Easter basket cross stitch pattern

Hello, everyone. I am coming with a cross stitch pattern for a small easter basket.
I was struggling a bit with figuring out how to do this and unfortunately I have no time to stitch it now to try it out but I really hope it will work. Please, if you try it, let me know how it turned out.


The basket has a hexagon as a bottom and six side pieces that have cross stitch on them. Click on the picture to get the downloadable pdf.

I figured out two ways to finish the basket - in my head.

Method 1 - sewn by hand

The 6 side pieces are embroidered and backstitched around. Then cut out with an extra 1 cm around it. Fold the fabric along the backstitch and whipstitch the sides together sewing only through the backstitches, not in the fabric. (This is how biscornus are stitched together, if you are not sure, you can google that and find intructions.)
The bottom could be Aida, but only stitch the backstitch around, no need to stitch the letters. Or you could cut a piece of fabric the same size. Basically, it needs to be a hexagon with sides as long as the bottom of the basket sides. And I hope I drew the shape well enough to fit the sides, I can tell you, it was not easy.

This way you will have the raw edges of the seam allowances and the back of your embroidery on the inside of the basket. Fold some tissue paper or a napkin in it to cover them up.


Method 2 - sewn by sewing machine and by hand, using lining fabric

No need to sew the backstitching around the pieces, instead draw the lines with a water erasable pen - on the back of the work. Put the embroidery right sides together with the lining fabric and sew with the sewing machine, following the drawn lines. But don't sew all the way around, leave a hole on the bottom to turn it inside out. Before you do that, clip the corners. Do the same for the bottom piece.

You will have 7 two-sided pieces. Fold in the seam allowance for the holes and iron them. Then sew the pieces together by hand with invisible stitch (ladder stitch) or small whipstitch or blanket stitch. Make sure to close the holes at the same time. The whipstitch or blanket stitch can be decorated with tiny beads, too.

You can make two small handles from braided yarn or fabric strips and sew them on.


Of course, feel free to use the pattern for something else if you wish. Use just one element to make a card or a small wall hanging or a picture. Enjoy.

Happy stitching.

Knitting pattern - a nice spring hat

I have knitted a hat for a friend of mine who is undergoing chemotherapy. But of course, anyone can use it for a chilly spring day.


If you would like to knit it, just click on the picture and you get the downloadable PDF file. I hope it works. (I would actually appreciate feedback from those who don´t have a Google account, can you still download the file?)

Apart from the knitting, I was also working on an art quilt for the club that I am a member in. We had to do a self portrait. I am almost done, just need to quilt the background and bind it.

I am also sewing some more, have cut out some more little dresses and hoping to sew them together soon.
And planning some more cross stitch patterns. Any ideas? I made quite a few for spring, St Patric´s day and easter before, so I am not sure if I should come up with something different now... Let me know if you have a good idea.


Happy stitching and knitting.

The geometric pattern is done

I showed you my improvised cross stitching piece a few weeks ago. As I promised, I have now drawn the pattern for one of the elements, here it is:

Obviously, feel free to use your own colours. I would actually encourage you to print out the black and white page in the pdf file and colour it with pencils to see how you like it best.

I would also recommend trying the free cross stitching, as I did. Sometimes we don't have the energy to concentrate on following a pattern, sometimes we just need the relaxing effect of stitching. If you look at this pattern, you can figure out how it was made. I started with a small square that makes the middle of the pattern. It helps if you start with an odd number, that way you can make the design all symmetrical. Then I took another colour and added triangles to the four sides. And so on.


On other fronts, I have done a lot lately. I resewed the orange blocks for the Bunnie Hunter quilt and put together the blocks. There is still a lot of work to do on this, 4 borders to piece but for now I put it aside and did other things.

I explained how I had to resew the orange blocks. I had to make new string pieces. The old ones I trimmed down to two inches wide, I might be using them later on in some scrappy project. But I felt so sad to see all the trimmings going in the garbage. They looked so pretty. :D Instead of throwing them, I put them on a piece of fusible, arranged them and ironed them down. Made my own fabric from the off-cuts. This looks like the start of something, doesn't it?

I also sewed a few dresses for little girls. They are in my Etsy shop. Some of these are made from up-cycled fabric, some from new. I was trying to combine the fabric so that I can use the leftover bits.

I also made a skirt for my daughter from a curtain I bought in a charity shop. It is a nice fabric but quite loosely woven, so I am not sure how well it will stand up to being a skirt. We will see. The lace comes from my collection of charity-shop finds, too.

I didn't do much hand sewing these days, only a bit of knitting in the evenings. I will show you my knitting next time. I think I messed up the pattern - but no problem, I created another one by mistake. :D This will be the mistery until next time :D


Happy stitching, sewing, knitting - whatever rocks your boat.

Cross stitch pattern for Valentine Day

It's February, and here in the middle of Sweden the snow started to melt. I am sure this is not the end of winter yet, but still, spring cannot be so very far away now. One-two more month...

Anyway, February means Valentine day, and I have made two easy and quick bookmark patterns for you. There is still time to stitch them for that someone special. I hope you enjoy them. Click on the image and it takes you to the downloadable pdf pattern.

I am working on the geometric patterns from last time, I will show you soon.

Meanwhile I am doing lots of patchwork. Bonnie Hunter had a mistery pattern in December, the Good fortune quilt pattern. It consists of lots of tiny pieces, and it requires really good precision. I am struggling, I have to admit, but it is good practice and it will look great. I have just taken apart half of my blocks and sewing them again. Here is a picture from when I thought the blocks are all done, before I noticed that the orange ones are totally the wrong size. I hope to be able to finish them soon and then put the quilt together.

Another interesting thing that I do lately is stitch meditation. I joined a Facebook group where we do a short stitching piece every day, stitching without a real pattern or plan, just for the pleasure of sewing. Some pieces become nothing interesting - and that is OK -, but after a while mine started to shape themselves. I really love doing this.

Here are some of my little pieces:

Aren't they fun? Go ahead and try it! No rules, just enjoy the needle and thread.

That's it for today folks. Happy stitching!!!

Hi, again - the blog is awaken from the long sleep

Hello, everyone.

Not sure how many of my old followers are reading this. I am sorry I abandoned this place for so long.
There were so many things going on in my life that I had no energy left for writing on my blog. I have been unwell for a while too and just recently started working again, part time. Also just recently I got back to my beloved textiles with a bit more energy.

The last few month I was spending most of my time with patchwork and learning about art quilts. I find it difficult to finish things, so I have lots of WIPs and UFOs.

Also, I started an Etsy shop, although there are just a few things in the shop yet, I am trying to finish some UFOs so I can have more. Here is a link if you are interested.

I will show you some pictures soon - I need to sort out my photos. But until then here is one of my latest cross stitch experiments:

I started this when I was not feeling very well. Even following a pattern felt too much. I was knitting just something simple but then my hands started to hurt so had to put the knitting down. I though I needed something that does not require planning and thinking, I can just go on and stitch mindlessly. So I started stitching some geometrical shapes, and I realised that patchwork block motives are perfect for that. I also used up lots of leftover thread. Right now I am filling up the area between the bigger space. I am planning to make a cross stitch pattern from some of this, but even until then, I recommend everyone to give this a try. Stitch a small square. Then pick another colour, and stitch another square. And so on, see where it takes you. It is so relaxing and easy.


Please watch this place, I will be posting some pictures of the different things I made in the last few months and I might even write a tutorial or two.

Until then,

happy stitching everyone!