Cross stitch blog

Who uses free counted cross stitch patterns and graphs? Anyone who wants them, but there are many uses for these patterns. Free cross stitch patterns are often found on the Internet which is a great source for free patterns. Some people use these patterns to incorporate and merge them with other patterns and motifs to create a brand new pattern idea. These customized patterns are then either used for personal use or are marketed and sold with a new name or title.

A designer who specializes in free cross stitch patterns is Connie G. Barwick who presents patterns to the general public for personal use only. Also, a site called Better Cross Stitch Patterns.com offers very nice, unique free patterns. The atmosphere is very friendly there, and they go out of their way to make a stitcher feel at home.
Large companies like DMC and many others offer free patterns on their websites for both beginners and experienced stitchers. Their free patternsinclude alphabet charts, floral patterns and animal charts. Here, the free patterns are used as an effective approach to get you into their site, download the free pattern(s), and perhaps they are hoping you might see other goodies you just cannot live without which leads to the anticipated purchase.

While some companies are very specific about your use of these free patterns stating they are for personal use only, others will allow you to download the free pattern, stitch it, and then sell the finished stitched project for your own profit as long as you make the proper attribution to the seller by providing a link back to the seller’s website. However, those of you who download these free patterns are discouraged from re-selling the actual free pattern itself.

People who cross stitch and use free patterns also like to trade and switch back and forth with other stitchers on cross stitch blog sites, thus creating a network of patterns that can end up with interesting variations (in colors) depending on how creative you are.

As far as designing goes, there are even sites out there like Cyberstitchers.com who have free graph paper for you to printoff for use in designing your own cross stitch patterns. Software such as PatternMaker has a library of free motifs for use in developing and designing a custom pattern.

Cross stitch is a form of counted thread embroidery; it is dated back to the 6th or 7th century. It was used to decorate household items using floral and geometric patterns, usually worked in black and red cotton floss on linen fabric. Cross-stitch was found in a Coptic tomb in Upper Egypt, where it was preserved by the dry desert climate.

Catherine of Aragon, the Spanish first wife of Henry VIII has brought blackwork in England. Blackwork is thought to have influenced the development of cross-stitch. Catherine of Aragon used to stitch herself the King’s shirts.

The most common cross stitching work were samples and it was usually in a form of a prayer or a saying. In 1797 children from the orphans school near Calcutta in Bengal were given the task of stitching the longest chapter in the Bible, the 19th psalm.

Books with cross-stitch patterns were popular in Europe and America during the 17th century and they would feature samples. Cross stitch patterns were printed as black squares or dots, leaving the choice of colours to the embroiderer. The earliest surviving dated sampler was stitched by an English girl, Jane Bostocke, in 1598. Jane’s sampler contains floral and animal motifs and an alphabet. It is believed that from Jane’s motifs she must have had access to an early pattern book.

Most cross stitchers still like to stitch and embellish items like dishcloths and household linens, however it is now increasingly popular to stitch various designs and pictures and hang them on the wall for decoration.

Cross stitching a Christmas gift or a gift for any occasion is a rewarding and pleasant activity. The activity provides pleasure to the recipient as well as the giver.

Cross Stitch for Christmas is a personal gift that could be appreciated and treasured

for years to come.

With Christmas near at hand, and with the economy less robust than in the past, a gift of cross stitch for Christmas could be the answer to a gift-giving dilemma .

If you are a novice, it’s best not to start with a large complicated project. This could be

a bit discouraging and would defeat your purpose. There are lots of small ornament type kits and charts to start you on your way.

Once you finish you first kit, you may have your first cross stitch forChristmas gift completed.

In addition to the pleasure of giving a personal gift, you have other benefits as well. Such as dexterity with your fingers, mental stimulation brought about by following the cross

stitch chart and best of all the relaxation you can get by creating a lovely piece of art. Try this

benefit. Work on a cross stitch project during the “bad weather” months. You can be productive during time that you might be usually involved in outdoor activities. When it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, hailing, etc., fix a warm drink of some sort and take time to enjoy the comforts of a warmhome and work a cross stitch project.

Many people are reluctant to try cross stitch because they fear eye strain. This is easily

remedied by many different thread-count-per-inch cloth.

Once you have gained some confidence in you ability, go for a more advanced cross stitch

Most of us can remember a time when we have received a hand-made gift we felt so good

that someone took the time to think of us as they crafted the gift. Make it a personal gift.

stitch for Christmas!

How many of you are looking to find that one special cross stitch design but having trouble locating it. This guide is to help you find that special and unique cross stitch pattern you are dreaming of.

First, visit your local craft store and ask around. They might have something similar or they might be able to order it for you. If that fails, then use the yellow pages and phone all the craft stores in your area or neighbour areas. Ask them for the particular cross stitch pattern – the more information you know the better. If you can not provide sufficient information, try to describe the pattern, how the picture looks like, the manufacturer name if known etc.

If you have no luck with the craft shops, try to find it online! Use the search engines, like google, yahoo or ask. Be specific. If you are looking for example a ford car, seach for ford car cross stitch pattern.

Another good search place is the cross stich forums. Find them again through the big search engines. Many avid cross stitchers looking for specific cross stitch patterns in cross stitch forums. You might also find a person there who can help you find your pattern.

The last option is to design your own cross stitch pattern. There are a few free services that will let you upload a photo and it will convert it into a cross stitch pattern. Search google or yahoo for upload photo in cross stitch free.

Good luck and happy cross stitching!

Counted cross stitch is no doubt a very popular hobby. Many craft stores especially the online ones, offer competitions to win free cross stitch kits, patterns or materials. Every cross stitch addict wants to apply on just all cross stitch competitions, you might be lucky and win! The question is how to find all these cross stitch competitions.

There are many cross stitch magazines in the market that run competitions or giveaways on every issue. The magazines run on a monthly basis and there is usually a different competition or giveaway on every issue. These are the World of cross stitching, Cross stitch crazy, Cross stitcher and mostly all UK cross stitch magazines. To apply follow the magazine’s instructions. They will mostly require you to send in a postcard with your name and address. Some will accept email entries as well – this option will save you money on stamp and postage.

Be sure to read the rules when applying for competitions. Most likely you can only enter once, some other will have age or country restrictions. Read their rules carefully before applying.

Grab any opportunity to win a freebie and apply as many competitions or giveaways as possible. It will only cost you a second class stamp and in most cases it will cost you nothing if you apply to competitions by email.

Cross stitch 123 explained is simply making a series of crosses or “x’s” by following a pattern to form a pictorial design. Once you’ve mastered it, cross stitch can be as simple as 123, or difficult depending on the complexity of the pattern. If you are a beginner just starting out, it is best to start with simple patterns with less color changes and gradually work your way up to advanced patterns with advanced stitching techniques and many color changes. It is also wise to start out using Aida cloth as the cloth is easy to use since the strands have already been bunched and divided into squares making it easy to discern where to place your needle to stitch.

A good tool to use is a guide I came across called Cross Stitch Made Easy by Janis Applegate for those of you who want to learn to cross stitch. The guide is one of the most thorough books of instruction I have ever encountered. It takes you from the beginning phase of cross stitch to the point where you will feel very confident about tackling any project. The book is loaded with tidbits and helpful hints all from an experienced stitcher’s perspective, and one who loves the art of cross stitch and has made it her life long career. The following are just some of the topics discussed:

1. How to avoid the six costly mistakes made by beginners. Once you know what they are, you’ll develop the confidence of a cross stitch master.
2. How to easily master the five fundamental cross “stitches” and ensure every project you create is unique!
3. Learn three amazingly simple methods used by the professionals for starting, joining, and finishing stitches.
4. Save time and money - don’t buy any equipment until you’ve checked the comprehensive cross stitch tools guide listed in the book.
5. How to quickly and easily add the most decorative gorgeous touches to your design.
6. Discover four essential framing techniques to guarantee that “professional” look.

The book is easy to read, highly informative, loaded with illustrations, diagrams, and is definitely a valuable source you will treasure and want to keep in your library and/or pass along to others who are thinking of taking up the needle. The book is also used by advanced stitchers because there is a lot to learn, even for the advanced.

For instance, blocking and lacing a project is something cross stitchers normally save for the professionals who are going to frame their projects. However, the author explains the technique of blocking and finishing so well, that there is no reason why you won’t be able to do this on your own rather than pay someone else to do it.

In this article we will talk about the benefits of cross stitching and what are the things that we can do with it. We will also talk about the things that make cross stitching popular all over the world and why do most people love to spend time cross stitching. There are so many things that we can do with cross stitching and I am pretty sure that once you know these things, you will also be hooked or be interested on cross stitching. This article is for beginners and for those people who are also interested to know more about cross stitch.

Cross stitch is a type of hand-sewn embroidery. It is said to be one of the oldest crafts and it is also one of the easiest crafts. Cross stitch is mostly enjoyed by women at any age, it is their perfect hobby especially if they want to do something on their spare time. Cross stitching is pretty easy, if you hate sewing then I am pretty sure that you will like this because you will have a pattern to follow to form an image or picture and you use a cloth with very small holes where you will put the needle and thread. By the way, the cloth is called “AIDA cloth”. If you want to learn how to cross stitch and you want to find out the things that you can do with it, here are some of the benefits of cross stitching (these are also the reasons why many people are interested about cross stitching)

• Hobby – As mentioned above many women find this as their good hobby. Many people think to do productive things during their spare times instead of doing nothing. Besides that, it will also keep your mind active at all times because you will need to count and stay focused on your craft or else you won’t get the image right.
• A Lovely Gift – You can make them images, scenery or even messages from cross stitching and it will be an awesome gift because they will know that you really made it for them, it is a thoughtful gift. Know his or her interest then find a picture, find a cross stitch pattern for it and then it is time to sew. As mentioned awhile ago, you can actually stitch some letters and deliver your message through your wonderful craft.
• Sell It – If you are really good with it and you enjoy making tons of it, but you are having a hard time where to put it because you r house is filled with stuff, you can actually sell it online or sell it in your neighborhood. Believe it or not many people are interested with these kind of things because some them don’t know how to make one while some are interested with the pictures or patterns. You can actually make money from it, it can help you save money for you and your family.

Lately fine art paintings in cross stitch are very popular. Fine art paintings from the famous Monet, Van Gogh and Klimt are complex paintings but they look great in cross stitch. Most of us have posters of the old masters in our rooms, why not stitch a painting and hang it in the living room.

Fine art cross stitch can be complicated, challenging and can also take some time to finish but you will capture the drama and different colours of an old famous painting and also create a heirloom for the family. A cross stitch painting is a wonderful keepsake and you should be proud to have made it.

Many cross stitch shops offer designs from the Old Masters like Monet, Van Gogh, Klimt, Waterhouse, Renoir and many more. To choose your favourite design, decide which painting you would like to stitch and then look first online for all the bargains. Online cross stitch shops can afford to offer better priced and competitive cross stitch kits and patterns.

There is a huge variety of fine art cross stitch patterns online. These days, you can also get your cross stitch pattern via email or download so you are saving money on postage. You will need to have a printer to print the pattern or you can email it to a friend who can print the pattern for you. You can not miss your favourite painting into cross stitch, just search the net for fine art cross stitch patterns and you will find it. However if you can not find your design, just email any of the fine art cross stitch shops and most of them will be more than happy to make it for you into a cross stitch pattern.

There is not so much variety of fine art in cross stitch kits, you may need to search for your favourite design a bit more. If you can not find it online, it is a good idea to ask your local craft shop in case they can direct you to the right place. If you still can not find your favourite design into cross stitch kit, then you will have to find it into a cross stitch pattern and buy the materials – fabric and threads – separately.

Once you find the perfect fine art painting in cross stitch kit or pattern, be sure you stitch your initials and date at the bottom of your cross stitch design. It is nice to know who made a masterpiece!

Cross-stitch is not just an activity for women. Plenty of men love to pull out those needles and flosses to cross-stitch projects that they enjoy. For most men who cross-stitch it is about creating “art” or having a special interest in the design… and of course Cross Stitch is wonderfully therapeutic when it comes to de-stressing.

For some it is just not “manly” to call it a “craft”. While men do not make up a large percentage of cross-stitchers, they most certainly do exist. Yet, many people wonder about men who like to cross-stitch, and it brings up a number of interesting questions:

Are Men Better than Women… at Cross-Stitch?
The simple answer to this question is that of course men are not better than women, just as women are no better than men either. Cross-stitching is a learned skill, and any person who cross-stitches is only as good as they allow themselves to be. Practice, practice, and more practice make a person a better cross-stitcher, not their gender.

Do Male Cross-Stitch Designers Exist?
Yes! Of course there are male designers. Why ever not? Cross-stitch design is an art form and certainly not restricted to the female gender. There are many men involved in creating their own cross-stitch patterns. For some it is a direct offshoot of their art – like Thomas Kinkade. For others, they are part of a design business, like the husband and wife team at Heartland House. Men are involved in designing and bringing you some of the great cross-stitch patterns. Some cross-stitch designers are also fashion designers and use their thread and floss to create patterns on the attire that they create.
Which Patterns are Popular with Men?
Men tend to choose more art-like patterns than women. They may not be as open to you choosing a teddy bear pattern for a pillow.

Often men are drawn to the things they like. If a man likes sports, he may choose a kit that represents his sports team. If a man is into architecture, then he may choose to cross-stitch a pattern based on Frank Lloyd Wright. There are even some gamers that have cross-stitched their favorite video game characters.

Other men use cross-stitch to create designs on their clothing, too. If you are choosing a pattern to give to a man, then you should take a look at what they like. Go with their interests.

How Do Men Get Into Cross-Stitch?
This question really depends on the man. Some men get involved simply because someone they love does it. A little boy may have wanted to do what his mother was doing. A man may help his wife finish a project only to find he liked it. Other men need something to do, and it is a craft just lying around. Often men do not find that they seek out cross-stitching, but it finds them one way or another. Some men believe it makes them look attractive to women, so they use it as a way to “pick someone up”.

How Do I Handle a Man Who Wants to Cross-Stitch?
Embrace it. It takes a lot of courage for a man to put aside an image of masculinity to admit they want to try a “girly” craft. If the man is a significant other, then take pride in the fact that your man wants to share something with you. If it is a young man, then encourage the creativity that will come from the craft.

It is not often that men can put away the machismo to do something enjoyable like cross-stitch, so open up and be willing to teach and inspire. Who knows… the cross-stitching man in your life may find a way to inspire you too!

The art or craft of cross stitch is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Easy to learn and do, ‘cross stitch’ is simply embroidery stitched with lots of little ‘X’ stitches to create a lovely design. This fun craft is sometimes referred to as ‘counted cross-stitch’ because the pattern and fabric require the crafter to count the number spaces to know where to place the stitches.

Most often, cross stitch patterns are done using a woven fabric called Aida cloth. Some advanced stitchers create designs on other types of fabrics using a special backing to help keep the stitching uniform. The kind of fabric you use depends on your skill level and the type of design you’re creating. I’ve cross stitched designs on my children’s clothing, bedding and other items for my home and as gifts.

Skilled cross stitch crafters create beautiful projects by stitching on plastic and various different papers as well. Gift cards and scrapbook designs may be made by stitching on paper of varying thickness and fiber.

Of course you can’t cross stitch without the proper thread. The threads used in counted cross stitch range from basic cotton, to wool or silk threads. Usually very colorful, embroidery floss as it’s called, comes in all kinds of colors and textures for you to play with.

If you’re just beginning to consider learning to cross stitch, your best bet is to learn about the craft itself before you start buying supplies. Your local craft store, bookstore, or library will most likely have several books available that will teach you and provide easy patterns to start with.

Once you know what’s expected of you in the craft of cross stitching, you’ll want to find some easy projects to begin with that will allow you to learn as you go. You’ll want to start with a project that requires only a few colors of thread and a larger weave Aida cloth. By doing so, you’ll prevent a lot of unnecessary learner’s frustration.
When you sit down to start your first cross stitch project, you’ll want to have all of your materials available and easy to get to. Start out by reading through the project instructions. You’ll want to look over your pattern and make sure that you understand all of the jargon and markings that you may find on the pattern. There will be a color key that you’ll need to understand so that you use the correct thread color. Make sure to have a pencil handy to make notes or your own marks on the pattern for later reference.

Cross stitching requires you to use a six strand of floss or thread and separate it into individual threads. Your pattern will tell you how many threads you’ll use at a time. Most often, the larger the weave of your fabric, the more strands of embroidery floss you’ll need at a time. Don’t rewind your floss and by all means don’t let it get tangled or bunched up. Your end project will look flat and even if you take care of your floss.

One key factor in learning to cross stitch is remembering not to knot your thread. Knotting threads in a cross stitch project will make your end result look lumpy and uneven; not a good thing. Just pull your thread through your Aida cloth and make sure to leave a length of thread on the end in the back. You can keep the bit of tail from going completely through the fabric by holding onto it on the back of your fabric as you make your first couple of stitches; they will overlap and hold the thread in place. You may have to practice this easy technique a few times, but you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.

Another handy cross stitching tip is when you’re ready to change thread colors, just simply pull your needle through the stitches on the back of your fabric to hold your thread before you snip it off with scissors. Make sure to leave a little bit of thread so that it does not come loose and unstitched. Change your thread color and start on the next area of your project as you did before. And during the stitching process, remember to drop your needle every few stitches, meaning, just hold your project in one hand and let the attached needle and thread dangle from the fabric so that the thread unwinds and your next few stitches will be flat.

I can remember learning to cross stitch from a school librarian when I was a young girl. She eased my newbie anxiety with this phrase: ‘If you have one eye and half a brain you can cross stitch.’ Now, perhaps that may offend some avid cross stitchers, but she didn’t mean it in derogatory way. Only that cross stitching is an easy to learn and do craft that just about anyone can master. I mastered it in the 1980′s and stitched on anything I could get a needle through and even taught classes to school kids myself as an adult. The biggest problem I and most other cross stitchers have is the addiction of the craft. One thing to keep in mind is to control the number of kits you buy or you’ll find yourself with drawers of unfinished projects. Have fun and keep on stitchin’!