Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

Designer Spotlight: Favorite Gnome

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Just by the name of this designer’s Etsy shop, Favorite Gnome, you can probably guess at most of what you will find in this storefront. There are in fact more that 250 gnome cross stitch patterns on this page as of this writing, with themes form holidays to sports, occupations, hobbies and more. 

You can stitch up a knitting gnome (you know I had to mention that!). Or a gnome that’s a dentist. How about a mushroom? Or one in the Navy? And that’s just a few just on the first page of listings!

There are of course lots of Christmas and other holiday themed ones, too. I like this classic Santa gnome shown here holding a stocking with candy canes. I like that it’s not all red and white stripes but brings in some green, too. The design is 63 by 117 stitches, which comes out to 5 by 9 inches or 11.4 by 21.3 cm. It uses 20 colors and includes a fair bit of back stitching to outline the gnome and add the snowflake to the stocking. It would be a great gift for a gnome lover or a Santa fan.

You can also buy some sets of gnome cross stitch patterns if you like. As of this writing they include witches, zodiac signs, wine-themed gnomes, autumn and Halloween gnomes, winter gnomes and a set for St. Patrick’s Day.

I did say there was more than gnomes here, though that collection would be plenty. You can also find some animal cross stitch patterns, which are done is a cute cartoony style with most of them having flowers on their heads.

This designer will also make custom cross stitch patterns from a photo for you if that’s something you’re interested in.

Check out all the fun (and gnome-filled!) patterns they have to offer at Favorite Gnome. And maybe let me know which gnome is your favorite.

[Photo: Favorite Gnome]

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Crow Cross Stitch Patterns

In all my years writing about cross stitch, I don’t think I’ve ever had a post dedicated to crow cross stitch patterns. That’s a shame, because crows are cool, and they’re a great motif to use in the fall that has a bit of a Halloween/spooky vibe without necessarily being all pumpkins and ghosts (though we have some of that, too). 

Actually, these little crow cross stitch patterns from LaSelva Design could be up in the house year round, especially if you’ve made friends with crows or are trying to cultivate your own murder. This set of four patterns is each worked in four colors, and they’re shown in 3-inch hoops, though they vary in size a little bit. 

This Art Nouveau crow from Needle Lot Designs is stunning and reminds me a bit of a tarot card. It would be the perfect thing to stitch for a witchy friend. It measures 74 by 98 stitches, which comes out to 5.25 by 7 inches or 13.4 by 17.8 cm on 14 count fabric. It uses 14 colors and has no backstitching. 

Or keep it monochrome with PandoraXstitch‘s cross cross stitch pattern. I love how this one looks like a woodcut, and it shows you that even stitching in a single color you can make something really interesting. This design is 283 by 284 stitches, which is a little more than 20 inches or 51.5 cm not quite square on 14 count fabric. The pattern includes measurements for other counts if you want to make it a different size. 

The Book of Lost Keys design from Haunted Frames feels a little more Halloween, but it doesn’t have to be. It tells the story of a mama crow whose baby is locked in a cage, but the mama has the key. The design is shown worked on 18 count fabric and measures 109 by 79 stitches. That’s 6.1 by 4.4 inches, or about 15.5 by 11 cm. It uses four colors of regular floss as well as gold metallic floss. 

Speaking of more Halloween, I love this spooky cake stand featuring a crow and other characters from Ulysses Blue Stitching. You’ll find a creepy cake, eyeball in a jar, owl, ghosts and more haunting this house. It uses nine colors and measure 109 by 143 stitches. That’s 7.4 by 9.8 inches or 19.78 by 25.94 cm on 14 count fabric. 

I also like this kind of folk art crow (or raven as the pattern calls it) sitting on a pumpkin from MIYAstitch. This one measures a manageable 71 by 81 stitches and uses seven colors. On 14 count fabric it comes out to a little more than 5 by almost 6 inches (or 13 by 15 cm). 

Another pumpkin and crow pattern (this time with a witch hat) comes from My Lovely Embroidery MB. This dare I say cute design uses seven colors as well ans is 81 by 80 stitches. That measures 5.79 by 5.71 inches, or 14.7 by 14.51 cm, on 14 count fabric. This one uses full and three-quarter stitches as well as French knots.