"Addled Her Brain" Cross Stitch Pattern

Louisa May Alcott is quoted as saying "She is very fond of books, and it has addled her brain." This design makes a perfect bookmark for all of us book addled readers. Or frame it and hang it on your library wall.

This is a great project for intermediate stitchers. The design is relatively small— only 33 stitches wide by 112 stitches high, and the entire printed pattern fits on a single page of a two-page booklet. The front has a color photo of the finished design. The chart is graphed in black and white symbols. A table showing the DMC colors you'll need is included. But you do get lots of practice with backstitching, both in the lettering, and also around the edges of the books. The pattern also include quarter- and half-stitches. Instructions are included.

How much fabric do I need?
To calculate the amount of fabric you will need for your project, divide the number of stitches by the stitch count of the fabric you wish to use. The higher the count of your fabric, the smaller your piece will be. Some examples appear below. Remember to leave several additional inches as a border on each side, to facilitate framing your project when it is finished.

Fabric count	Approximate size of stitched area
14-count	2 ¼" × 8"
18-count	1 ¾" × 6 ¼"
25-count	1 ¼" × 4 ½"

How difficult is this pattern?
Here's some information to consider to help you decide if this pattern is within your comfort zone.

Number of stitches	33 × 112
Number of colors	16
Number of pages	2
Backstitching	yes
Half- or quarter-stitches	yes
Specialty stitches	no
Specialty floss	no
Beads	no