Blog

  Have you ever had those days (or weeks) when your stitching mojo decides to play hide and seek on you? Your stitchy bug is gone, and it seems like such hard work to get any progress done on your … Read More

Do you have friends who look at the back of cross stitch projects you do and say, “The back is supposed to be as neat as the front you know”? I’m sure every cross stitcher has had that happen to … Read More

  Ever wondered what the best way of starting cross stitch patterns is, or how to find the centre of your cross stitch pattern? This short video will give you tips and show you how to find the centre of … Read More

Have you ever wanted to frame cross stitch in an embroidery hoop, rather than a traditional frame? It’s becoming really popular recently, and it’s actually easier than you think to do yourself. The video below will take you step by … Read More

Washing cross stitch and embroidery projects is sometimes seen as a difficult, or unnecessary task at the end of a stitching project. So why should you wash your projects? Washing cross stitch removes the oils that have accumulated in the … Read More

It’s incredible to think that something as simple as French knots or Colonial knots can create fear, but this tutorial will help you enjoy them. In many of the cross stitch Facebook groups I belong to, so many people struggle … Read More

Blackwork is one of the oldest embroidery stitches in the world, and also one of the most beautiful. In this video tutorial, you’ll learn a few basic blackwork patterns and see how easy it can be! There’s even a free … Read More

Making a functional object out of a cross stitch project isn’t hard, you just need to know some simple finishing techniques. It always surprises me when I see cross stitch or embroidery patterns that don’t include finishing instructions (particularly when … Read More

Fractional stitches are something that can be quite intimidating if you’ve never done them before, but they don’t have to be. Fractional stitches (quarter, half, and three-quarter stitches) are used to create more detail in a specific area of a … Read More

Learning how to cross stitch linen or evenweave doesn’t need to be intimidating, and this tutorial will teach you how to start your threads with a pin stitch that’s perfect for linen. Recently I started learning how to cross stitch … Read More

Metallic thread can really add a lot of pizzazz and sparkle to a project (and if you’re a magpie like me you love anything sparkly and blingy). The pattern I’m working on in the video below is the first time … Read More

Framing a cross stitch project can seem daunting, but in this post I’ll be showing you how you can save yourself money and time by learning to stretch and frame cross stitch projects yourself. In the past few days, I … Read More

Want to learn to cross stitch like a pro? Have a look at this list and see if you know all these cross stitch tips and tricks that experienced stitchers live by! You’ll not only end up with a nicer finished … Read More

Why do cross stitch pattern design?   It can be daunting to try and design a cross stitch pattern for the first time, especially if you’ve seen how complicated some patterns are. A cross stitch pattern chart is usually made … Read More

What’s a Kokeshi Doll?   A kokeshi doll is a lovely traditional Japanese doll, and originally they were made of wood. They’re so simple but so pretty, and for some reason I’ve been really fascinated by them recently. I used … Read More