Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

Haunted House Pincushion Cross Stitch Pattern

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I told myself I was done sharing Halloween cross stitch patterns, because I wanted to give you all plenty of time to finish them before it’s actually time.

But.

Then I saw this amazing 3D haunted house pincushion cross stitch pattern and I knew I just had to share it. There was no way it could wait until next year. It was all I could do not to buy the pattern immediately and start working on it before I told you all about it.

Designed by Living on the Rainbow, this little house measures about 7 centimeters (or just under 3 inches) when finished as shown, worked on 16-count fabric. But there are a lot of details packed into that tiny package, and along with the assembly required the designer suggested this pattern for experienced stitchers.

The full pattern is 23 pages long and includes detailed instructions for assembly.

You can get this pattern on Etsy, and while you are there check out all of their amazing designs. For Halloween you will find 3D spell books to stitch, a jack o’lantern/scarecrow, ghost, potion bottle and more traditional designs featuring ghosts going about their business of knitting, cross stitching, taking care of their plants and, of course, haunting the library (how else are we going to finish our TBR piles?)

There are also great designs for other holidays and themes (mostly Christmas but there are also some cute Alice in Wonderland patterns that are sort of Halloween adjacent), and they’re all just so much fun I need to stop talking so you’ll go check them out.

If you’re looking for more fun Halloween cross stitch designs, check out these posts:

[Photo: Living on the Rainbow]

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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]