Sarcastic Space Cross Stitch

The words “sarcastic space cross stitch” aren’t really words I expected to be typing all in a row like that, but I don’t know what else to call this design from JP Crochet.

I mean, the designer calls it “funny sarcastic romantic” so I guess I can’t say this is the cross stitch you make when you want to break up with someone?

It is actually pretty cute, with a retro future rocket, crescent moon and clouds, with the words “I need more space.” This one would be fun to stitch for a space-loving kid or adult.

Whether the love literal space or the more sarcastic sense of space doesn’t really matter much in this case. Maybe they like both? Perfection.

This design measures 111 by 139 stitches and uses eight colors. The yellow and orange palette is perfect for a traditional retro space design, but there are no rules here if you want to make the “smoke” rainbow colored or shades of purple or whatever.

If you stitch it on 14 count fabric it will be about 7.8 by 9.8 inches, or 20 by 25 cm.

The design is shown on white fabric, which makes sense because the background of the night sky is dark blue, but it might also be fun to do this on a black background and save yourself a bit of stitching by leaving the sky part plain fabric.

Either way because the sections of each color are generally large (and it wouldn’t really matter if you put the stars in exactly the same spots they are shown in the pattern), this would be a fine design for a beginner or someone with more stitching experience. I also like the idea of doing French knots or beads for the stars if you want to make it a little fancier.

The pattern is available for free on the JP Crochet website.

[Photo: JP Croche]

Next Pattern:

Book Review: Retro Christmas Cross Stitch

Unique Stitch Crafts is a Turkish designer that has a couple of main interests in their cross stitch designs: travel and Christmas stockings.

By far the biggest category in their storefront is Christmas stockings, with more than 100 options to choose from. There are fully stitched fronts with designs classic and whimsical (like an alicorn and a pastel rainbow, or a bunny in Harlequin costume playing violin to a mushroom) and designs that just go across the cuff of the stocking. There are ornaments with a Nutcracker or Frozen theme, New York City stockings and stockings for your dinosaur.

As an example, here’s a stocking covered with mini holiday designs, which you could also use as ornaments if you wanted. The full design is 165 by 255 stitches, which comes out to 10.3 by 16 inches, or 26 by 40.6 cm on 16 count fabric. The pattern just makes the front of the stocking so you need to grab some fabric for the back of the stocking and sew it together yourself.

There’s also a large collection of travel cross stitch patterns, including national parks designs both large and mini, and travel poster style designs for many US states and cities. (There’s not an Arkansas, which is my standard test since I live there, but there is a pattern of the Mississippi River bridge in Memphis, which is technically half in Arkansas.)

If you’re more of a world traveler you’ll find more of the travel poster style designs for cities and countries, including Thailand and China, Berlin, Sydney and Marrakech.

In addition to all of that, you’ll find patterns called retro, which includes a wide range of designs, but many seem to be food and coffee related; folk art designs (lots of flowers and birds); and famous paintings translated to cross stitch. Smaller categories include Christmas, Halloween, animals, kids and castles.

Check out all the fun designs at Unique Stitch Crafts on Etsy.

[Photo: Unique Stitch Crafts]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?