Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint
I came across this cute collection of Stitch-mas in July patterns from Aurifil that would be great for stitching for Christmas.
There’s a great variety of stuff including stockings, Santas, dogs and cats, and some super cute snowflakes stitched to fit into old pocketwatches.
Each pattern on the list is linked to a PDF of its chart. So let’s get stitiching! Head to Aurifil for all the designs.
[Photo: Aurifil.]
Looking for more Christmas Cross Stitch patterns? Check these out on Etsy.
I’m primarily a knitter, and in the knitting world the “emotional support chicken” has been a big trend probably for a couple of years now (I don’t know how long something has to be popular before you can stop calling it a trend, but whatever).
There are chicken crochet patterns that are popular as well, and now I’ve found a cross stitch chicken pattern that might just become the newest iteration of the emotional support chicken theme.
The Funky Chickens pattern from Satsuma Street are three-dimensional, triangular chickens embellished with felt to make their facial features and tail feathers. The bodies include stripes, curves, speckles and other little designs to mark different parts of their bodies. They’re super cute and not any more difficult to stitch than any other pattern, though of course there’s more finishing than you would normally expect.
The pattern includes designs for three chickens, which are actually a rooster and two hens. The rooster is slightly larger, at 120 by 60 stitches, or 4 by 4 inches/10 cm when finished. The hens are 100 by 50 stitches and come out to 3.25 inches/8 cm when finished. These measurements are for stitching on 14 count fabric or 28 count over two.
The patterns use 13 colors, and if you want to make all three, one skein of each color will make all of them. In addition to your regular cross stitch supplies you’ll need three or four little pieces of felt of different colors to add all the details.
These chickens would be great to use as pincushions, or you could put something heavy in the bottom and use them as pattern weights if you do sewing. They’d also be fun gifts for anyone who likes chickens or needs a little emotional support if you explain it to them.
The pattern is available from Satsuma Street on Etsy.
[Photo: Satsuma Street]