Cross stitch miniatures: Alphabet
These alphabet images are wonderfully versatile and can be used for an assortment of articles. Give your imagination free rein and turn the embroidered images into something truly special. This wonderful and fun project has it all: from an apple for A to an R for rainbow and a Z for zebra. Wondering what X is? You’ll have to look inside!
Cross stitch miniatures: Brilliant butterfly
Use plastic canvas to make this striking trinket box decorated with a butterfly in cross stitch using DMC Light Effects yarn.
Cross stitch miniatures: Busy little fingers
Motivate your children to do embroidery from a young age. The patterns are really very easy. Allow your child to choose a motif, and be patient. Be at hand to assist, if necessary, when your child does embroidery for the first time.
Cross stitch miniatures: Christmas in cross stitch
Embroidering Christmas motifs could be one of the most satisfying activities. These motifs can be used for cars, tree decorations, table linen, to decorate stocking, and much, much more!
Cross stitch miniatures: Classic crosses
Classic crosses look beautiful on anything from bookmark to a Christmas card. Only the outside edge of the cross is embroidered, so you can definitely complete this project in an evening.
Cross stitch miniatures: Cool motifs for teens
Teenagers are very fussy and will not readily accept something hand made that they don’t regard as funky or cool. I decorated two bought cushions for my teenagers with cross stitch and beads, and their friends are crazy about them. The embroidery was glued onto the cushions with fabric glue and now they both have a unique cushion that cannot be bought in any shop.
Cross stitch miniatures: Four seasons
Miniature houses have always intrigued me. These motifs depicting the four seasons can also be framed individually and arranged on a wall, or you can put up only one framed picture according to the season, and replace as the seasons change.
Cross stitch miniatures: Fruit for jam
Any jar of home-made or bought jam can be made extra special by embroidering a cover for the lid. All these simple patterns can be embroidered in one sitting. Choose your pattern according to the kind of jam in the jar. A honey jar can also be rounded off beautifully with the motif of a honey comb and bees.
Cross stitch miniatures: Fun spirals
This simple spiral pattern can really be completed in a wink! Work a few in a row in neon colours on black for an eye-catching bookmark, or just one on a square to decorate a small box for an interesting gift. Only one spiral with a pretty frame is needed for the pencil holder. All these items are ideal gifts for teenagers, but if you use more subdued colours it could work for anybody. Black spirals on white fabric look very elegant.
Cross stitch miniatures: Monograms
Monograms are always a very popular choice if you want to give a personalised gift. The letters can be embroidered on napkins for a special occasion, or on facecloths for every day use. Embroider your family’s initials on napkins so that everyone knows which one belongs to him or her. The letters I have used can all be decorated with beads. The beading pattern stays the same throughout – just use them in different places on the letters.
Cross stitch miniatures: Nursery items
Most articles made for babies are of necessity small. Therefore small crossstitch patterns work well on baby clothing and other items. Everything is completed in a jiffy and the items are fun to make. The motifs are simple and can be embroidered on any item
Cross stitch miniatures: Oriental theme
Black, white and red are strong colours and ideal for teenagers’ bedrooms. Most teenagers are fascinated by Oriental themes at one time or another, and the simple, strong lines make this theme very easy to embroider. The theme can be used in different ways in a bedroom. The motifs can be embroidered onto curtains, duvet covers and pillows. The examples shown were all done on white Aida, but can be equally striking on red fabric. Black fabric embroidered with white or red can also be stunning. The theme needn’t be limited to teenagers’ bedrooms. It can also create a stunning corner in a living room, dining room or games room. The motifs are very easy and can be made in no time, as only one colour yarn is used.
Cross stitch miniatures: Romantic roses
Initially I wanted to embroider the roses onto very fine even-weave to compliment the sheer duvet cover, but the contrast between the 11-count Aida and the sheer bed linen was so enchanting that I decided to use the Aida. This beautiful duvet cover and matching cushion transform the bedroom into something really special. The embroidered motifs can be finished easily and in no time at all and before you know it you will have enough motifs to complete the project. You can use more or fewer motifs – the choice is yours. The motifs can also be worked in other colours to suit your specific colour scheme.
Cross stitch miniatures: Stylish napery
Even-weave fabrics are hard wearing and ideal to use for table linen. Napkins and placemats can be transformed into something special by embroidering a small motif on each. Unfortunately embroidery fabrics are very expensive so if you want to save money you should buy plain napkins and table runners and embroider the motifs onto them using waste canvas.
Cross stitch miniatures: Technical info
