Cross-Stitch

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Designer Spotlight: Stitching 4 Seasons

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Stitch 4 Seasons has a small but cute collection of cross stitch patterns that’s heavy on patriotic designs and samplers done in the form of cake stands. 

Because that’s sort of a unique cross stitch genera I wanted to make sure I shared one of those so you’ll know what I’m talking about. Since there is a Fourth of July one, let’s take a look at that. 

The design of all of them is similar, with three layers of cake stand holding little icons related to the holiday (other options include Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day, along with a snowflake themed cake stand, one for American 250 and one just called September with fall images). 

For the Fourth of July version you’ll find hearts, stars, patriotic sheep, a flag and more, topped with a red, white and blue top hat. The design uses six colors and measures 99 by 106 stitches. On 14 count fabric that comes out to 6.6 by 7.4 inches, or 17.96 by 19.23 cm. 

In addition to the cake stand patterns there are other seasonal and holiday related designs. The biggest category is Christmas, which includes villages, Christmas ornaments, a quilt-inspired design and more. 

There are also cross stitch patterns for Halloween and Independence Day. 

The other category on the site is called samplers, and it includes a variety of things such as seasonal houses, traditional samplers with flowers and houses, a black cat with flowers shaping its body, and a stitched version of the Cutty Sark poem along with a stitched ship and an explanation of what the Cutty Sark was. 

Check out all the patterns at Stitch 4 Seasons on Etsy. 

Have a favorite cross stitch designer I haven’t featured yet? Let me know in the comments or at the link at the top of the page that says “suggest a DIY.”

[Photo: Stitch 4 Seasons]

 

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Designer Spotlight: Unique Stitch Crafts

Unique Stitch Crafts is a Turkish designer that has a couple of main interests in their cross stitch designs: travel and Christmas stockings. 

By far the biggest category in their storefront is Christmas stockings, with more than 100 options to choose from. There are fully stitched fronts with designs classic and whimsical (like an alicorn and a pastel rainbow, or a bunny in Harlequin costume playing violin to a mushroom) and designs that just go across the cuff of the stocking. There are ornaments with a Nutcracker or Frozen theme, New York City stockings and stockings for your dinosaur. 

As an example, here’s a stocking covered with mini holiday designs, which you could also use as ornaments if you wanted. The full design is 165 by 255 stitches, which comes out to 10.3 by 16 inches, or 26 by 40.6 cm on 16 count fabric. The pattern just makes the front of the stocking so you need to grab some fabric for the back of the stocking and sew it together yourself. 

There’s also a large collection of travel cross stitch patterns, including national parks designs both large and mini, and travel poster style designs for many US states and cities. (There’s not an Arkansas, which is my standard test since I live there, but there is a pattern of the Mississippi River bridge in Memphis, which is technically half in Arkansas.)

If you’re more of a world traveler you’ll find more of the travel poster style designs for cities and countries, including Thailand and China, Berlin, Sydney and Marrakech. 

In addition to all of that, you’ll find patterns called retro, which includes a wide range of designs, but many seem to be food and coffee related; folk art designs (lots of flowers and birds); and famous paintings translated to cross stitch. Smaller categories include Christmas, Halloween, animals, kids and castles. 

Check out all the fun designs at Unique Stitch Crafts on Etsy. 

[Photo: Unique Stitch Crafts]