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Tools to Make Your Cross Stitch Life Easier

August 7, 2023 by Sarah White

I don’t do a lot of big cross stitch projects so I don’t have a lot of cross stitch supplies or special tools that I use, but I know there are things out there that can make the work of cross stitch a little easier, faster and more fun.

Hannah Handmakes did a podcast about essential cross stitch tools, and it’s also a blog post if you don’t want to listen along.

One that she doesn’t mention, possibly because it’s too basic, is a needle threader. I do use a needle threader sometimes (when I can find one!) as it makes threading the needle a lot easier when you have those threads that just won’t cooperate. I also have a project I need to use a seam ripper on, because it’s not worth it to try to unstitch this project where I used more threads than I should have (that one is on the list).

One thing that is on the list that I have been curious about is needle minders. These are decorative metal pieces that come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with a magnet. You put the magnet on the back of your work and the needle minder on the front, and then when you put your needle down it stays on the plate. No more losing your needle or poking holes through your fabric to keep track of it.

If you use a needle minder I’d love to hear your experience!

Check out the blog post and/or the podcast to see what the other tools to help your cross stitch are over at Hannah Handmakes. And if you have something that you would add to the list I’d love to hear about that, too! I’m sure there are lots of things that could be helpful that I’m not aware of and that other people would like to know about, too.

[Image by Alina Kuptsova from Pixabay]

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Have you read?

Bookmark Cross Stitch Patterns

It seems like there’s no end to the available options when it comes to cross stitch bookmarks, which is a good thing because they’re perennially popular to stitch as well. This time I thought I’d share some colorful cross stitch bookmarks to get you ready for the new school year or to make meeting your reading goals a little more fun. 

I love these retro floral designs from The Stitch Patterns. This set of four patterns is rated as very easy, and each bookmark measures 2.5 by 6 inches (or 6.35 by 15.25 cm) on 14 count fabric. 

These cute ones that look like mosaic tile would also be fun to stitch. This set includes five designs from EmbroSTyle Designs, and they call them folk art but they mostly look like old mosaics to me. Either way, the bookmarks are 25 by 101 stitches, and to stitch the full set uses 12 colors. 

If you’re looking for more of a challenge, you can stitch up a work of art with this set of 16 bookmarks designed to look like famous paintings. Stitch some sunflowers or a great wave or a starry night. Most of these are between 14 and 20 colors (the great wave is only 8) and the bookmarks are totally covered with stitching at a count of 35 by 100 stitches. Grab this set from Sunset and Sea Design.

Or how about some bookmarks inspired by books (or by movies inspired by books)? This set of Lord of the Rings bookmarks includes four landmarks from the books/movies. Each one is 35 by 115 stitches and uses between 8 and 17 colors. You can find them at byCountryMagicStitch.

These don’t quite all fit the description of being colorful bookmarks to cross stitch, but a few of them do, and speaking of book-themed bookmarks I had to share this set from Mama Geek inspired by Heartstopper. There are seven designs in all that should be quite familiar to readers (or viewers of the series). 

25 Christmas Bookmark Cross-stitch Patterns [Cross-Stitch]

25 Floral Bookmark Cross Stitch Patterns

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