Cross-Stitched Instructables Robot

I posted a request on this forum topic for Instructables robot contest! Though I didn't get any reply but I was really surprised and excited when a saw that Instructables has finally launched 'Instructables robot contest'!

Since I've started cross stitching again I thought .. why not cross stitch Instructables robot? I made a template right away and started cross stitching. follow this ible to find out how I cross stitched the robot ^_^.

You'll need:

• Cross-stitching fabric,
• Tapestry needle,
• Threads- yellow, red, black, scarlet, gray.
• Scissor,
• Pattern or template.

I didn't have much time as I had an exam (but I couldn't stop thinking about cross stitching the robot!).... so I chose to cross stitch a simple pattern of the instructables robot.

I've also attached a more detailed version of the instructables robots' cross stitch pattern.

You can come up with your own pattern as well :)

You can find a lot of help and tutorials about cross stitching from the internet... but here's how I do my cross stitching-

• First you'll have to select a design, if you're a beginner start with a simple and easy pattern for cross stitching.
• Count the number of stitches on the pattern and cut out the fabric by keeping 10-12 extra counts on all sides.
• Select a starting point on the fabric (it's always better to start from the center of any design) and draw the needle (along with the thread) from the bottom of the fabric pulling it upwards.
• Keep an inch extra on the other (wrong) side and hold the extra thread with one hand (or finger) while doing the first cross stitch (see the picture of this step). You can let go the extra thread after the first cross stitch is done.
• Now, you can either count the holes or the fabric threads for cross stitching, I usually count the fabric threads. But to make it easier to understand I've tried to explain both ways.
• Counting holes: Notice that in the 2nd,3rd and 4th picture of this step I've marked 4 circles with 4 different colors- yellow, red, blue and green, consider these circles as holes (counts) of the fabric. Draw the needle through the yellow circle from the bottom side of the fabric and insert it through the green circle (diagonally) and pull it through the blue circle, you've made a half stitch. Now insert the needle diagonally through the red circle and pull it out through the green circle to complete a cross stitch. Notice that there's 1 hole left unstitched between every 2 circles. I did 2 counts for every cross stitched patterns in this ible, you can choose a different count if you want to.
• Counting fabric thread: Notice that between every 2 circles there are 2 fabric threads. I usually count the fabric threads while cross stitching

I chose the lower part of the head as the starting point.

Prepared the needle with yellow thread,

Counted the number of stitches and stitched 15 crosses to form a line for the lower part of the head.

After cross stitching the line I cross stitched 2 more lines to complete the lower part of the head, then cross stitched the sides, a small part between the eyes and the forehead.

After that, I used black thread to cross stitch the mouth, border around the eye, eyebrows and the border around the head.

Now to complete the head :)

Used red thread to fill the eyes and the part of antenna attached with the head (on it's right side),

Then I used black thread to complete the robot's right antenna.

Took the yellow thread again to complete the left side of the head, then cross stitched a border around it and completed the other antenna.

Cross stitching the body took a while... -_-

I started from below the black border of the head,

Kept cross stitching until it reached the center of the body (the position of the 3 lights and a straight part).

I used black thread to cross stitch the outlines of the 3 lights and the stretched rectangle part.

After that, used yellow thread to complete the body.

I did half stitches with the yellow thread to fill the stretched rectangle part and used dark brown thread to fill the lights.

Don't forget to cross stitch a black border around the body.

Count the stitches to on the template to start cross stitching the hands.

It's better to cross stitch the yellow part of the hands and then the black borders around them.

Cross stitching the legs were really easy.

Simply count the stitches on the template and select a starting point for cross stitching the legs.

Again, cross stitch the yellow part and then the black borders around the legs.

I used gray thread to cross stitch the wheels and black thread for the borders around them.

I hope the step by step pictures are helpful. There might be slight differences between the cross stitched pattern and the template, but don't worry if they're not easily noticeable!

This didn't take much time... only a day :) Share a picture if you make one!

Enjoy!