Box Font!

I need another applique font like I need another hole in my head. But EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. I see a picture of the Box Font from The Itch 2 Stitch in use I think, "I have GOT to have that!" After a flurry of comments on an applique group (when I solicited suggestions for an upcoming project) AND a surprise coupon code listed on I2S's Facebook page (good through Sunday), I snatched it up.

I was at Hobby Lobby looking at fabric for a different project when my three year old son grabbed a bolt off the shelf and asked, "Mommy, can you make me a Lightning McQueen shirt???" When I saw the fabric my first response was no -- that big print just wouldn't work in an applique design. He asked again nicely (that alone is worth a reward!) and I remembered the Box Font and said YES! Why did I hesitate? I have got to take advantage of him making requests now while he still wants mommy-made shirts.
Here's a close-up of the results. I2S's Box Font and I added his name with Gadzooks from 8CP.

What do you think of my placement of the Lightning McQueen fabric? I'm pretty pleased with it, let me show you what I did. I printed a template of the design and trimmed out the D. Then I moved it all over the fabric trying to find a good spot.

I took several pics with my phone, and this turned out to be the view that was the best.

So I marked the outline of the D on the fabric with my water-soluble pen, and then in the hoop I lined up my marks with the placement stitches. Worked perfectly!

While in my head I loved the idea of using the checkered flag fabric as the background, in reality I think it's too busy. While you can read his name pretty well in that close-up image above (courtesy of the camera flash), when you step back it's hard to read, and overall it just looks a bit busy. See what I mean?

Thankfully Dashiell doesn't mind. :) It was a good learning experience and I'm so glad I did his first. It has helped me confirm my fabric selection for the next project using this font! Stay tuned...