Designer Spotlight: Little Dove Samplers

When I was casting about Etsy to find a designer to spotlight this week, I landed on Little Dove Samplers and felt like this might have been a designer that I showcased before. It turns out that I shares a summer sampler of theirs a couple of years ago, but I remembered the bright and cheerful designs, which once again drew me into their world.

This UK based designer does a lot of colorful sampler patterns, with a focus on seasons and holidays. In fact, speaking of that summer design, you can actually purchase a set of all four seasons, which have coordinating designs so they could be displayed together, or change out the season when appropriate throughout the year. There’s also a more rustic design that has all four seasons in one piece if you prefer that look.

Of course it’s not all seasons and holidays at Little Dove Samplers, though that is a lot of it. Another pattern that caught my eye is The Sewing Room, shown above. This colorful design features buttons, threads, a quilt top, a sewing machine and a black cat lounging on a pile of fabric. There’s even a basket of yarn under the chair. It’s like she was peeking in my craft room when she designed this (I knit, sew and have a black cat who loves to hang out under the sewing table).

The design is 114 by 133 stitches, or 8 by 9.5 inches (20.3 by 24.1 cm) on 14-count fabric. I am thinking hard about making this one for my crafty space!

Some of the patterns have kitted options like this pretty butterfly sampler. (I’m not seeing one for the sewing room pattern.)

They also have a couple of granny square crochet afghan patterns if you like doing other crafts, too.

Check out all the designs they have to offer at Little Dove Samplers on Etsy.

If you have a shop, or have a shop you love that you’d like to see featured here, let me know about it by clicking on the “suggest a DIY” link at the top of the page.

[Photo: Little Dove Samplers]

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Cross Stitch Samplers with a Historic Twist

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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