Framed cross stitch. It contains a tape deck alt-mode Soundwave that sits under the words "80s HITS". Next to him sits a stack of cassttes, and above that stack is a cassette (Ravage) that is viewed from the front.

It’s done! Yeah, the frame’s not square, it’s stretched weird, and I wasn’t able to do all the bits and bobs that I wanted, but I’m proud of it. It looks cool. It got 2nd in counted cross stitch at my county fair (out of five, so I’ll take it).

I used some of the satin floss to get the shiny parts on Soundwave, since I have a shiny version. I dunno if this is an appropriate use for it, but there it is in it all it’s hard to use glory. Between it and the glow-in-the-dark, I’m not sure what was worse to work with.

I wanted to add all their names in the glow-in-the-dark, but it just wasn’t looking good, so I nixed it for the cassettes this time around - I’m thinking if I do it on the 14-ct aida like I’d planned it might have turned out easier to read, but that floss is just a bitch to work with anyway. So, just Soundwave gets it this time around. I thought it was a cool idea, since they’re robots in disguise and the floss blended in well to the fabric from afar.

Mostly black with the word SOUNDWAVE glowing where it would be on the actual piece. Composite image of the glow for "SOUNDWAVE" onto the image of the cross-stitch to show the location of the word with the rest of it. Close up of the backstitching for "SOUNDWAVE"

I spaced the letters out the way because I couldn’t get it to be even, but I figured a longitudinal wave would be a good way to go about it. Because sound.

Picking which cassettes to put in, since there just wasn’t room for more and still look good, was a little difficult. I got the most common ones on there, but wasn’t sure for the last two… I went with Garboil and Howlback, since that’s what was listed in the RPG book, though I toyed with Flipsides and Enemy. If I get around to selling the pattern, I’ll probably add a couple extras for people to customize it a little to what they like the most.

Colors were picked based on the toys I had on hand and looking for pictures of them on the internet. I looked at the sides to get an idea of what pattern to use for each cassette.

Close up of the stack of cassettes. From top to bottom, there is Ravage above the stack, then Laserbeak, Ratbat, Squawktalk, Garboil, Beastbox, Red Frenzy, Blue Rumble, Wingthing, Overkill, Buzzsaw, Slugfest, Howlback.

(I’ve been informed this is a Rumble is Blue household, but I’ll leave it to you to decide who’s who)

I’m not sold on using “80s HITS” on there, but it fit and I’m not a great designer. The coloring came from the toy box logo, at least the best I could get out of it.

Close up of the stitched "HITS" Close up of Decepticon logo on a Soundwave toy box.

Finally, here’s my back and before backstitching images. The back’s not pretty, but it could be worse.

Back of the piece The piece before the backstitiching was done.

This project was the first time I used fractional stitches, fractional backstitching, 22-ct hardanger, actual gridding, satin floss… I learned a lot working on this.

I’m pretty sure both the fabric (from some random stuff I had around) and the frame (from my grandmother’s basement) are older than me, so it kinda fit into the vibe. I’ve more than doubled my DMC floss selection from this.

Oh, it’s also on my WIP Soundwave wall now too. Not too full, but once I find my few other toys (mostly a couple cassettes) and buy frames for the Skybound comic issues I’ve collected, I’ll have more up. I’m hoping to get more pins, though.

Picture of a wall that has a couple shelves that have various Soundwave toys and a framed print, CD shelving where a LEGO Soundwave sits, a corkboard with some pins, and the framed cross stitch piece.