I do needlepoint, and am mostly into experimenting with different stitches, so I do a lot of patchwork type stuff and other geometrically based things. (I did a really cool 18x18 piece that had the appearance of interwoven ribbons.) I’m currently making a bolster for my bed that is 5" squares, 5 squares x 10. I’ve been working on it sporadically for a year and have 9 squares done. (Figure-skating world championships next weekend, I’ll get a lot done.)
When I’m in bookstores, I notice a lot more books about cross-stitching than needlepoint, with lots of pattern books, etc., though at this point I have a full shelf of stuff I’ve gotten.
One catalogue you might like to check out is Herrschner’s – although not a cross-stitcher, I’ve been intriqued by some of their designs, and their prices seem reasonable. (I’ve bought canvas from them, at a good price, but prefer to pick out yarn in person.)
I’m a cross stitcher! I started about a year ago. Right now I’m working on (among others) Mirabilia’s Mermaid of the Pearls. It has tons of beads and sparkly stuff. Here are my finished projects. It’s a bit out of date, though.
My favorite stitching board is the TWBB. It’s Teresa Wentler’s bb, but you can talk about any designer, find complex and interesting patterns, ask questions and so forth. There are even some male stitchers on there too.
I’ve noticed this, too. I wonder why that is? Is cross-stitching easier or something? Materials less expensive? Or is it just more fashionable at the moment? I suppose it’s faster to finish a project since you don’t have to do the whole background. Is that a factor?
I’d just like to say that all those links to all those gorgeous patterns have inspired me to take up cross stitching again. See, I got discouraged a few months ago when we moved and I lost the pattern to the piece I’d been working on, on and off, for about 5 years. :smack: I didn’t have much left to do on it, either. I can’t even remember the name of the company that produced the kit.
Marlitharn, can you get a scan of the stitching? If you post it, or even a really good description, on that board someone will know what pattern it is.
LunaSea, I took your advice and posted a description of the design on one of about.com’s cross-stitching message board. Then I went mooning around on ebay on the off-chance that maybe someone was selling the kit in question. No luck there, but I did see a kit with a logo (Stitchworld) that looked very familiar. So I went to their site and did a search. Eureka! They have the leaflet for $5.50. So now all I have to do is wait until payday, order the chart, and finish the piece.
I just bought a couple patterns off of eBay. (One of them being this. I love owls!) This will be the first time I’ve tried a non-kit project and I have to buy the material and thread.
I took up cross stich last year and just love it. The best part is it gives me something to do whilst I watch TV/DVD’s/Videos so I don’t start snacking. Counted cross stich is the only way I know how to do cross stich - havn’t tried any other methods.
In Australia there is a catalogue you can get posted out from the Fox Collection. It has some great designs in it and some Australian type stuff (koalas, kangaroo’s etc).
So far all the cross stiches I have done have been for friends or family I havn’t kept any for me. My next project is for me - I love bright colours so this is perfect. But first I have to finish a huge African Waterhole cross stich that I started for my Dad. I’ve been working on it since last Christmas and I’m still only 1/3 of the way through.
Well, I was working on a counted cross stitch tree skirt from Michaels until that silly car accident fouled my neck up, so now I’m back to knitting. This week it’s a pair of baby booties for a co-worker, but most of the time it’s been the pi shawl I’ve mentioned once or twice here.
I’ve tinkered with designing my own patterns a few times or adapting things from books to my own style. Dover Needlework Series does books of charts for various things which I’ve used for both knitting and needlework. My two favorites are one of Celtic knotwork, and one of Chinese patterns. You might also want to check out Piecework magazine for all sorts of interesting needlework ideas.
Hey cj, I have that Dover Celtic pattern book. (Actually I have two, but I know the one you mean).
I almost always buy books and seperate supplies, and I tend to go for the William Morris or medieval-based designs, especially certain trees and rabbits. I’m currently also being lazy about a Paula Vaughan quilt pattern. As a quilter, I’m a sucker for those things, even though they’re too soft-focus for my taste.
I also like classy children’s patterns, and have done a really nice Beatrix Potter alphabet. Does anyone know of a good site with patterns from children’s books?
One magazine I have liked is the Better Homes & Gardens quarterly cross-stitch publication. I actually bought an issue with a great alphabet and a set of 4 small season images.
Haven’t really done much cross-stitch lately, since I"m trying my first whole-cloth quilt; it’s 16"x16", just quilting stitch on muslin. Looks neat, and I’m almost done!
DoperChic, are you reading this? I emailed you twice and got no answer.
