Cross Stitch for Left-Handed People

As a knitter, I know that there can be a big difference in how handcrafts work depending on which hand is dominant for you. My daughter is left-handed, too, so I have to think about this when I’m teaching her things, to not automatically show her the “right-handed way” to do things and to give her time and space to figure out how to do things most easily for her. Which should really be the goal regardless of who you are teaching, but that’s another issue.

She did some hand sewing earlier this week, though she hasn’t yet tried cross stitch, and the only difference I can see is that she holds the needle in her left hand and holds the fabric in her right.

I did some poking around on the Internet looking for information on left-handed cross stitch, and, as I suspected, there’s not really a difference other than how you hold the needle. While many stitchers start from the center of a chart, lefties might find it easier to start at the top left and work their way across from left to right and top to bottom.

Are you a left-handed cross stitcher? Is there anything else you find different or any tips that helped you when learning to stitch? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Seasoned Cross Stitchers: What Do You Wish You Knew…

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]

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