How to Cross Stitch on Crochet
10:57:00 AM
Hey you!
I'd like to begin this post by giving you all a little prengancy BUMPdate! For those of you that follow my blog (have I thanked you lately? - if not, THANKYOU) you may remember that I'm pregnant with my first baby! Well after a long road, this not so little bean is about ready to make his debut (eek!).
All of that is to say -- this will be my last post/tutorial/pattern/update for a little while. I hope to be back at it (slowly but surely) in a couple of weeks - if nothing more than to keep from going stir crazy while I recover. This mama can't stop crocheting! Either way, I appreciate your patience and support during this transition into mommyhood.
And don't worry, I'll post some squishy baby photos to tide you over until the next project. Promise.
Back to why we are really here - this foxy cross stitch right here!!
(^Yes that's the baby's crib and no the pillow won't be in there while the peanut is resting - but don't it look ding dang cute next to those owls and teepees?)
I have both a graph cross stitch pattern and in-depth video tutorial to help you with this technique but it is really quite simple - cross stitch using a tapestry needle over your single crochet stitches!
Now I'd like to offer a little written explanation - I am NOT a cross stitcher. Yes I have taken a crack at the Aida cloth and thread before but I am no pro. Like not even a little. Not even a smidge. I'm still in the beginner poking myself with the needle stage of cross stitching. Send help.
So because of that, I've chosen to try out cross stitch on a crochet pillow because guess what? THE BACK IS HIDDEN. Unlike cross stitching on a crochet blanket or scarf, the back of my stitched fabric (the crocheted front of my pillow) will never see the light of day. Only the pillow form and those who watch the video below will ever know what an utter mess the back of that fox is.
And guess what else? It doesn't matter! That's right, I said it. It doesn't matter. For all of those die hard cross stitchers out there, I'm sorry if I'm breaking your hearts. I truly am. I know that much pride is taken in having a clean back to your cross stitch masterpieces. My great grandmother was an amazing cross stitcher and I am lucky enough to have some of her pieces. And let me tell you -- the backs are as clean and beautiful as the fronts. I don't know how she did it.
But here in crochetland, we take victories as they come and a cute fox stitched on the front of a pillow is a victory in my book! I'm not hung up on what the back looks like. Again, I'm no pro.
Anywho.
If you missed my last pattern, the Basic Crochet Pillow, get going on that - it is the perfect base to cross stitch any simple design onto! Just be sure that if you follow this technique on my pillow pattern (something other than my fox design) the cross stitch pattern is 27 x 34 or smaller as that's how many stitches are on this pillow, thus how many "boxes" you have to work with on a cross stitch pattern.
Make sense?
Without further ado, here is the handy video tutorial!
PATTERN:
Materials:
-Worsted weight yarn (I used Vanna's Choice in terracotta, white and a small amount of black)
-Worsted weight yarn (I used Vanna's Choice in terracotta, white and a small amount of black)
-Large tapestry needle
Before your pillow is finished (either before you bind the front to the back or after you've bound 3 sides & 1 side is left open like a pocket) thread your large tapestry needle with a double strand of yarn.
Cross stitch your design. Be sure to see my video above on this! Here's mine:
Weave in your ends on the back side as you go, stuff your pillow with the pillow form and stitch up that last side (just as we did with the Basic Crochet Pillow in THIS tutorial)
You're all done!
Thanks so much for stitching with me - find something to cross stitch soon and send me photos, I'd love to see what you make! I'll see you all in a few weeks!
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