Cross Stitch
My mom taught me how to cross stitch when I was about 15 and I've been stitching, off and on, ever since then. I love stitching even though I am a slow stitcher and I often get frustrated - especially when things happen like my thread becomes impossibly knotted or I find out I've made a mistake and I have to rip out stitches and start over. When I had cats, I would often get way too much help from them. Most of my pieces I stitch for myself. I only stitch for others when I feel it will be truly appreciated. Of the pieces below, the keys, Aggretsuko and the coyote were stitched for other people.
On May 29, 2025 I finally finished a cross stitch project that I had been working on for 10 years! It only took that long because I'm a glacially slow stitcher and there were lots of times I'd put the project down and not pick it up again until months had passed. I always knew it was going to be absolutely stunning when it was finished and it is! Check out the Fabulous Feline Night Cat by the Moon in the photo gallery below. I haven't done anything with him yet. I was just going to frame him but then I thought he might look really cool as a pillow. Still thinking about what to do!
Helpful Cross Stitch Links
- Cross Stitch Directory 2.0 - Great resource being put together with community input by Mainely Stitch, an online store. This is a resource to help you find shops that are AI-free.
- Find the Closest DMC Color Chart Thread - This chart has saved me a few times!
Other Cross Stitch Links
- Love Quilts USA - This group makes quilts for children with life-threatening illnesses using cross-stitched pieces. They find out what the child likes and then ask for a certain number of cross-stitched squares, which you sign up to do. The website looks pretty old school and they seem to do most of their coordinating via their Facebook group. I've joined the group but I have yet to stitch a square. I'm such a slow stitcher, I'm not sure I'll ever sign up because I'd be too afraid an entire quilt would be held up because of me!
- Loose Ends - this group will finish almost any textile project that has been left uncompleted because either the creator has died or is unable to finish the project due to an illness or disability. You can also sign up at the site to be a finisher. I have no personal experience with this group but I think it's a lovely service they are providing.
- CSS cat - Quaternion Creations
- Sugar Skull Cat - Hanks Pattern Place
- Aggretsuko Choke on My Rage - Grandma Girl Designs
- Martini Glasses - Mid Century Maude
- Tiny Cocktails - Print Print Pattern
- Cat Invaders/Catsteroids/Mewbert/Catris/Vanguard Kitty - Space Nona's Stitchery
- Vintage Key Set- Sugar Stitch by Ellie
- Books and Coffee Bookmark- Mari and Annie Art
- Black cat on black background - from a pattern book
- Handprints - most likely from a kit. I blacked out my son's name because I didn't want to out him. Also, it might look like I cut off the bottom of the handprints. By the time I was finished with the stitching, his four-year-old paws were so big they almost didn't fit!
- I Refuse to Be Ordinary - from a pattern book Cattitudes The Fourth Litter by Jeanette Crews Designs
- Coyote - no idea where this pattern came from. I stitched it for my mother and after she passed I found it tucked away in her camera case. At some point though he must've been in the sun since the fabric is faded.
- Blackwork Cat - First and only time I have ever stitched on 32 count evenweave! Boy, that was a trip. He's not quite finished - I think the original pattern called for a charm to be stitched onto his neck. Pattern from Kitty and Me Designs.
- Giant Squid - this pattern is from the London Natural History Museum and you can find it here.
- Cat Lava Lamp - Daily Cross Stitch
- Fabulous Feline Night Cat by the Moon - Vivsters
- Retro Anglerfish - Mid Century Maude
- Cats For Life - CatsvsCute
- Northern Lights - Sweet Annet
- Cute Cat Apartment - samanthalanetextiles
- Win 98 - Occult Grandma
- Eat Me - The Retro Stitcher
- All Panic No Disco Frog - Max Stitches Art
- Funny Possum Cross Stitch - CrossStitchWow
- Happiness Potion - Daily Cross Stitch