Portuguese Dreams

Part of the Dreaming Girls series, this design by Barbara Ana, is a celebration of Portugal and everything Portuguese, as seen through the dreamer's eyes. Is she away from home, feeling a bit sad, and trying to bring back visions of her beloved home country?

As tears flow from her eyes, a melody seems to escape from the girl's mind, with musical notes and a guitar echoing her thoughts, a distant tune of Fado, speaking of saudad, sorrows and joys.

The sea surrounds Portugal, and so its people. The landscape features a tiny harbour, houses clumped together right on the wharf, and a nautical buoy marking the port entrance. A sailing ship can be seen in the distance. A swarm of tiny flying fish jump over the waves, in a silver splash.  Deep below a giant fish seems unconcerned, gently blowing bubbles.

The pattern is full of Barbara Ana's beloved vibrant colors, maybe evenmore so than usual, contrasted with black. Many items are evocative of traditional Portuguese crafts. Spot the cockerel-shaped earings or the pretty embroidered blouse. The design is stitched on a dark cobblestone background, in 32ct Zweigart Murano evenweave in color 7025, that is a good backdrop for the luminous colors of the pattern

Design Specifications:

• Stitch size: 117 x 87
• Colour & BW chart
• DMC threads
• Cross stitch, backstitch
• Number of colors: 164, 400, 402, 498, 598, 666, 726, 945, 947, 972, 3042, 3078, 3371, 3743, 3770, 3776, 3810, Blanc

Don’t forget to tag @thecottonworm & @barbaraanadesigns in your Instagram post or story!