Welcome to the Caterpillar Cross Stitch 'Stitcher of the Month' competition for July 2020 where the winner will walk away with a £20 gift voucher! I love this community we've built together and I want to showcase the personality and story of a special stitcher each month.
Every one of you is so valued and I want to recognise and celebrate your contributions through this monthly giveaway. On the first day of every month, I'll ask for your nominations. You can nominate yourself or someone else.
Simply email us at info@caterpillarcrossstitch.com with your full name, location and include:
1. 3 photos of some recent stitching (any design or brand)
2. A clear, high resolution photo of yourself or the nominee
3. Let us hear about your personality, background and experience with stitching including a tip for beginners (300 words minimum please)
4. Your favourite piece, how you started stitching and why you love it!
The winner will receive a £20 Caterpillar Cross Stitch gift voucher and have their work shared on social media, our website and in the next email! At the end of each month, the Caterpillar Cross Stitch team will pick one winner based on the set criteria: creativity, interesting story, enjoyment and passion for cross stitch and overall impression. The winner will be contacted by email and will be interviewed for our blog and social media channels.
And now on to our WINNER for July 2020... Congratulations Bailey Jo!
Bailey Jo says:
Hi! My name is Bailey Jo Griffin, I’m 23 years old and live in Carson City, Nevada, USA. I recently graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Social Work and I'm now in graduate school working towards my masters degree. I'm passionate about social justice as well as mental health, as I have struggled with mental health issues throughout my life.
When I began college in 2015, I was looking for a hobby to help manage my anxiety and depression. My Nana used to cross stitch, so I decided to give it a try! It quickly turned into my favourite pastime and greatest coping mechanism! I love being able to turn my emotions into artwork.
I enjoy stitching for myself as well as my friends and family. I like to stitch quotes and inspirational things and recently started doing Stitch People portraits. I'm currently working on the Positivity Rules stitch-a-long from Caterpillar Cross Stitch, which is so much fun!
My advice to fellow stitchers would be to push yourself and your ability! Try out new techniques like creating your own patterns or stitching on coloured aida. I love the flexibility of cross stitch and the fact that I'm always able to try out new things.
Most importantly, I would also tell fellow stitchers or those wanting to stitch that stitching should be non-stressful and can be a great coping mechanism to help manage stress and anxiety! I make time every day to stitch and use it as my time to reflect on my day and process my emotions.
I also love the community I've become a part of through cross stitching. I belong to multiple cross stitch groups on Facebook and it's been incredible to find inspiration and get tips from other stitchers! I love this hobby and know that I’ll continue it for years to come! If you'd like to check out some of my stitching, you can find me @whats.thestitch on Instagram.
If you would like to join over 7,000 stitchers in the Facebook group, please click HERE. Well done Bailey Jo, your £20 Caterpillar Cross Stitch gift voucher is on its way to you!
Thank you for all of your wonderful entries - it was tough to pick a winner as they were all so lovely to read with some amazing stitching shown! Nominations are now open for our August 2020 Stitcher of the Month - I can't wait to see them!
Crafting isn’t just about making something beautiful (although that certainly is a huge advantage!), it’s also about finding something that makes you happy, calms your mind and brings you a sense of enjoyment and accomplishment.
For neurodiverse people, crafts can offer amazing benefits, from improved focus and confidence to reduced stress and anxiety.
