Word Out 2013

I first learned how to cross-stitch when I was in grade school. We were given the basic supplies and told to pick an easy project by our teacher. I picked a pattern for a cloth bookmark that had the word “MUSIC” going down one side in large red letters, with a brown teddy bear and some musical notes at the bottom. I thought it was lots of fun, and was given several different kits by family and friends for a few years after that. After making umpteen lavender sachets and samplers with cats on the front, however, I got bored with it and decided to stop. A couple of years ago, however, I found a cross-stitching kit for something a bit more interesting:

 

After finishing this project, I realized that while cross-stitching is a traditional craft, it can also be used to make more modern-looking items and not necessarily be consigned to the world of alphabet samplers.

If you’re thinking of trying some modern cross-stitch designs, take a look at Makoto’s Cross
–
Stitch Super Collection by Makoto Oozu. This book is full of cute and easy designs that can be transferred onto clothing (like hats, sweaters, and shirts), bags, pillows, and small accessories like key chains and notebook covers. It even provides instructions on how to create your own 3-D panel of a giant dinosaur skeleton (on pegboards with craft yarn) and a faux-tiger doormat (made with plastic canvas and yarn) to go in your room.  Other designs to choose from in this book include robots, dinosaurs, monsters, things from outer space, various different insects and sea creatures, travel-related icons from around the world, and electronic gear that’s been miniaturized into black-and-white cross-stitch designs.

All of the stitches are clearly explained with each project, and the diagrams are easy to read for anyone looking through this book. I think this is an excellent book for anyone who wants to make something stylish and fun using cross-stitch.

So, if you had to choose a cross-stitch design to do, what would you make?