Cross-Stitch

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Helpful Tips for Cross-Stitch Newbies

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cross stitch tips for beginners and beyond

This is a few months old, but I just came across this roundup of helpful tips cross-stitchers should know from BuzzFeed, and it’s worth a read.

The author suggests starting by buying a book (!) so you’ll have some basic alphabets and simple designs at your fingertips, as well as starting with a kit (which is a great idea because you’ll have all the supplies you need in one purchase).

It covers picking fabric and thread, how to keep everything organized, choosing hoops, needles and other tools and tips on things like keeping the edges of your fabric from fraying, making sure your thread isn’t too long and learning basic stitches.

There are also tips for finishing and displaying your work, as well as moving beyond the basics to things like doing cross-stitch on crochet or on fabric.

I would add that a great way to start is browsing Etsy or Pinterest for cross-stitch patterns related to something you’re interested in. Don’t stitch a sampler or a project from a book just because it’s there if it’s not something you’ll want to hang on your wall. There’s tons of subversive and geeky cross-stitch patterns out there, as well as charts for just about anything else you might like, from flowers to bicycles, holiday patterns and more.

What would you want to tell a beginning cross-stitcher? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: BuzzFeed.]

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Bookmark Cross Stitch Patterns

It seems like there’s no end to the available options when it comes to cross stitch bookmarks, which is a good thing because they’re perennially popular to stitch as well. This time I thought I’d share some colorful cross stitch bookmarks to get you ready for the new school year or to make meeting your reading goals a little more fun. 

I love these retro floral designs from The Stitch Patterns. This set of four patterns is rated as very easy, and each bookmark measures 2.5 by 6 inches (or 6.35 by 15.25 cm) on 14 count fabric. 

These cute ones that look like mosaic tile would also be fun to stitch. This set includes five designs from EmbroSTyle Designs, and they call them folk art but they mostly look like old mosaics to me. Either way, the bookmarks are 25 by 101 stitches, and to stitch the full set uses 12 colors. 

If you’re looking for more of a challenge, you can stitch up a work of art with this set of 16 bookmarks designed to look like famous paintings. Stitch some sunflowers or a great wave or a starry night. Most of these are between 14 and 20 colors (the great wave is only 8) and the bookmarks are totally covered with stitching at a count of 35 by 100 stitches. Grab this set from Sunset and Sea Design.

Or how about some bookmarks inspired by books (or by movies inspired by books)? This set of Lord of the Rings bookmarks includes four landmarks from the books/movies. Each one is 35 by 115 stitches and uses between 8 and 17 colors. You can find them at byCountryMagicStitch.

These don’t quite all fit the description of being colorful bookmarks to cross stitch, but a few of them do, and speaking of book-themed bookmarks I had to share this set from Mama Geek inspired by Heartstopper. There are seven designs in all that should be quite familiar to readers (or viewers of the series). 

25 Christmas Bookmark Cross-stitch Patterns [Cross-Stitch]

25 Floral Bookmark Cross Stitch Patterns