crafts of mass destruction: Too Cool For Crewel

I used to think embroidery was all kitty cats and rocking chairs and nonsensical samplers and radiating angels, framed and hanging on your grandmother’s paneled wall. I thought cross-stitch was crotchety. Embroidery was extinct. I was just to cool for crewel.

Times have changed, children. There are many very modern, chic, and witty embroidery and cross-stitch patterns out there these days. And your finished products need not be framed and hung up only, make a pillow, a tote bag, a sweater, anything really! Today, I’m ganna share a few of my favorite (and very hip-and-with-it, I assure you) projects. Also, I’ll provide some links to some sites with great patterns and kits.

Photographed this outside in the yard. Very nearly placed pillow right on a pile of dog poop.

The first is from a pattern by Urban Stitches and is plain old DMC cotton thread. Nothing fancy here, mostly just split and satin stitches.

Sewing is Sexy. Except when your partner sits on stray pins left on the couch. No Sexy then. Just Angry.

Appropriate text for the bathroom.

This project literally spanned years. That’s actually a nice feature of counted cross stitch, you can just pick it up whenever and resume from your pattern. I purchased these patterns from an etsy seller (listed below). When I was done, I mounted the aida cloth on foam core and framed it myself; a process that is easier than it sounds and will save you a boat load—I’ll do a tut. on it sometime.

French knots sheep

How cute are those lambs? I received this pattern plus kit (thread and cloth) for my birthday and was absolutely delighted with it. This etsy seller (The Floss Box) sends you a pdf with detailed photo instructions on every stitch of the project. I would recommend one of her kits for a beginner. Her instructions are really clear and she provides a photo catalogue of all stitches used.