Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

Book Review: 100 Mini Cross Stitch Designs

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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.

Have you read?

Backpack Cross Stitch Patterns

These backpack cross stitch patterns aren’t like the backpacks you would use for school, but they might inspire you to go on a different sort of adventure, and pack your sense of humor. 

When it comes to funny cross stitch, this Adventure Awaits rubber ducky cross stitch pattern from Relaxing Hobby Studio is super cute. It uses nine colors and measures 52 by 75 stitches, which comes out to about 3.8 by 5.4 inches, or 9.7 by 13.8 cm, on 14 count fabric. 

I also love this little pigeon adventurer from Happy Cross Stitchers. Actually, with hoodie and sneakers this pigeon does look like he’s ready for school! This one measures 88 by 138 stitches and uses 13 colors. On 14 count fabric it comes out to about 6.2 by 9.8 inches, or 15.97 by 25.04 cm.

This sleepy cat is ready for an adventure as soon as they wake up from their nap. This sweet design from MoonLit Patterns features a kitty curled up on a backpack and wearing a knight’s helmet. This project uses 19 colors and measures 130 by 130 stitches. That makes it about 9.3 inches square, or 23.6 cm, when stitched on 14 count fabric. 

Or stitch up this backpack filled with flowers from Owl and Thread. This looks like just the bag you’d want to have for a walk in the forest or a spring meadow. The design is 71 by 90 stitches and uses 32 colors. On 14 count fabric it comes out to about 5 by 6.4 inches, or 12.9 16.3 cm.

I also like this kind of watercolor look girl with a backpack pattern from StitchALong Studios. You can change the color of hair and clothes as you like. As shown it uses 20 colors and is 90 by 132 stitches. That’s 6.375 by 9.375 inches, or 16 by 24 cm, if you work on 14 count fabric. 

If you’re looking for a design with more of a fall or winter look, check out this girl with a backpack wearing a hat and coat from GlamourXStitch. At 150 by 150 stitches, this one uses 26 colors. It comes out to 10.71 inches, or 27.2 cm, on 14 count fabric.