I just finished a Nyan Cat cross stitch as well! It was so fun! The pattern I used is from Birdie Stitching (found at http://www.wingtips.org.uk/ along with tons of pokemon patterns!)



What is really awesome is that I used glow in the dark thread for the little stars ^___^
The only thing I'm sad about is I attempted to use thread I had instead of going out to buy new thread just for the pattern and the only problem with that is that the grey is a bit darker than it should have.
Also, if I make another, I will start with dark blue fabric instead of white so that it really looks like he's running through space!



The only change I made to this last picture is I added more glowing stars LOL couldn't stop myself!

Thank you all! 
He actually has a little bow tie on (hard to tell in this picture, though!) and I think he is pretty darn cute even if he is a bit lopsided LoL

Hello all! I am new to Craftster, but let me tell you I love it! I have so many browser tabs open of Craftster projects and they are so inspiring - which is how I got to working on my first embroidery ever! I have been sewing for many years, making pillows out of t-shirts mostly. I moved into cross stitching on Aida a while ago and loved that. I always thought embroidery would be too difficult or that it would require more artistic skill. There are just so many stitch types! But I gave it a shot (at 2 am) because I just had the itch to try it due to seeing how cool the projects on this board were. Here is my first attempt at an embroidered penguin!



He is full of mistakes, but I just wanted to try it out! I just did this free hand, no pattern. I tried the split stitch, the french knot, satin stitch, and back stitch. Still trying to figure out how to transfer stuff (I need to go out and buy some materials). Also, ignore the fabric! It was the closest piece lying around  
Thanks for the inspiration!

Very cool! I will try this. I do something with the same flavor (can be found here: http://jayesel.net/2011/11/10/recipe-buffalo-chicken-ring/) which is very tasty, but most definitely more calories, which means yours wins! haha
What do you do with the shells?

Glad I found this. I just posted on a recent project about what the technique for this style of craft is. I think these projects always look so cool and this is just the thing to finally get me started on making my first! (of many, I'm sure!)

Haha it's the cuffs that really make this octopus so adorable and very, very dapper and handsome! 

Wow wow wow wow wow... All I can say. Do you find working with felt easy? Any special technique? (besides being able to cut those pieces out well!) I love all the felt embroidery projects to be super cool; this one tops the list.

With my cross stitch projects, I do wash them. I get a glass brownie/casserole type of pan

( like pictured in this image - not my image!
http://iweb.cooking.com/images/products/enlarge/159018e.jpg)

 fill it with warm water and just a little bit of mild dish soap. I then submerge and swish around my project to get it nice and wet, but not super sudsy or anything. then I rinse with cold water gently. Fold it up in a towel, pat it to get some water out and then take out my iron to iron it gently to get all the crinkles out from the hoop and dry it the rest of the way. I find that a lot of grease from my hands being on it comes off and once its ironed, its super nice to present to someone or frame etc. And it smells nice! haha. I do not throw it in the washer or anything like that. I don't know how that would turn out.

I just completed my first embroidery ever. I already had floss because I usually cross stitch on aida fabric. I did find that Sublime Stitching had fantastic tutorials on a few basic stitches, especially the french knot (which I always found super intimidating!). What I needed to realize was that embroidery needed a tight weave fabric that didn't stretch (unless you have stitch stabilizer) and that you use more than one strand of floss. The only hoop I have is 6", and I think that's good. I free handed my first embroidery without a pattern which was interesting haha. Just go for it. I learned a lot by trying it.
Good luck!

I too have been looking into long and short stitch to fill up a large area. In my most recent project, I attempted to do a satin stitch vertically - it looked terrible, so I satin stitched over it horizontally, which looked much better. However, I think the next time I have a large area to fill I will try the long and short stitch. I think I understand what Sewphie means by making the rows vertically vs horizontally and I will definitely do that. I would have never thought to use a split stitch to fill a shape - also something worth trying!
Thanks!