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How to Weave a Short End in Cross Stitch

August 5, 2024 by Sarah White

I know we all know better than trying to stitch with what’s obviously a too-short piece of embroidery floss, but that’s also never stopped up from trying to stitch up every last inch of thread.

If you’ve played thread chicken, whether you won or lost, you’ve probably left yourself with a super short end of floss that you can’t thread onto a needle and weave in at the back like you normally would.

Generally when I do this to myself I separate the threads and try to tie a knot, which isn’t all that easy to do, probably isn’t really helpful, and it leaves you with a knot in the work (which I don’t care that much about, but I know some people do).

Of course there has to be a better way, right?

Some stitchers who are way more clever than we are surely have a technique for dealing with these little threads. Aside from being willing to join in new thread even when they’ve only got a few stitches left because it will be easier than messing with a tiny end, right?

If you’ve ever wondered about what to do with a tiny tail from a game of thread chicken, you need to check out this video from Catkin and Lillie. It will probably take you less time to watch than it took me to tell you about it, and I don’t want to spoil her method, so you’re going to have to click over to YouTube and watch it for yourself.

It’s definitely worth it for the both simple and life changing advice on offer. I know that sounds dramatic but the way you stitch is part of your life, so it’s going to change your life when you try this technique.

Go check it out on YouTube, and give them a subscribe for tons of helpful tips, techniques and floss tube episodes.

[Photo: Catkin and Lillie]

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Patriotic Cross Stitch Patterns

Summer is the time of patriotic holidays in the United States, so it’s a great time to stitch up some red, white and blue cross stitch projects for the Fourth of July or just for summer decor.

Curious Carrie Designs has this cute Americana pattern that would be great to have on display all summer long. It includes an American flag in a watering can full of flowers. The design measure 55 by 60 stitches, which comes out to 4 by 4.375 inches, or 10 by a little more than 11 cm, when worked on 14 count fabric. (The sample is shown on 32 count linen, which is more like 16.) It uses 16 colors.

This Fourth of July design from Lotus Lake Stitching is specific to the holiday, but it wouldn’t have to be if you didn’t stitch the words. The little buildings and fireworks are so cute, and I love that random red, white and blue bird. It uses nine colors and measures 247 by 83 stitches. That’s 17.3 by 5.9 inches, or about 44 by 15 cm on 14 count fabric.

The burlap colored fabric on this project from Needle Treasures Nook makes it look especially rustic, but it would have a different look with pure white or light blue fabric behind the stitches. This one uses nine colors and is 72 by 71 stitches, and was worked on tea-dyed 36 count linen fabric.

The Sub Rosa Design has this patriotic garden design full of geometric red, white and blue flowers. This is one of a series of their designs so if you like it you should check them all out. This one is 131 by 71 stitches and is about 7.8 by 4 inches/20 by 10 cm on 36 count linen.

Wombat Stitching offers this one that is fully Fourth of July (and a little Captain America for fun I guess). It uses nine colors and is 193 by 193 stitches. That comes out to about 13.8 inches or 35 cm square on 14 count fabric.

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