Carrol Nielsen's Christmas Cross Stitch Designs

Carrol Nielsen of Carrol Nielsen's Christmas Designs says that, "It seems like I have had a needle and thread in hand since a very young age and I often joke that my family wouldn't recognize me without it." Carrol hails from the "Land Down Under" and you will see how that influences her stitching as you read on.

Her first projects were from Danish magazines her family and friends gave her. After she stitched everything from cover to cover and ran out she began creating her own patterns. She explains, "I was around 13 when one of the first I remember designing was an Elvis cross stitch which was published many years later. It wasn't till after my son was born that I had the nerve to submit a design to a magazine and when it was accepted - WOW!!! Over the years I have been lucky to have many published in various Australian cross stitch and handcraft magazines."

"My mum taught me to stitch as well as knitting and crochet. My father also told stories of long cold Danish winters with everyone busy stitching and knitting gifts and ornaments or paper crafts (Danish Plaited Hearts) as well as baking to get ready for Christmas. I liked the idea of all the handmade Christmas preparations, with the heart and love of it instead of just buying something quick, if you know what I mean. I stitch ornaments every year to hang on the tree alongside ornaments saved from my grandmother and other family members and friends - it's like decorating Christmas with memories."

Carrol's designs are dominated by Koalas. Koalas for Christmas, baby samplers, and they just keep popping up everywhere. Carrol says, "When I was a kid I just couldn't draw a koala. My grandmother was in love with koalas and I have her in several photos having a koala cuddle on her visits to Australia. Sadly she died when my son turned one and I wanted to stitch a koala for her and gradually they just started to work for me. You can see from my earlier designs how the koala has evolved in my stitching."

"I stitch lots of Christmas ornaments and Australia being a summer country means that snowmen and other northern wintry motifs just don't work down here at Christmas time. I try to make my designs uniquely Australian for Christmas even though there is a bit of Denmark sneaking into the mix. The blend of Australian and Danish ideas to make Christmas designs has resulted in my little Koala Nisser (a nisse is a cheeky little fellow best described as being similar to an elf or a pixie - a long standing tradition in Denmark).

Carrol says, "It can be anything really, a shape or a color which then starts an idea. I often have a camera with me and take lots of photos of animals and plants and bits and pieces of these often form the beginning of a new design as well. Sometimes something just pops into my head and I write it down for later. I have lots of little pieces of paper floating around with ideas on them."

"I like my Peekaboo Koala design. Inspired by my son as a toddler. A vision of him looking through his legs that way led to a fun design of koala doing the same with a Santa hat on his bum!"

Carrol designs for cross stitch, but her charts have been adapted to tapestry and beaded pieces by some stitchers. She sells charts only and they are available via snail mail or email. Her charts are easy enough for beginners, but so cute even advanced stitchers will love working them.

She says, "I only sell my own designs and try to update regularly with new designs. I like to stitch them first as well to make sure they work and I have a few freebies which have proved popular too.

I keep a mailing list and send out updates by email and post when new designs or ideas are added.

I welcome all inquiries and messages and try to reply to everyone as quickly as possible whether it has to do with a chart or simply for a chat."

Visit Carrol Nielsen Christmas Cross Stitch Designs to learn more.

Peekaboo Koala

Wreath - showcasing several ornament designs

Bush Babies Birth Sampler This design is also available as Alphabet sampler.