Cross-Stitch

Raingal72 shares a project she created using the Free Medieval Cross pattern of which a detail is shown here. She writes, in part, "I was initially captivated by the Medieval cross pattern, and wanted to use it as part of a larger project. I resized the cross a little bit, and made every third stitch as colored "jewels" in all four arms of the cross." See the whole project and learn more about her project. Would you like your project to be featured as About.com's Cross Stitch Photo of the Week? Here are a few ways how:

• Submit a photo of a project stitched from a free Pattern from About.com Cross Stitch
• Submit a photo of a project you want to show off in the Stitcher's Photo Albums
• Submit a photo of a project in the About.com Cross Stitch Forum
• Share a designer profile with a photo of a project you created
• Share a how to for a cross stitch project you have finished

One of the members of the About.com Cross Stitch Forum is responsible for this lovely creation. She took the free His Eye is On the Sparrow Border and added a single letter of the alphabet for a special monogrammed gift. I especially like the frame she chose for this project.

Cross Stitch Photo Albums
More information:

• His Eye is On the Sparrow Saying and Border
• More Free Border Patterns
• View and Share Photos and Tips

More blogs featuring photos from About.com Guides.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809 - 1894) was an American poet who was regarded by his peers as one of the best writers of the 19th century. The quote used in this design is attributed to him. The simple floral design uses a limited color palette that may be adapted to fit your decor. In addition to the saying design, a trio of the floral motifs is included in the pattern set for your stitching pleasure. Stitch the Oliver Wendell Holmes saying design for a gift or to add as a decorative element to your home.

More sayings by Oliver Wendell Holmes:

• Oliver Wendell Holmes Quotes I
• Oliver Wendell Holmes Quotes II
• More Oliver Wendell Holmes Sayings

If you use this chart or any of the other free charts from About.com Cross Stitch for a project, please share a photo with us. We love to see what you have been stitching! Learn more....

Roses are popular flowers and this one may be stitched in any shade you like. It's perfect for celebrating Mother's Day today! I chose a rosy shade of pink, but you might prefer yellow or pink. My mom has a wide variety of roses in her yard and I am always amazed at the variety of colors her plants exhibit. And the names! The names are as lovely as the flowers. My favorite are the Knock-Out Roses - mainly because they really are so beautiful that they will knock you out! And, because they make me think of boxing.

Stitch the roses individually or together as shown here. You could also add more space between the roses and chart a quote about roses in between. Use the chart as you like to create your own special design.

More Rose-y Crafts:

• Candy Kiss Rose Bud
• How to Draw a Rose
• Wild Rose Beaded Safety Pin Pattern

The Rose patterns were inspired by Sue Chastain's Free Graphics Software Downloads. I really appreciate her permission to use her designs as the basis for my free patterns.

The Column Pattern Collection is a great pattern for practicing whole cross stitches, tension, and also for trying out a floss new-to-you. Like the rest, Column Two is a single color, so it would also look magnificent on a piece of hand-dyed fabric or done in a variegated floss.

Of course, you could also subdivide the pattern into sections and use several different shades of the same color family or a coordinating colors.

The Column Two pattern was inspired by Sue Chastain's Free Graphics Software Downloads.

More Whole Cross Stitch Charts:

• Home Sweet Home Chart
• Acorn's Away Design
• Cross Stitch Alphabet

Is there a blog or website you visit regularly to find free Cross Stitch patterns? The members of the forum share their favorite sites regularly, so you can visit there to find out where they are hanging out. You can also Share Pattern Sources and tips for finding free patterns with other stitchers.

More on Free Patterns:

• Free Patterns from About.com Cross Stitch
• Visit the Forum to Share Free Patterns
• Share Free Pattern Sources.

If you offer free patterns on your blog or website, feel free to post your sites and links as well. We'd love to see what you are designing and sharing.

This model of the free Kiwi Diamond Cross Stitch pattern was stitched on dark blue Aida with DMC S666 (Satin floss). I love the way the satin floss shines against the dark fabric.

The DMC Satin floss was quite nice to stitch with too. I have problems with getting some rayon flosses to lay flat, but none of that occurred in this project. I also had little problems with fraying or fuzzies. I plan to do more projects using this floss in the future.

The free Kiwi Diamond Pattern has a companion piece in the Kiwi Diamond Candlewicking pattern. I was inspired by the pattern on the inside of cut kiwis, hence the name of the design.

More information on Kiwis:

• Kiwi Recipes
• Nutrition Facts for Kiwi
• Kiwi Vines

Cathartes submitted this photo of a recent project she completed using the free Thistle Flower Cross Stitch pattern. She writes, "I used DMC 153 (light lavender), 553 (purple), 904 (green) and 4070 Green Variations. Around the edge I used some glass beads with iridescent purples and blues." Learn more about her project.Would you like your project to be featured as About.com's Cross Stitch Photo of the Week? Here are a few ways how:

• Submit a photo of a project stitched from a free Pattern from About.com Cross Stitch
• Submit a photo of a project you want to show off in the Stitcher's Photo Albums
• Submit a photo of a project in the About.com Cross Stitch Forum
• Share a designer profile with a photo of a project you created
• Share a how to for a cross stitch project you have finished

This photo is of my very first Cross Stitch project, a Stamped Cross Stitch sampler with animal motifs and a saying. I was about eight when I finished it. My cousin started the project and I completed it. It was my first experience with needlework and the beginning of my long-affair with Cross Stitch. Why not use the resources on this site to get your own child or younger friend started with Cross Stitch and start them on their own love affair with needlework?

When you teach your kids to stitch, be sure to share a photo of their projects with us. If you already have kids who stitch, show off their photos now.

View and Share Photos of Kid's Stitching Projects.

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky and moved to Indiana as a young man. I have visited his birthplace and also visited the Lincoln Memorial several times during my younger days. As a child, the Civil War was more real to me than more recent conflicts Americans have been involved in because I was surrounded by historic sites. Abraham Lincoln was a hero of my father's and became a figure of interest for me too.

I remembered that Lincoln's mother died when he was nine when I was around that same age when my father fell victim to a chronic illness. I knew that he was very close to his stepmother who urged him to read. Like my paternal grandmother, he had little formal education, but he loved to read and learn from any books he could get his hands on.

I have long liked this quote that was attributed to him. Recently I stitched the free Lincoln Happiness Quote using Sullivans Embroidery floss. I am more impressed with this floss each time I use it. I have found it of good quality and not as prone to tangling as some other brands I use. I purposefully used longer lengths of floss, abusing it a little with some extra friction on the fabric, and had very little fraying due to wear.

More Information on Abraham Lincoln:

• Abraham Lincoln Biography
• Abraham Lincoln Assassination Conspiracies
• More Quotes from Abraham Lincoln