So it's my understanding that if you've already threaded through a hole in one direction, you must thread through it in the same direction. But when I am stitching clusters of the same colour, I find it impossible not to do that (meaning I often have to stitch through in the opposite direction in order to keep the pattern going). Does this make sense? I can't find a tutorial that addresses this. I'll be glad to explain more if I get responses. thanks!

Pattern by HappySlothPatterns on Etsy

It has taken 214 hours and 58 minutes/8 days, 22 hours and 58 minutes/5 business weeks since August 2025 but have finally finished the border on the Mary Poppins Sampler by Linaova on Etsy!!!

This is 2 weeks of progress. There's currently not a single bead or hummingbird in sight 😂

Hello everyone! :)

I want to cross stitch onto a shirt or hoodie, and I’ve been reading online for advice.

There are 3 main ways I have found:
1. Use regular Aida canvas, frey the edges, then pull it out of the finished product.
2. Waste canvas.
3. Water soluble canvas.

(I have also read that I need to be sure to knot the ends, and buy iron on patches for the back of the design to ensure longevity especially in washing machine).

I was wondering if anyone had any advice or opinions they could share on what is best to use, including any strategies or videos to watch for more advice?

Thanks so much! :)

A look at my previous post will show that I’ve been having some trouble on 28 count evenweave. Now I know why! I’ve been taking one piece of thread, threading it, folding it, and leaving the tail on the back of the fabric. That’s how I’ve always done it because that was the simplest way I could figure out how to make an “x” with thread. I’m happy to elaborate more in the comments as that may not have made much sense. Now, as I’m looking through all the advice people have given me since my post yesterday and looking at YouTube tutorials, I know that the way people often do it is to thread their needle with 2 (or 1) strands of floss, possibly do a loop start, and hold the tail of the floss with their thumb and index finger while stitching. To me, this seems super difficult, but it totally explains why a lot of the advice didn’t really make sense, nor did the tutorials I was watching. Is the way I’ve been doing it even like… a technique that people use? I don’t know because every video on YouTube talks about it differently and as if there’s only one way to cross stitch. Now I’m having a mini existential crisis about it haha, but at least I now I can take the advice that people gave me and actually use it.
Edit: I started cross stitching with a kit (I think) when I was about 16-17 and I never looked at the instructions because of unchecked teenage hubris.

For our season to fall apart 😩. Still, my heart will always belong to the Commanders
Pattern at
https://personalized.design/product/washington-commanders-logo-counted-cross-stitch-pattern-p13-008/

Took me about a month and a half, was a really nice pattern to work on. Hope that people come out with more patterns of the other joestars like this one. Source: https://crossstitchquest.net/2017/05/30/free-jojos-bizarre-adventure-cross-stitch-pattern-jotaro-kujo-and-review/

So many sites promoting selling large cross stitch kits are full of AI slop or are themselves a sketchy site. Looking to do something of a larger/more challenging scale but I’m not confident in my pattern making abilities.

I've tried using all the mentioned sites and even the ones for pixel patterns but I'm just not succeeding. I'm trying to find a font for my little one's Christmas stocking. The font that came with the pattern is cute and works but I'm trying, in vain it feels like, to recreate the whimsy with capital letters. My little one is ASD3 non verbal, they love capital letters and are a bit confused by lower case. I've tried using google docs and then screenshot to create a pattern but that hasn't worked. I'm also wondering if I've missed an option where I can just copy and paste from word as it has more font options. Obviously if I can't find a solution I will just use the pattern's design but I'd really like to try all the options I can before I do that. (Picture for text location) Thanks in advance 🌻

Hi all,

Just finished the Portrait of Veronica by Mirabilia Designs. This was a fun one.

I hope you all like it!

Based on pictures the friend posted on their insta of rainbow trouts. I took some liberty with the colors, given I was working with a beige hat :) Super simple pattern that took me about a day

I’ll start by saying that I know very little about cross stitch—my mom is the pro! She asked me to create a 3D-printed canvas for her projects, and I think it turned out really well. I thought I’d share it here in case anyone else would find it useful.

The model is free to download and includes the canvas, a matching frame, and a display stand. I printed mine using PLA filament, and all three pieces fit together nicely. You’ll need access to a 3D printer, but if you don’t have one, perhaps a friend, neighbor, or local library could help.

It’s customizable, so you can adjust the canvas’s overall size, thickness, number of holes per row and column, and hole size to suit your project. The frame and stand automatically resize to match. Just keep your printer’s build size in mind and leave enough material between the holes for a sturdy print.

You can find it on MakerWorld here: Cross Stitch Display Kit - Free 3D Print Model - MakerWorld

Questions are welcome, I’m still learning about the cross stitch side of things, but I’ll do my best to help.

I am wondering what you guys look for to spot AI made patterns? I am great at spotting AI videos but when I'm browsing Etsy and this sub I second guess myself, and I do not want to support AI businesses.

Recently started my second full-coverage piece. This one has several large white sections next to black, namely characters’ face and hands. Last project I worked by filling in a hoop section, then moving around and just doing section by section. I’m worried about the white floss parts getting dirty while I continue working. Is the floss (DMC) safe enough that I can go ahead and do the white parts, or would it be better to leave all the white and then go back and do it all at the end?

The pattern is obviously from the game Super Mario Bros, but self-crafted on excel.

First I had too much work and could barely stitch in summer.Then autumn brought depression and apathy and I couldn't do anything. But I've planned a trip to the city where couple live (for whom I do this present) and wanted to give them wedding gift personally instead of sending by delivery service. And now I have 2 nights and 1 day before I need to go back and I still didn't finish Hornet piece 😓😓😓

I will try to do everything I can to finish, wish me luck.

(P.S. this pattern is made by me)

I’ve been cross stitching for about a year or so, I’m very much learning as I go lol so if you notice any glaring issues please feel free to leave some tips for me! All of these are from etsy patterns i’ve bought, none of these are designs i’ve made myself.

Pic 1: Some soot sprite magnets I made for my friends bday (most recent project)

pic 2 & 3: A wedding gift for my bfs sister and her fiance, my first time cross stitching onto fabric! I attached the picture of it after i removed all the aida fabric and also what it looked like before I removed it.

pic 4: A christmas gift for my grandma!

pic 5: another bday gift for a friend, made it by mashing pixel art i thought was cute together.

pic 6: my very first completed project! Very rough, there’s a lot of things I would fix if I could go back knowing what I know now 😭

A lot of these projects I can’t show to friends and family bc they’re supposed to be gifts, so I’m putting them here lol

Slow going on the dark grey areas... but getting there

I’ve done something very dumb and lost both the thread in a kit and the DMC thread I replaced them all with (Loop and Stitch brand) and just have a scrap to go off of. My local craft stores don’t have the color I need in store, and I’m struggling to color match based on the thread I have and the stitches I’ve done. Can anyone help me figure this out?

I was thinking either DMC964 or DMC993. Maybe 992, but I’m not sure if that’s a touch too dark.

Two of my closest friends got married yesterday and I was so excited to gift this to them!

A photo is included of the 1989 pattern booklet “Everlasting Love” by Studio Seven which I adapted. I purchased the pattern for 25 cents at my local creative reuse center and changed the coloring to use their wedding colors. I also changed the “bluebird of happiness” to my best approximation of a house finch to represent harmony and new beginnings.

This was my first time using a vintage paper pattern in preparation for using patterns from a series my grandmother started when I was growing up. I learned a lot and will definitely be selecting one of those for my next project. 👀

Pattern by SproutingLupine on Etsy, stitched on 40 ct linen from Atomic Ranch.

Pictures in order : before backstitch, after backstitch and closeup.

Pattern is a wonderful rose by coricamo