"I am the Shadow" - Oogie Boogie Cross Stitch

 by Penolopy Bulnick
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I know what my initial idea was for this cross stitch project, but I'm not sure how I progressed to this.  This started as a very simple spider cross stitch. It was just going to be a spider that looked like it was hanging from the top of the frame and had created a web in the corner.  Somehow this happend and I'm very happy it did since I love Nightmare Before Christmas

Creating the Design:

The image of Oogie Boogie on the moon is taken right from the movie.  It is from the beinging song: This is Halloween.  I watched the song clip (from Youtube) on my iPad and took screenshots of when he was on the screen and, from there, traced the image onto paper and then tried to imitate it in the Cross Stitch Creator Program - MacStitch.  I drew out the letters and tried to make them a little different my elongating the tops of the "a" "o" "b" "d" and "g".  And slanted the lines in the "t" and "f".  Luckily the program has this nice feature where you can highlight sections and cut or copy them.  So after drawing out all the lines, I could easily move them around and center them on the left side of the pattern.


Supplies:
  • Black Cross Stitch Fabric Size 14 - about 10.25" by 5"
  • Cross Stitch Needle
  • Pattern (PDF Provided)
  • Frame
  • White Embroidery Floss (I used quite a bit, but no more than one skein)
  • Hoop
  • Iron (for flattening it after putting it in a hoop)
  • *Suggested: Watch or listen to Nightmare Before Christmas

Directions:

Time to cross stitch!  I was always taught to start from the center.  And I decided to do the words first so I started at the end of "Dreams" and worked my way through all the words.

Now just start cross stitching the moon and Oogie's mouth and eyes.  In the pattern I only filled in the squares (or x's), but I also filled in all the halves and three quarters that you can see along the edges (Photo 8).  

Once all of the cross stitching is done, time to outline it all with backstitches.  Usually this is done with one strand, but I wanted it thick and want to cover up all the places where a half stitch wouldn't fit, so I did 2 strands.  It might be difficult to follow the pattern for outlining.  If it is, what I did was mostly went from the corner of a full square to the corner of another full square.  Many of the stitches are 2 - 5 boxes long.  I don't usually like long stitches, but it helps with creating the circle.

Once you are done, iron it and put it in your frame.  You can leave the glass in your frame, I had to take it out to photograph it.

Hope you enjoy looking at Oogie Boogie!
Dusk Shadows says: Oct 27, 2012. 6:06 PM
Why not??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOtEdhKOMgQ

la la la la la lala la everyone hail the pumkin king (did i get it right =/?)
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to Dusk ShadowsNov 28, 2012. 10:48 AM
Sounds right!
Dusk Shadows in reply to Penolopy BulnickNov 28, 2012. 8:58 PM
Yeah i love the song soo much
Stoopie says: Nov 28, 2012. 4:07 PM
What size frame did you use?
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to StoopieNov 28, 2012. 4:13 PM
The same size as the fabric, about 10.25" by 5". When I bought it it was from a cheap store and the frame was divided into like three photos so it only said the size photos that would fit in those areas and not the whole frame. But I know I cut the fabric so it would precisely fit in it.
HeavenBlueRose says: Nov 28, 2012. 10:46 AM
Cool! I want to try someday to do this :D and now that its getting near christmas...their going to show the movie ^.^
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to HeavenBlueRoseNov 28, 2012. 10:49 AM
Yay! Such a fun movie; I love that it can be a great holiday movie for Christmas and Halloween :D
HeavenBlueRose in reply to Penolopy BulnickNov 28, 2012. 12:47 PM
I know right, its awesome :D ^-^
Some Dork says: Nov 7, 2012. 10:16 PM
We're huge fans of the movie, and Oogie Boogie always cracks me up; really like this!
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to Some DorkNov 28, 2012. 10:48 AM
Thanks! He used to really creep me out when I was younger, but now I just think he's cool :)
ssquiggle says: Oct 26, 2012. 2:43 PM
One of my favourite movies! I love this, it's so effective with just one colour. I would never have thought to backstitch to outline - going to try something with this now :)
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to ssquiggleOct 26, 2012. 2:46 PM
Thank you! I love the affect of white on black. I have particularly become fond of just working on black cross stitch fabric. It makes light colors look that much better :)
bradyurk says: Oct 26, 2012. 9:14 AM
That's the best line in the song!
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to bradyurkOct 26, 2012. 9:46 AM
It really is, and I love your profile picture!
ATatteredCanvas says: Oct 26, 2012. 6:24 AM
I love this!!!!!!!!!
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to ATatteredCanvasOct 26, 2012. 9:46 AM
Thank you!
sunshiine says: Oct 25, 2012. 8:08 PM
This is so cute! The stitching is beautiful! Thanks for sharing Penolopy!
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to sunshiineOct 26, 2012. 9:45 AM
Thanks sunshiine!
bajablue says: Oct 24, 2012. 10:45 AM
Way cool!!!
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to bajablueOct 24, 2012. 10:53 AM
Thank you!
scoochmaroo says: Oct 24, 2012. 8:54 AM
As stunning in photos as in real life. Well done!
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to scoochmarooOct 24, 2012. 10:53 AM
Thanks! It's nice to have another desk decoration :)
mariesegal says: Oct 23, 2012. 3:07 PM
Thanks Penolopy, I am glad you did too. I would still like the spider hanging from the side of the frame too! ;-D
Penolopy Bulnick (author) in reply to mariesegalOct 23, 2012. 3:25 PM
Thanks! If I can find the time, I certainly will make it :)
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