Mollie Johanson - Cross Stitch Celebrations: Graduation: 35+ patterns for cross stitching unique graduation-themed announcements and gifts

35+ patterns for cross stitching
unique graduation-themed
announcements and gifts

Mollie Johanson

Celebrating the accomplishment of reaching an educational milestone is something that everyone does. We throw parties, cheer for graduates young and old, and give gifts, including some that are stitched with love. Cross Stitch Celebrations: Graduation shows you how to use cross stitch to make something truly unique to honor someone special.

Although its common to associate graduation with secondary school or higher education, those arent the only events this book focuses on. You can celebrate kindergarten graduations, homeschool achievements, special awards or certificates, or the hours and hours dedicated to learning a new skill.

Most graduation celebrations center around one thing: the year of graduation. But there are so many more ways to customize a cross-stitched gift! Start with the name of the person of honor, then work in the school colors, the name of the school or program, or something to represent an area of study.

The mix-and-match patterns in this book are designed so you can create a one-of-a-kind project. The main patterns range from the traditional (caps and gowns!) to the 21st century (online learning!), while the borders include plenty of confetti and educational elements. To let you create a complete cross stitch design, there are also several styles of alphabets and extra numbers, as well as mini motifs that fit in lots of places.

Along with the charts that you can combine into full projects, you can make small changes to the patterns. For example, when stitching one of the graduates, you can match the cap and gown to official school colors, swap in a different hairstyle or skin color, and even add a stole or cord. When stitching some of the patterns, there are spaces to work in the class of year or a mini motif. Each little detail makes your project even more of a treasure.

Changing a cross stitch pattern to make it your own can feel intimidatingno matter if youre a beginner or an expert. But you can do this! In addition to a section on cross stitch basics, youll also find a guide for planning your project and a blank grid to help you (found on ). Plus, each pattern includes tips and instructions for working with and customizing the elements.

There are unending ways to adapt the patterns and make something for your favorite graduate (and that includes yourself!). To get you started, there are a few project ideas to make a hanging diploma, a pennant, a decorated mortar board, and more.

What are you waiting for? Express your congratulations and show how proud you are of a loved ones achievement with these celebratory stitches!

You only need a few materials to begin your cross stitch projects, all of which can be easily found at any craft store.

Fabric

The most commonly used fabric in modern cross stitch projects is Aida cloth. Aida cloth is a woven fabric which has evenly spaced holes that create a square grid. The patterns in this book are designed for size 14 Aida cloth. Size 14 means that you can make 14 stitches per inch.

Floss

Each project uses 6-stranded, cotton DMC embroidery floss. DMC is one of the largest brands of embroidery floss, and it is available at most craft and fabric stores. The colors listed in each pattern are labeled with a corresponding DMC color code number.

Cross Stitch Needle

Cross stitch needles have a large eye and blunt tip (no worries of pricking your finger here!)

Embroidery Hoop

Embroidery hoops, generally made of either bamboo or plastic, hold the fabric taut while youre stitching.

Additional Tools

Here are some other handy tools youll want to have available:

• Scissors to cut floss or fabric
• Water-soluble fabric marker for marking your fabric
• Pencil, in case you need to mark your pattern

THE BASICS OF CROSS STITCH

In this section, you will learn how to set up your hoop and thread your needle, create basic stitches, read a pattern, and how to finish your project once youve completed all your stitches.

Using the Hoop (or Not)

Use an embroidery hoop to hold your fabric taut while you stitch. A 6-inch hoop is a popular size; it fits comfortably in your hand while you stitch, and it can fit in a backpack or purse for some stitching on the go.

PLACING YOUR FABRIC IN A HOOP

To place the fabric in a hoop, loosen the screw at the top of the hoop. Set the inner hoop on a flat surface and lay your fabric on top. Evenly press the outer hoop over the fabric and inner hoop. Tighten the screw.

If the fabric feels too stiff to place it in a hoop, iron it a little and put it in the hoop while its warm.

MOVING THE HOOP

Some designs, including ones in this book, may be larger than your hoop can hold all at once. That doesnt mean you should go buy a larger hoop. You will simply reposition the fabric as you work through the project. Once you complete the part of the pattern that is in the hoop, loosen the hoop and reposition the fabric so that the unstitched section is now within the hoop. Please note that you will need to remove the fabric from the hoop at the end of each stitching session so that it will not damage the completed stitches. As long as you do this, any signs of squashed stitches will be removed once you wash your finished piece.

STITCHING WITHOUT A HOOP

You can also cross stitch without an embroidery hoop! This method is perfect for working on a large design and can also be a little faster. To stitch without a hoop, roll the extra fabric and hold it in your non-dominant hand. When stitching, dip your needle down through the fabric and then bring it back up through the hole for the next stitch.

Handling Embroidery Floss

Start by cutting a piece of embroidery floss thats about 36 inches long. The six strands in each skein of floss are designed to be separated. Pull out one strand of thread and fold it in half. This forms two strands of floss to use for your stitching. Set the remaining strands aside for later use.