David Hastings - Cross-Stitch Like a Queen: 25 Fun and Fabulous Patterns Celebrating Drag and the LGBTQIA+ Community

Cross-Stitch Like a Queen

25 Fun and Fabulous Patterns Celebrating Drag and the LGBTQIA+ Community

David Hastings

The author will be donating a portion of the proceeds from this publication to the Trevor Project.

For more information on this and other organizations supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, visit the resources page at the end of the book.

Cross-stitch patterns or charts are grids filled with squares, with each single square representing one cross-stitch. The squares are often filled with symbols and correspond to a certain color, so you never get confused about which color to stitch where. The pattern also features a color legend so you can translate the symbols into colored thread.

The charts in this book feature darker black lines on the grid, representing ten-by-ten squares. It can be helpful to draw these lines on your material with a pencil or washable pen.

Its suggested to find the middle point in your pattern and fabric, and start cross-stitching from there.

To begin a cross-stitch piece, you will need several items:

• 14-count Aida fabric
• Needle. Size 24 is recommended for 14-count Aida.
• Thread, also called embroidery floss. Your patterns color legend will tell you which colors of DMC thread to purchase.
• 10-inch embroidery hoop
• Pencil or pen
• Ruler

Use 2 strands of floss and thread them through your needle. Bring your needle from the back side of the fabric through to the front, leaving a little less than an inch of thread on the back. Hold the tail with your finger so it doesnt slip through.

Now pass your needle from front to back through the hole in the upper right of the square youre working on. This will form the first line of the X of a cross-stitch.

Now bring your needle up through the hole in the lower right. Form the second line of the X of the cross-stitch by passing the needle through the hole at the upper left.

As you work, be sure that the back of the stitches catch the tail, securing it to the back of the fabric.

To make a row of stitches, you will form a series of diagonal lines from left to right, one after the other. Then you will go back over the lines from right to left, finishing the cross-stitches with diagonal lines going in the opposite direction.

You can end your thread by either tying a knot on the back of the material, using your last stitch as an anchor, or simply slipping the needle through several stitches, pulling the thread through, then cutting off the remaining tail.

Backstitching is not part of every cross-stitch pattern, but it is useful for making fine lines, details, and/or letters. To backstitch, begin by tying a knot at the end of your thread, which will anchor the thread to the back of the material and prevent it from slipping through. Bring the needle up from the back. From the front, insert the needle in the hole to the left of the one you just came up through, and pull through to the back. From the back, insert the needle in the next empty hole to the right (two holes to the right of where you just inserted your needle). Pull it through to the front. From the front, insert the needle in the hole to the left of the one you just came up through. Pull it through to the back. This will complete the second stitch. Repeat. Each new stitch should come up one square away from the previous stitch, then go back down through the hole that meets up with the previous stitch. To change directions, the stitching remains the same, but instead of moving horizontally, you will move vertically or diagonally.

• The patterns in this book range from easy to difficult. The difficult ones are categorized as such because the patterns include backstitching. Once you get the hang of backstitches, youll be able to make any of these patterns easily.
• Its always easier to learn from watching someone, so take a look at YouTube tutorials if you need more advice.
• Dont pull your stitches too tight, and dont make them too loose. High-tension stitches can warp the fabric, while low-tension stitches can gap.
• If you have to move from one area of the fabric to another that is more than a few stitches away, end your thread and start again. A long jump behind the fabric can oftentimes show through, which is not the look!
• Dont stress! Mistakes are a part of crafting. Just enjoy yourself!

THE HIGHER THE HAIR

the closer to God. And many other things. Stitch your way straight to those pearly gates, henny!

INSTRUCTIONS

FABRIC

14-count Aida

FINISHED SIZE

10-inch hoop

LEVEL

Difficult

1. Cross-stitch the wig in a dark gold thread, or color of your choice.
2. Cross-stitch the sparkles in a light gold thread, or color of your choice.
3. Backstitch the light gold wig details, following the patterns guidelines.

• DMC 725
• DMC 307

READ MY LIPS

every queen is perfect just the way they are. No ifs, ands, or BUTTS.

INSTRUCTIONS

FABRIC

14-count Aida

FINISHED SIZE

10-inch hoop

LEVEL

Easy

1. Cross-stitch the vine border using green thread.
2. Cross-stitch the flowers using red thread.
3. Put one cross-stitch in the center of each flower using black thread.
4. Cross-stitch the letters and ellipsis using blue thread.

• DMC 702
• DMC 321
• DMC 310
• DMC 3766