| Many of you are
accomplished stitchers and are familiar with many designers already. You
know what their patterns are like, you know what kinds of threads they
like to work with and have a pretty good idea of what a pattern is going
to turn out like when you buy it. But for someone just starting out, you might not have any idea at all! As a stitcher for over 25 years, I know what what I want to look for. I know if I feel ready for a challenge; a complicated piece that will be exquisite when I'm done (even though I know it will take countless hours to complete) and I know when I want to do a little bit of something that is just for fun and relaxation. There is also the advent of many new designers on the scene all the time. I keep bumping into some really good ones! This is just a small chart of a few of the ones I currently have in my store and they will cross over each other. For example, Marilyn Bastin, a Dutch artist and cross designer, is available through Lanarte, but I describe a bit of what her cross stitch patterns are like and how Lanarte designs them for the cross stitcher. |
| Stoney Creek | Stoney Creek has some great designs and I find the charts actually easy to follow. They require backstitching and are usually in a 'large print' size. Usually come in a booklet form and do not have a lot an over abundance of tedious detail. Just the right amount for a beginner as well as to keep an experienced stitcher interested. :) | |
| Cross Stitch Collectibles | Cross Stitch Collectibles are wonderful pieces when finished, but will require either an accomplished stitcher, a dedicated stitcher or both. While the pieces are not actually complicated, the patterns are HUGE! and each one comes in a binder, often in a booklet of 15 pages or more. Museum quality when finished, it requires patience to work on; usually one square at a time. | |
| Bobbie G | These patterns remind me a lot of Sam Hawkins in color and design. Wonderful! | |
| The Silvery Lining |
Silver Lining breaks down their patterns into sheets. Usually very large, but not complicated. Lovely when finished. All the pieces I've worked on require a combination of DMC and Anchor Floss. |
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|---|---|---|
| Mirabilia | More detailed, backstitching. | |
| Kustom Krafts | These are detailed patterns too, much like Cross Stitch Collectibles, though not as large. Patterns usually require the entire piece, or area, to be filled with cross stitch. Not a lot of back stitch, if any, in many of the patterns. | |
| Lanarte | ||
| A and L | I've gotten some, and the finished patterns was great. But the working patterns were a bit difficult to work from. I had to enlarge them and make a bigger chart to see. When I sell them, I try to include a larger chart. | |
| Beautiful Threads | Again, another company with wonderfully detailed work, exquisite when finished, but requires dedication and determination to finish since the patterns fill an entire area. No back stitching, a lot of symbols on the charts. More for the experienced stitcher. | |
| Paula Vaughn | A lot of Country, or Folksy style patterns with patchwork quilts, flowers and rockers as a focal point in the patterns. Nice, fair amount of backstitching though. | |
| Marilyn Bastin | Carried by Lanarte, you'll see truly delicate and lovely pastels from this Dutch artist | |
| Sam Hawkins | Beautiful and colorful; these charts are easy to follow and simple in design. | |
| Marty Bell | Known for those beautiful and colorful cottages in pleasant landscapes, these patterns are not as time consuming as those such as Cross Stitch Collectibles, for instance, but there is still some effort in some of the more detailed and larger pieces. Well worth the time, though. |
Mir