Cross Stitch Fun!

Over the past year we've really expanded our cross stitch collection. We now carry kits and beads by Mill Hill, the magazine Just Cross Stitch, which always comes with lots of fun projects and news about cross stitching in general, a good selection of Bent Creek charts, and a great selection of beautiful artist reproductions by the Scarlet Quince, among others. We've definitely heard your voices and now have lots of projects to satisfy your cross stitch urges. :)

Just Cross Stitch is a great magazine. Like I mentioned above, it is full of great projects, from small ornaments to large pieces. As you can see in the photo, this month's issue features a project for a Lemon Tea design. We've seen a lot of coffee designs, which you'll get to see one of below, but surprisingly there aren't many designs for the tea fans out there! I know that I've been keeping my eyes out for one, and I'm glad that Just Cross Stitch now has one! Each project included in their magazine includes a detailed chart as well as a very organized materials and instructions section, so that there isn't any room for confusion. Another fun project they have had going on over the past few months is a "Main Street" Sampler. When it's finished it will look like a quaint village Main Street. Each month there's a new chart for another building. This month's building is "Ivy's Cross-Stitch Shop." There's a picture of how it will look when finished, and I'm sure it looks even more stunning in person!

Mill Hill Kits are great little cross stitch kits that often include everything you will need to complete the project. This kit, featuring a big cup of Cappuccino, is a fun little kit that includes a bead for finishing. It also comes with seed beeds, perforated paper for stitching, floss, needles and a chart with instructions. Mill Hill has a great selection of kits. They all have such fun designs, and it's great that they incorporate beads and buttons too. It really makes the process a lot of fun!

Our cross stitch teacher introduced us to Bent Creek. They're another delightful company who has a lot of great charts. One collection in particular caught our eyes. It was the Sampler Collection. This is because they have such beautiful classic samplers with a touch of a folk-art appeal. This sampler, entitled "Brownbird Sampler", is such a charming little piece! The perfect way to add a little bit of a folk quality to your house! To stitch up this little project, the chart gives you the option of using DMC or Weeks Dye Works floss, both of which we carry in the shop. Weeks is a great hand-dyed floss. It gives an extra special little touch to the project, and would certainly make areas like the bird or house stand out.

We also have some great kits by Michael Powell. This one, entitled Harbour 1 is a quirky little town. It looks very much like an Italian harbor town! This pretty kit comes with charts, pre-sorted threads, Zweigart fabric, a needle, and full stitching instructions. I love that this piece really embraces the illustration aspect. It looks very much like a drawing, just made in thread!

Cross stitch is a fun craft to take up. It's very similar to needlepoint, with the difference being that instead of following a painted canvas, you need to pay attention to the chart. I enjoy the whole process of cross stitch, and that you can really embrace the fabric you are using as well. In many cases, cross stitch patterns do not cover the entire canvas, so you will see the fabric. This really allows you to try out different fabrics, whether it's simply trying a colored fabric, or using one with a pattern or marbling effect.

Be sure to check out the cross stitch section on our website, and let us know if you have any questions about one of the pieces! If you're interested in having a private lesson, or would like to put your name on a wait list for a beginners, intermediate, or advanced cross stitch lesson, get in touch! We'll be happy to help!