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 ^_^

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.