Quarantine Hobby #2: Cross-Stitch

 When I started to realize quarantine was going to last 'a bit' longer than 2 weeks, I decided to try my hand at cross-stitching. Turns out, I love it. Most people seem to find coloring soothing and relaxing, but it just stresses me out. (Are my marker lines straight? Does this look right? Is this the right color?) My hand ends up clenched around my marker while my shoulders are hunched over so I can focus even harder. Not very relaxing. Cross-stitch is to me what I imagine coloring is to, well, normal people.

Today I'm going to blast you with pictures of the projects I've made since I started (not all of them) because this is my blog and I can. You don't have to look.

I began with several kits from Hobby Lobby, but once I decided that yes, this is the hobby for me, I began purchasing digital patterns from Etsy. This was my first Etsy pattern. (All links to patterns/shops under each picture.)

Pattern by JackTheStitcher

This next one was a Christmas gift for my sister. I chose a blue/teal/green color scheme instead of the original because it fits her taste better.

Pattern by AlitonEmbroidery

This was a gift for my mom. I didn't want to buy new floss, and the colors in the original pattern were a little more fluorescent that my mom prefers, but I think I went too dark. She says she loves it, but then again, she's my mom - what else is she going to say?

Pattern by AlitonEmbroidery

I also decided to give blackwork a try. Blackwork is cross-stitch's fancy cousin, and turns out, I also love blackwork! This was a gift for my sister-in-law. I used DMC 121 - Delft blue variegated floss, avoiding the extremely pale sections of floss.

Pattern by PeppermintPurple

This one was a gift for a Lord of the Rings loving friend. I actually bought all the colors recommended in the pattern for this one, because it was about 20 different shades of green, and I didn't know if I'd get the subtle changes right trying to pick them out myself.

Pattern by AvocadoStitchery

This next one was just for me! I loved doing blackwork so much, I decided to try another pattern from Peppermint Purple.

Pattern by PeppermintPurple

This was a gift for a friend who loves F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Wreath pattern (free) - text is self-drafted

This is another Peppermint Purple blackwork pattern I made just for me. (I'm thinking of a blackwork gallery wall somewhere in my house.)

Pattern by PeppermintPurple

This next one was for my mom and is certainly the most complicated (and maybe also the coolest).

Before backstitching (outlining)

After backstitching

Pattern from MaddisonPatterns

For my sloth-loving friend:

Pattern by StitchingLand

I really need to start remembering to take pictures after I've ironed and framed the projects. Here's another one with my hoop creases all over it. :) This was a gift for my sister-in-law.

Pattern by StitchingLand

For a friend, but I might need to make one for myself, too. :)

Pattern by AlitonEmbroidery

And finally, this beautiful set of blackwork teacups for my sister. (The original pattern had steam coming off the top, but I left that out.)

Pattern by PeppermintPurple

Well, that's certainly not all the projects I've made, but probably just over half. (I forgot to take pictures of the rest!) I really really love cross-stitching - and finding cool patterns on Etsy, although I currently have about 12 I've purchased that I still have to make, so....

Love and Blackwork,

LeahJoy

P.S. Bonus project - not specifically cross-stitch, but cross-stitch's other cousin, chain stitching - I made this pillow for my friends who love Downton Abbey. This is their favorite quote and they said they really wanted a pillow with this quote on it, but for some reason, the Downton Abbey merchandising department didn't want to put this quote on anything.

Self-drafted pattern