Herbs to Cross Stitch for Your Kitchen

Even though we’re getting close to spring, I’m not quite ready to call it planting time where I live. I am, however, quite ready to have fresh herbs right outside my door again. Maybe for now I just have to settle for some herb cross stitch patterns.

This design from Mary Stitching is a study in green, with 12 different herbs worked in five colors. It’s so interesting how different they all look even with a limited color selection. This one is 277 by 279 stitches if you cross stitch the whole thing, but you can always pull out your favorite herbs to stitch individually. If you make the whole thing in one piece on 14 count fabric it comes out to 17.1 by 16.1 inches, or 43.4 by 41 cm. The pattern has measurements for other counts, too, if you want to make it smaller.

Another one you can stitch all together or make smaller pieces is this herbal teacup collection from Dots and Spots Shop. These aren’t strictly all herbs; there are some flowers in there, too, but I’ll allow it because I think it’s pretty. This project uses 26 colors if you stitch the whole thing, and runs to 209 by 312 stitches. On 14 count fabric that’s 14.92 by 22.28 inches, or 37.9 by 56.6 cm. This one also has suggestions for smaller counts to make a slightly smaller project.

Need help keeping track of which herbs and spices do what for your kitchen witch projects? This kitchen witchery chart from Cross Stitch For You should help you out. Now you know that basil is good for courage, money, wisdom and protection, and is also delicious. This project uses 29 colors and measures 180 by 220 stitches. That’s 12.86 by 15.7 inches, or 32.66 by 39.91 cm, when worked on 14 count fabric.

And if you’re gearing up for planting some herbs in a window box, you can embellish it with these cross stitch plant markers from Susan Bates via gathered. These pretty designs for rosemary, chive, sage and thyme show the herbs in bloom and give us hope for growing things to come.

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Do a Color Study in Cross Stitch, Sudoku Style

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]

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