Designer Spotlight: Needleshaped Ltd

If you like your cross stitch patterns with a gothic twist, you’re going to love the collection of patterns offered by UK-based Etsy shop Needleshaped Ltd. I don’t know if they’re really from a town called Gravesend like their bio (which also calls them “cross stitch conjurers”) says, but I almost wouldn’t care if they made that up to add to their spooky credibility.

Here you’ll find lots of creepy and funny cross stitch patterns, lots of text-based patterns, dark princesses, horror, butterflies and more. There are a few fun tattoo-inspired designs sold as kits (many of their patterns are available both as the pattern alone and as a kit with supplies), as well as designs specific to Halloween and Christmas. There are also pop culture designs, occult inspired patterns and a few that are just funny.

I wanted to share this oujia board cross stitch pattern just because it shows how much fun you can have even just with one color of thread. (It also is a great example of what I was talking about the other day about how fun the projects are that are worked with black cross stitch fabric, even though that increases their skill level a bit.) It calls for using a piece of fabric that’s 26 by 18 inches (66 by 45.7 cm), which leaves some room around the edges as shown in the photo. You can also get this one as a kit that includes the pattern, fabric, needle and thread, which comes in a plastic package should you want to gift it to someone else. (You’ll need your own embroidery hoop if you use one.)

You can find all of the digital patterns together without the kit selections here for easier browsing, or head to their main Etsy storefront page to check out all the goodies.

[Photo: Needleshaped Ltd]

Mango Charm Studio doesn’t have a huge collection of cross stitch patterns in their Etsy shop, but at the risk of repeating their own descriptor, the designs they do have are charming, pretty and cute.

This shop has cross stitch patterns and bookmark designs, as well as a few laser designs you can use to cut your own signs. But that’s a different craft, so let’s focus on the cross stitch.

The bookmarks are the only section that is separated out, but there aren’t a lot of patterns to scroll through in their general cross stitch art category. You’ll find a lot of flowers, from marigold to lily of the valley, gladiolus to carnation.

It turns out these are all birth flowers, and there’s also a set of all 12 designs if you want to buy the bundle and stitch them up for everyone’s birthday.

When it comes to bundles, though, I can’t resist sharing the mini coastal cross stitch pattern bundle, both because this shop is based in Maine and that feels appropriate, and because there’s a big place in my heart for New England costal icons.

This set of nine designs includes a sand castle under an umbrella, a shell, sailboat, lobster, lighthouse, beach house, whale tail, blueberry plant and anchor.

The pieces range in size from 10 by 34 to 35 by 34 stitches, and in all only seven colors are used. These would all fit in 3 or 4 inch hoops if you want to make the whole set in little frames like they are shown.

In addition to flowers and coastal designs, you’ll also find Halloween cross stitch patterns (including a full set of ghosts and their hobbies, and a vintage fortune teller design), Mediterranean tile designs, little houses, fruits and black cats.

The bookmark section includes seasonal book stacks, flowers, a couple of geese and a best dad ever with mountain design.

It’s a small but sweet selection that you should check out at Mango Charm Studio on Etsy.

[Photo: Mango Charm Studio]

Have you read?