Crafty Tips Arts & Crafts Directory
Where crafters share their favorite websites and crafting tips!

Patterns for Sale

Cross Stitch Patterns & Kits

This is the place to find great cross stitch patterns you won't find in Michael's, JoAnn's or anywhere else. These artisans offer their own original designs and cross stitch kits and some also offer patterns made from your cherished photographs.

Before buying, make sure you understand if you will be receiving just the pattern or a complete kit. Cross stitch kits usually contain appropriately sized Aida cross stitch fabric and DMC or Madiera threads. Depending upon the pattern, cross stitch kits also often contain beads, buttons and speciality or metallic threads.

All the website owners have also included their favorite cross stitching crafty tips.

Great Patterns for Sale Websites

Original Cross Stitch Patterns to Print

We offer Hundreds of Counted Cross Stitch Patterns which have a realistic, photo like quality, yet are easy to make with large, easy to read symbols and only using basic stitches. Single patterns for only $1.95 US, or only $19.95 a year for a membership that entitles you to download any or all of our over 600 patterns. Use our patterns and create masterpieces that people will have to touch to believe they're not photos.

Cross Stitch Crafty Tip
Every 8-10 stitches you should drop your needle to let the floss untwist.
 
 
The Art of Stitch

Providing the most beautiful selection of cross stitch designs, accessories, needlepoint and all crafts for babies, kids & adults! Free shipping for orders $50 and above!

Cross Stitch Supplies Crafty Tip
Organizing your cross stitch supplies

There are plenty of cross stitch organizers, floss separators, specialized cross stitch boxes etc to help you keep your cross stitch supplies in a neat and easy to find way. Usually for kits, floss separators are included and you can separate the threads into the little holes yourself. If you're fond of patterns, and need to buy many threads yourself, there are floss holders that are perfect for organizing all your threads.

However I wouldn't advise on spending an obscene amount of money on organizers. For me, I bought little cabinets with 3 drawers each to store my threads. I have about 4 sets and I organized the thread by colors for example red & pinks, yellow & beige, greens, blues, whites & blacks etc. You can also organize them by their color codes. Just have a group of them in one drawer. It's still easy to find and it's less costly than buying some of the more popular thread boxes in the market.

For my fabrics, I store them in a fabric box which wasn't really meant for cross stitch fabric but hey when you use your imagination, a storage box is still a storage box. For beads and little knick-knacks, you can get this little box with partitions at any utility or storage shops. They're simply perfect for keeping those beads separated.

I have got nothing against the popular in-market products for cross stitch, in fact I've bought a few, tried them but felt that they were not user-friendly as I wanted them to be. Cross-stitching need not be an expensive hobby. Just by using a little common sense and looking at the nearby budget shops, I'm sure you can find everyday storage items that can be used for all your supply needs :).
 
Country Cross Stitch Kits

Designers, manufacturers and suppliers of unique counted cross stitch kits, greetings card kits and patterns. Free patterns are available on the site as well as secure ordering and digitally downloadable patterns which are available to download as soon as an order is placed and have no P&P charges regardless of where in the world you order from.

Cross Stitch Crafty Tip
For and easy way to find the center of your fabric before starting the design:

Fold the fabric in half top to bottom, then in half left to right and where the two folds cross is the center of the fabric. To double check you can mark this center with a pin and then measure from this to all 4 edges.
 
Cross Stitch Kits for Sale

Internet e-bay store with specializing in cross stitch and needlepoint kits.

Cross Stitch Crafty Tip
When buying cross stitch kits I recommend sticking with the more well known manufacturers like Dimensions as they tend to produce a more top quality product that will last.
 
Cross Stitch Centre

An English website all about cross stitch and embroidery. Includes a tutorial for beginners, free cross stitch patterns (like the great wedding card shown here) and lots of information on cross stitching throughout the site. Here you will find an extensive selection of kits, charts, fabrics and threads available for delivery worldwide, ranging from traditional samplers to medieval designs. Also features cards and small needlework items which make lovely gifts.

Cross Stitch Crafty Tip
Here are some tips to help keep your cross stitch uniform, smooth and professional looking. If you have to split the 6 strand cotton into two strands for stitching, peel off just one strand at a time. Then combine the two, running your finger over the thread to make the strands parallel to each other. While stitching, regularly allow the needle to hang below the fabric so that the threads can untwist and always make the upper stitch of each cross in the same direction.
 
 
DPeaGreenDesigns

Chinese symbol cross-stitch patterns and more handcrafted for you.

Cross Stitch Fabric Crafty Tip
Keeping Your Fabric From Fraying:
 
First, make sure you cut a piece of cloth that is an inch or so larger on all sides than what is actually needed.
 
If you have a serger, before beginning to stitch a cross-stitch (or embroidery) pattern, run a seam around the edge of the fabric. No serger? Use a zig zag stitch from a regular sewing machine. No machine available? Use a thin bead of "Fray Check" around all edges. It is not too expensive and available at most craft stores where one would purchase cloth and embroidery thread. Google it if you don't have a store near. There are several online stores that sell this great little helper. It lasts a long time. I've had my bottle for several years and there is still about half a bottle left.
 
Any one of these methods will help keep the cloth from fraying and becoming string-y during hand stitching :)
 
Tempting Tangles Designs - Cross stitch and Needlepoint

Cross stitch and Needlepoint Designs - Tempting Tangles Designs offers imaginative and original stitch paintings, Samplers, Quakers of unique style and outstanding quality - direct from this designer to you, the stitcher.

Cross Stitching on Linen Crafty Tip
My mother used to wet wrinkled linen, wrap it in a bath towel and place it in a plastic bag. She then placed the bag in the fridge for 24 hours or so. Or you could put the bag in the freezer if you are worried about forgetting it or mold. The linen will be uniformly damp and iron like a dream. This trick works beautifully for cross stitch linen. The cold treatment works because linen is naturally able to absorb huge amounts of water. When the linen is cold, you're just steaming out the top of the fibers to smoothness; the core of the fibers dry naturally. NEVER iron linen till dry, just until it's not wrinkled.
 
NicheStitch

NicheStitch is a digital cross stitch pattern store that features a unique collection of downloadable patterns from vintage images. We offer a little bit of everything from grayscale images to full-color patterns. Contact us for custom patterns from your family photos and other images.

Crafty Tip
Always check the stitch count and number of colors needed for a cross stitch pattern so that you are prepared for the project.
 
Cross Stitch Kits by Yiotas XStitch

Yiotas is a family run business from England. They specialise in cross stitch kits and patterns inspired by fine art masters and the Victoria era. Their kits come with a multi-page pattern, instructions, 14-count Aida, presorted and carded Madeira threads and a full-color picture of the finished piece. Patterns also include DMC color charts. Check out the quality of our patterns through one of our free downloadable patterns.

Crafty Tip
If you have pets or small children do not keep your cross stitch materials in a bag. Keeping your threads, needles and scissors in a box that shuts securely will prevent little fingers and paws from getting into things easily!
 
Using a highlighter in a light color - yellow works very well for marking off stitches or areas of stitching as you complete them. If your lighting makes the yellow hard to see at night, you could use another color like green or blue or orange when stitching at night.