massagegoddess asked:

Talked about my current cross stitch project then about my ***** enjoy!

JOAN

Hamidah Gul asked:


 

It’s been a couple of months since you’ve started the exciting journey of starting your first, second or maybe even tenth cross stitch project. It has been a wonderful therapeutic journey from start to finish, from seeing the stitch start from a simple x to a glorious masterpiece of art.

Then the question strikes you. Now what do I do with it? Most cross stitchers would just send their work of art to the frame dealer and with a little mental prayer that they don’t ***** it up, the cross stitch would be framed and ready to be hang. I have to admit I’ve been hanging all my completed works. I even have a wall dedicated only for my cross stitches.

Still there are other things you might want to consider doing. Here are 7 of my fun and unique ideas about what you can do after you have completed your project. Do take note that all ideas are dependent on the size of your patterns.

1. Make a quilt.

Make small little patterns and sew them all together on a large piece of blanket, making a beautiful patchwork of cross stitch patterns.
2. Make a table cloth.

Floral or border cross stitch designs are great for table runners. Forget about buying a commercial table cloth. Show off to your guests by making one of your own!

3. Coasters

Another favorite for guests are coasters. Cross stitch at least 6 patterns of the same theme and add lace around them to transform them into little girly coasters or simply use no-fray Aida to have ready made coasters after you are done stitching them.

4. Cushion covers

Although there are plenty of ready made stitch-able cushion covers, you don’t have to use that to make great cross stitch cushions. If you have plain cushion covers in hand, you can simply sew your cross stitch designs on them.

5. Wallpaper border

This is an interesting one. You can cross stitch floral designs or alphabets on long strips of Aida and then glue it around a plain wall to liven up your baby’s room. It’s an alternative to putting up wallpaper and definitely would be something your baby would love to touch when he starts experimenting on textures.

6. Pencil case or purse

This is not a hard project to do. All you need is stitch on a bigger piece of Aida and only half of it so that when you later fold it, the design is nicely centered on one half. Of course this is entirely up to you. You can even arrange it that there are two designs at both sides. Then simple sew up the corners and add a zipper to the top. And you’ve got yourself a nice hand made purse or pencil case!

7. Head band

If you have a small rectangle cross stitch pattern done, consider making it into a head band. You only need to attach a short piece of elastic band to connect your cross stitch ends. And then it’s perfect to hold your hair back!

Get more great ideas with our stitch-able crafts at The Art of Stitch.

 



ALEXANDER

K T asked:


Im thinking about buying a kit that says 27-ct. ivory cotton fabric (to be worked over two threads). I know what the 27-ct is, but to the threads part, does that just mean that you will stitch with 2 threads? Every cross stitch project I have had has been with a two threads. Are they just stating the obvious?

EMMANUEL

Hamidah Gul asked:


You love to cross stitch but it’s costing way too much, you thought. How do you maintain this hobby and not fall into the commercial traps of the cross stitch mania. Here are my tried and true ways of making your cross stitch go a long way and then some.

After your project is done, snip extra fabric, keep the thread and store the needles.

You have to leave at 2-3 inches around your design for framing. But if you have more than that, don’t just leave it there or throw it away. Cut them nicely off your design and store them for future projects. Use your creativity and you can use these long thin fabrics to make borders, bookmarks, trimmings for table runners, little patches for your clothes and so many other things you can think of. Your cross stitch project don’t have to end here. There are just so much things you can do with the leftovers.

Leftover thread can be used to cross stitch small designs. Even if the free pattern in the magazine uses a red color thread but you only have pink, go ahead use pink! It will still be beautiful, I’m sure.

Don’t throw away those needles that come with the kit. I keep them all and although I get another needle in a new kit, I always have old needles in case I lose the one I’m using. Why buy extra needles when you get them for free!

Expensive organizers be gone!

With all the technology and advancements in storage space, cross stitch organizers have gone all over the design block and back. There are some pretty fancy ones out there and I’ve used some of them too. Some of them are great but some are just a waste of money. I’ve found that the everyday storage containers are sometimes the best solution.

I get them cheap at the grocery store, you know those little plastic drawers. Those are amazing as thread organizers. I keep my fabrics in a box and I keep my current project in a zip lock bag. Being frugal does not mean I love cross stitch any less.

Sometimes the fun in crafting is more in the ideas we get to create a masterpiece, never the dollars put into it.



HOMER

Yiota Christodoulou asked:


What a great way of receiving cross stitch patterns on an email or a download! Saving on postage fees and the fact that you don’t have to wait for days to receive a cross stitch chart by post is absolutely great. The only thing you need is a printer!

As many online cross stitch stores offer amazing downloadble/printable products, buyers have a great opportunity and many choices.

However there are some guidelines to help buyers make the right choice and be certain that the cross stitch chart they chose is reaching their expectations.

First browse the seller’s website and read carefully what they offer. When purchasing a cross stitch pattern you must receive the following:

* Cross stitch chart in black & white symbols or chart in color

* List of threads required

* The picture/image used to make the pattern

* The finished picture of how your cross stitch project will look like when completed (either in virtual stitches or “real” stitches.

It is very important for the seller to offer all of the above. Another way to be certain of the product’s guality is to look for any free cross stitch charts. Search the seller’s website for any free cross stitch patterns to download. Try to download a few and check out the quality. Are you happy with the result? Satisfied with the chart? Are the symbols big enough to read them? Is the pattern clear and easy to read? Is there a complete list of threads? If you are satisfied with the free cross stitch chart, then it is most likely that you will be satisfied with the products this website has to offer.

Another good way of choosing a cross stitch pattern is to look for how many colors the pattern is offering. This might seem irrelevant but it is not. In my personal opinion taking into consideration my many years of experience, the more colors the chart offers the better quality and resolution in the picture. More colors in a cross stitch pattern, it means the chart offers you details and shades. Especially if you are looking for fine art cross stitch patterns, then you definitely need more colors in the chart. However, be careful on the amount of colors used in the chart. Too many colors might be difficult to keep up with and only experienced stitchers should go for it. My opinion is that a cross stitch pattern up to 60 colors can capture a detailed image. If you don’t feel comfortable stitching a project with 150 colors, then do not buy it.

I hope this simple guide will help buyers choose a downloadable/printable cross stitch pattern with confidence.



GILBERT