A Great Way to Manage Thread on a Big Cross Stitch Project

I’ll admit that most of the cross-stitching I have done and most of what I share here are pretty small, easy projects that don’t require a lot of time, colors or effort to complete. That’s just what works for my life, and cross stitch isn’t my main hobby, so that’s the kind of project I tend to like and focus on.

But if you’re into big, artistic, complicated cross stitch patterns, this information from Peacock and Fig about the parking method of thread management might be helpful.

It explores a way to work a complex cross-stitch pattern where you work across a row and “park” the threads you aren’t using until you need them again.

It makes a lot of sense but I’d never really thought about how to do this (the hair clips are genius; bobby pins or safety pins would work, too).

Do you like complicated or large cross-stitch projects? I’d love to know how you approach them.

[Photo: Peacock and Fig.]

Inkspire Studio Shops offers cross stitch patterns as well as tons of different stitch minders, scissor charms and thread organization tools.

We’ll get to all that, but since we’re mostly here for the patterns, let’s start there.

All of the patterns are in one category (called Inkspire Originals if you’re following along). There are a lot of book-themed projects and more of the designs are bookmarks than anything else. You’ll find trope bookmarks, a Reading Rainbow themed design, flowers and a super cute watercolor set bookmark, to name a few.

And while the book themed projects are by far the most numerous, I wanted to share this super cute pile of vintage Pyrex style bowls. I love the colors on this one and it should be easy to stitch because so much of it is blocks (or bowls) of a single color. This one is only available as a printed pattern, but most of them are digital.

It calls for six colors and comes out 5.6 by 6.9 inches, or 14.2 by 17.5 cm when stitched on 14 count fabric.

In addition to the bookmarks and book themed projects you’ll find a few kitchen projects and some Halloween and Christmas designs as well.

But what this shop is really about is needle minders, and there are tons of them, with all kinds of themes ranging from introverted and snarky to animal themes, food and beverages, retro designs and religious and inspiring needle minders.

If you don’t know about needle minders, these are acrylic with magnets. You stick a magnet to the back of your work, add the needle minder to the front of the work, and then it holds your sewing needle when you’re not stitching. No need for piercing your fabric or losing your needle between stitching sessions.

She also makes charms you can attach to your scissors (or use as a stitch marker if you’re a knitter or crocheter), inventory and project trackers and bags large and small to hold works in progress and other supplies. She’s also got a great collection of vintage cross stitch patterns and kits, so check out all the fun goodies at Inkspired Studio Shops.

[Photo: Inkspire Studio Shops]

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