How Do You Store Your Cross Stitch Supplies?

Even though I’ve literally written a book on cleaning out and organizing your craft supplies, I am not the best at storing things appropriately. Especially my cross stitch supplies.

I have all of my thread in a plastic zippered bag like you would get when you buy a set of sheets. Which at least keeps things from getting dusty, but when I need to find a particular color it’s hard to root through the jumble of threads, fabric and other random stuff that has ended up in that bag through the years.

Recently I did sort some of my floss by color because I needed to figure out what I had that I could use and what I needed to buy for a big project I wanted to start. But even after I organized them they all went back into the bag, which is not a great long-term solution.

Hannah Hand Makes has some help for us in the form of a podcast and blog post all about how to store cross stitch supplies. She goes through how she stores her cross stitch fabric, floss, hoops and frames, needle minders, needles, scissors, projects in progress or recently finished (or in hibernation) and finishing tools.

There are definitely some great tips in here, but I think the most important thing is that everything needs a well-organized and dedicated space. It’s also a great idea to keep things in smaller containers when possible because it’s easier to keep a small thing organized and to see what you have. She talks about how she converted to using bobbins for her thread and that having bobbins in boxes makes it easier to find what you need and keep everything contained. Definitely better than my random bag of floss!

Check out all her tips for organizing anything related to your cross stitch life at Hannah Hand Makes.

[Photo: Hannah Hand Makes]

Free Printable – Floss Organization Cards

Get Your Floss Organized

Tips for Designing Your Own Cross Stitch Patterns

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How to Railroad Your Cross Stitch

If you’re a fan of detailed and colorful cross stitch patterns, Design for Cross Stitch might have a pattern you want to try. This Etsy shop is based in Spain and has more than 50 designs with a focus on animals, holidays and landscapes.

I’m just going to start with the first pattern that caught my eye when I visited the site, which is this Sakura by the Lake project. This pattern is 200 by 200 stitches and the whole background is stitched, so it’s definitely not for a beginner, but it’s stunning and would be amazing to make for someone who loves Japan. Despite the detail it only uses 24 colors. Worked on 14 count fabric it will measure 14.64 inches, or 37.19 cm.

There are a few other landscape designs, including a canal in Venice and a few cabins in the woods.

The shop also has some cute animal cross stitch, with big, round faces and often holding a warm beverage. Holiday projects focus on Christmas and Halloween. Most of the patterns have a cute, chibi-like feel, but there are some that are more detailed and realistic as well. Take for examples the flower patterns, which are full of details and soft colors.

You’ll also find some fun bookmark cross stitch patterns with a watercolor feel, as well as some that look kind of like paint pouring turned into stitches.

If this sort of stuff sounds like fun to you, check out their Etsy store at Design for Cross Stitch.

Do you have a favorite cross stitch designer who I haven’t featured yet? Let me know in the comments or share more about them by clicking on “suggest a DIY” at the center top of the page and let me know the details. I’d love to share the designers you’re enjoying with a wider audience.

[Photo: Design for Cross Stitch]

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