Whether you’re just entering the world of cross stitch, or have been stitching for years, small cross stitch designs are a great project idea! First off, they have the obvious appeal of being…well…SMALL. Which means they’re quicker to stitch and finish and they spend less time languishing in your WIP (Works In Progress) pile. Some of them can be easily stitched up in a few hours. And depending on the finishing technique you use, you might even go from gathering supplies to a finished project over the course of a weekend. And then you can bask in the sense of accomplishment that comes with a completely finished project!
Now I do confess that I like nice big samplers, and I love having them hanging up on the wall even though they take me ages to finish. But while I tend to have a few of those in progress I also wouldn’t want to work on them all the time. As a designer, I do get to work on small finishes in between (although, full disclosure, it’s usually because I’m running late and need to have them finished immediately). But I love the feeling of going from an idea to a finish in a short time frame. Then I can go back to my more leisurely pace on a larger project.
These days there are plenty of designers who specialize in small cross stitch designs, but you aren’t limited to what’s out there. I often look at a large piece (for instance a reproduction sampler) and I like a particular motif. I might stitch the building alone, or just the dog (and yes, I will buy pretty much any sampler that includes a dog). Or I might stitch the center of the sampler and leave off the alphabet. All of these result in a much smaller project and quicker stitch than the original.
And sometimes a small project comes about because you’ve stitched all the “fun” bits and just don’t want to stitch the rest! You may not like the fabric you’ve chosen, or you’re bored with a repeating border. In that case you can always just…stop. Finish where you are and make a little pillow or pincushion with your project instead of slogging away at it. Cross stitching is about enjoying the process as much as about enjoying the result, and some projects just don’t work out. Sometimes you set them aside and come back later, and sometimes you can just use what you have for something else entirely.
So now you can feel free to pull elements of any design into your own small cross stitch. Or you can combine pieces of different designs into something completely new and unique to you. There are even books of traditional motifs if you are looking to fill some space around that one design (i.e. the lovely dog you selected from an antique reproduction sampler) you chose as the focal point. Add a few coordinating elements and you can have your own tiny sampler!
And what can you do with your lovely little cross stitch now that you’ve completed the stitching? There are so many options! For a long time I had to keep everything on our walls (cats and a curious puppy aren’t a great mix with stitched pieces that are within reach). But now I’m having a great time learning new finishing options and I hope you will too. Because there are so many choices and techniques you can explore. And in these days of online tutorials and a great stitching community it’s much easier to get guidance to learn something new.
Take a classic category of “small” finishes – the ornament. Not only are you not limited by holiday (do you want to hand that Halloween cat over your desk? Go for it!) but you can use just about any finishing option you can imagine to make a small ornament. For instance, you could be putting your piece in a simple wooden frame. (These often come pre-made and are very easy to assemble.) And you can paint or embellish that frame to coordinate with your piece. Or you can add a backing fabric to your piece and fill it with stuffing (nothing too heavy if it’s going to be hanging). There are options that include mat board and defined shapes, and options that let you just stitch around the shape of what you have. Or you could make a mini version of something that’s typically done in a larger version – like a tiny biscornu to hang on your tree.
And speaking of frames, you can also find jewelry frames that are meant to hold stitched pieces. A few hours of stitching and you can assemble a custom pendant to display your stitching!
Do you want to use your small project every day rather than just during a holiday season? How about a pincushion? This could be anything from a biscornu shape (this finishing looks intimidating but once you’ve done it you’ll see how easy it is) or a simple pillow. Have you found a little vintage teacup that you love? With some strategic stuffing you can make that into a special pincushion to enjoy.
And if you would like something more for display, how about flat folds and stand-up finishes? These are meant to stand up on their own and can be done with any design and in any size. All you need is a little time and practice.
These days we are so fortunate to have many wonderful shops and stitchers who share their finishing knowledge and techniques with us. If you have a local shop they probably organize classes or retreats to teach you some of these fun finishing options. And there are great online classes and videos available as well. If you have any friends who like to cross stitch, maybe check with them to see which techniques they know. Or see if there is something you’ve all wanted to learn and you can figure it out together. You could have a fun evening or weekend, bring your small projects and learn from each other!
And of course, once you’ve learned a new technique you will be able to apply it to lots of different designs. That’s where it can be so fun to see the creativity of other stitchers and let it inspire you as well. So that small cross stitch can become one of so many different finished options for you to enjoy.
I hope this gives you confidence to approach your next project with an open mind to the many possibilities a small cross stitch project can bring. And congratulations in advance on your next small stitch!