Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

Stitch Detailed Designs from Nature with Fiber on a Whim

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I’ve been sort of randomly featuring cross stitch designers that I found through a list of designers at Stitching Jules, and this week’s highlight is Fiber on a Whim.

This designer only has five charts available (and two of them can be purchased as kits) but they sure are pretty.

The designs are mostly of flowers, with one bird, and they use lots of colors and deep details to give you a lifelike effect. Since there are so few I’m just going to mention all of them:

  • Dahlia
  • Peony
  • Carolina spicebush
  • Kentucky iris (not sure what makes it a Kentucky iris, it looks like a regular purple iris, but maybe that’s actually what they’re called and growing up in Arkansas I just never learned that)
  • Standing tall, pictured above, is a bird on a little perch, I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be a painted bunting

Speaking of the bird design, that one measures 82 by 94 stitches and uses 24 colors. If you stitch it on 14 count fabric it comes out to 4.56 inches by 5.22 inches, and what a pretty little work of art that would be.

Because of the level of detail and number of colors used (the lowest number of colors used on a project is 23), I wouldn’t recommend these designs for beginning stitchers, but if you’re comfortable with complex charts and lots of colors these designs are a great choice.

Make them for your friends who garden or are bird watchers, or hang them somewhere in your house where you will see them through the winter to remind you that brighter days are ahead.

If you want to check out some of the other indie designers I’ve profiled, here’s a quick list:

Are you an indie designer or do you have a favorite designer you’d like me to share? Click Suggest a DIY at the top of the page and tell me all about it!

[Photo: Fiber on a Whim]

30 + Bird Cross Stitch Patterns

If you’re a nature enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty of our avian friends, you’re in for a treat. From majestic eagles to adorable robins, our curated selection of cross-stitch patterns celebrates the diverse and enchanting world of birds.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

All About Stitching on Perforated Paper

I recently wrote a post on my blog about using a stitchable journal cover and I mentioned that you can make your own stitched cover for a journal by using perforated paper instead of buying a stitchable notebook.

I have to admit, though, that I’ve never used perforated paper for cross stitch myself. I definitely want to because I think it would be great to use for bookmarks that don’t fray and have a little more stability, for example.

Sirious Stitches has us covered, though, because they did a deep dive into all things perforated cross stitch pattern that is worth the time to read through.

The post mentions that a lot of people use perforated paper for cross stitch because they buy an ornament kit that uses it. I’ve never seen these (or at least never noticed that that is what they were) but it’s a great idea to make small projects like ornaments in this way. It also talks about the pros and cons of using cross stitch paper, where to buy it and how to make your own. 

Making it yourself is an awesome idea because if you already have a pattern in mind you can just make holes in your paper where you need stitches to be and leave the rest solid. This would be ideal for making greeting cards, for example.

In addition to kits and sheets you can often find the paper pre-cut into different shapes you can use to make your own designs, no real pattern required.

The post also includes tips and advice for how to stitch on perforated paper that you’ll want to check out before you try your first project.

I’m super intrigued by the idea of using perforated paper for cross stitch and will probably be trying it out soon. Have you used it before? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Check out the post over at Sirious Stitches for more information.

[Photo: Sirious Stitches]