Cross-Stitch

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How to Choose the Perfect Color Fabric for Your Cross Stitch Project

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aida colors for cross stitch

When I was a kid, pretty much the only colors of cross-stitch fabric you could buy where I lived were white and cream (or what’s called Ivory in the picture above). I don’t even remember black Aida fabric being around, though I’m sure you could buy it at a crafts store or specialty shop.

These days there are a whole lot more options, from different colors and shades to fabric that’s printed with patterns you can stitch right on top of.

All this choice is amazing, but it can also be somewhat daunting, especially if you are trying to buy online and you aren’t sure exactly what color you’re looking at.

Stitched Modern has a great guide to some basic Aida colors for cross-stitching that will help you see the differences between different colors of “white” and “black” so you can pick the best one for your project.

Do you have favorite places online to buy cross-stitch supplies? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Stitched Modern.]

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Comments

  1. So interesting you should post this regarding backing fabrics for stitching. Have been researching the various ones and have come up with 4 (Burlap, Linen, Monks, Warp) Out of the 4 reviewed on youtube “Standard Warp” is recommended for ease of use and longevity but let me tell you there is only one place I have found that sells it and there are no coupon offers for discounts.

Have you read?

Designer Spotlight: Stitch with Coffee

Stitch with Coffee is an Etsy shop that is almost completely devoted to holiday designs, with the exception of a series of designs that feature the exploits of a tuxedo cat named Tuxey. It’s also almost completely devoted to cat designs, as we’ll see. 

Because I happen to own a tuxedo cat (her name is Haru) we definitely have to spend some time talking about those patterns Haru means spring, so it seems appropriate to share this one of the cat in a field of daisies. The pattern measures 91 by 52 stitches and is all full cross stitches with a little bit of backstitching. It doesn’t say how many colors are used but I think it’s six or seven. 

I love the look of it on this sage colored 28 count linen but you can use whatever you like. 

The largest category in the shop is for Halloween, and here, too, you’ll find a lot of cats (I also have a black cat so you know I love that, too). There are cats doing potions, a skeleton cat, Frankencat, Dracula cat, cats in pumpkins, a cat witch flying a broom and more. There are also some ghosts and other patterns that don’t involve cats, but I can’t stress enough that there are a lot of cats in this shop (maybe it should have been called Stitch with Cats instead of Stitch with Coffee!).

In the Christmas section there are still more cats: in sweaters, with antlers decorated with holiday lights, in stockings and a cat snowman. There are not Christmas patterns that don’t feature cats.

There are a couple of Valentine’s Day patterns that don’t feature cats, but they still predominate here. You get the idea. 

If you like cats every day of the year you’re sure to enjoy this shop. And if you like cats every month of the year, make sure you check out their calendar series, which features cats doing seasonal things like watching a snow globe, being a leprechaun and waving a flag surrounded by fireworks. 

Check out all their designs at Stitch with Coffee, and let me know if you see something that catches your eye!

[Photo: Stitch with Coffee]