This week's free cross stitch project features a design influenced by beautiful Celtic art.
"Celtic Trinket Pot," designed by Claire Crompton from the book Magical Cross Stitch, presents a chart 33 stitches by 33 stitches. Worked on 14-count Aida, the finished design measures 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm), perfect for a trinket box lid insert. Of course, there are many other wonderful uses for such an attractive design: card inserts, brooches, pendants, miniature framed art--what else can you think of?
Magical Cross Stitch features a range of designs, from a Celtic fairy queen and Chinese dragons to beautiful mermaids and a majestic unicorn. Glittering metallic threads and gleaming beads are incorporated into many of the designs for a truly magical finish. The projects range from full-sized pictures to cushions, greetings cards, sachets and bags, presented with easy-to-follow color charts and complete instructions for beautifully finished projects. Designers include Claire Crompton, Joan Elliott, Joanne Sanderson, Ursula Michael, Lesley Teare and Carol Thornton--well known and highly respected for their cross stitch patterns.
Whether you need a quick, easy gift or want to add a touch of whimsy and humor to your kitchen, this week's free cross stitch project is just what you're looking for.
"Sweet Life Pictures" features two bovine beauties espousing philosophies we can all relate to. From Cross Stitch a Woman's World by Joan Elliott, these designs work up into adorable 3" x 3" (7.6cm x 7.6cm) magnets on 14-count natural Aida. Just fuse the cross stitch to coordinating squares of felt and affix the felt to self-adhesive magnet sheets. If you prefer, stitch these designs as pictures and frame.
Cross Stitch a Woman's World contains 30 original cross stitch designs that capture all aspects of a woman's life, from the demands of work and the joys of leisure to family commitments and the importance of friends. Use these beautifully detailed designs with classic appeal to create cards, keepsake gifts, larger pictures, and cushions. With full-color charts and easy-to-follow instructions, Cross Stitch a Woman's World will help stitchers of all levels celebrate a woman's world.
Here in Southwestern Ohio, July has brought a bounty of beautiful blossoms, from daisies and hollyhocks to lilies and zinnias. (Morning glories are just beginning to bloom, too.) You'll find these flowers and more in this week's free cross stitch project.
"Flower Garden Alphabet," designed by Caroline Palmer, is from the book Cross Stitch Alphabets:An Indispensable Collection of 50 Themed A - Zs. Let your imagination blossom with ideas for using these simple, lovely designs in anything from a sampler to individual letters stitched for card inserts and as monograms on apparel.
Cross Stitch Alphabets:An Indispensable Collection of 50 Themed A - Zs presents a collection of 50 alphabets appropriate for various occasions. Projects range from towels to trinket boxes, and the full-color charts are accompanied by easy-to-follow making-up instructions and color photographs.
So often people think of cross stitch as cutesy or folksy--but it can project mystery and culture as well. Such is the case with this week's free project, the "Eye of Horus" case from Ancient Egyptian Cross Stitchby Barbara Hammett.
Eye of Horus is an ideal motif for this glasses case (or could be used as an amulet bag). It's a symbol of protection and power from the Egyptian deity Horus and his mother, Hathor (read more about it here). The design measures 3-1/4" x 4-1/8" (8.2cm x 11cm) stitched on 14-count dark green Aida. The project includes materials list and complete instructions for stitching and assembling the bag.
Ancient Egyptian Cross Stitch depicts the art, architecture, landscape, people, animals and gods of the Ancient Egyptians in glorious cross stitch designs. Subject matter includes the 'face' of Tutankhamen, the breathtaking pyramids, fascinating hieroglyphics and life on the River Nile. All 25 projects, which include pictures, wall hangings, cushions, box lids and greetings cards, have full step-by-step stitching and making-up instructions. The fascinating historical facts and insights behind every design are revealed, making this a truly unique cross stitch journey through an ancient civilization.
Who says June is the only month when you need a good "congratulations" card or gift? Graduations take place all year round now, plus there are other occasions--what about a bon voyage rememberance or a "great job acing that exam" card?
Whatever the occasion, you'll be ready with this week's free project. "Hip, hip, hooray!" from 101Weekend Cross Stitch Gifts by Lesley Teare presents over a dozen motifs appropriate for celebratory moments. There are suggestions as well for projects to make with these designs, such as those pictured here.
101 Weekend Cross Stitch Giftsis a huge resource with over 350 designs to choose from. You'll never run out of ideas for fast and unique hand-stitched gifts.
"Celtic Trinket Pot," designed by Claire Crompton from the book Magical Cross Stitch, presents a chart 33 stitches by 33 stitches. Worked on 14-count Aida, the finished design measures 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm), perfect for a trinket box lid insert. Of course, there are many other wonderful uses for such an attractive design: card inserts, brooches, pendants, miniature framed art--what else can you think of?
