Stitch a Set of Ocean Themed Projects

I love this collection of ocean themed cross stitch patterns from The Stitch Patterns on Etsy. This set of eight patterns includes:

some small fish and coral
a pair of dolphins
a spotted fish
a crab
some shells and seaweed/coral
a stingray
a sea turtle
a humpback whale

Each design has a background of pastel coral and they all call for the same colors of floss, giving them a harmonious look. Most of the projects seem to use three or four colors (plus a little bit of black for eyes and other details), while the fish pattern adds in bright orange. I think it would be fun to do a little bit of that color in each design even though it’s not shown that way just to tie them all together if you happen to be stitching the whole set individually, as shown.

When stitched on 14 count fabric, each project is 5 by 7 inches/12.7 by 17.78 cm, so they’re perfect for framing all together. But even if you only want to stitch one or two of them, they would be a great addition to a beach themed room or to start you on your coastal grandma journey.

You can buy the whole set from The Stitch Patterns, or you can check out all their adorable ocean-themed projects here.

Looking for more cross stitch projects to decorate your beach house or keep you dreaming of the beach? Here are some more options for you:

I also love this set of mini beach themed cross stitch patterns, which would be fun to use as a border on just about any of the above listed patterns. Or stitch them on your linens for all your clam bakes and lobster roll dining experiences.

[Photo: The Stitch Patterns]

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A Cross Stitch I Spy at the Beach

One of the most common supplies for cross stitch, aside from fabric, needles and floss, is an embroidery hoop. A hoop isn’t needed for every project, and indeed there are some stitchers who prefer not to use them at all. I generally don’t use a hoop when I’m working on a small cross stitch project, especially something that’s shape isn’t conducive to using a hoop (like a bookmark).

But embroidery hoops can be really helpful for cross stitch because they hold your fabric at an even tension, which allows you to stitch more evenly without any more work on your part. It’s great for beginners to use hoops because the tension on the fabric can both help make your stitches more even and make the holes in the fabric a little easier to see.

I’ll admit to always just buying whatever hoop is available in the right size when I’m ready to start a project without giving it much more thought than that. But there are things you should consider when choosing among the different kinds of hoops, which Caterpillar Cross Stitch covers in their great guide to embroidery hoops.

The post walks you through wooden, plastic, spring tension and flexi hoops (which I’ll admit to having never heard of; they’re made of vinyl and plastic apparently), as well as Q-Snap frames, which aren’t really hoops because they’re made of plastic tubes that you snap together in the size and shape you need.

It also covers what size hoop you should use for the project you’re working on and how to actually use a hoop in the right way.

Whether you’re new to cross stitch or more seasoned, you’re sure to pick up a tip or a product to try in this post, so go check it out over at Caterpillar Cross Stitch.

Do you have a favorite kind of embroidery hoop to use for cross stitch, or do you go without? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Caterpillar Cross Stitch]

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