I am going through Mod R’s helpful emails of blog topics, and one of them mentioned questions about crafting projects. Here is the obligatory crafting tax.
What is this? It’s a mystery. Hehe. If you look in the close up above, you will see so many split stitches. Not the diagonal single strand one, but the split stitch where half of it is one color and the other half the other color and they are both going through the center of the square. I am hoping this will look pretty when the backstitching (outlining with darker thread) is in, but meanwhile I have never had to do so many split stitches ever. Ever.
I have switched to cross stitch from knitting for two reasons. One, it’s hot. Two, someone sent me this amazing bag for Christmas.
It didn’t come with a card, and nobody owned up to it. All my cross stitch stuffs fit in there perfectly, so it’s very portable, protected from pet hair, and easy to take on vacation.
I think it’s the colors for me. The brightly colored floss is so therapeutic somehow.
Several people asked me where I get the patterns. I bought one on Amazon as a kit, I made one out of an image, which was free for noncommercial use, and I bought this one off Etsy. Etsy is a good place for patterns. I am very enamored of this cross stitch pattern shop in particular: the Stitch Fairy Co.
I like this. That’s right, fear me, puny mortals.
I broke down and bought a pattern from a Chinese company. Unfortunately, while some Chinese cross stitch kit sellers are ethical, there are a few who are using copyrighted images without any compensation to the artist. They are stealing artwork.
I really wanted this kit, because it looks like a drawing of Kid 1, so I did a ton of research. This particular image is unique to this company – nobody else is using it, and Google wasn’t able to find it anywhere else in whole or in part. I ordered the kit and so we will see what happens.
If you are a particularly ambitious cross stitcher and want a challenge, there is always HAED. Heaven and Earth Designs. These are massive, full coverage charts.
I am not brave enough to attempt one of those. It would take years and I would get bored and abandon it. Mad respect to anyone who actually finishes one of these pieces.
And that concludes the crafting update. I would show you my craft room but it is empty except for the massive bags of yarn. That will be a separate post.
Chatelaine Designs by the late Martina Weber and Frosted Pumpkin Sitchery are me favorite cross-stitch designers.
I usually have a cross stitch project ongoing. The problem is that unlike knitting and crocheting, to a lesser extent, I can’t read and craft at the same time.
Project on bathroom door (tee-her)
Oops
I, in my mid-thirties and a knitter of 7 years, have in the past 2 months realized that I can knit while listening to an audio book. TV is a no-no for me because it is too stimulating. My brain’s wired differently.
Sometimes I still read on my kindle, but 4 of my friends are procreating this year and baby blankets don’t knit themselves. Work has been stressful, so the double-dose of escapism is welcome.
Thanks for the HAED site mentioned. I might get back into cross stitching. Cool patterns, to understate the obvious.
I just finished downloading a new pattern from etsy when I dropped by the blog, talk about perfect timing!
I found a clamp-on lighted magnifier lamp at a yard sale 20+ years ago. I was learning Hardanger at the time and the floor lamp one at the shop was $150! Anyway I cut a circle out of plywood, put 4 wheels on it, got a piece of pipe that the lamp end would fit in, screwed the pipe into a fitting I could screw to the plywood,slipped two 25 pound lifting weights over the pipe and then fitted upholstery fabric and stapled that down to make it look good. It works good but I should have made the plywood bigger and at least five wheels on it. When the magnifier extends it can be a little tippy but easily fixed. The base on the shop one had a large X and was about four feet tall.
I know what you mean about the colored threads being therapeutic. I used to cross stitch a lot. Not so much these days. But my fave patterns came from Mirabilia and Teresa Wentzler. They are ones who take time to finish, especially TW, but they are so beautiful.
Dear Ilona,
It was through you I realised that collecting yarn is a whole different hobby from actually using said yarn. Thank you for increasing my number of hobbies and decreasing my guilt!
Wow! That is beautiful and very complex. I tried cross stitch but learned to quilt instead. I like. A larger canvas is what I like.
Wow! What a lovely bag! I cross stitch too and use giant zip lock bags from Ikea.
I have never seen so many split stitches before!
Cross stitch and I never got along (I don’t enjoy being stabbed), but knitting I can do, crochet less so. It’s frustrating and soothing at the same time – the crafting paradox. I love the book cross stitch. I may have to do one that says “tradition is just peer pressure from dead people”.
Have you ever tried/seen sashiko Japanese embroidery? I find it very simplistic but very therapeutic.
https://shiboridragon.com/collections/pre-printed-sampler-kits
I love these kinds of posts – I always learn so many things and find new resources.
Thanks BDH!
My mom did cross stitch all the time. Her last one made was for my kids of Winnie the Pooh and I have it in my treasure chest for if the want it when they grow up. Someday maybe I will be brave enough to try it but so far all my mom’s talents missed me. She could sew, crochet, cook, sing soprano, etc. I can carry a tune and fix a hole or put on a button but that is it.
But, that being said. I know it probably isn’t but that top picture looks like a fancy toilet seat surrounded by flowers. I thought you might think it was funny.
Okay, so I just discovered your blogsite, and I am thrilled beyond measure! I adore your writing, and I am a stitcher. Have been for more years than I care to admit to. I agree with your assessment of HAED – terrifying. If you want even more terrifying, and awe inspiring, take a glance at Scarlet Quince and Golden Kite. It’s the same idea – full coverage – but done with the Great Masters. So lovely.
Thank you for your delightful writing (I listen to them while stitching!), and now for your fellowship in crafting!
“It would take years and I would get bored and abandon it.”
Kudos for self-awareness ???? – you just described almost every ambitious knitting/crochet project I’ve ever thought was a great idea (the baby blanket I started knitting for my nephew before he was born still isn’t done and he turns eight next month ????????).
I confess I looked at the HAED site and absolutely coveted a ridiculous number of those charts; then I repeated to myself what you said and reminded myself that I swore off cross-stitch after the last big/difficult (but not nearly as big or complicated) project I did, hahahaha. Because I have more hobbies than time and the number of WIPs languishing in various corners of my house is embarrassing. And I would get bored and abandon this, too.
I’m a cross-stitcher, too, and I know of people who won’t start a new project until they finish the one they’re doing. These are probably the same people who only have one book going at a time. These are not my people. If it’s not working for you (but you don’t want to completely abandon it), do something small. Perforated paper can be a good change of pace. You can turn it into cards, ornaments, small pictures, whatever. Mill Hill has some nice things (lots of beads since that’s their thing) and Brooke Nolan (Brookesbooks.com) has some very cute things–fairies/angels, witches, and lately she’s been doing literary characters–Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, The Wizard of Oz (12 figures), Alice in Wonderland (12 figures), and she’s working on Peter Pan.
My Covid project was a “stained glass” Fellowship of the Ring that I worked on obsessively for about a year and a half, but then I made a mistake at the base of Lothlorien (don’t you hate when that happens?), and lost my momentum. I will get back to it though, when my current reading binge cools off.
Nicely done! I decided to get into cross stitching after I saw a pattern I loved. Of course it was ridiculously difficult for a novice and I had no idea what I was doing. It literally took me over a year and a half to accomplish. Having to back track because you realize you messed up is the worst feeling in the world btw. My boyfriend gave me the idea to take a picture after every time I finished a portion and run it into a gif. In any case it turned out nice! The set I used is of Russian make. Riolis? I will admit it was very therapeutic but I might wait a while before I start another. I have a pattern waiting in the wings for me once I get to it. I also developed a weird love for needle minders.
That is a fabulous bag! It would be good for all sorts of crafty projects. I don’t think my google skills are up for the challenge of finding it.
I love the saying on your cross-stitch project about ending up in your book. This principle applies to my husband’s song writing, so I can relate so much. We once drove 20 miles with friends to eat at a Mexican restaurant that had an attached grocery store filled with specialty items for authentic Hispanic recipes. The door to the store was propped open with a stack of tubs containing lard. After a delicious meal and much laughing, we drove home and the 4 of us composed lyrics for a new song called “Praise the Lard” that is all about baking pies and quiche, and epicurean curiosity.
I cross-stitch but not much lately. When I was working on projects I was making Christmas ornaments. I found a book of patterns with cute designs. The ultimate shape is a Christmas stocking. You stitch the pattern, then glue it to a poster board shape loosely, then you put some fiberfill in to make them puffy. To finish, you glue a felt shape onto the back of the poster board. You can either give several as a present, or attach one to a present as a bonus.
When many of my friends were having kids, I made birth announcement pictures for their rooms. One of those was a major pain, because many of the colors were very close to each other. So much so that I could only work on it in sunlight. When it was completed though, it was really cool. Those colors made the toys in the design really looked 3 dimensional.
Thanks for the fun post! I’m just getting back into cross stitch myself. Like you, I think it’s the colors, portability, and fun patterns. I actually have you to thank for my renewed interest… I bought the “No ProbLlama” kit you did a few months ago (found it on Amazon). So colorful and fun! Thank you!!!
It’s easiest to do those quarter stitches on a fabric where you go over two threads for every stitch. Then you middle is easy. Unfortunately, your beautiful bag means you have to fight with them. Enjoy. I’m having cataract surgery in September and can’t wait to see close well enough again to get back to stitching.
Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post. I laughed.
I had to update my posted warnings per legal beagles. So now I have: 1. No trespassing. 2. Beware of Dog. 3. Beware of bull 4. No exit.
however they are still arguing about if I need to post “smile for the camera” because are not true security cameras. Lawyers. No I decided not to ask what a true security camera is. Sigh ????
My sister was doing cross stitch a while ago. She was working with Mirabel ( ? ) designs. They are more involved than other patterns as they use beads as well as threads. She has several large hangings on her walls. She also had a program on her computer that converts images into patterns.if you can find it, you may like to try it
Beautiful handiwork
Cross-stitching has been my art for the last 18 years and is great while trapped in zoom class or zoom meetings. It is very soothing and makes personalized presents. I also love looking at all the DMC floss because of the colors. If you want to store all the pretty thread DMC sells a vintage chest with 5 drawers of 500 skeins. But it is sadly way out of my current price range as a grad student. https://www.dmc.com/us/vintage-wooden-chest-w500-skeins-9009158.html
Love all the WIP stories. My first x-stitch was a Garfield cartoon with “big, fat, hairy deal” in its thought bubble. My 38 year project is half done…banjo cloth with beige, ivory, cream, straw, etc as the main colors…I can only work on it for a short time before my eyes start to cross.
My 25 year project is a beautiful huge Romulan War Bird in black thread on red fabric(Star Trek is my third fav hobby after being a stalwart member of the BDH and stitching)…when finally finished it will have a polished metallic black frame.
I am currently jumping through small projects, both embroidery and x-stitch. I recently inherited 5 garbage bags of Mom’s thread projects and I am still trying to figure out where to go with those.
My love project will be a beautiful cursive scrip of my favorite swear word on beautifully colored blue swirly printed fabric and twinkly thread-I have every thing ready to go this winter for that one! My biggest problem is my job is fine hand detail work, requiring significant finger strength. My stitching is done in short bursts or on long weekends. But NEVER FEAR! All my WIP’s will one day be done…and beautiful…and framed…right?
When I am taking a break from quilting, I do cross-stitch too. I am a big fan of Mirabilia Designs. The patterns use different colors of floss to create the shading and saves the back stitching for faces and hands. So, at the end of all the cross-stitching, you are almost done rather than half done. They do take a while, but every single one is gorgeous.