A Fall Tree to Stitch, and a Tutorial on Making Your Own Patterns

This fall tree cross stitch pattern from Ugly Duckling House is so pretty. And there’s a good reason it has such detail: because it was designed from a photograph.

In addition to having a free download of the pattern (you must sign up for emails to get it) there’s a nice tutorial on how she makes her own cross stitch patterns from photos.

She uses a website called pic2pat, which is a really simple site that does a great job of turning photos into boxes and matching the colors to DMC floss options. She talks about how she uses the program and compares thread colors to the photograph to ensure as close to reality as possible.

I don’t know about you, but now I want to make my own realistic cross stitch patterns from photos.

Or at least stitch this great tree.

[Photo: Ugly Duckling House.]

Looking for more Fall-themed Cross-stitch patterns and charts? Check these out on Etsy.

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How Do You Store Your Cross Stitch Supplies?

One of the most common supplies for cross stitch, aside from fabric, needles and floss, is an embroidery hoop. A hoop isn’t needed for every project, and indeed there are some stitchers who prefer not to use them at all. I generally don’t use a hoop when I’m working on a small cross stitch project, especially something that’s shape isn’t conducive to using a hoop (like a bookmark).

But embroidery hoops can be really helpful for cross stitch because they hold your fabric at an even tension, which allows you to stitch more evenly without any more work on your part. It’s great for beginners to use hoops because the tension on the fabric can both help make your stitches more even and make the holes in the fabric a little easier to see.

I’ll admit to always just buying whatever hoop is available in the right size when I’m ready to start a project without giving it much more thought than that. But there are things you should consider when choosing among the different kinds of hoops, which Caterpillar Cross Stitch covers in their great guide to embroidery hoops.

The post walks you through wooden, plastic, spring tension and flexi hoops (which I’ll admit to having never heard of; they’re made of vinyl and plastic apparently), as well as Q-Snap frames, which aren’t really hoops because they’re made of plastic tubes that you snap together in the size and shape you need.

It also covers what size hoop you should use for the project you’re working on and how to actually use a hoop in the right way.

Whether you’re new to cross stitch or more seasoned, you’re sure to pick up a tip or a product to try in this post, so go check it out over at Caterpillar Cross Stitch.

Do you have a favorite kind of embroidery hoop to use for cross stitch, or do you go without? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Caterpillar Cross Stitch]

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