Show me your cross stitch projects!

[FeltCarrot]

Since lockdown last year I got back in to cross stitching, tapestries with wool and now cross stitch people portraits. It’s so addictive!

I'm going to save this thread! I have done lots although most are at my parents house! I have none hanging on a wall. All mine are in a box!

What a lovely thread. Beautiful embroideries

I'll add myself to this too. A couple of recent finished items, and then a current WIP. Which all need a good iron!

Not sure how to store them all though. I've bought an A3 pocket divider and some black card, so going to try mounting them somehow. Otherwise they're just screwed up in a drawer which seems a bit pinned.

My efforts I've recently been diagnosed with FND and I've found concentrating on counted cross stitch helps with my shaking. The owl one is a River drift design

Oh, they are fantastic @hullabaloo68 ! I tend to do smaller projects because I get bored easily! I’ve been doing a Coronation Street one for 18 months now. Only the back stitching to do! I also have an unfinished Friends portrait and a couple of wool tapestries!

I need to get back to stitching - been derailed with knitting and crocheting lately!! Some of my finishes:

I am so impressed with all these pieces! I‘m doing my first truly large cross stitch pattern and am still at the intimidated stage, even though I‘m giving myself at least a year to get it done. It was a download from Etsy, an American designer called Annette Swartzmiller. I got three patterns for about a tenner in a sale. Ideally I‘d have liked a pre-stamped pattern, but I didn’t like any of the patterns I can get delivered (in the EU so Bothy Threads etc aren‘t that easy to access and really expensive).

I have a few questions for the experts here:

• For a large pattern would you use a hoop or a frame? I‘m still using a hoop as it’s more mobile, but am worried about damaging completed work. Which kind of frame is best? I don‘t want a self-standing one.
• This is the first pattern I‘ve ever used original DMC floss for. Do you notice the difference to cheaper brands?
• I bought 16-count pre-gridded AIDA for this, the background is supposed to be stitched in black. Am now regretting that I didn’t just buy black cloth. Still haven’t decided whether to leave the background white or make the huge effort to stitch it (the grids apparently wash out). Would you advise doing the background of each section before moving onto the pattern for the next section, or is it ok/advisable to do the entire background at the end (ie put off the decision for a while)
• The pic shows my current status in a hoop, have just done the central panel of 9, plus the detailed instructions for that panel, plus an overview of the whole thing including black background - it‘s a gorgeous William Morris design.

Thanks for any help!

That’s really lovely, I’d probably use a snap frame for it - you can tuck the excess fabrics so it doesn’t get in your way, or a scroll frame but it’s easier to use those with a stand.

I think the black background really sets off the colours, I’d stitch it as I went along otherwise you’ll have a very boring, fiddly time trying to fill in the black at the end.

Thanks so much Jellycat, I‘ll look for a snap frame online.
And hey ho, probably a good time to dive into the background black then. It really does make the pattern stand out, doesn’t it?

This was a labour of love!

@ItsOnlyWordsInnit i also find the grid lines don’t always wash out easily/evenly so the black would mean it didn’t matter cos you won’t see them anyway.

That’s lovely @Mmmmmmm12 a lot of work though.

I did this one years ago. I keep meaning to do another but never seem to get around to it.

This took years but is finally on a wall in my house.

@ItsOnlyWordsInnit I only had a hoop not ideal but it worked

@UnalliterativeGeorge
Awesome so worth it.
Some amazing works everyone!

Oh really? That’s good to know.

So many beautiful and intricate patterns here! That map of the UK is amazing.

This is amazing

Does anyone use an app to make their own patterns? Can you recommend one?

3 yr😀s in the making...just a few stitches left!!

That’s incredible @shadypines! I always feel a little sad when I do the last stitch! 😂😂

What does everyone do with their finished projects? I have bits of cross stitch around, which I'd like to do more with but I'm put off by the idea of having completed work hanging around, if I don't want things framed and on my wall. What else can I do with a finished piece?

Thanks @FeltCarrot and brilliant thread! Some beautiful work on here, @UnalliterativeGeorge wow, love the British Isles.
I didn't realise I posted 2 pics of mine, I assure you I have NOT managed this massive project twice over!

@FriedEggChocolate I give them as presents or make cards with them and some I sell at church fair.

Mine all go on the wall - still in their hoops - up the staircase.

@shadypines DH bought me that one for Christmas.
<deep breath> 3yrs?! <faints>

@hullabaloo68 I've also done that peacock stained glass window one.