Patterns to Use as Filler in Cross Stitch Projects

The other day I came across this post from Koekoek that has to do with a world map pattern of theirs (they also have individual countries if you’d rather). The idea is that you can fill in countries as you visit them, or just fill in different patterns to make a colorful map.

To help people wanting to fill in their maps in different ways, they posted a collection of 10 filler cross stitch patterns. These designs include things like diagonal lines, evenly spaced single stitches, checkerboards and rectangles that can help you fill a lot of space without just making a solid color or stripes.

It struck me that these design ideas would be fun to incorporate into other cross stitch projects, too.

For example you could use any of them to make a background around a cross stitch motif to make the pattern a little more dramatic or just to draw in more color.

You could use them to fill large letters, say if you were doing a monogram or an initial letter pattern for a baby’s room or a wedding.

If you stitch people in your projects you could add these designs to clothing to make them more interesting.

You could just practice these filler stitches to get used to reading and following cross stitch patterns and turn them into bookmarks, coasters or other little projects.

I’m sure there are other ways you could use them as well, and if you have some in mind I’d love to hear them.

I think this just goes to show that if you’re creative you can pull elements from different patterns and projects and use them in different ways than originally intended but still to great effect.

You can check out all of the patterns at the post on Koekoek, and maybe they’ll inspire you to try adding filler to a project you’re working on!

[Photo: Koekoek]

Most of the cross stitch projects I make are pretty small and not something I would consider heirloom quality (though I am working on a big project for my daughter that I hope to have done for her high school graduation in two years that I hope is something she’ll want to keep forever, but that’s another story).

But it is definitely possible to cross stitch projects that will stay around for generations, and one prime example of that is a cross-stitched linen tablecloth.

Linen tablecloths are classic, while stitching one can be a big project, depending on the size of your table, it doesn’t have to be really complicated.

Koekoek has a good, detailed post about figuring out how much linen you would need to make a tablecloth that you can cross stitch and/or embroider on (they also sell tablecloth linen in their shop if you don’t already have some or a linen tablecloth you already use). Of course for a project like this you’d want the best fabric you can find and afford, because you’ll be stitching it for a long time and hopefully using it for years.

The post walks through how to measure your table and determine how much fabric you’ll need including the drop you’ll want and hems. It includes the math for rectangular and square tables as well as circular tables, which helps take the guesswork out of buying fabric. It also talks about preparing the fabric and making mitered corners if you have a square or rectangular table, which will help the tablecloth sit nicely on your table.

The tutorial doesn’t include specific patterns to use for your tablecloth, but it does advise keeping it simple because this is a really big project. You can start with a motif in the center or doing borders, and this is a project you can add to through the years by, say, stitching a symbol for each family member or adding names, wedding dates, etc. and making it a real record of your family.

Would you ever cross stitch a tablecloth or have you done so? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Koekoek]

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