I asked Sarah, owner of Notorious Needle Some of the links in this article are affiliate links that will pay a small commission if they\u2019re used to purchase something.\u00a0To see the entire affiliate policy click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, you can find cross stitch patterns with everything from cute kawaii fruit to adult themes to QR codes that link to YouTube videos<\/p>Sarah Leal<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sarah says: “Cross stitch is a form of hand embroidery which uses stitches that look like X\u2019s as pixels in a piece of art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “You can be forgiven for thinking that cross stitch is just for little, old ladies. Recently, this ancient form of art and self-expression has gotten an upgrade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “No more are we limited to \u201cHome Sweet Home\u201d samplers with floral wreaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Cross stitch has grown into a hobby that empowers people to express themselves. And the number of designers and available designs has grown exponentially since the internet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Now, you can find cross stitch patterns with everything from cute kawaii fruit to adult themes to QR codes that link to YouTube videos. Of course, there are tons of new, traditionally styled samplers, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “People are finding new mediums to stitch on. In addition to the traditionally hoop-framed picture, you can find cross stitch on clothes, shoes, bags, chain-link fences and patio screens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Anything with holes in an even grid format can be stitched on. There\u2019s even 3D cross stitch, which uses perforated paper or plastic to hold its shape.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cross stitch provides people with a way to force themselves to slow down, pay attention in a focused way, and sharpen themselves mentally by creating something that involves concentration. Doing cross stitch can also help to make you feel more creative and in control, since you’ll start with nothing and end with a finished product that you created yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah adds “As folks learn to slow down again during the recent pandemic, cross stitch has also become a way to heal. Some people stitch to help calm anxiety, or to keep hands busy to help with dieting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “And stitching profanity and snarky sayings can be cathartic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “It\u2019s versatile enough to do while you\u2019re alone (and avoiding crowds). Or it can be shared with stitch-a-longs online or in-person stitching circles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “And cross stitch has been making people laugh by showing up in cable news shows and super-hero movies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Cross stitch has come a long way as more and more people make designs all their own.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning to cross stitch is easy because it’s a simple straight stitch that is repeated over and over to create the image. There aren’t any complicated techniques to learn, it’s more about the design than the specific stitch itself. Cross stitch is a good entry-level craft<\/a> that both adults and kids can learn, and you can make the designs that you create as complex or simple as you like as you develop your skills.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The hardest part of learning cross stitch will probably be learning to read the pattern, but doing the stitching itself is something that you’ll be able to pick up pretty quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This video is an excellent introduction to how to cross stitch, and Sarah provides even more tutorials on her website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Opens](\"https:\/\/artisanshopper.com\/wp-content\/themes\/acabado\/img\/extlink.png\" "\\"Opens")
<\/a>, to give me some background on cross stitch as a relaxing hobby, so read on to find out more about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\nWhat is cross stitch?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\nWhat are some of the benefits of cross stitch?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\n\n\nHow hard is it to learn to cross stitch?<\/h2>\n\n\n