The Bottom Line
For a variety of small charts and borders or a wide range of quick stitch projects for small gifts, Pincushions – 60 Cross Stitch Designs by Linda Gillum is a great resource. Many of the charts have cross stitch only, making them ideal for beginners. This leaflet would make an excellent resource for club projects, badge project material for youth groups, or quick to work projects for bazaars and craft sales. The designs could easily be adapted for bookmarks or other small projects and many of the borders could be extended to use on towels or napkins.
Pros
- Wide range of traditional and modern charts, several within a theme or particular style.
- Easy to read symbol charts with colored lines for straight stitches.
- Designs from 9 x 9 stitches to 58 x 42, with most between 20 and 30 stitches square.
- Clear instructions and simple patterns for making a variety of pincushion designs.
- Many patterns are suitable for other projects including gift tags, bookmarks, or towel borders.
Cons
- All pincushion designs are either made of felt on card or pre-made boxes.
- Charts are arranged by pincushion design rather than theme.
Description
- Good range of difficulty levels, from complete beginner to more experienced stitcher.
- Clear easy to follow instructions for eleven styles of pincushions and sixty stitching charts.
- Lots of very small easy projects. This is a good way to showcase a beginner's first attempts at cross stitch.
- Many small patterns which can be used again and again for different projects.
- Good design range, from single color charts and monograms to subtly shaded flowers.
- Includes fun designs, like flip flops, hat, teapot, and cupcakes alongside traditional floral and sampler charts.
- Each chart is accompanied by a clear color photo of the chart worked up and mounted on the recommended pincushion design.
Guide Review - Pincushions - 60 Cross Stitch Designs by Linda Gillum - Kooler Design Studio
The title Pincushions – 60 Cross Stitch Designs doesn't do this 48 page leaflet justice. In addition to sixty stitching charts, the leaflet contains patterns for flower pincushions, hanging, diamond and square pillow pincushions, spool pincushions, oval and rectangular sewing box pincushions, and spool feet pincushions. There are also cute three dimensional animal shaped felt pincushions in bear, pig or elephant designs. With most stitching charts easily adapted to a range of pincushion styles and shapes, a bazaar table could be filled from this one leaflet alone!
Easy to read charts use black and white symbols with colored lines for back stitch. The fabric suggested is 14 count Aida with three strands of floss for cross stitches. Several of the designs require cross stitch only, some require a few lines of back stitch, while others require quarter stitches, and French knots for details. The front of the booklet contains clear instructions for every stitch needed as well as a list of finishing instructions.
The leaflet is divided into sections which detail the assembly of the pincushion styles and the groups of stitching charts which fit them. Most pincushions are felt over cardboard. Patterns for the felt pieces and clear instructions for their assembly are included. The box pincushions are designed for commonly available wooden or paper mache boxes. The stitching charts have wide ranging themes from traditional florals and fruits, to sampler motifs, sewing themed designs and items of pure whimsy, including flip flops, a hat, stylish shoes and a purse. The charts range in size and complexity from a 9 x 9 stitch bee, to a 58 x 42 traditional garden gate scene.
