Bride Z. Illa's Brown Tombstone

You can see how I carried the stitch through the dress, (with the grey thread), to make sure the stitch would work on the right side.  I am now working back towards the pumpkin.  I kind of feel like I'm cheating when I do this.  But I don't trust my counting alone.   If anyone knows of an easier or better way, please let us know.  I started up under the brides rump and worked down.  It was easier for me to do it with the crow and his beak already stitched.  I will post another picture when I finish the tombstone.

It worked!

Bride Z. Illa's Second bottom border

I got the second border in.  I wish all the areas went in this fast.  Only those of you with the guide will know what I am talking about here...on the Ray stitch.  Sometimes my Ray stitch thread covered the couching thread and sometimes it didn't.  If you want a uniform look, let the top and bottom Ray stitch lay next to the couching thread as it is in the diagram.  I thought I could get all of them to stay on top, but gave up on that and didn't want to redo it.

I am heading for the brown tombstone next.  It should be a simple stitch, except there is a lot of compensation.  So I am practicing the stitch at the bottom of my canvas so I will get the whole stitch in my head and be better able to do the compensation.  I would suggest stitching the crow and his beak before stitching the tombstone.