Stuff We Like: Seasonal Cross Stitching, Anyone?

I read CrossStitcher magazine every month via my local library’s digital subscription through RBDigital (and if you’d like to learn how to do that, I wrote a whole article about it – enjoy!) and this last month there was a really, really tempting sampler for Halloween on the cover:

I wish I could link to the pattern itself, but it’s inside the magazine. And it’s adorable! It tempted me to go looking for other fall patterns I might want to stitch soon.

So while Elyse is working on her upcoming knitting column, I thought I’d share some of the patterns and kits I’ve favorited as I look ahead to cooler weather, and sitting inside stitching while listening to audiobooks.

These kits from Mill Hill come with everything you need (though some reviewers recommend using your own bead needle) to create little Halloween and fall scenes with stitching, beadwork, and buttons:

There are several kits like this one, which are stitched on colored perforated paper:

 

This kit is larger, and instead of colored perforated paper, it includes the pattern, white aida fabric, and all the thread you need:

 

 

If you’d like to shop for your own supplies, or deep-dive into your existing thread stash (hi!) there are so many adorable, fun, and challenging patterns available online. A few that I’ve been looking at repeatedly:

This Addams Family Creed pattern from Dollymop Dandies is $3.89, and gives me so much joy, I think I’m stitching this one next. I plan to hang it by the front door, mwaahaha. If you can’t read the text, it says,”Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc” – the Addams Family creed, “We gladly feast on those who would subdue us.”

Yes, please!

 

This set of four is ideal for a smaller hoop and 14 count Aida. As some of the reviews note, the great thing about digital patterns is that you can load them on a phone or tablet, and mark off the stitched rows using a PDF markup program. I do that all the time and I love it.

I can’t decide which of those faces is the most adorable. I’m partial to the Halloween unicorn at the moment.

I’ve tried to favorite this pattern more than once on Etsy. I love the colors and the simplicity of it, and how vibrant it looks. There’s an even simpler heart-shaped fall sampler if you’re thinking leaves and acorns are your thing:

I love the branches and leaves mixed with acorns and pumpkins.

If you’re not anti-candy-corn, or not anti-decorative-candy-corn, how cute is this pillow?! I love this pattern, and the pillow option is terrific.

And, in case you didn’t know what time it is…

Happy 10th Anniversary to this outstanding piece of internet snortlaugh. 

 

If you’ve been thinking that you might want to try to learn embroidery techniques beyond cross stitching, this pattern from ThreadMeadows includes digital instructions to teach different styles – those flowers are adorable, aren’t they?

If a sampler is your thing, this Autumn Glows pattern from Little Dove Design is adorable. As I mentioned at the start, I do love samplers, both looking at finished ones like the collection at the Victoria & Albert, or at the Smithsonian, and contemplating the myriad options available for stitchers today.

I don’t know Who this pattern would likely appeal to, really. Probably no one at all anywhere, because the motifs included are so random and vague. Kidding – Who fans, found your pattern!

 

That pattern is just gorgeous and entirely relevant to all of my interests, most certainly.

What about you? Any stitching patterns you adore for this season?