Designer Spotlight: Niche Stitches

Niche Stitches is a United States based Etsy shop that sells, by its own description, “bookish and modern cross stitch patterns.” You’ll also find patterns related to video games, movies, and more.

There is definitely a fantasy focus when it comes to these patterns, with several designs based on characters and quotes from the A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City series, both of which are by Sarah J. Maas. You’ll also find dragons, a magic rabbit and more designs.

In the video gaming section there are patterns with game controllers and designs from Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing New Horizons.

The designs that really caught my eye were the seasonal ones, because they are heavy on designs inspired by The Muppet Christmas Carol. Here’s one of my favorites, a pair with Gonzo as the narrator and Rizzo as Tiny Tim telling us why they are in the story.

This one is set up as two separate patterns, with Gonzo measuring 106 by 153 stitches, which comes out to about 7.6 by 10.9 inches, or 19.3 by 27.7 cm on 14 count fabric. His design uses 15 colors. Rizzo is 93 by 137 stitches, or 6.6 by 9.8 inches/16.8 by 24.9 cm on 14 count fabric, and it also uses 15 colors. These might be a little big to hang on the tree but you could hang them next to each other on the wall.

There are also a few Halloween patterns and a section of animal cross stitch patterns, most of which are birds, with an elephant and giraffe thrown in.

This is a great shop to visit if you’re into fantasy books and cross stitch, but there are some great designs even if you’re not into that genre. Check out Niche Stitches on Etsy, and be sure to let me know if you have a favorite cross stitch designer I haven’t featured yet!

[Photo: Niche Stitches]

If you’re looking for a ton of easy cross stitch designs to use for Christmas projects, look no further than Claire Crompton’s The Ultimate Cross Stitch Christmas Collection, which includes more than 500 charts for tiny stockings, angels, ornaments and much more.

The book covers the materials you’ll use to create the projects, how to add beads and other embellishments, stitching techniques and instructions for finishing projects shown in the book.

You’ll find ideas for using the patterns such as making greeting cards, ornaments, wall hangings, napkin rings and patches, as well as ideas for adding stitching to ready made or semi-homemade gifts. There are also tips for framing and hanging projects, making an advent calendar and designing your own Christmas sampler.

The charts are arranged by theme like Christmas classics (bells, horns and candles), garlands including stockings and mittens, Christmas carols, advent motifs with numbers to make your own calendar, St. Nicholas, nativity projects, snowmen, Santa’s sleigh, snowflakes and snow themed projects, Shaker-style Christmas designs, Santa’s helpers and reindeer, tree decorations, snowy scenes, robins and other birds, angels, Christmas trees, penguins, baby’s first Christmas, Victorian-inspired designs, sweets and treats, Christmas flowers, child themed patterns, stitches for gift tags, fairies, bears both teddy and otherwise, 12 days of Christmas patterns, projects to work on linens for the table, sentiments for cards or other projects, and several sets of alphabets and numbers you can use to design your own projects.

There’s a really cute parcel alphabet that has the letters on presents and there are also elves and a Santa worked in, which would be cute for a project for a child or to make a sign for your house.

Patterns are shown several to a page with one key for all of the projects. The projects don’t say how big they are so you’ll have to count stitches on the chart and figure out how big they will be based on the fabric you are using.

Still, this is a nice, large collection of holiday themed cross stitch designs, which is great for people who like stitching projects big and small for Christmas.

About the book: 112 pages, paperback, published 2026 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

Have you read?