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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House Cross Stitch Patterns

Non Stop Stitch is an Etsy shop based in Ukraine with a dizzying quantity and variety of cross stitch patterns.

They tend to the cute/whimsical and colorful, with lots of flowers, animals, fantasy designs and some classic Ukraine inspired motifs.

How about this super sweet Ukrainian boy and girl design? With folk inspired clothing and adorable animals, these characters can be stitched together on one piece or separately. The images were designed by Nadiia Nagorna. The boy measures 50 by 96 and uses 22 colors and blends, while the girl is 62 by 94 stitches and uses 27 colors and blends.

Both projects involve full and half cross stitches, as well as backstitch and French knots. They are classified as intermediate patterns.

The largest category on the site is Christmas patterns, with more than 200 options, ranging from cute animals to ornaments, Santas, snowmen and more. There are also plenty of patterns for both Easter and Halloween if you like seasonal stitches.

In addition you’ll find lots of animal designs, from bears and foxes to cats and dogs, mice and elephants, birds, bunnies and bugs. And extensive flowers and plants section includes pretty bouquet cross stitch patterns, stitched wreaths and seasonal scenes, as well as food cross stitch patterns, like a swag of chili peppers, mushrooms on a postage stamp, persimmons and cherries.

The fantasy and magic category leans heavy on whimsy with cute dragons, a one-eyed monster with dragonfly wings, a mermaid listening to music, and a green bearded river spirit covered in lily pads.

And that’s not even to mention other sections like food and drinks, houses and landscapes, lighthouses, people/babies/dolls and more. There’s so much to choose from there’s no way to really categorize it all, so why don’t you head over to Non Stop Stitch and do some scrolling. I’d love to hear if you make one of their patterns!

[Photo: Non Stop Stitch]

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