Book Review: 100 Mini Cross Stitch Designs

There are a lot of fun, large and challenging cross stitch designs out there, but sometimes you just want something small and simple. Little cross stitch designs are great to use on greeting cards, bookmarks, napkins and other projects, and though they don’t take a long time to stitch they are still a lot of fun.

100 Mini Cross Stitch Designs by Rosemary Drysdale has a wide range of wee designs, including holiday and seasonal designs, natural elements like mushrooms and flowers, objects like school buses and sushi, just to name a few.

The patterns are presented in full color charts that are large and easy to read. Some of the patterns are shown in projects such as a pillow covered with bees and a hive or a set of rockets framed separately to decorate a kid’s room. You can use these ideas as a jumping off point to design your own gift tags, embellished clothing or whatever else you like.

If you love cross stitch but also enjoy the instant gratification of small projects, this book is a must have!

About the book: 160 pages, paperback, 100 patterns. Published in February 2022 by GMC Publications. Suggested retail $24. Buy on Amazon.

Next Pattern:

31+ Cross Stitch Ideas For Teacher Appreciation Gifts

If you’re a fan of detailed and colorful cross stitch patterns, Design for Cross Stitch might have a pattern you want to try. This Etsy shop is based in Spain and has more than 50 designs with a focus on animals, holidays and landscapes.

I’m just going to start with the first pattern that caught my eye when I visited the site, which is this Sakura by the Lake project. This pattern is 200 by 200 stitches and the whole background is stitched, so it’s definitely not for a beginner, but it’s stunning and would be amazing to make for someone who loves Japan. Despite the detail it only uses 24 colors. Worked on 14 count fabric it will measure 14.64 inches, or 37.19 cm.

There are a few other landscape designs, including a canal in Venice and a few cabins in the woods.

The shop also has some cute animal cross stitch, with big, round faces and often holding a warm beverage. Holiday projects focus on Christmas and Halloween. Most of the patterns have a cute, chibi-like feel, but there are some that are more detailed and realistic as well. Take for examples the flower patterns, which are full of details and soft colors.

You’ll also find some fun bookmark cross stitch patterns with a watercolor feel, as well as some that look kind of like paint pouring turned into stitches.

If this sort of stuff sounds like fun to you, check out their Etsy store at Design for Cross Stitch.

Do you have a favorite cross stitch designer who I haven’t featured yet? Let me know in the comments or share more about them by clicking on “suggest a DIY” at the center top of the page and let me know the details. I’d love to share the designers you’re enjoying with a wider audience.

[Photo: Design for Cross Stitch]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply