Thread Conditioner: Should you use it for Embroidery & Cross Stitch?
Here’s a topic that’s I’ve seen brought up quite a bit lately: Thread conditioner. What is it, should you use it, and HOW do you use it anyway? For decades cross stitchers and embroidery artists alike have used a silicone-based substance called Thread Heaven to coat their threads while working. Plus the dozens of other […]
Scissor Fobs: What Are They and How Can You Make One
This article was pretty much inevitable for me. Those of you have been following me for a while know that I have a fair amount of scissors at this point. And honestly, most crafters probably do as well. So making a scissor fob or two seems like an obvious next step in my scissor obsession. […]
Framing Tips for Cross Stitch – Inexpensive At-Home Finishing Techniques
My patreon voted for me to write about framing tips despite knowing full well I am terrible at framing. I feel the need to warn future readers as well. I am not an expert and would recommend getting your piece professionally framed by someone familiar with cross stitch/needlepoint. However, that can get EXPENSIVE. And I […]
Cross Stitch Studio Tour – My Basement Home Office
Hellooooo all. This is a bit of a different post than usual for me. I tend to focus on tutorials and cross stitch resources. But every time I post a photo that includes a part of my office I get questions. So I wanted a quick reference full post tour of my cross stitch studio. […]
Omamori Tutorial – Cross Stitch Your Own Good Luck Charm
Before we get into how to make an omamori, let’s discuss what they actually are. Traditionally, they are amulets of protection available at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples across Japan. These spiritual items often have prayers written inside them and made sacred through the use of ritual. For tourists, they are mainly viewed as a […]
Gridding for Cross Stitch: Techniques to Help With Counting Stitches
In case you’re not familiar with the concept of gridding, it’s a technique mostly used on large cross stitch patterns to help the stitcher with counting and sizing. If you’ve ever seen an in progress photo of someone stitching where their fabric is covered in small squares, that’s gridding! There’s lots of different ways to […]
PCStitch Basics: Turning Pixel Art Into Cross Stitch
Today I’d like to go over the basics of PCStitch 11. I get a lot of questions regarding my process in creating designs. And part of it I can’t really teach – the actual design. I just kinda doodle in a Pixel Art program like Pyxel Edit and then turn it into a cross stitch […]
Pin Cushion Pie – The Tucked Tart Tin
A while ago I purchased a bunch of mini tart pans for the purpose of making… well, tarts. But after they sat on my desk for a few weeks and I kept putting thread scraps and random needles or pins into them, I decided I should actually make something with them. So I made a […]