I’ve finally got back to my castle after a break of several weeks, a simpler diaper to fill in the pillars with a paler blue thread. I needed a pattern that would still look right where the top part widened out, the diamond shape echoing the diagonal stitches on the towers.

Then for the door, a very simple diagonal line that gives the impression of planks of wood. The only problem was me reading the pattern! It appeared to have a space between each stitch but only one dot on the diagram, and I needed to go over two threads. It took me ages to sort it out with Sandra’s help. We were talking at cross purposes which didn’t help, but eventually I realised that it was basically a diagonal back stitch! I’ve used a single strand of floss in a dark blue, almost navy blue.

The windows were an even darker blue with three outlined cross stitches.

I then used a single strand of a beautiful variegated 21st-Century 4 stranded cotton in blue, turquoise, mauve and purple tones, in alternate rows of running stitch. It looks more subtle in reality. I’ll start the thread on the opposite side, to try and mirror-image the colour changes on the other windowed block. And I’ll probably use a variation of this diaper around the door section.