Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

The “Secret” to Finding Great Cross Stitch Patterns

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cross stitch designers on etsy

There are a lot of cross-stitch patterns online. There are even a lot of free cross-stitch patterns online. Some of them aren’t great, and some of them are clearly copyright violations (because someone took a picture from a book and posted it to a website or on Pinterest), but you can still find some good things.

But if we’re being honest, the best source for cross-stitch patterns on line is probably etsy.

Yes, you’re going to have to pay for patterns you get from there, but that’s just good karma. It takes time and money to create patterns, so if you like them you should send a little monetary thanks to the designer.

Need help navigating the tons of amazing designers on etsy? Check out this great post from Sew What Alicia all about cross-stitch designers on etsy. I’ll bet you’ll see something you like.

Do you have a favorite cross-stitch designer on etsy? Or are you a designer who sells on etsy? We’d love to know about it!

[Photo: Sew What Alicia.]

Comments

  1. Go to Library books sales or Salvation Army for Cross Stitch books. I find a lot of pattern books at these places.

  3. I’m also a designer who sells online via my own website and on Etsy and have some really big projects like the Periodic Table of Elements and Flags of the World that my customers love. I love supporting other designers and Etsy is the best place to find a huge range of amazing designs.
    My shop is at http://www.etsy.com/shop/hollyshobbiesuk and I’d love you to tell me what you think x

  5. One of my favorite French designers who is not unfortunately on Etsy is Marie-Therese Saint Aubin!

Have you read?

Designer Spotlight: Inkspire Studio Shops

Inkspire Studio Shops offers cross stitch patterns as well as tons of different stitch minders, scissor charms and thread organization tools. 

We’ll get to all that, but since we’re mostly here for the patterns, let’s start there. 

All of the patterns are in one category (called Inkspire Originals if you’re following along). There are a lot of book-themed projects and more of the designs are bookmarks than anything else. You’ll find trope bookmarks, a Reading Rainbow themed design, flowers and a super cute watercolor set bookmark, to name a few. 

And while the book themed projects are by far the most numerous, I wanted to share this super cute pile of vintage Pyrex style bowls. I love the colors on this one and it should be easy to stitch because so much of it is blocks (or bowls) of a single color. This one is only available as a printed pattern, but most of them are digital. 

It calls for six colors and comes out 5.6 by 6.9 inches, or 14.2 by 17.5 cm when stitched on 14 count fabric. 

In addition to the bookmarks and book themed projects you’ll find a few kitchen projects and some Halloween and Christmas designs as well. 

But what this shop is really about is needle minders, and there are tons of them, with all kinds of themes ranging from introverted and snarky to animal themes, food and beverages, retro designs and religious and inspiring needle minders. 

If you don’t know about needle minders, these are acrylic with magnets. You stick a magnet to the back of your work, add the needle minder to the front of the work, and then it holds your sewing needle when you’re not stitching. No need for piercing your fabric or losing your needle between stitching sessions. 

She also makes charms you can attach to your scissors (or use as a stitch marker if you’re a knitter or crocheter), inventory and project trackers and bags large and small to hold works in progress and other supplies. She’s also got a great collection of vintage cross stitch patterns and kits, so check out all the fun goodies at Inkspired Studio Shops. 

[Photo: Inkspire Studio Shops]