A Sweet Collection of Cupcakes to Stitch

I don’t know why cupcakes remind me of summer. They just look like the perfect little festive thing for this time of year, less fussy than a whole cake but still a lot of fun.

These cute little cupcakes are a free pattern from Smart Cross Stitch. There are nine varieties you can stitch up sampler style, use as a border on a project (wouldn’t they be cute on an apron?) or individually on cards or other projects.

The whole pattern is 87 by 114 stitches, and uses 21 colors. It’s considered to be for intermediate stitchers.

[Photo: Smart Cross Stitch.]

Looking for more cute summer-inspired cross-stitch patterns? Check out this collection of summer samplers and mini cross stitch patterns. Or stitch up a design inspired by the beach. Enjoy!

[Photo: Wizardi.]

Mardi Gras Cupcake Cross Stitch Pattern – Bursting with festive colors and intricate details, this design captures the essence of the carnival season in a sweet and whimsical way. Stitching this pattern will transport you to the lively streets of New Orleans, where music, laughter, and delectable treats fill the air.

Are You Ready For Cupcakes in July? – Whether you envision yourself enjoying a cupcake at a picnic, a backyard barbecue, or a beachside gathering, this pattern will transport you to a world of sunshine and sweetness. So embrace the summer vibes, gather your cross stitching supplies, and prepare to stitch your way to a delicious July filled with cupcakes and joyful memories.

Freebie: Spring Cupcake – As nature awakens from its winter slumber, celebrate the arrival of spring with this delightful freebie cross stitch pattern featuring a charming cupcake design. This pattern embodies the spirit of the season, with its fresh colors, blooming flowers, and whimsical details

Yummy Pink Cupcake – Overflowing with sweetness and adorned with luscious frosting and delicate decorations, this design will transport you to a world of delectable indulgence. Whether you’re stitching it for yourself or as a delightful gift for someone special, this pattern will infuse your stitching with the irresistible allure of a perfect cupcake

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35+ Sunflower Cross Stitch Patterns

If you like repeating cross stitch designs, borders you can use on other projects or as bookmarks, florals and Japanese-inspired designs, you’ll want to check out 200 Japanese Cross Stitch Designs by Saeko Endo. This collection of 200 cross stitch charts is low on instruction but big on inspiration for those who are comfortable taking a chart and running with it.

The book includes a brief introduction to the needed supplies and basics of stitching, but mostly is just photographs of finished designs and the charts that go with them. The charts vary widely in size and there can be anywhere from one to six charts printed on a single page.

Many of the designs are repeating patterns, but the chart shows a larger version so you can see how the repeats go together. Each chart has marked what portion is repeating and how many stitches and rows it includes. Other than that the charts are not numbered, but there are darker lines every five rows to help you count.

The patterns all range from one to three colors, and some include half cross stitches or back stitching, but most are full stitches.

The book is arranged into categories of motifs: geometric patterns, retro patterns, traditional Japanese patterns, floral and fauna and borders and pictorial motifs.

My favorites are the Japanese designs, many of which are recognizable from woodcuts, kimono designs and traditional shashiko embroidery. You’ll find cherry blossoms, suns, knots, and simple line designs that would be lots of fun to stitch.

There are a few pages devoted to different ways to modify charts such as changing colors, changing the way to design is repeated, flipping and rotating designs.

Other than that you’re on your own for how you actually want to use these designs. Of course they can just be stitched and framed but it might have been nice to see some of the projects stitched and staged in a way you might use them in everyday life (repeating motifs as coasters, or a bigger design turned into a pillow, for example).

Sometimes it helps to see designs used in different ways to get you thinking about how you might use them yourself. If you don’t need that creative push, this is a fine book full of patterns you’ll have fun playing with in different ways.

About the book: 112 pages, paperback, 200 patterns. Published 2025 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

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