• Home
  • Suggest A DIY
  • DIY Newsletter

Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

  • About CraftGossip
  • Our Network
    • Bath & Body Crafts
    • Candle Making Ideas
    • Crochet Ideas
    • Cross Stitch
    • Edible Crafts
    • Felting Patterns
    • Glass Art
    • Home & Garden Ideas
    • Indie Crafts
    • Jewelry Making
    • Kids Crafts
    • Knitting Patterns
    • Lesson Plans
    • Needlework
    • Party Ideas
    • Polymer Clay
    • Quilting Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing Patterns
    • Card Making
    • DIY Weddings
    • Not Craft Ideas
  • Giveaways
  • Roundups
  • Store
  • Search

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]

How to Cross Stitch on Linen

How to Stitch Whipped Back Stitch

Next Pattern:

  • Seven Ways to Anchor Your Cross Stitches
«
»

Have you read?

Cross Stitch Creatures from the Sea

Last fall I came across this cross stitch pattern for a sea turtle and I talked myself out of sharing it right away because tropical animals don’t feel like a “fall” thing, but now that it’s summer again, let’s take a look at some cross stitch patterns for creatures that live in or around the sea. 

This sea turtle design from Witch Wolf Web Creations is literally just a chart with no grid to help you count stitches or suggested colors, but I would print it out and add a grid to make it easier to stitch. You can work it in many colors as shown, or there’s also a black and white version so you could just do it in a single color. 

Stitch up some fish or a seahorse with this bundle of four tropical fish cross stitch patterns from LaSelva Design. It includes a clownfish, seahorse, moorish idol and blue tang, all of which vary in size and colors used, but they’re all really cute. 

Or you can stitch a tank’s worth of tropical fish with this project from SamXstitch. There are 22 fish in all on this project, which measures 153 by 153 stitches. On 14 count fabric that’s 10.93 inches or 27.75 cm. It uses 15 colors. 

I also love the jewel-toned fishies on this project from Velvet Pony Design. This one has seven fish and a seahorse and measures 113 by 140 stitches. That’s just over 8 by 10 inches or 20.5 by 25.4 cm on 14 count fabric, though you can make it smaller with a higher fabric count. It calls for 24 colors. 

This vintage design from Past Pattern Palooza Co has a whole school of little fish. The design is 120 by 260 stitches and uses 30 colors. It measures 8.57 by 18.57 inches (21.7 by 47.2 cm) on 14 count fabric. The pattern notes say there are 69 designs in total, an individual fish range from 1.5 to 3 inches, or 4.5 to 8 cm. 

You can stitch up a whole tropical world complete with coral using this design from Easy Stitching Outlet (though I don’t think this one is particularly easy). At 219 by 95 stitches, on 14 count fabric it will come out to 15.6 by 6.8 inches, or 39.73 by 17.24 cm. 

Categories

Book Reviews Christmas Craft Businesses Craft Inspirations Craft News and Events Cross-Stitch Patterns & Charts Cross-Stitch Product Reviews Cross-Stitch Website Reviews Dogs & Cats Easter flowers Free Patterns Halloween More Cross Stitch Product Reviews spring Subversive Thanksgiving Tutorials and Patterns valentines day

RSS More Articles

  • Merino vs Romney Wool – Texture, Structure, and Speed in Felting
  • How To Make Matching Beaded Earrings From Leftover Beads
  • Bastille Day for Kids
  • Cloud Sweater Knitting Pattern Review For Cozy Sweater Makers
  • Easy Triangle Scarf Knitting Patterns For Beginners
  • How To Make Natural Face Cleanser: A Beginner-Friendly Guide To DIY Cleansers That Actually Make Sense
  • Crochet Leg Warmers Patterns You’ll Want to Make This Season
  • 12 Handmade Card Ideas with Tropical Vibes
  • 26 Clever Ways to Upcycle Your Old Sewing Machine Table or Parts
  • Cross Stitch Creatures from the Sea

Pick Your Blog

  • Sewing
  • Knitting
  • Quilting
  • Crochet
  • Home & Garden
  • Recycled Crafts
  • Scrapbooking
  • Card Making
  • Polymer Clay
  • Cross-Stitch
  • Edible Crafts
  • Felting
  • Glass Art
  • Indie Crafts
  • Kids Crafts
  • Jewelry Making
  • Lesson Plans
  • Needlework
  • Bath & Body
  • Party Ideas
  • Candle Making
  • DIY Weddings
  • Not Craft
  • Free Craft Projects

Copyright © 2026 · CraftGossip | Start Here | Contact Us | Link to Us | Your Editors | Privacy and affiliate policy