Cross-Stitch

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More on Cross-Stitched Gift Tags

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how to make cross-stitched gift tags

Not too long ago I shared a post about cross-stitching gift tags that used little sampler freebies from a magazine, but I suggested that it wouldn’t be too hard to do something similar on your own.

Since then I found a post that has more information on how to finish cross stitch gift tags, which should be helpful if any of you want to try making your own gift tags.

I love the look of a wee cross stitch design backed with cardboard or paper, especially if you use paper with a design or color that coordinates with the tag.

Check out And Sew We Craft for all the details!

[Photo: And Sew We Craft.]

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Designer Spotlight: Needle Lot Designs

A reader suggested that I share Needle Lot Designs with you, which isn’t a designer I was familiar with, so let’s check it out together. 

Their designs are colorful, with lots of animals, fantasy and folklore inspired designs. The page’s tagline says it makes “cross stitch patterns for quirky hearts.” 

The largest category on the site is called animal friends, though there are plenty of other categories about animals and nature, too (such as bugs & beetles and aquatic animals). These aren’t the sorts of animals you’d generally expect to find in cross stitch. There’s a poison heart frog, a capybara in a teacup, a racoon and possum teaming up to go through the trash. 

My favorite here is this pretty red panda, sitting on a branch in front of a stand of bamboo. This one uses 19 colors, and it’s all full cross stitches but the designer calls it an intermediate pattern because of the size and number of colors involved. It’s 100 by 105 stitches, and shown worked on 32 count Belfast linen.

Worked on 14 count fabric it measures 7.25 by 7.5 inches, or 18.1 by 19.1 cm. 

There are also art nouveau designs featuring animals, as well as a few animal-themed tarot cards. 

The fantasy and folklore section includes Mothman, Nessie and a baby jackalope, as well as a couple of dragon designs and Cerberus reimagined as a three-headed cat. (Yes, it’s called Cerberpuss.)

You’ll even find a few Halloween/fall and Christmas/winter patterns if you like the seasonal stuff. Check out all their designs at Needle Lot Designs on Etsy. 

And if you want me to feature one of your favorite designers that I haven’t mentioned yet, you can share that by leaving a comment on this post or heading to the top of the page, clicking on “suggest a craft” in the middle of the top navigation bar and filling out the form there. 

[Photo: Needle Lot Designs]