What a year its been and what better way to look ahead to the start of a positive new year than with a brand new cross stitch-a-long project! Over the last 4 years, we've hosted 12 SALs and loved every minute of teaching new stitchers, connecting with crafters all over the globe and supporting you as your beautiful stitching develops.
To start 2021, I designed this modern, handmade arts and crafts themed project - Made to Create! Its a celebration of creativity and the crafty hobbies that you love (not just stitching!) Pre-order your kit or pattern from 26th November 2020 onwards.
If you've never done a stitch-a-long before, you might be wondering, what's this all about, how does it work and how can I join in? Look no further as in this blog post, I'll explain it all and show off some sneak peeks as we go!
If there was ever a time to take up stitching or a moment to get into your first stitch-a-long, this is it. Although its often cold and quiet, January is the perfect time to get stitching a new project - something to focus the mind and block out some calming 'me time'. Here are 5 great reasons to join us on this crafting journey!
The brand new mystery Made to Create stitch-a-long starts on 25th January 2021 and it's perfect for beginners because there's no tricky french knots, back stitch or full coverage. Equally, if you're already a seasoned stitcher, you're also going to find plenty of interesting detail in this pattern to surprise and delight!
If you love all things craft and making, this is the stitch-a-long design for you! The theme is a celebration of all of your favourite crafts and pass times including sewing, baking, crochet, knitting, painting and embroidery. You'll come away at the end of this exciting community project (with thousands of members globally) with a work of art to be proud of that you can cherish and show off for years to come!
We'll be using the 14 gorgeous shades of DMC thread/floss shown in the images here. The colours are an explosion of uplifting, rainbow shades to light up our January days!
If you're new to stitch-a-longs, don't worry because help is at hand. We have full support available in our dedicated Facebook group where you'll be in good company with nearly 9,000 other stitchers from all over the world. We also have a help from our friendly and encouraging customer service team available by email support@caterpillarcrossstitch.com.
If you're considering this as your first ever stitch-a-long, I would be honoured to have you with us! Made to Create is a mystery 6-part project where one small section of the overall pattern is revealed and emailed to you as a digital PDF file (colour and black and white) once every month. It runs up to June 2021 so you'll receive 6 months worth of lovely, creative time in the first half of the year.
The full kit materials are shipped to you at the beginning but the patterns are slowly revealed over the duration of the project. All members stitch the same pieces at the same time (although there's absolutely no pressure to stick to any strict deadlines, simply enjoy and stitch at your own pace!)
You can choose from PDF patterns only (where you would source your own kit materials from elsewhere separately) or our full kit options with everything you need including your choice of gorgeous cream/tan Zweigart fabric options (available in 14 count aida, 16 count aida or 32 count evenweave), silky smooth DMC threads (lovingly cut by hand and pre-sorted on to a special Carlos the Caterpillar card thread holder for ease), a DMC branded needle, full illustrated instructions and thread 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! Join thousands of other stitchers worldwide for this exciting project. It really does feel pretty cool being a part of something so special. If you'd like to share your images on Instagram please tag us @caterpillarcrossstitch and use the hashtag #madetocreateSAL so we can share your work with others!
Especially if you're a beginner, you're only facing stitching a small pattern section at a time so its quick, keeps you engaged and isn't overwhelming. 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 job, looking after the kids or doing work 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 colourful bobbin design needle minder to complement this stitch-a-long and an enamel pin badge you can wear on any jacket or bag! The needle minder has two super strong magnets on the back so it stays in place on your fabric and the needle that's held on top that won't be going anywhere! These little delights come presented on thick backing card and were designed using the same colours as the stitch-a-long threads. We have 16 designs and you can now grab any 3 for a special price of £23.90 (applied automatically at checkout).
To find out more about needle minders, watch this quick guide HERE.
A stitch-a-long is a wonderful way to make new friends, really feel part of a community and find your crafty tribe! Join nearly 9,000 stitchers from all over the world in our dedicated Facebook group HERE. We share photos of our stitching, tips, chat about our day and support each other. If you have any stitching questions, this is the place to be!
The Made to Create stitch-a-long starts on 25th January 2021 and the final part is released in June so this is a great project to get your teeth into during the first few months of what I've decided will be an amazing year.
Click here to SHOP the stitch-a-long and find out more!
Brand NEW 'North American Adventure' SAL opens for pre-order on Friday 12th April at 5pm UK time and we're so excited to share the details with you.
Calling all cross stitchers! Come with us on a stitchy road trip around North America, where creativity meets adventure. Join a supportive community of crafters, celebrate milestones, and share the joy of creating a fun, travel-inspired masterpiece.
Maybe you're a crafting fanatic, or maybe you're a complete beginner looking for a new, creative hobby? Either way, you will adore the fuss-free Caterpillar Club subscription boxes!
The quirky design features decorative bookshelves where colourful novels, a plant, and a globe, are wearing adorable happy faces. The project is complete with easy-to-follow instructions, an A4 colour printed pattern, DMC stranded cotton, 1 DMC branded needle, white Zweigart 14 count aida fabric (recommended for beginners), and a pre-sorted Carlos the Caterpillar thread holder.
Caterpillar Cross Stitch are honoured to be the next crafty small business chosen to help raise money for Cats Protection! We have designed 3 unique, wooden, cat-shaped decorations for you to personalise with little cross stitches.
You'll have heaps of fun, learn a new, crafty skill, and have a beautiful, finished craft project to show off to your family and friends, all while raising vital funds for the UK's leading cat charity.