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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]

How to Cross Stitch on Linen

How to Stitch Whipped Back Stitch

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Sweet Apple Cross Stitch Patterns

Whether you’re stitching up apples for back to school or just because you love fall, these apple cross stitch patterns look like lots of fun to stitch. 

These teensy apples still bring a lot of detail even as each one is stitched a little smaller. LeSelva Design calls this set of three small + smaller + tiny, and they all use 10 colors. The biggest is 30 by 32 stitches, while the smallest is 15 by 16, and the one in the middle is 19 by 22. 

Another cute little classic apple design is this one from Bella Rose Craft. It uses just three colors (you could also stitch the little white shine if you want) and measures 2.21 by 2.57 inches on 14 count fabric (which is 5.6 by 6.5 cm). 

This pretty sampler from Wonder Stitch UA almost has a Christmas feel to it because those flowers look a little like poinsettias to me. You could stitch them in a different color if you feel the same way. As is the design uses 11 colors and measures 95 by 93 stitches. If worked on 14 count fabric your design will be about 6.8 by 6.6 inches, or 17.3 by 16.9 cm. 

Stitch a kaleidoscopic apple design in red and green with this pattern from Daily Cross Stitch. This one calls for seven colors and is 79 by 79 stitches. On 14 count fabric that 5.64 inches, or 14.3 cm square. 

These modern apples from Happy Cross Stitchers are a lot of fun, and you could stitch an individual apple in a little hoop frame for a cute teacher gift. The full design is 102 by 108 stitches and uses six colors, so each apple isn’t very large. If you stitch the whole project in one piece it will measure about 7.2 by 7.7 inches or 18.5 by 19.5 cm on 14 count. 

Go realistic with this pretty ripe apple cross stitch pattern from 1000s Patterns. Designed by Lubov Vodenikova, this pattern uses 22 colors and five blends, and measure 57 by 46 stitches. It uses full stitches and back stitching, and comes out to 4.05 by 3.26 inches, or 10.3 by 8.3 cm on 14 count fabric. 

Or go the opposite direction with this geometric apple from Velvet Pony Design. This one is done in greens but you could also make it red if you’d rather. Either way, it calls for 14 colors and is 80 by 79 stitches. That’s about 4.3 inches or 11.3 cm square on 18 count fabric, which is what is shown in the sample. 

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