I began doing counted cross stitch 34 years ago. For anyone who has fallen in love with this art form you know that every single shop you see calls your name and the patterns within it tempt you with the same ferocity as the apple tempted Eve.
So, it was shortly after I began my first, very ambitious project, which took me an entire year at least to complete, I was in a shop that specialized in cross stitch and I spotted a piece that took my breath away. It was created by one of the most famous designers ever and the artistry was beyond words. Just looking at it transported me into the land of Middle Earth and the world of hobbits, wizards, and Smaug, the most famous dragon ever.
Entitled The Castle this design by Teresa Wentzler captured my imagination. The dragon is curled around a castle on an isolated rocky island, wings spread wide, as he looks down into the center of the turreted structure. One isn’t sure if he is the guardian of this remote, enchanting place or if he is waiting to pounce on the first inhabitant he sees.
From that moment on I vowed that someday, when I had much more experience, I was going to create this beautiful piece. I didn’t purchase the pattern immediately, deciding that I would wait until I was ready. That didn’t last long! I found the pattern on sale a year or two later, snapped it up, and filed it with other “someday” projects.
Over the years I looked at the pattern many times but it never seemed the right time to dive in. Finally, I retired from full time work and after 3 years of completing other projects and gifts, decided to give myself a gift…. the time to do my dragon! I began my work in summer 2018.
I headed to my local cross stitch shop, The Crafty Ewe, to get the right fabric and any floss I did not already have. Though the original was done on white 14 count Aida I was determined to do it on 18 count black. (I had seen it on black and it was striking!) The lovely ladies at the store thought I was a bit off my trolley doing it on black in such a small count but I was determined.
So, how long did it take? It took a year. The Castle uses at least 70 different colors. Most of the time you are working with 2 different colors in your needle. It is full of ¼ and ¾ stitches. Backstitching uses a myriad of colors. I kept a white cloth on my lap and used a bright light which enabled me to see the weave of the fabric more easily.
I finished my piece last Monday. All that is left is the framing. Please allow me to introduce you to Teresa Wentzler’s The Castle!
Stay tuned for an update when I get it framed!
LucyCrafter 
Oh WOW, Anna Mary! That is fantastic!
I too saw a model of that pattern a couple of decades ago, but I am not ambitious enough to tackle such a project.
Congratulations on fulfilling your dream! I hope you’ll show me the framed piece when it’s done.
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Wow! Your piece is stunning stitched on black! Great job! I stitched the Castle for my husband many years ago. It was the 2nd cross stitch I had done and I loved every stitch of it! I loved stitching with2 colors of thread in the needle. It just gives it more depth and dimension. Mine is stitched on Ivory and really needs to be re-framed as the framer used sticky board and it is quite lumpy now. There are a few more TW’s in my stash that I would like to stitch some day. I look forward to seeing your beautiful stitching all framed up. Congrats on the wonderful finish.
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You sent me this chart years ago. I started it, but soon lost patience. Then I found the finished piece in a charity shop (good will?). I rescued it, because I realised how much work it took. It’s worked on a white background – the black is more effective.
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