Designer Spotlight: Ulysses Blue Stitching

I have been holding onto this Etsy shop to share with you when we got a little closer to Christmas, because as of this writing 17 of the designer’s 39 cross stitch charts have a Christmas theme. I think we’re close enough, so here’s Ulysses Blue Stitching!

This Australia-based shop has a focus on sampler-style projects and, as I mentioned, there’s a lot of Christmas going on. There are several different advent calendar themed stitching projects, and I think my favorite is the one shown here. I love all these little holiday houses, and they’d be a great way to use some thread out of your stash to make all the houses different colors if you like.

As it was designed it uses 10 colors and has a stitch area of 209 by 209 stitches. That makes a finished project of 14.6 inches square, or 37.9 cm, when stitched on 14 count fabric, but the pattern includes options for higher count fabric if you want to make it a little smaller.

These advent projects would be a lot of fun to do as an advent project, so you have it finished for Christmas and to use as decor through the season in years to come.

In addition there are more projects involving houses, as well as a snowman and fox, Santa and a cardinal, and a super cute cake stand sampler that looks like a tree covered with ornaments.

If Christmas isn’t your thing, there are more traditional sampler patterns, several of which have an American/patriotic feel, as well as some Halloween patterns to work on for next year (there’s a Halloween advent calendar, too, which I love). There are also a handful of patterns with a bee theme if you’re into that.

Check out all the stitchy goodies at the Ulysses Blue Stitching Etsy shop!

[Photo: Ulysses Blue Stitching]

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Cross Stitch Samplers with a Historic Twist

I came across the Etsy shop Bad Stitched when I was looking for bookmark cross stitch patterns and found their adorable pride bat bookmark, which I didn’t share then because I was going for more of a back to school vibe, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you love rainbows and bats.

This Etsy shop is big on whimsy and color, but not on organization, as there are not categories. Still, as of this writing there were only a little more than 60 patterns, so it’s small enough to scroll through.

In keeping with the theme of the bat bookmark, there are a lot of designs with animals and insects in different colors. Another one that caught my in this neon cicada with a crescent moon and stars. This one is 85 by 70 stitches and uses 16 colors. On 14 count fabric it comes out to 6 by 5 inches, or 15.4 by 12.7 cm.

You’ll also find patterns with animals such as mice, a snail, a jellyfish, a wolf, a corgi in a birthday hat, a fat seal and other bat designs. There are several mushroom designs, a pirate frog, and a scuba diving ghost (among other ghostly designs). You’ll find cats and mythical characters, a mouse thinking about eating strawberries and more.

There’s also an ebook full of mushroom designs, and another of creepy creatures for Halloween and beyond. There’s also a Pantheon bundle, full of gods, goddesses, characters from mythology, three amphora designs and a Greek inspired font.

If these sorts of designs sound like something you’d like to stitch, check out Bad Stitched on Etsy.

Know of a cross stitch designer (or are you a cross stitch designer) who should be featured in the designer spotlight? Let me know by leaving a comment or sending a note through the “suggest a DIY” link at the top of the page.

[Photo: Bad Stitched]

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