Music is an important part of my life. It has been since childhood. My family were big singers. We sang in the car, around the piano, and so on. We weren't exactly the Von Trapp Family or anything, but did we ever love to sing.

We sang hymns, folk songs, silly songs and more. The free Dilly Cross Stitch Pattern was inspired by a song from our repertoire, Lavender's Blue. Burl Ives sang a popular version.

I chose Lavender Blue for my version of this pattern, but you can stitch it with your favorite color. It will be a dilly of a pattern no matter what color you select!

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Happy St. Patrick's Day! Are you wearing your green today? If you need a quick pin or badge, there's still time to stitch up some of the simple designs in the free St. Patrick's Day Collection

Or, you may find a chart you'd like to stitch for next year! Either way, sending you shamrock wishes for a happy day!

Marie, aka Mom33612, posted this photo of a lovely project she made over in the forum and I wanted to share it with everyone. She used the design from the free Vintage Valentine Violet Posy and the saying from the free Butterfly Blessing Collection to create a design uniquely her own for a special friend. I think it turned out quite nicely!



Cross Stitch Photo Albums

Submit a Photo - share your photo with us and it might just be featured as upcoming photo of the week.

I never seem to keep my posts completely wordless, but here are more blogs posts featuring photos on Wordless Wednesday at About.com.

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When I was growing up, one of my main chores was mowing the yard. We lived on a wooded hill. Part of the yard had to be mowed rather frequently; part of it was only cut a few times a year. One section was particularly horrible to mow, and my Dad took mercy on me and planted that part with a quick growing ivy.

Perhaps that is why I have such an affinity for vines. I like the way the grow - and I have even been able to keep some vining houseplants alive despite my brown thumb. The freeVine and Leaf Motif pattern is whole cross stitch and only one color.

The design was inspired by one of Sue Chastain's Free Graphics Software Downloads. I like the clean lines and the simple elegance of the leaves and the curling vine. This design would work alone or as a decorative element for a favorite saying.

More Free Patterns:

• Maple Leaf Pattern Collection
• Floral Diamond Collection
• Pink Flower Chart