Stamped cross stitch

[Stroopwaffels]

Have just discovered these kits and what a revelation!! Have done a lot of counted cross stitch in the past but they often go wrong because I mis-count or something and I get frustrated and abandon the project. Started my first stamped kit yesterday and it takes the concentration and counting away, it's a relaxing colour by numbers experience. And once you have finished you rinse the canvas in lukewarm water, the ink comes off and nobody would ever know the difference.

Anyone else like these sorts of kits?

I do. I got one, just embroidery, not cross stitch. There's no way I could have done it if it hadn't been printed.

I am such a convert. I am in a FB cross stitch group and there is a lot of sneering about the stamped kits, people saying they are not "proper" cross stitch. Who knew there was competitive sneering over stitching.

They sound clever to me. I've only ever used patterns, but you spend half your time counting rather than sewing so I'd like to try a stamped one. Is there a website you'd recommend?

Following for the recommendations! I knit, sew, occasionally embroider and have wanted to get into cross stitch.

That is such a good idea, I didn't know they existed!

The first one I bought was from a company called Embroidery Day. I've been doing a bit of reading about the kits, the better brands appear to be Spring, or Joy Sunday. Some of the other brands aren't great quality and with a limited number of colours so the finished effect can be blurred. There's Facebook group called Cross Stitch Stamped aida kits.

I've done a Joy Sunday embroidery, I was very pleased with it.

I am currently doing this one which is Spring brand

https://www.embroideryday.com/products/partial-embroidery-eco-cotton-thread-11ct-printed-world-map-cross-stitch-artwork-956593

You don't stitch the white bit but there is a LOT of backstitching. I am finding it lots more relaxing than counted cross stitch, it really is more like painting by numbers as you are just following the colours, and they give you a paper chart as well - especially in artificial light it can sometimes be tricky to tell two similar symbols apart. I am in a couple of cross stitch groups and there is a lot of snobbery about these printed kits not being "proper cross stitch" which is a bit nuts, I am finding it a lot more relaxing. And it's easier on my middle-aged eyes as it's 11 count fabric so the holes are further apart (and I have a magnifier...)