Name of Company and Designer(s)
Kincavel Krosses - cross stitch and blackwork designs by Kell Smurthwaite
Kell is a busy SAHM who started designing cross stitch and blackwork charts late in 2009 and decided that if she found them fun, others might too, so started posting them for free on a blog.
Stitching should be fun, and the designs reflect that, with fun quotes and witty quips making slightly subversive appearances alongside more traditional samplers and geometric designs. Bookmarks and biscornu are both favourites, so there are plenty of those too.
Keep checking back regularly as new designs are posted all the time!
Contact Information - Share Your Links!
The Kincavel Krosses blog hosts hundreds of free cross stitch and blackwork designs. Just right click and save to your computer, and you can get stitching straight away!
There's also a page for charity stitching with links to all the free designs I've charted for Breast Cancer Awareness, and also to the Folksy Store where you can purchase the What Cancer Cannot Do Charity Blackwork Sampler chart.
At the Kincavel Krosses Folksy Store there are exclusive designs available which will be sent in PDF format direct to your email address. There are occasionally small stitched gifts for sale there too.
I take commissions for both designs and stitched gifts. Past commissions have included wedding and birth samplers, soft cube toys for babies, wedding favours and invitations, baby announcements - the possibilities are endless!
There is a Facebook Business Page, an updates group and a SAL group where anyone stitching a Kincavel Krosses design can show off their progress and finished pieces.
Advice
- Although I was taught to stitch by my Mum in my teens, I only really got into it in February 2009, but the moment I picked up that needle, I was hooked. Pretty soon I was equally addicted to creating my own designs in both cross stitch and blackwork - some simple, some more complicated.
- In January 2010 I started posting my designs on a blog (Kincavel Krosses) for free download, and in 2011 I set up a Folksy store to sell a few designs and stitched gifts.
- I'm kept very busy with stitching commissions - everything from wedding and birth samplers, to soft cubes for babies, to wedding favours and invitations!
Dominant Themes of Designs - What Inspires You?
I adore slightly subversive stitching and am always on the look out for witty quips to create fun designs. Most designs are charted for a single colour, and although I give colour guides, I never specify shades as I think half the fun is choosing for yourself from your own stash!
Share About a Special or Popular Design
My Rules For Life Sampler has proven very popular and there's even a SAL group on Facebook set up by one of my fans for everyone who's stitching it to show off their work. I'm a member of the group myself and am slowly stitching this design too. It's great seeing all the variations!
Format of Designs / Stitching Level
Everything from small, simple designs for beginners, to more elaborate designs. Most of the cross stitch charts are for whole stitches only so can be stitched by any level.
Anything Else You Want to Share?
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2011 I charted some free designs available for fundraising and a blackwork chart which is for sale - all proceeds go to Cancer Research UK.
