Spring Flowers Cross-Stitch

It's snowing here in Pennsylvania as I write this blog post, so any bulbs that had started to sprout in my garden are now covered in a few inches of fluffy flakes. While I wait out this temporary setback to the arrival of spring, I thought I'd share a cross-stitch project that might help chase winter away.

One of my favorite things about cross-stitch is that it requires so few instructions. If you have a chart and a color key, you can just go ahead and transfer a design from paper to fabric stitch by stitch. You can substitute colors if you like, and you can even stitch on different types of fabric to create different sizes and effects.

This spring flowers design, which was originally published in Craft Ideas magazine, features a geometric trellis pattern of irises, tulips, and daffodils stitched with eight shades of DMC embroidery floss. (I'm not a math person, but I do appreciate geometry and symmetry in my needlework.) I stitched the model shown above on 18-count Aida, which created a design area of about 4 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches. If you use 14-count Aida, your pictured will be about 6 by 7 inches. You could also stitch it on linen or another even-weave. Experiment with different fabrics to find out which work best for you.

If you'd like to give the Spring Flowers design a try, click here to download and print the chart and floss key. As I said, cross-stitch requires little instruction. Just follow the chart and start stitching!

Felt Celtic Pins

St. Patrick's Day doesn't last just a day anymore--it's a month-long celebration complete with parades, dinners, and wearing of the green. When I was in grade school, I used to push the limits of my Catholic school's dress code with green accessories, right down to green shoelaces and nail polish. Although I'll still wear green beads and a plastic leprechaun hat during my family's annual St. Patrick's Day dinner, I have developed an appreciation for more subdued Irish-themed accessories. Sometimes, I even make my own.

These appliqued Celtic pins are sewn from green and gold felt and embellished with simple embroidery. I admit, the pieces are pretty tiny, but I think the end result makes the patient snipping and stitching worthwhile. The pins were featured in the 2016 Spring issue of Craft Ideas magazine. Click here to go to the instructions and patterns on their website.

Looking for other St. Patrick's Day projects? Check out these cross-stitch designs--Shamrock and Thistle Pins and Irish Flag--which I featured previously on the blog. Click on the link below each photo below to se the original blog post.

Shamrock & Thistle Cross-Stitch Pins

Cross-Stitched Irish Flag

New Designs in "Just CrossStitch" and "Craft Ideas"

What a great way to end the month! Spring issues of two of my favorite magazines came out, and my designs are featured in both of them. You can find my appliqued flower sachets (above) in Craft Ideas. They're filled with dried lavender and make a pretty spring or Easter gift.

If you're a cross-stitcher, you might like my Ireland Sampler in the April issue of Just CrossStitch (that's it on the cover below). You can find my Ho, Ho, Ho Ornaments in the magazine's "Christmas Stitch" section. It's always Christmas when you're a crafter, right? I'm also super honored that the nice people at Just CrossStitch featured me in the issue's "Designer Q&A" page.

Happy (almost) Spring, all--and happy stitching!  

Mini Felt Robots

©2017 Kathleen Berlew

These miniature robot ornaments are made from some pretty low-tech materials--wool-blend felt, buttons, snaps, and embroidery floss. They hang out on the bulletin board in my craft room, where we can keep an eye on each other, but you could also clip them to a backpack or use them as decorations in an older child's bedroom.

The inspiration for this project came from my love for 1950s sci-fi movies and a need to use up some of the odds and ends that had accumulated in my sewing box. I started with National Nonwovens WoolFelt® in Denim, Smokey Marble, Confederate Blue, Silver Grey, Black, Strawberry Parfait, and Opal. I created simple body shapes and then added felt appliques and simple embroidery to create the "control panels" and other details. The buttons and snaps are sewn on with metallic embroidery floss. If you want to have a go at making your own little robots, print the patterns below and size them so they're about 4 1/2 inches tall.  

©2017 Kathleen Berlew

Use the photos above and below as reference to create details, such as panels, eye bands, and mouths on the front pieces of the robots. When you're happy with your designs, sew the robot fronts to the backs with running stitching, stuffing them lightly with polyester fiberfill as you go. I added jump rings and key chains to my robots for hanging, but you can use ribbon, chain, or another material you have in your craft supply stash.

©2017 Kathleen Berlew

This project was originally published in the Winter 2015 issue of Quilts and More magazine, which includes detailed instructions and patterns for making these little robots. The print issue is no longer available, but you can click here to peek inside and order the digital issue.

Images used with permission of Quilts and More magazine and Meredith  Corporation.  Copyright 2015.