Stitch Samplers and Other Historic Inspired Designs

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]

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How to Make Scissor Fobs

Project bags are not a necessity when it comes to cross stitch, or any other craft. But if you’re traveling with your cross stitch, or you want to keep things clean/organized/away from kids or pets, using project bags is a great idea.

Of course any kind of bag can be a project bag, from a zip top bag to a reusable shopping bag. I like to use the plastic zipper bags that sheets come in as project bags, especially for longer term storage of projects in hibernation because it keeps them clean and dust free but also allows me to see what’s in there.

Sirious Stitches has a very comprehensive post covering various options that they and other people in their community use for project bags and storage.

Probably the best thing about it is as it goes through the different kinds of bags there are links to tutorials if you want to make your own (because we’re mostly all multi-crafters, right?) and also places that you can buy bags if you’d rather go that route. You’ll find projects for a clear vinyl pencil pouch perfect for storing bobbined thread, large square pouches, vinyl square pouches, flat bottom pouches with zippers, folio cases with large pockets, bobbin pockets and multi-fold cases.

The point of all that research was that Siri wanted a new project bag, so you can click through to see not only all of these project options but what they ultimately made and how it’s working. It’s a really lovely project bag that makes me a little jealous on behalf of my projects that mostly just sit on my desk (or in a plastic shopping bag, ugh) while I’m working on them.

Do you have a favorite project bag? I’d love to hear about it. And be sure to check out the post at Sirious Stitches.

[Photo: Sirious Stiches]

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