• Home
  • Suggest A Craft
  • DIY Newsletter

Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

  • About CraftGossip
  • Our Network
    • Bath & Body Crafts
    • Candle Making Ideas
    • Crochet Ideas
    • Cross Stitch
    • Edible Crafts
    • Felting Patterns
    • Glass Art
    • Home & Garden Ideas
    • Indie Crafts
    • Jewelry Making
    • Kids Crafts
    • Knitting Patterns
    • Lesson Plans
    • Needlework
    • Party Ideas
    • Polymer Clay
    • Quilting Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing Patterns
    • Card Making
    • DIY Weddings
    • Not Craft Ideas
  • Giveaways
  • Roundups
  • Store
  • Search

Stitch Samplers and Other Historic Inspired Designs

August 11, 2023 by Sarah White

I’m back with another look at a cross stitch designer I’ve learned about from wandering around online. This one is The Elegant Thread, which features a fun collection of samplers and other historic inspired cross stitch designs.

And a couple of wicked New England patterns, too.

The Elegant Thread offers cross stitch pattern downloads and printed patterns (not all are available as downloads) and needlework sets that include handmade fabric pouches using vintage fabrics, needle minders and embroidery scissors with custom coordinated beads scissor fobs.

All of which is great, but let’s talk about the patterns.

As with Fox and Rabbit Designs, which I featured recently, The Elegant Thread has some vintage reproduction sampler patterns, such as the one pictured that was originally stitched by Wilhelmine Scsmidt in 1884. It features several alphabets as well as Arabic and Roman numerals and the original stitcher’s name.

Among the digital downloads they also have several Victorian-inspired cross stitch patterns, a butterfly biscornu design and a couple of funny ones: hedge hugs, which is a Valentine’s Day hedgehog design, and Liberty Lobstah, a lobster decked out like the Statue of Liberty.

Looking at patterns that are sold as paper charts, you’ll find all of these as well as a few more samplers, based on historic samplers or inspired designs with a vintage look. There’s also a fun Paris inspired cross stitch pattern with the Eiffel Tower as the I in Paris, so you’ll want to check that out of you’re a fan of all things French!

In addition to all of the products mentions, The Elegant Thread also has a blog that includes five free cross stitch patterns. It hasn’t been updated in a while but it’s worth scrolling through if you’re looking for some alphabets or other projects with a vintage look.

[Photo: The Elegant Thread]

 

Next Pattern:

  • How to Make Scissor Fobs
«
»

Have you read?

Designer Spotlight: Curious Carrie Designs

If you like seasonal samplers and cross stitch patterns with a primitive twist, you’ll enjoy the collection from Curious Carrie Designs.

You’ll find alphabet designs, biscornu, patriotic projects and more. The summer category is the largest on the storefront, with Americana and floral designs. There are also categories for the other seasons and more general designs.

One of my favorites is this pretty sunflower cross stitch pattern, which is shown styled as a biscornu but it wouldn’t have to be. The pattern features sunflowers and bees and a little beehive. It uses 12 colors of floss and each side of the pattern is 51 by 51 stitches, which comes out to 3.64 inches or 9.2 cm square.

I love the fabric she used for the sample, which she actually dyed purple herself, but it would also be pretty on a purchased light blue or other color if you don’t want to dye your own.

There’s also a whole set of themed biscornu with a four letter word on one side (crow, home, love and snow, to name a few) along with a seasonal pattern on the other side.

The shop has a rather small selection at around 90 patterns as of this writing, but it’s a nice collection of traditional looking designs heavy on samplers and biscornu designs, so if those are things you like you’ll want to be sure to check it out. Visit Curious Carrie Designs on Etsy to see all her pretty designs.

Are you a designer or do you have a favorite cross stitch designer who hasn’t made it into the spotlight yet? (You can see all the featured designers in the craft businesses category on the page.) Let me know in the comments, or you can submit more detailed information by clicking on “suggest a craft” at the center top of the page.

[Photo: Curious Carrie Designs]

Categories

Book Reviews Christmas Craft Businesses Craft Inspirations Craft News and Events Cross-Stitch Patterns & Charts Cross-Stitch Product Reviews Cross-Stitch Website Reviews Dogs & Cats Easter flowers Free Patterns Halloween More Cross Stitch Product Reviews spring Subversive Thanksgiving Tutorials and Patterns valentines day

RSS More Articles

  • 15 Things to Sew for Someone Who Has Insomnia (Tested by Me – A Lifelong Sleepless Wreck)
  • Designer Spotlight: Curious Carrie Designs
  • DMC Oval Cushion Punch Needle Pattern – A Modern Twist on Cozy Decor
  • Blueberry Learning Activities
  • How the Wilthons Transformed Their Backyard Into a Self-Sufficient Homestead in Just 6 Months
  • Michaels Acquires Joann Intellectual Property; Joann Website Now Forwards to Michaels
  • Make Day and Night Floral Cards with the Same Stamp Set
  • Book Review: “Sewing Guide to Cancer ” – A Heartfelt and Practical Companion for Difficult Times
  • 12 School Graduation Scrapbook Layout Ideas
  • A Whimsical Sock Pattern to Blow Your Mind

Pick Your Blog

  • Sewing
  • Knitting
  • Quilting
  • Crochet
  • Home & Garden
  • Recycled Crafts
  • Scrapbooking
  • Card Making
  • Polymer Clay
  • Cross-Stitch
  • Edible Crafts
  • Felting
  • Glass Art
  • Indie Crafts
  • Kids Crafts
  • Jewelry Making
  • Lesson Plans
  • Needlework
  • Bath & Body
  • Party Ideas
  • Candle Making
  • DIY Weddings
  • Not Craft
  • Free Craft Projects

Copyright © 2025 · CraftGossip | Start Here | Contact Us | Link to Us | Your Editors | Privacy and affiliate policy