Part two of this text patch miniseries provides the patterns for four and five-stripe “aroace” cross stitch patch designs and a four-stripe “aro” design.
For a complete guide to the stitching process, please see part one, where I’ve posted step-by-step instructions with my “aro” patch as an example. Other than factoring in differing sizes of aida swatches and floss colours, there is no change in the sewing process. All patterns can be similarly modified in terms of letter spacing, use of quarter stitches and layout.
As a bonus, I’ve also provided four and five stripe “ace” patterns!
Aro Patch Patterns
The four-stripe “aro” pattern is a rectangle 35 stitches wide and 16 stitches high. Assuming a three stitch border, as for my other patches, this means you’ll want a 38 x 19 block swatch plus any excess (if used unmodified).
The five-stripe “aro” pattern is a rectangle 26 stitches wide and 14 stitches high. Assuming a three stitch border, as for my other patches, this means you’ll want a 29 x 17 block swatch plus any excess (if used unmodified).
This version is a little smaller than my previous pattern, and I include it here for ease of counting.
Aro-Ace Patch Patterns
The four-stripe “aroace” pattern is a rectangle 68 stitches wide and 16 stitches high. Assuming a three stitch border, as for my other patches, this means you’ll want a 71 x 19 block swatch plus any excess (if used unmodified).
(See below for a version with a more squared-off “C” shape.)
The five-stripe “aroace” pattern is a rectangle 50 stitches wide and 14 stitches high. Assuming a three stitch border, as for my other patches, this means you’ll want a 53 x 17 block swatch plus any excess (if used unmodified).
Ace Patch Patterns
The four-stripe “ace” pattern is a rectangle 35 stitches wide and 16 stitches high. Assuming a three stitch border, as for my other patches, this means you’ll want a 38 x 19 block swatch plus any excess (if used unmodified).
(If you prefer the more-rounded C shape, please use the four-stripe aro-ace pattern above.)
The five-stripe “ace” pattern is a rectangle 26 stitches wide and 14 stitches high. Assuming a three stitch border, as for my other patches, this means you’ll want a 29 x 17 block swatch plus any excess (if used unmodified).
Examples and Process
I stitched both aro-ace patches: the four-stripe version with a two block border (I miscounted when I cut the aida!) in oriented aro-ace colours and the five-stripe version with a three-block border in angled aro-ace colours.
I find it easiest to sew my stripes by colour, not letter:
The swatch of aida above, a panel cut from Sullivans’ 14-count pre-packaged aida, was large enough for both patches, with a section of cut-off remaining for another small square patch. I do find it easier to stitch with small pieces of this fabric, however: while I like the stiffness for patches, the roughness frequently snags the floss. Less fabric to catch the thread, as most of my patches are too small for a frame or hoop, reduces this annoyance.
(Not using the absurd length of floss shown above will also help. Thread length is my long failing as a sewist!)
I then fill in the background, leaving gaps anywhere I mean to place a diagonal border stitch (especially at corners):
I then sew in the back stitch outline, trim the aida and buttonhole stitch the edging.
My finished patches look like this:
I should mention that the oriented aro-ace patch is a good example of why you may wish to avoid dollar-shop and eBay-knock-off floss (if your budget allows). The thread used for the oriented aro-ace lettering and background is acceptable, but the pink for the edging feathered and split, snagging on the cloth and my fingers, and couldn’t pull flush to form a neat, even line. (Instead, I ended up cursed by lumps and bobbles. Not as pretty!) The edging on the angled aro-ace patch came from the same floss set, but it looks as well as my patches sewn with DMC floss. There’s just no consistency in thread quality!
Pattern Development and Variations
Because I created new letter designs for both aro-ace patches, I roughed ideas out on graph paper before test-sewing them on aida scraps:
Working this way, with one or two letters sewn on scraps too small for any other use (with left-over oddments of floss) is good from a recycling and economy perspective. The drawback to thriftiness is the inability to truly see how the letters look when put together. I’m happy with the five-stripe aro-ace pattern, but only after finishing the four-stripe patch did I realise that my “C” is far too rounded when compared to the other blockish letters.
I like the shape as its own letter, but it’s distractingly different when used as part of the word “aroace”.
So I reworked the pattern for a more squared-off “C”:
I haven’t yet had the time to stitch up this version of the patch, so it’s possible that I’ll be posting another version after doing so. In the meantime, I hope it provides you with an alternative or a base for your own modifications.
I am planning to create a seven-stripe pattern for “aro” and “aroace” text patch designs, because I’d like as many folks underneath the aromantic umbrella as possible to have the option for a text patch in the colours of their pride. (I’m wanting a nebularomantic-coloured “aro” patch!) I’m also working on developing my aro-themed arrow designs, which I hope to share in future installments of this series.
Aro Worlds 