Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

Cross Stitch Idea: Make a Bag from a Stitched Canvas

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I was looking around on Pinterest the other day and I saw a photo from the Instagram feed of Seker Etamin, which is a really cute idea for using a bit of cross stitch.

It looks like the flamingos were stitched toward the top of a rectangle of canvas that was then folded (and probably lined with other fabric) and stitched into a bag with a zipper closure and a fun tassel zipper pull.

There are no instructions on the post but I think someone with basic sewing skills could manage (search online for a pattern for a zipper clutch or makeup bag) and it would be a great gift idea or a way to show off your stitching skills on a project you can use every day.

[Photo: Seker Etamin.]

Have you read?

Easy Ways to Fancy Up Your Biscornu

The cross stitcher behind the blog Sirious Stitches is quite into biscornu.

If you’re not, a quick primer: biscornu are three-dimensional cross-stitched objects with eight points, often with an indention in the middle that makes them look a bit like doughnuts without the hole. They can be just about any size and subject you can think of. They’re often used as pincushions but can also be seasonal decor or just decoration for any time of year. 

I’ve got a collection of biscornu cross stitch patterns here. 

Once you’ve stitched one or several (they are a little addicting) you might wonder what you can add to them to make them even more extra. 

It very much depends on the design of your biscornu and the look you are going for, but Sirious Stitches has a great post all about some of the options you might consider. 

I don’t want to give you the whole list because you need to go visit and see all of their great biscornu they’ve stitched, but one really easy thing that you can do with a lot of designs is take advantage of that center indent by adding a button, beads, silk flower or another embellishment. 

This is great to do just with a basic button from your stash that coordinates with the design and colors of the cross stitching, but it’s extra fun if you have a button that’s on theme, such as a leaf for a fall biscornu or a flower shaped button for a floral design. Add a jingle bell to a Christmas pattern, or a charm if you don’t have a button that coordinates. 

Just this one idea is sure to get you thinking about ways to embellish biscornu (not to mention other cross stitch projects) but head over to Sirious Stitches to see all of their ideas for embellishing biscornu to make these already fun projects even more fun. 

Have you ever made biscornu? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sirious Stitches]