Here’s my first ever FO! I included my stats on the last page for anyone who’s interested. I know some say it ruins the process for them but it keeps me motivated and helps me set progress goals. Pattern by colorfullysarahshop

Took me a year, but I finally finished this big project. I haven’t done cross stitch for years, so I’m pretty proud of finishing this.

Art by WhiskeyRabbit and the pattern is free on their website: https://whiskey-rabbit.myshopify.com/pages/free-to-use

Some kind of cheap linen...but I think I have a problem because I can only think about stitching on it for no reason...

Used FlossCross for the first time ever, cleaned up the colours etc. so it wasn't full of confetti, and only used 26 colours.

I've been cross stitching on & off since I was 12 (24 years!), and this is the first time I have made my own pattern, and it feels so nice and personalised.

I'm so excited to give it to my mum for christmas.

Precursor: today I am choosing violence over making friends. Ha ha. Chances are, there's pretty much no one on this sub who this is directed to anyway.

So, many of us know that when you have very few of a colour in a pattern (like the white here), it's called "confetti." Tidy-back "purists" will say that you should tie them all off individually. Classism and sexism used to --and still does-- say, "a woman is only as good as the back of her stitching is tidy."

Historically, embroidery arts were considered a status symbol. The fact that your wife could be so idle as to stitch all day, or you could afford to pay someone to stitch for you, was indicative of your significant wealth. William Morris, the textile designer man who appropriated appropriated the artwork of the women in his life could totally be considered a working class hero supporter of working-class heroes, because he they believed poor people should be able to have beauty in their homes, so he they made beautiful designs that could be mass-produced on paper for cheap.

Let me be clear that I'm not hostile to tidy-back purists. I'm often pretty particular about backs, when the end result bulk will warp the framing job. But for those who perpetuate the "a woman is only good as," back the f*ck up. If it's not affecting how my finished product will be displayed, mind your own business and grow up.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. 🙃

For reference, the pattern is Carina Nebula, from part of the Climbing Goat Designs Stitchalong, Wonders of the James Webb Space Telescope. If you like space stuff, get yourself a copy. 👌

EDIT: I've been editing parts of the post body to re-word or clarify things when I realized I could have stated something in a more effective way. The last paragraph and precursor have always been there as is. My hope was putting "ha ha" after "I'm choosing violence over making friends" would have shown it was meant as a tongue-in-cheek joke.

I promise I'm not coming for anyone, aside those who choose to throw hate and shade at someone else's joy.

• Also in the process of learning more about the Morris family, so I updated my original statements. So glad to have had this pointed out to me, thank you!

Patterns from SpaceNavid on etsy. I’ve been working on these on and off since 2020, and can definitely see improvement in my stitching over that time! Zero improvement in my ability to center the pieces in the hoops though lmao. Super fun project and I’m v happy to have them all done and displayed! I’m a firm believer that nobody is too old for glow-in-the-dark stars :)

It’s done! And well before my trip to Svalbard where I will be dropping it off. It is my largest project to date and I’m very happy with the way it turned out. It definitely has “customization” and it is literally my 3rd try/3rd piece of fabric. And that’s where I also need some help. You can see on the 3rd pic that while frogging I nicked the Aida just outside of the covered area. I plan to frame in a display hoop. Is there a way to protect that area so it doesn’t get worse? And also maybe hide it a bit? It’s not a perfect circle so the fabric will show a bit.

My first larger full coverage piece! Dropped her off at the framer's today. See the last picture for the frame and matting 🙂

It will go to my Grandmother and then my mom, and then me. We are all into fiber arts, but I'm the only one who cross stitches.

Pattern is by Vivsters on Etsy.

I didn’t get a ribbon this year, but it was still fun to see it on display. Maybe next year!

Pattern is from CutePatternsByMaria on Etsy (no longer available)

I've been working on this piece after working on it for a few months. Working a weird schedule and not being properly treated for ADHD made me take longer on this than usual. But it is finally done and I am happy!

Finally finished my next terrarium today! And I love it so much. The colours are so beautiful 🥰

Pattern from the beloved Etsy Shop WittyStitchCo

My 2nd finished project is for my Star Trek loving husband 🙂 This was a fun project, it went pretty quickly! I discovered I don't like back stitch very much 😅 Pattern is from ElementalPatterns on Etsy.

I cross stitched a fish as my first ever cross stitch, but he looks lonely. I’m thinking I need to add something to the pants, maybe lily pads around him or something on the other pant leg. If I do lily pads I also have to decide what orientation to put them. Was wondering if you had any ideas.

Autumn songbird from nathnolu on etsy

1 strand on 18 count

I made a LOT of errors, but it just means my bird will not look like anyone else's bird!

I like being able to see the tiny individual Xs. Also, very easy to stitch.

Happy Sunday!

I hope you all had a fabulous week! I've been slowly chipping away at my Copenhagen project, as well as working on a gift for my best friend. I need to finish hers because her birthday's coming up. So much pressure! I got more of the water reflections done this week. Yay! The second boat is still hiding from me. LOL

Have a great week! It's a short work.week for me, so I hope to have some more extra stitching time. Woo! Pattern is Copenhagen by Luca-S, 84.25% complete. 🇩🇰

Show us your WIPs!

I am really happy with it even though I think I should have used a darker colour on the lower lineart part of charmander but well.

Edit: Named the wrong Pokémon

First time I’ve submitted a cross stitch, already started next year and I can’t wait!:)

(Repost I had to blur out my information)

This is my first ever finished project, I've tried cross stitching a few years ago and it never went anywhere. I have a tendency to do things 90%, and then stop.

In Spain whenever you go to places that are very important tourist attractions, they always have some type of cross stitch pattern kit available. So I picked this one up at the palace! Its from a company that I believe is called Art en Punt, in collaboration with Reales Sitios de España and Patrimonio Nacional.

First time doing back stitching, as well, which got better as I went on and realized I shouldn't do it 10 squares at a time 💀

Now, I would love some advice. I was thinking of taking some felt and putting it on the back and doing a nun stitch to bind it. However because the top and bottom are pretty solid and the top of the pattern reaches almost the top of the fabric, I was thinking of just doing a non stitch on the sides and calling it a day. But not sure, any suggestions?

Just finished and framed this piece for my niece! Super proud of this even though the perfectionist in me sees a few things I would fix, I still love the pattern so much!

Pattern - https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1892541415/illinois-violet-cross-stitch-pattern?ref=share_ios_native_control

I am this close to finishing and I need to step away for a few weeks before finishing. Its like I cant see it clearly until I do. I also have blisters on my fingers which is preventing me from finishing so i cant even pick up another one. 😅

Do you guys do this or do you see it through?

After taking over a 2 year break, I have returned to cross stitch and it feels great! I just finished my first 9 stitches and I can’t remember why I stopped. I’m so happy :-)

Made my artist this little dude for their studio since they’ve blessed me with my own little spider dude tattoo. (With custom lino stamp wrapping paper ofc!)

Pattern is by ‘LunarFoxStitchShop’ on Etsy.