It's wonderful to complete a cross stitch pattern or kit that you bought from a store, but sometimes you may want something that is unique and customized just for you. So, what can you do? Well, you could pay someone to make a customized pattern or you could make the changes yourself. Keep reading to find out tips on how to customize any project, whether it's a pattern you bought in the store or something you made yourself.
It doesn't need to be difficult or take a lot of work to customize a project. Here are some easy tips on how to make your cross stitch projects more personal and unique:
Put your initials and the year in a corner. This reminds people who made the piece and when.
Add buttons or beads to embellish the picture and help make it stand out more.
Back stitch a sentence at the bottom of the picture with a personal message. For example, on a birth announcement, the message could say, "We love you Claire. Love, Grandma and Grandpa."
Even kits or patterns that you buy in a store can be customized. One of the easiest ways to customize a project is to change one detail in the pattern. One detail that can be changed is one or more of the colours in the pattern. For example, if the pattern has a bear wearing a blue sweater, you could change it to your favourite colour. Another detail that can be changed is the fabric being stitched on. If the pattern suggests using white aida cloth, you could change the colour of the aida cloth or go with a different fabric, such as linen. It will give the project a whole new look.
Of course, sometimes we just want to make something totally unique. Here are some custom projects you can make:
Gift tags. You have two options for gift tags. One option is to back stitch the "To" and "From" instead of writing it on a tag. This works very well when the tag can be kept with the gift and serves as a reminder of who gave it. The second option is to stitch a simple picture, such as a star or Christmas tree, on the tag.
Christmas cards. They don't have to be elaborate - even just stitching the words "Merry Christmas" with a simple border is enough.
Create a pin cushion. Stitch a simple, repetitive pattern on a small piece of aida cloth. Then simply stitch the sides shut, leaving a small opening. Turn the piece inside out (so that the design is facing outwards), fill it with stuffing and then sew the opening shut. It's an easy way to create a fun and decorative pin cushion!
Make a bookmark. You can either use a long strip of aida cloth or buy aida cloth that is already in the shape of a bookmark. Then, simply cross stitch your design, eg: a row of hearts or an inspirational message. Simple works best when it comes to bookmarks!
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Try them out or come up with a few of your own!
