If you’ve been looking around the Internet for cross stitch patterns for very long, you’ve probably come across Stitch People, which specializes in cross-stitched portraits. While they provide a lot of different patterns to stitch a lot of different kinds of people, all of us — and all our friends/family situations — are different, so there’s a lot of customization involved in stitching up a portrait that looks just like your people.
That’s where Customize Your Cross-Stitch: Friends and Family by Lizzy Dabczynski-Bean of Stitch People comes in. The book is full of tips for making your own cross stitched people, as well as 12 full cross stitch patterns you can customize with the people and animals of your choice.
The book opens with information on the tools and materials needed to cross stitch, preparing your fabric and actually doing the stitching. Then there’s a section on ways to customize your cross stitch people, from the best colors for skin tones to different ways to do eyes, hair, make people shorter or taller and more.
Then there are 12 patterns showing different family and friend configurations in different scenes, stitches by different people and using different techniques and options. For example the baby announcement pattern shows a crib with mobile, art on the wall, a bookshelf, chair with teddy bear, one parent holding a baby and other details. The stitched sample uses a different color scheme, has pillows on the chair instead of a teddy bear, stitched a shelf with more books and a baby in each parent’s arms to indicate twins.
Because there are so many options and different ways to do things, these patterns aren’t for beginners. It would help to have a bit of skill with the techniques involved so you can imagine different ways to do things if you want. Of course you can just change skin tone, hair and clothing colors if that’s all it takes to make a project that looks like your loved ones, but I feel like all the different options might be a little intimidating for new stitchers.
The sample patterns show scenes such as family game night, a couple on the front steps of their house, grandparents (together or individual portraits), getting coffee or going to yoga with friends, and fun seasonal scenes, to name a few.
At the back of the book you’ll find more options for customization, including different alphabets you can use to add words or change the words in your design, and options for different cats and dogs. There’s also some blank graph paper for drawing your own designs, and tips on finishing your project in an embroidery hoop.
If you’ve ever wanted to stitch your family, friends and pets but weren’t sure how to get started, Customize Your Cross Stitch is a helpful guide for those ready to put together their own unique designs.
About the book: 112 pages, paperback, 12 patterns and tons of customization options. Published 2023 by Walter Foster Publishing. Suggested retail price $22.99.
