this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2023
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Cross stitch and embroidery

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Share your stitching and meet new crafty folks! All forms of embroidery and all skill levels welcome ๐Ÿชก


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Yes I am gonna keep obnoxiously starting posts here until someone else joins in, get used to it ๐Ÿ˜…

Over the last few years I've tried all kinds of pattern styles, in both cross stitch and blackwork (and I've tried a bit of regular hand embroidery but am terrible at it!). I've discovered the following:

  • Despite my blackened goth heart, I love stitching bright happy colours
  • Big blocks of solid colour are the best
  • Any nature scene involving mountains is an instant win
  • I surprisingly love big full-coverage projects but can only have one at a time because I'm such a slow stitcher each one is going to take me about a decade!
  • Therefore my other projects should be fairly small and manageable to keep me motivated.

The project in the photo is Alpine by Satsuma Street, and it ticks all of my boxes. Funnily enough it was reading an interview with this designer that made me want to learn cross stitch in the first place, so obviously my gut reaction was spot on there.

What's your favourite type of thing to stitch?

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[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I dont stitch but was scrolling through new and needed to stop and say that looks gorgeous! How hard would be to for a newbie to do something like that?

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hi! And thank you! ๐Ÿฅฐ

So this is cross stitch which is technically a form of hand embroidery, but imo it's by FAR the easiest kind. You just literally make little X shaped stitches where the pattern tells you to. I used aida fabric here which is a kind that has a very obvious little grid of holes, so it's easy to see where to make each stitch.

If you want to try it out but don't like the idea of having to figure out which stitch to put where, you can even get printed cross stitch kits that have the pattern printed onto the fabric and you fill them in with the thread provided (like a paint by numbers, kind of thing).

It's honestly a very soothing hobby. This was what I'd personally think of as a medium-sized project but you can get kits for very tiny designs if you wanted to test the waters for cheap.

Hope that helps! ๐Ÿ™‚

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Awesome! I showed this to my gf and she said she actually has a lot of supplies. Gonna try this out in a few weeks (big move coming up). Hopefully I'll have something to post later!

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Oh nice, that's handy! Good luck with the move, and remember to come back and show us what you're making ๐Ÿ˜„

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like stuff that's bit minimalist, something I can just make chunk after chunk of. That one you are showing is incredible and I definitely have to buy the pattern and do it myself, it's just so beautiful! I tend to do more of video gaming patterns usually, but it's just such a great one, and so cleanly made by you! I just can't, seeing it hits all the right happy chemicals in my brain.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Sorry not sorry to enable you, I guess!

I will say, fair warning, that blue border is tedious. But it's totally worth it.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I tend to do cross stitch so I have something to do, rather than something (finished) to have, so I go for ridiculously huge projects that I will probably never finish. I currently have three HAEDs and an Unconventional X-Stitch on the go and just pick up whichever one I'm in the mood for. They are all massive but they are all full stitch - no half stitches, backstitch or beading to be seen.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hardcore! Totally understand though, it's all about enjoying the journey and let's face it most things just end up in a pile of shame waiting to be FFOed for literal years anyway.

I have to admit, my only full coverage is being done in tent stitch otherwise I'd go mad lol, it's 2 over 1 on 28ct though so makes no difference to how it looks until you get about 6 inches away.

Looking forward to seeing pics of all these big projects! Cough cough hint hint hint... ๐Ÿ˜‰

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh I'm definitely planning on inflicting photos on everyone - I'm counting on it being the trigger to get our of my current stitching slump!

[โ€“] BakingCookies 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I love hand embroidery. I started this hobby almost a year ago, and I feel like I'm still learning. Generally I like designs with a simple pattern, or one that doesn't show my mistakes quite so obviously! Last Christmas I embroidered reusable shopping bags rather than using gift bags. My favorite was for my SIL, but that metallic thread--oof!