Designer Spotlight: October House Fiber Arts

October House Fiber Arts began with spinning fiber and knitwear designs, but has expanded over the years to include a large line of cross stitch patterns. (Unrelated: they’re based in Arkansas, same as me!)

A lot of their designs are shown as small pillows, which could be used for decor or as pincushions, but of course you could frame them as well.

It could be winter coming on where I live but I’m especially drawn to the Strawberry Faire pattern, shown above. It’s so cute with the strawberry and a bird that’s probably about to eat the strawberry at any moment, even though it is bigger than they are. The texture on the strawberry is a lot of fun.

The pattern measures 91 by 62 stitches, and is shown worked on 30 count linen. It calls for Classic Coloworks and Weeks Dyeworks threads, but conversion to DMC is included. It uses 10 colors. As stitched the project is about 6 by 4 1/8 inches.

As you might guess, there are lots of sampler-style patterns, too, even an Arkansas themed one, though of course you could change the wording and the year to make it your state and whatever year you’re stitching it, or whatever year you moved there, or use your last name and the year of your wedding, or your child’s name and their year of birth, whatever you like!

And because of the knitting connection, there are patterns related to knitting and spinning as well as cross stitch. The Knitter’s Alphabet may be my favorite. It features all the letters of the alphabet, the words knit and purl, and plenty of knitting related motifs like an alpaca and a sweater.

The website includes a blog and a few tutorials to help you with specific projects. And there are a few cute freebie cross stitch patterns (and knitting patterns!) too.

[Photo: October House Fiber Arts]

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14 Strawberry Cross Stitch Patterns

Embrovia is a cross stitch designer with a lot of funny designs, plenty of ghosts and cats and other fun things for you to stitch. Let’s take a closer look.

I love the story of this shop, which I hope is true and not made up by AI, that it’s run by a husband who made cross stitch designs for his wife and then opened a shop. We’re just going to believe it’s true, OK?

The biggest category on their storefont is called “funny,” and that makes sense because there are a lot of funny designs here. From a duck with a knife to a dog on a toilet, there are lots of options here to stitch for that person on your list with a slightly off sense of humor.

When I saw this caution: floor is lava design I knew that was the one I needed to share with you all. It uses six colors and measures 130 by 135 stitches. On 14 count fabric that comes out to 9.3 by 9.6 inches, or 23.7 by 24.6 cm. It only uses full cross stitches.

Another big section is the one devoted to cats. This includes some more realistic looking cats, cat ghosts and superheroes, cats in coffee cups (or with coffee cups) and cats at computers. Other animals also feature in their designs, including bunnies, dogs, birds, capybaras, butterflies and more.

There’s a pretty collection of floral patterns, and a nice set of patterns designed to be stitched on dark canvas (mostly black or red). Rounding out the offerings are designs focused on gaming, mountains, abstract/modern designs, patterns and mandalas and designs for the nursery.

Check out all their fun designs at Embrovia on Etsy.

Have a favorite shop you’d like to see in the designer spotlight? Let me know in the comments or click on “suggest a craft” at the top of the page and tell me about it!

[Photo: Embrovia]

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