Review: Pokemon Cross Stitch

It doesn’t seem like the popularity of Pokemon is slowing down, and it’s always fun to stitch characters from pop culture as gifts or for yourself if that’s a fandom you belong to. My daughter never got into Pokemon, but her best friend loves it, so when I saw Pokemon Cross Stitch from Maria Diaz I wanted to check it out.

The book includes 54 patterns for different Pokemon characters, though some projects have more than one Pokemon in them and some are repeated. Pikachu, for example, is in eight of the projects, with Eevee; Piplup; Scorbunny; Cramorant; Pichu and Raichu; Grooky; Sobble; and by itself.

You’re likely to find a favorite in this collection since there are so many patterns.

Each project includes a full-color chart, floss color charts and a skill rating between 1 and 3 Pokeballs. The first 20 projects in the book are also shown fully stitches, while the rest are just shown in chart form. There are also cute illustrations of the characters in each piece, and a little fun fact about them.

A section on cross stitch basics covers materials, how to use a hoop, how to keep the edges of your work from fraying, how to find the center of your fabric and how to read patterns and make different stitches, among other things.

If you’ve never stitched before you might want a little more basic how-to information than this book provides, but it would also be a fun gift for someone who likes Pokemon who you might be trying to get interested in starting cross stitch (or who might already have an interest in cross stitch).

About the book: 112 pages, paperback, 54 patterns. Published 2023 by David and Charles. Suggested retail price $19.99.

And if you’re looking for more Poekmon cross stitch patterns, check out this roundup of Pokemon cross stitch I did a long time ago!

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30 Bookmarks To Cross Stitch For Kids

If you’re a fan of detailed and colorful cross stitch patterns, Design for Cross Stitch might have a pattern you want to try. This Etsy shop is based in Spain and has more than 50 designs with a focus on animals, holidays and landscapes.

I’m just going to start with the first pattern that caught my eye when I visited the site, which is this Sakura by the Lake project. This pattern is 200 by 200 stitches and the whole background is stitched, so it’s definitely not for a beginner, but it’s stunning and would be amazing to make for someone who loves Japan. Despite the detail it only uses 24 colors. Worked on 14 count fabric it will measure 14.64 inches, or 37.19 cm.

There are a few other landscape designs, including a canal in Venice and a few cabins in the woods.

The shop also has some cute animal cross stitch, with big, round faces and often holding a warm beverage. Holiday projects focus on Christmas and Halloween. Most of the patterns have a cute, chibi-like feel, but there are some that are more detailed and realistic as well. Take for examples the flower patterns, which are full of details and soft colors.

You’ll also find some fun bookmark cross stitch patterns with a watercolor feel, as well as some that look kind of like paint pouring turned into stitches.

If this sort of stuff sounds like fun to you, check out their Etsy store at Design for Cross Stitch.

Do you have a favorite cross stitch designer who I haven’t featured yet? Let me know in the comments or share more about them by clicking on “suggest a DIY” at the center top of the page and let me know the details. I’d love to share the designers you’re enjoying with a wider audience.

[Photo: Design for Cross Stitch]

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