#stitchalong

FREE Pride mini cross stitch SAL! 💖✨ #pridebestiessal

I’m excited to announce my first ever cross stitch-a-long! This month-long mini SAL is completely *FREE* and the first part will be available next Wednesday (3rd June) on my Ko-fi page. Each part will then be released each Wednesday throughout June (4 parts in total).

Link to my Ko-fi page >

✨ More info about the ‘Pride Besties’ mini SAL:

Four silly queer animal besties are attending a local pride event in their favourite rainbow accessories. They’re surrounded by colourful joy, dancing to iconic pop diva anthems, and hoping to meet the love of their lives. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

The 4 parts will be available for free on my Ko-fi page until Wednesday 8th July. After that, it’ll be added to my Etsy shop as a paid pattern. See pictured the DMC colours used/further info about the SAL.

Also, all my LGBTQIA+ cross stitch patterns on my etsy page will be 25% off throughout the month of June! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️💖

Link to my Etsy page >

Deadly Aquarium SAL: Exhibit #6

The fourth exhibit, these... mammals? ( °ヮ° ) ?

Embroidery from West to East: Birds, Bees, and Byzantine Icons

Have you listened to our latest episode yet? Here's the description:

Ever seen a piece of embroidery where the petals literally popped off the fabric? Welcome to the decadent, dimensional world of stumpwork embroidery.

Today, stumpwork artists love to stitch flowers, bees, berries, and birds. But stumpwork has a long history, stretching all the way back to the Byzantine Empire. If you love a craft that combines high-level skill with a bit of historical drama, this episode is for you.

This episode also marks the start of our first ever stitch along! Grab our collaboration kit or PDF pattern from MCreativeJ and join us as we bring Handmade History to life with the Wild Pansy Stumpwork Stitch Along! Share your progress with #stumpworkstitchalong on social media!

Here’s a look at what we’re unravelling:

👑 The Stuart Obsession: In 17th-century England, noblewomen weren't just stitching flat patterns. They were building entire 3-D worlds on mirrors and jewelry boxes. We’re talking about tiny doors that actually open and curtains you could push aside to peek into castles.

🌸 The First "Pansy": Did you know the very first time the word "pansy" appeared in the English language (way back in 1450!), it was being used to describe an embroidered flower on a cloak?

🌍 A Global Journey: Stumpwork's history crisscrosses Europe, the Americas, and the eastern Roman Empire. We explore:

Byzantine Icons: Where gold thread and pearls made religious figures glow.

Spanish & Mexican Traditions: The beautiful "alto relieve" elements found in colonial-era clothing.

The Brazilian Revolution: How "Madame Maia" changed the game in the 1960s with high-shine rayon thread and bold, variegated colors.

🛠️ The Original "Craft Kit": Think embroidery kits are a new invention? Think again! 17th-century crafters could buy pre-drawn kits for mirrors and boxes that came with all the silks, beads, and mica they needed. The struggle to find the perfect supplies is truly timeless.

Whether you’re a master of the bullion knot or you’ve never picked up a needle in your life, the history of how humans have used thread to create 3-D art is absolutely fascinating.

Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/mx5czk9c

Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at [email protected].

Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast.

New interview with Lola Crow Cross Stitch! We chat about her beginnings, inspiration, & stitchalongs. We are also gifted with an exclusive sneak peek of her new stitchalong, Extraordinary Birds!

Have you noticed that it's October? That means the Fasten Off Yarnalong 2025 is right around the corner!

This year, the yarnalong will run from Friday, November 21 to Wednesday, December 31.

What is it? We're an annual stitchalong for knitters and crocheters, which includes a 25% discount on selected patterns! The yarnalong happens across multiple online platforms, so that as many people as possible can participate in the place(s) where they feel most comfortable. We aim to promote independent crochet and knitting designers, and create a community of crochet and knitting makers, all in an accessible and inclusive event.

Here's what you can do to get ready:

Sign up for our mailing list so you don't miss a thing

Check out our website for our 2025 schedule

Spread the word to your fellow crafters and your fave designers, because the more the merrier! Our social media hashtag is #FastenOffYAL

If you're interested in volunteering, our volunteer sign-up period is coming up fast: it's scheduled for October 2 to 23 (more info coming to our website very soon)

If you'd like to be a participating designer, that sign-up period will be October 24 to November 9; keep watching our website over the next few weeks for all the info that designers will need

If anyone else wants the full pattern, I'll link the Etsy page down below!