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Designer Spotlight: Rhonda’s Originals

February 6, 2025 by Sarah White

Rhonda’s Originals is an Etsy shop based in Connecticut that does a lot more than cross stitch patterns, but for our purposes we’ll focus on the Miss Prim line of cross stitch dolls, samplers and other designs with a sometimes twisted historical slant.

I really wanted to share these because I came across the Abraham Lincoln doll shown here, and given that his birthday is coming up I couldn’t resist it. His very tall hat says “Oh, Honestly, Abe,” which illustrates that snarky twist I mentioned. This particular design is 67 by 139 stitches, or about 4.75 by 10 inches, or 12 by 25.5 cm, when worked on 14 count fabric.

The patterns include instructions for making them into pillow “dolls.” Once you’ve stitched this one you’re sure to want to add George and Martha Washington and Betsy Ross to your collection (hers says “Heavens to Betsy”).

Among the more than 100 cross stitch designs there’s not really an organization so you’ll have to go treasure hunting. And treasure you are likely to find if you like mermaids, skulls, Pride and Prejudice or old fashioned Santas. To name a few of the things you’ll find. Most of the patterns are shown making these odd shaped pillows, but there are others that are shown as rectangles, and of course you can frame pieces or display them in a different way regardless of what is shown in the pattern.

In addition to cross stitch patterns you’ll find lots of fun printables here including puzzle cards, paper dolls, collage sheets, printable covers to upcycle old paperback books, holiday themed digital clip art you can download and use in different designs, and a fun collection of Marie Antoinette inspired digital designs. This stuff is lots of fun if you’re into collage, altered art, digital scrapbooking or other paper crafts.

Check out all the fun stuff on offer at Rhonda’s Originals, and let me know if you stitch up your own Honest(ly) Abe!

[Photo: Rhonda’s Originals]

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Have you read?

Everything You Need to Know About Embroidery Hoops

One of the most common supplies for cross stitch, aside from fabric, needles and floss, is an embroidery hoop. A hoop isn’t needed for every project, and indeed there are some stitchers who prefer not to use them at all. I generally don’t use a hoop when I’m working on a small cross stitch project, especially something that’s shape isn’t conducive to using a hoop (like a bookmark). 

But embroidery hoops can be really helpful for cross stitch because they hold your fabric at an even tension, which allows you to stitch more evenly without any more work on your part. It’s great for beginners to use hoops because the tension on the fabric can both help make your stitches more even and make the holes in the fabric a little easier to see. 

I’ll admit to always just buying whatever hoop is available in the right size when I’m ready to start a project without giving it much more thought than that. But there are things you should consider when choosing among the different kinds of hoops, which Caterpillar Cross Stitch covers in their great guide to embroidery hoops. 

The post walks you through wooden, plastic, spring tension and flexi hoops (which I’ll admit to having never heard of; they’re made of vinyl and plastic apparently), as well as Q-Snap frames, which aren’t really hoops because they’re made of plastic tubes that you snap together in the size and shape you need. 

It also covers what size hoop you should use for the project you’re working on and how to actually use a hoop in the right way. 

Whether you’re new to cross stitch or more seasoned, you’re sure to pick up a tip or a product to try in this post, so go check it out over at Caterpillar Cross Stitch. 

Do you have a favorite kind of embroidery hoop to use for cross stitch, or do you go without? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Caterpillar Cross Stitch]

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