way the fabric had been packaged.  At first, I tried to ignore it.  I mean, maybe it wouldn't be visible once I was finished?  I bravely continued.... and then realized, I couldn't do this.  I would be SO mad if I had this on my wall.  I would constantly stare at it and be grumpy despite Kdrama Cross Stitch wall supposedly being my happy place.  So I did what I had to do... I abandoned it.  Luckily, 123 Stitch has yet to let me down.  

So how am I doing so far?

Rooftop Prince cross stitch preview.   A wild French Knot has made an appearance!



Ironed and framed by the next post.  For now, here's a little piano cover I did of a song from the Rooftop Prince OST literally 3 minutes before posting this.  Seriously, check the timestamp.  ;)  


Until next time,

Dani ^_^

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers (Part 4: Yo Yo Yo, We are done!)

Previously on Aigostitch: 
Part 1 of Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers featuring Gu Jun Pyo
Part 2 of Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers featuring Ji Hoo
Part 3 of Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers featuring Yi Jung

We've reached the end!  **Cue "Almost Paradise" and a shot of Jan Di's atrocious braids**

Before we get too ahead of ourselves, let's give Woo Bin a little love.  I mean, it's the least I can do to make up for the pathetic non-backstory backstory they gave him in the show.

"Don't worry, buddy." -Song Woo Bin  


Out of all the boys, Woo Bin was the most fun to design and stitch despite the irony that the gangster Don Juan is wearing an argyle sweater (lol seriously?).  What happened to the Prince Song ("YEAH") gloves from Macau?  Or the various trench coats?  Hell, even just a black suit.  Whatever, producers.

Since these boys are so skinny (about 1.5 inches wide each), it's tricky trying to stitch diamonds.  By tricky, I mean impossible.  If you want an actual diamond, you have to make Woo Bin literally 3x wider than everyone else which is more unrealistic than the argyle sweater.  Luckily, a little criss-cross backstitch hides the imperfections.  

"A Yo" -Song Woo Bin


And there we have our favorite English speaking F4 member.  See, he even has a mouth.  

So, where's the finished product complete with Instagram filter?  

F4 in glorious stitch form at last!

Not too bad!  (Who am I kidding, I'm actually really proud ^^)  

Despite fixing Yi Jung's sunburn, adding handkerchiefs, and other little details I've been putting off, something still felt incomplete.  Should I write out the title in regular Hangul?  Pink, sparkly, swirly Hangul like on the cover?  Write out names underneath each member?  In english?  In Hangul?  HELP.

Alas, a simple "Boys Over Flowers" seemed appropriate.  There was some mild conflict going in my head ("boys BEFORE or OVER flowers????"), but I managed to shut that voice up with every stitch.  The font was created by me and looks nothing like my actual handwriting which isn't a bad thing.  The hearts were added because I thought I would inwardly cringe every time if I had put flowers instead to make it literally Boys over Flowers.  Heh.  

The framing process was.... difficult.  This is my first time using a hoop.  I have intense fear of washing and ironing my cross stitching.  Generally I will give people glass framed wrinkled messes as gifts, however I wanted to try a wooden hoop since I've seen positive results all over Instagram and Etsy.  Luckily there are several good tutorials online.

Although I definitely see some things I can improve, I will proudly be hanging this up on my kdrama cross stitch wall.  What else will be joining F4 on this wall?

Stay tuned....


For now, here's that shot of Jan Di's atrocious braids.


Thursday, November 12, 2015

Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers (Part 3: Yi Jung's F-ed Up Face)

Previously on Aigostitch: 
Part 1 of Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers featuring Gu Jun Pyo
Part 2 of Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers featuring Ji Hoo

Note: If you're a LoL fan that stumbled upon this by searching for a guide on Master Yi as jungle ("Yi Jung"), here's a tip: Don't play Yi.  

At last!  My favorite F4 member.  A quick double check of Kim Bum's age when he played Yi Jung in 2009 (19) and we're on to fangirling!

Sunbae staring off into the distance.  Presumably at Ga Eul.

(Un?)popular opinion: The best part of Boys Over Flowers was the Yi Jung/Ga Eul romance.  I was way more invested in that relationship over the Jan Di/Jun Pyo/Ji Hoo's stupid and extremely pathetic love triangle.  When Eun Jae entered back into Yi Jung's life, non-essential household items were destroyed.  My heart soared (and destruction ceased) when Yi Jung and Ga Eul finally got together in the kiln scene.  After the show, numerous top rated SoEulmate fan fiction may or may not have been read...

Um, so back to stitching.

Yi Jung's jacket was a bit complex.  Plaid is fine (irritating but fine), but how do you show plaid lapels without looking like you f-ed up completely?  o_O

Solution: You don't.  After all, since everyone else in F4 is missing something (handkerchiefs, DMC 791 ties, etc.), why break tradition?

Yi Jung in cross stitch form.  Lapel-less for consistency sake.

I've been watching Boys Over Flowers while stitching this and I'm actually very pleased to see the progress.  They look like F4!!!  However, my celebration was short-lived.  I realized, aw crap...

Yi Jung's f-ed up face/weird sunburn due to mixing up threads


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.


PSA: Don't stitch while watching kdramas.

Coming up next: YOYOYOYOYO MY BRO + filling in all the (stitching) things I've been procrastinating.


Until next time,

Dani ^_^

Friday, November 6, 2015

Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers (Part 2: The Trouble With Ji Hoo)

Previously on Aigostitch: 
Part 1 of Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers featuring Gu Jun Pyo

Since I deemed Gu Jun Pyo to be complete (yes, footless is still complete), I was ready to move on to Ji Hoo Sunbae.

Ji Hoo after finding out Jan Di chose Jun Pyo instead


Quick note/possible unpopular opinion alert: Ji Hoo is my least favorite F4 member.  Admittedly after the 3rd time watching this kdrama, I eversoslightly warmed up to him a bit, however... meh.  I'm not surprised that cross stitching Ji Hoo irritated the hell out of me.

Problem #1: The Changing Hair Color
Choosing a color palette when you have a reference picture kind of sucks.  The worst is when your reference pictures have different lighting and background colors so you're not sure what is considered "accurate."  What exactly is Ji Hoo's actual hair color? o_O

Make up your damn mind, Ji Hoo.
Problem #2: The White Knight
Ji Hoo takes being the "white knight" to the extreme.  As in to the point where he wears white(ish) jackets, pants, shirts, shoes, etc.  The hardest part was definitely trying to figure out how to add a subtle blazer outline without looking like an unintentional screw-up.  I momentarily considered making F3 by leaving Ji Hoo off completely to make my life easier.  Luckily for you, I am a fickle person.

Problem #3: DMC 791
Note: this isn't exactly Ji Hoo's fault since he didn't pick the color palette, however since it's related to him, I'm directing my animosity towards him.

The most irritating thing about buying thread is when you get every color on your list EXCEPT ONE. For 6 weeks in a row (not an exaggeration) I went to an unnamed craft store that happens to share the same name as a male (cough) to purchase DMC 791 needed for Ji Hoo's tie.  They refused to restock (needed for Ji Hoo's tie).  Apparently their computer inventory said there were still some in the store despite the bin being empty EVERY SINGLE TIME I returned.  Hm.... so why can't you restock it anyway since clearly IT'S NOT THERE?

 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Oh my mistake, I didn't realize I should be perusing the woodwork modeling section in order to potentially find the materials I need for a cross stitching project.  Sigh.

I present my tie-less version of Ji Hoo (along with the non-footless[!] Jun Pyo.  At last.)

Ji Hoo and Jun Pyo in cross stitched form.  Noticeably absent: DMC 791


Who's next?  Whose talented hand could that be floating on the left?  Will unnamed craft store ever stock DMC 791? Will I finally quit complaining and go somewhere else?  Will anyone get a handkerchief?  Will these guys ever get mouths?

Until next time,

Dani ^_^

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Cross Stitching Boys Over Flowers (Part 1: The Mighty Gu Jun Pyo)

If you're a fan of kdramas, there's a 99.9% chance you've seen or heard of Boys Over Flowers.  Despite the fact there are more facepalm/eyeroll moments than the amount of times "Almost Paradise" is played (translation: *a lot*), it is one of my favorite kdramas ever.  Why?  'Ello F4! (*cue screaming schoolgirls*)


This is the base picture for my pattern.  Jan Di conveniently left out.  (sorry.  not sorry.)

Ideally, Ji Hoo wouldn't have had mullet hair, but I'll deal.



Keep in mind, this is my first pattern.  I read somewhere that people usually use grid/graph paper for these sorts of things.  Seemed like a good idea to use "best practices" for a first pattern.  Naturally, my grid paper attempts were a complete fail.  How do you people show backstitching and french knots or differentiation between DMC 791 and DMC 792?  o_O  My pattern was a complete smudgy graphite mess x 10.

Luckily, for those that are more skilled with a mouse and pixels, there's PC Stitch.  A lot easier than painstakingly filling in hundreds of tiny squares with a pencil.  AND PC Stitch can distinguish between 791/792.  So, suck it, grid paper.  Expect a slightly better review of PC Stitch in the future.

Materials  for my Boys Over Flowers pattern.  Plus a notebook that just happened to match the color scheme.
Materials used:

  • 14 Count 12x18" Tropical Pink Aida fabric from 123Stitch
  • A crap ton of DMC thread that required 3 different shopping trips to multiple stores
  • 10" hoop
  • Size 24 tapestry needle


My biggest concern for this pattern was finding the right shade of pink Aida.  I normally stick to variations of white Aida, but thanks to F4's obsession with white pants, that clearly wouldn't work this time.  Thankfully, the pink turned out pretty well.  I had purchased a backup pink from Michaels out of fear, but 123Stitch did not let me down.  Yay for accurate preview pics!

Generally in cross stitch, you start in the center.  Coincidentally and appropriately the leader of F4, Gu Jun Pyo, just happened to be the first stitch.

Here he is, foot(feet?)-less, wrist-less, and sans handkerchief/bowtie.  Not too bad!

F4 leader, Gu Jun Pyo, in glorious cross stitched form

Unfortunately, he'll remain in this state for a bit longer.  I'm not sure what the "proper" thing to do in cross stitch etiquette, but I tend to move on with other parts of the project and then begrudgingly fill in details (like feet) at the end.

So, don't fear Jun Pyo fans.  He will be completed at a later date.  For now though, next up is mullet head Ji Hoo.

As celebration for my first pattern related post, I present my partial piano attempt of "Because I'm Stupid" aka the only song that Ji Hoo knows how to play on guitar.  Enjoi!

Until next time,

Dani ^_^








Monday, November 2, 2015

The first entry!

Hello!  

If you stumbled upon my blog by searching "kdrama" or "cross stitch" (or perhaps... "SoEulmates"?  :D ) then you've come to the right place!

My name is Dani and Aigostitch is the home to all my kdrama and cross stitch creations.  

Expect anything from cross stitching (heh of course), kdrama OST piano covers, Etsy shop fangirling, meticulously detailed Sim recreations of my favorite kdrama heroine bedrooms**, etc.  

In my next entry, I'll be unveiling my very first kdrama cross stitch pattern ever: Boys Over Flowers!

Hope you'll come back soon!  Enjoi ^_^

-Dani


**I'm 98% serious about this.  ;)