Tips to Prepare Your Cross Stitch Fabric

I am going to be really honest here and tell you that I’ve never really done anything to prepare my cross stitch fabric before I start stitching (unless it’s a big project and I need a grid, but I hardly ever even do that).

Notorious Needle has a great post all about ways you can prepare for cross stitching that will make it easier or give you a better result. If you’re working a small, quick project for yourself you might do less of this kind of preparation, but if you’re working on a large project that will be framed, given as a gift or that you want to become an heirloom, these steps will help ensure that you start your project in the best way.

A lot of this is about making sure that you have enough fabric for the framing option that you want to use or so your project will fit in the hoop you want to use to stitch your project, and taking care of your fabric to make the stitching easier.

The post covers a lot of the basics that you might have learned naturally if you’ve been cross stitching for a while, but if you’re new to cross stitching or haven’t done a big project before, these ideas are super helpful. It’s great to get in the habit of doing these things and thinking ahead about how you might want to finish your project before you start. Then these things will just be things you do all the time and your projects are sure to come out better.

Go check out the post and let me know if you do these things. Or if you have other tips for getting started on a cross stitch pattern to make it easier/more successful, let’s talk about it.

[Photo: Notorious Needle]

How to Grid Cross Stitch Fabric

How to Join Two Pieces of Plastic Canvas

How to Choose the Perfect Color Fabric for Your Cross Stitch Project

Cross Stitch Borders and How to Use Them

Mango Charm Studio doesn’t have a huge collection of cross stitch patterns in their Etsy shop, but at the risk of repeating their own descriptor, the designs they do have are charming, pretty and cute.

This shop has cross stitch patterns and bookmark designs, as well as a few laser designs you can use to cut your own signs. But that’s a different craft, so let’s focus on the cross stitch.

The bookmarks are the only section that is separated out, but there aren’t a lot of patterns to scroll through in their general cross stitch art category. You’ll find a lot of flowers, from marigold to lily of the valley, gladiolus to carnation.

It turns out these are all birth flowers, and there’s also a set of all 12 designs if you want to buy the bundle and stitch them up for everyone’s birthday.

When it comes to bundles, though, I can’t resist sharing the mini coastal cross stitch pattern bundle, both because this shop is based in Maine and that feels appropriate, and because there’s a big place in my heart for New England costal icons.

This set of nine designs includes a sand castle under an umbrella, a shell, sailboat, lobster, lighthouse, beach house, whale tail, blueberry plant and anchor.

The pieces range in size from 10 by 34 to 35 by 34 stitches, and in all only seven colors are used. These would all fit in 3 or 4 inch hoops if you want to make the whole set in little frames like they are shown.

In addition to flowers and coastal designs, you’ll also find Halloween cross stitch patterns (including a full set of ghosts and their hobbies, and a vintage fortune teller design), Mediterranean tile designs, little houses, fruits and black cats.

The bookmark section includes seasonal book stacks, flowers, a couple of geese and a best dad ever with mountain design.

It’s a small but sweet selection that you should check out at Mango Charm Studio on Etsy.

[Photo: Mango Charm Studio]

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