Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint
Cross stitch and embroidery look great together and can easily be used in the same project, so it’s worthwhile to know a little bit of both if you like stitching and drawing with thread.
Pam Ash Designs has a great tutorial for learning the Fern Stitch, which is a lovely little stitch that looks like trailing vines or flower stems.
It would be a great addition to a cross-stitched flower design or worked as a border around a cross stitch project.
[Photo: Pam Ash Designs.]
Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish yourself as a cross stitch designer. Most designers do holiday designs, they often do florals, have text designs that are a little snarky. But if you can find a niche you love and people can come to know you for it, that’s a great strategy.
I don’t know if the designer behind Living on the Rainbow originally set out to do really cool three dimensional cross stitch patterns, but that’s a lot of what’s available in their shop and I think it’s super fun.
There is, for example, a whole set of Christmas village patterns that are assembled in a circle and topped with fabric that makes them look sort of like carousels. There are three dimensional mushroom houses, tiny stitched books, and spring themed designs including 3D eggs, teapots and bird houses.
Some of my favorites are the tiny campers, like this Gothic caravan that looks like something Beetlejuice himself would ride around in. The cross stitch portion features Gothic windows on the sides and back, a striped top and vampire fangs on the front. It’s finished with button wheels, bats and bat wings in the photos, but you can add whatever accessories you like to bring your caravan to life.
It’s shown on 18 count fabric and comes out to about 1.8 by 2 inches, or 4.5 by 5.5 cm. It’s stitched in three pieces that are assembled and stuffed, and the pattern includes instructions for how to do that. It’s meant to be a pincushion but would be delightful as an ornament as well.
There are also designs that are assembled as cubes, some of which are seasonal while others have themes like different crafts. There’s also a stunning section of Alice in Wonderland patterns you’ll want to check out.
In addition to the dimensional designs, there are some more conventional Halloween patterns, a series of mini ghosts, Christmas themed patterns that look like envelopes, and a few Christmas patterns, too.
Do yourself a favor and go check out Living on the Rainbow. Even if you never stitch any of the projects (though I’d love to know if you do!) they’re sure to make you smile.
[Photo: Living on the Rainbow]