As I’m deep in the middle of last-minute proofreading, today’s Aro Week post is something small, cheerful and slightly goofy: a little allo-aro dragon.

Because I wanted to keep to pride colours, the darker green stitches for eyes, nostril and lips don’t stand out against the lighter green. I should have stitched them in black as per the chart. I do like how boxing in the stitches with squareish outlining adds to the goofiness, though; this little guy belongs in a vintage video game!

This design is by Durene Jones and was published in issue 321 of the UK magazine The World of Cross Stitching. This issue includes a 41-pattern set of fantasy and mythology-themed motif patterns (great for patches) with a colour palette making heavy use of greens, yellows, white, grey and black. Perfect for aros who like fairy tales!

I stitched this piece in the Sullivans equivalent to DMC 401, 403, white/blanc, 727 and 725. Rather than edge in buttonhole stitch as usual, I finished this patch with a blanket stitch through each hole along the edge of the design, followed by a second row of blanket stitch worked through the stitches of the first row. This gives the aida edges a lace-like trim … and it’s a lot quicker than buttonhole stitch. So much quicker!

This issue (released last year) also has a watermelon tag pattern that’s begging for an aroflux or abro makeover. I may be planning to stitch the unicorn and pegasus designs onto a green cotton tote to make another aro-themed bag, because who doesn’t need more than one?