Top 10 Nice to Have Cross Stitch Accessories and Supplies ⋆ Sirithre.com

There are SO many tools and cross stitch accessories being marketed at us nowadays. And most of them are not at all required to actually do the craft. But let’s be honest, these things exist for a reason and many of them provide some quality of life improvements. So let’s talk about some of them and get an idea of which might be useful to pick up if you’re going to be cross stitching long term.

As usual, make use of the table of contents to skip around as needed.

Nice to Have vs Required Cross Stitch Accessories

First off, I want to explain that everything I’m going to be discussing here today is NICE to have. But not REQUIRED. You can cross stitch on basic 14ct white aida. Use a needle left over from a kit or generic sewing kit, bent and tarnished with time. Or, you could be using only random old dye lot, off brand, or unlabeled threads you picked up at a thrift store and just substituting colors called for in a pattern if you don’t quite have the right shade. You are still just as valid of a cross stitcher no matter what your stash looks like right now.

That said, if you do have a few extra dollars to spend, here are the top 10 categories of accessories that I could totally live without but are also well worth the money if you can invest. As well as some items that were recommended by the community over on Discord.

It was going to be top 10 individual items, but honestly these options are all very subjective and based on individual preference. So I’ll stick to broad categories of cross stitch accessories and list a few options in each. I’ll also link to my personal recommendations where applicable.

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Support Small Business!

I often put Amazon links on this site because the small amount of affiliate money earned from your purchases literally pay for the hosting for this website, allowing me to bring you all articles and tutorials on a monthly basis without completely drowning the site in ads. (I have the ads on AdSense turned down as low as they’ll go, believe it or not.)

If you need to shop through Amazon for any number of reasons, I’m in no way judging you. I have a storefront page set up with all my recommendations of stitchy supplies I’ve used myself. And I do get some of my supplies there as well, especially when I need fast shipping.

But for this article, I’ll be prioritizing small businesses for my examples. I’ll link directly to their website or marketplace sites like Etsy. If you can, please consider supporting some small businesses as well!

Top 10 Nice To Have Cross Stitch Accessories

Good Lighting

Let’s start off with something I don’t actually have — good lighting. As some of you know, my ‘real’ job is working IT… on night shift. And my office is in the basement. Not even a small chance of daylight for me. So in addition to vitamin D supplements, I also have to invest in lighting. Especially if I want to take nice photos. But I’m poor, so all I have is cheap ring lights and LED lights from Amazon. Do they do the job? Sure.

I also get light-sensitive migraines so I generally end up stitching by the light of my monitors. Should I be spending long hours squinting at small stitches in basically the dark? No, that can’t possibly be good for my eyes. Can I technically do it? I mean, yes. I’ve been doing it for years, so it’s clearly not required to have good light. But one thing I do plan to invest in soon is proper lighting. I’m still researching options so I’ll have to get back to you with a full article one day.

In the meantime I recommend spending some time stitching outdoors in bright natural light if you can. To see if your current at home lighting options are doing their job, or if you could stand to upgrade a bit.

That could be a desk lamp, a standing lamp, one of those lights that go around your neck and just illuminate what you’re holding, or anything in between.

Seam Ripper / Other Frogging Tools

We all make mistakes. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been stitching. You WILL miscount sooner or later. Especially if like me you insist on stitching while tired because I just ‘need to finish this section’.

If you catch things quickly, you can ‘undo’ the last several stitches just by gently pulling at the stitches from the front. But if it’s a large area or the mistake was a while ago, you’re better off just ripping it out with a seam ripper. If you’re a designer as well there’s the added issue of color testing and having to rip out entire sections just to stitch them again in a slightly darker shade.

So do yourself a favor and invest in a nice seam ripper. Maybe some tweezers to pull out the small leftovers, or a lint roller to pick up the last of the fuzzies.

I got my seam ripper from RockyMtnPens on Etsy and I LOVE it. It’s a necklace so I don’t lose it in the cushions when I take my stitching to the couch. And you can flip the seam ripper so it’s not stabbing you in the chest while hanging from your neck. But they also offer ones that are a seam ripper on one side and an awl on the other. You can easily use that awl for counting stitches or pulling recent stitches out from the front, or even as a laying tool.

Hoops/Q-Snap/ScrollFrames

Yep, that’s right. Hoops and Q-snaps are not required for stitching. You absolutely can stitch in hand, and some people prefer it! The ‘sewing method’ can even speed up your stitching time, and is done in hand.

But one of the best things about the craft is how very individual it is. Everyone seems to do things just a little bit different, and many of the tools you can pick from have different benefits depending on your needs. Over the years there’s a lot of different options, and I even have a whole article helping you decide between the main three options: Hoops, Q-snaps, or Scroll Frames.

These products were created to fill a need though, and they can definitely be helpful for your craft. If you can, try out the different types of fabric holders out there and see what works best for you and your space. I feel so awkward stitching without a Q-snap now that it’s almost a requirement for me at this point! But you may find them too heavy and prefer a hoop. Everyone’s different!

Grime Guards / Spool Huggers / Magnetic Ties

Once you’ve picked out a fabric holder from the previous category, it’s time to figure out how you want to manage any extra fabric for your projects. If you enjoy larger projects, often your Hoop or Qsnap is only managing a small section of your fabric. So people have come up with a lot of creative solutions for keeping that extra fabric out of your way.

Grime guards, hoop huggies, q-snap cozies, whatever you decide to call them. These are basically just fabric wrapped around your frame held by elastic. And if they’re a little baggy they have room for you to roll up that extra fabric and keep it tucked away. I recently did an article all about how to make a grime guard, and that also includes lots of options where to buy them if you don’t want to make one yourself.

Spool Huggers and Magnetic Ties are other common options for securing your fabric to the side of your frame. Though I haven’t tried them myself, a lot of people swear by them too.

Fancy Fabrics

You knew this category was coming, probably. That’s right, you can absolutely cross stitch on just plain white 14ct aida. But you can also get super creative in picking out nice hand dyed fabrics that complement the design. You might prefer the look and feel higher count linen or evenweave fabrics over the chunky 14ct one typically starts with. Or maybe you just want something with some sparkle. There are SO many options to choose from, you could stitch the same design countless times and have it look completely different each time.

But if you’re ready to dive in to the wide world of fabrics, some of my favorite small business dyers include:

But you can also support small business by choosing to go through a Local Needlework Shop to get your fabrics. It doesn’t have to be local to you, though. As many of them have online stores now, such as The Starlight Stitchery

Specialty Threads

In the same vein as above, you also don’t NEED metallic threads, variegated or hand dyed threads, silk threads, and any number of other specialty fibers you can stitch with. Even if a pattern “calls for” fancy fibers, you can absolutely stitch them with plain ol’ DMC stranded cotton in a similar color.

But these fibers can absolutely elevate your work! And you can get them at the same places as the fancy fabrics above. Many fabric dyers also offer hand dyed threads and vice versa. But here’s a few more shops to look through:

There’s also the bigger companies like Weeks Dye Works, The Gentle Arts, Threadworx, Classic Colorworks, The Caron Collection, Dinky Dyes etc. You can get most of these through your Local Needlework Shops.

I also did a whole article a while ago comparing some of the many metallic thread brands out there, if you’re looking to add some sparkle to your projects. These also sometimes include glow in the dark threads which can be tons of fun!

Thread Conditioner

If you’re thinking of adding metallic threads or glow in the dark threads to your projects I highly recommend you also consider getting some thread conditioner. There are many options out there ranging from beeswax to silicone based conditioners. Again, I have a whole article on thread conditioner and when you should use it.

But the one I always recommend is the scented thread conditioners by Craftigurumi. And of course unscented is also an option if you have allergies, sensitivities, or simply prefer it.

Floss Sample Card / Full Sets

It’s a common goal today to collect the full set of DMC thread. Or Anchor, Cosmo, whatever brand thread you prefer working with. But is it NECESSARY? Absolutely not. It can be fun to just buy thread and fabric as needed for projects as well. Whether you’re ordering online and waiting for a package, or going on a little adventure to the craft store.

You can also just substitute colors with what you have. Color swapping patterns is absolutely valid and you should try it some time!

But it’s also nice to have a full set and know that no matter what pattern you pick up you’ll always have the right colors to get started right away. Even if you end up having to order more partway through on larger projects.

If you’re a designer, it’s especially nice to have the thread on-hand to pick out colors and for test stitching. The ‘real thread’ color card is also useful here as it’s nicely grouped by color family making it easier to pick out the right threads for your design without having to reorganize all your thread by color rather than number.

On the flip side, having a limited color palette can force you to get more creative with your designs! Don’t discount the benefits of picking out a small color palette first, and seeing what inspiration you get for a design from there.

Specifically Designed Storage

This is probably the biggest and sometimes most expensive category here. Storage. There are SO MANY options when it comes to storage, and it can be easy to feel left out with all the aesthetic photos and reels of well stocked bisley cabinets and fancy wooden chests. Flatlays of adorable acrylic floss drops and bobbins adorned with easy to read labels. Themed project bags with plenty of compartments for travel, fancy wooden bead trays, and cabinets full of hand dyed fabrics.

I know I can’t be the only one that wants them all! But I’m here to tell you it’s absolutely not necessary. You’d be just fine keeping all your thread on skeins still in the flimsy plastic bag from the store you bought them from if that’s what you have for now.

But this is absolutely the category that I’d recommend investing in if you’ll be cross stitching long term. You’ll need to do a lot more research here to figure out what works best for you, your space, and your stitching habits.
My favorites include that literature organizer I have all my bobbin boxes in so that I can pull one out without toppling the entire stack. The IKEA KVISSLE letter tray that holds my WIPs. And the Artdot storage containers I ended up using for my bead storage.

Where to Start

I’d recommend working some projects using cheap floss drops cut from leftover cardboard or a cereal box to get a feel for if you like working with floss drops over bobbins. Get a sample pack of acrylic drops or bobbins to see if the larger bobbin slits annoy you, or if the thickness and weight of acrylic drops bother you. Try a few brands and figure out what you like about each before investing in a large amount for your stash.

Once you know what your thread will be stored on, you can consider storage options that fits those specifically. If using floss drops you’re likely to look for hanging storage, but if using bobbins you’re looking for more the box/drawer type storage.

Consider where you do most of your stitching as well. Do you need a travel project bag if you mostly stitch at home? Do you prefer to keep your WIP materials separate or all together? Does that fancy wooden chest even fit in your stitchy space to begin with?

Scissor Fobs / Needle Minders / Pin Cushions

This kinda goes along with the storage options above. But these are often more decorative.

Do you NEED a magnetic needleminder to hold your needle? No. Are they adorable? Absolutely!
Some of my favorite needleminders include:

The pride bobbins by AzureKoi
The handmade clay minders by NatuStitch
The woodcut planchette by AHareAffair
The glittery resin minders by hoopsnmore

In that same vein, that beautiful beaded scissor fob is not required to keep track of your scissors. But they are absolutely useful.

Pincushions and cute biscornu aren’t essential either. But it does make pulling pins to count your stitches that much nicer. Plus you can make most of these yourself and customize it to fit your style and decor.

Community Recommended Cross Stitch Accessories

Alright, so that’s all the main categories I personally recommend investing in. But what does the community think? What other ‘must haves’ have people found? I’m just one person, I can’t possibly have tried all of the products out there after all. So I asked the Pixel Stitch Discord as well as a few designer friends, and here’s what they came up with.
I don’t have some of these things to show you, but here’s what I do have.

Pinking shears

Pinking shears are apparently super useful for trimming the edge of your fabric to keep it from fraying.
Options to reduce fraying is an article I’ve been wanting to make for a while tbh, but hasn’t quite won the Patreon poll yet. But I did have these pinking shears on hand just in case. 😉

Good quality needles

I… don’t have good quality needles. It’s never been a priority for me. Ironically the only ones I still have in the package are John James, which I’ve heard less than great things about. But I had picked up these ‘easy threading’ needles forever ago to try and never got around to it. And I got those Singer needles more for the case than the needles, if we’re being honest.

But the hivemind insists that a good solid needle is a game changer. So maybe I’ll have to dive into the world of needles to figure out what brands and sizes I prefer. Because for now, they’re just all randomly tossed into a tin with no label. Whoops.

Counting Pins

I also don’t have counting pins. I just use regular sewing pins. But there’s all sorts of gorgeous ones out there that you can use to keep yourself from having to count more than a few stitches away. You can even find blunt end pins so you don’t have to worry about stabbing yourself while counting.

Gotta start that next stitch in a SAL frame 25 stitches away? Don’t trust yourself to count higher than 5 consistently? Count every 5 with some pins and then count 5 groups of 5 instead.

Stands

Lowery stands are the popular ones, but the main recommendation here is to get a stand of some sort to hold your hoop/qsnap/scrollframe while you work. There are SO many options to choose from here as well. Floor stands, ones that clamp onto your desk, lap stands, you name it. Have a look around and see what will work best in your favorite stitchy space.
It may take a little while to get used to two-handed stitching, but it also can increase your stitch speed in the long run!

Snag Nab It

I had several people recommend a “Snag Nab It” and I still have no idea what it does in relation to cross stitch. So here’s a video I found of someone using it. It looks like it’s mean to pull any stray thread to the back of your fabric.

PatternKeeper / Saga

I don’t use Pattern Keeper or Saga, as it makes me more reliant on electronics to stitch. Plus, they’re only available on phones. And pc apps like bluestacks to run phone apps on your computer are very resource intensive.

But I am definitely in the minority here. There are many that swear by these apps and absolutely refuse to stitch without them now. So if you think having an app to mark off your progress on a pattern would be useful to you, try them out!

PatternKepper has a trial I think and takes pdf files.
Meanwhile, Saga uses pattern files like what you might create with PCStitch/MacStitch/etc.

A Reminder to Pace Yourself

Now that we’ve talked about SO MANY different things you could run out and buy right now: This is a reminder that no, you don’t need them. Not really.

Please always remember to pace yourself. Only buy what you can currently afford, and remember that most stitchers build their stash over years and years. My collection did not sprout overnight, and yours will also take time to build.

This post is meant to give you an idea of the options out there so you can decide which are a priority for you right now. It is not intended to make you feel like you’re missing out on these products. Please be kind to yourself. <3