If you're interested in cross stitch and love flowers and gardening, this is the stitch-a-long you've been waiting for! We actually carried out a (totally non-official) survey earlier in the year and found that alongside reading, gardening was one of the cross stitch community's favourite hobbies!
So, for this coming year, 2020's big old Stitch-a-Long, I decided to take a wet and wild country walk to see what inspiration I could gather. The bright vivid greens together with vibrant poppy red and sunflower yellow came together as the basis for this SAL.
I present to you, 'Bloom & Grow!' I also thought the name was kind of fitting given we're starting in the new year full of hopes and aspirations to reach our goals and grow as individuals!
If you're new to stitch-a-longs, the 'Bloom & Grow' SAL is a mystery 8-month project where one small part of the overall pattern is revealed and emailed to you as a digital PDF file once every month.
You can choose from PDF patterns only (where you source your own kit materials) or full kit options including gorgeous Zweigart fabrics, 14 different shades of silky smooth DMC threads (pre-cut by hand and pre-sorted on to a special Carlos the Caterpillar card thread holder for easy access!), gold plated eye 18K DMC needle, full instructions and colour key.
Here's all you need to know!
The feedback from stitchers is amazing and I've yet to meet someone who doesn't love making new friends, posting images of their work in progress or getting that little surprise when each new part arrives! Check out our previous SALs HERE.
Especially if you're a beginner, you're only facing stitching a small part at a time. And there's absolutely no rush to keep up if life gets in the way! Many stitchers keep up while others take a break or work on other projects and catch up further down the line.
Its different to your day job, looking after the kids or doing jobs around the house. This is time out for you. Peace at the end of a stressful day and a chance to really zone-out! When you start off small but after a while see you've actually stitched a beautiful section that's appeared out of nowhere, it gives such a sense of achievement that money can't buy!
We also have a special hard enamel floral needle minder to complement this SAL. It has two super strong magnets on the back so it stays in place on your fabric and the needle that's held on top ain't going anywhere! These little delights come presented on backing card and were designed using the same colours as the Stitch-a-Long DMC threads. To find out more about needle minders, watch this quick guide HERE.
Why not join over 11,00 stitchers from all over the world in our dedicated Facebook group HERE. We share WIPs and tips daily, chat and support.
The Bloom & Grow Stitch-a-Long starts on 24th January 2020 and the final part is released in August 2020 so this is a great new year project to get your teeth into for the coming year (and a fantastic Christmas present!) Click HERE to find out more.
Being crafters, we're constantly searching for the next project to satisfy our creative needs. But have you ever stopped and wondered when and how the craft we all love so much began? Elements of cross stitch can be found in history for thousands of years, as far back as sixth century BC. Pieces of needlecraft art have been discovered in medieval churches across the globe, as well as inside ancient Egyptian tombs!
