Patriotic and Summer : The Silver Needle, Fine Needlecraft Materials


There are so many wonderful designs available that celebrate every season and occasion under the sun... so we thought it'd be fun to collect a few of them, and organize them for you on a set of Holiday/Seasonal Pages. I'm a "seasons" nut... so we'll be adding to these all the time! We have so many other projects and ideas in the shop, and elsewhere on the site, but this is a fun way to show you just a few ..... ENJOY! Autumn Cross Stitch Designs Spring and Easter Designs Christmas and Winter Patriotic and Summer
Betsy's House from Plum Street Samplers Here is a charming patriotic homestead -- bursting with flags and splendor! Something about all the diagonal lines in here draws my eye! The quilt motif, the flags, Betsy's dress, the edges of the lawn, and even the flower stems! Designer, Paulette, offers a few history tidbits about Betsy... she was born in Philadelphia on New Year's Day in 1752. She was a Quaker, but when se ELOPED with John ross in 1773 (can you imagine the scandal back then?) she was forced to leave the Society of Friends. She and her husband started their own upholstery business and joined the Christ Church in Philly where they met George Washington, who was also a member. A sweet little piece, this finishes approx 6 x 6 on 32ct, is worked with Gentle Art Sampler Threads, and is offered as a chart.
Beehive Needlebook and Fob from The Constant Stitcher The Constant Stitcher has another cute beaded needlecase pattern just like her ladybug design (shown below)! Stitched on 25ct Lugana you'll need 4 skeins of DMC 676 to stitch the background all the honeycombs -- which are worked in beads. Almost solidly covered in beads... when the case is finished, it'll feel heavy in your hand because of those glass beads. The approx 5 x 9 (when open) book is lined with 2 cuts of Week's Dye Works wool... honey and creme colors. Offered as a chart with all the necessary beads and wools and assembly instructions... there is a tiny micro-magnet included to help hold the case together. The chart for the fob is also included... and Susan suggests adding some bee charms to that fob for decoration. (Bees not included -- but with so many options on the market -- you might already have some in your stash.)
Land of Liberty from Miles to Go This is a cute patriotic design -- that big 'ol striped star in the center of backstitched words -- it finishes only 5-1/2 inches square on 32ct. I originally thought this was full of specialty stitches in the stripes of the star, but the colors have been manipulated to LOOK like textured stitches! It is really interesting, and FULL of 'pattern.' A very cute design -- it deserves attention and a place in your stitching schedule!!! Offered as a single chart, it is coded for DMC floss, and since it is regular Cross Stitch -- Aida or linen -- in any count will be great!
Sweet Liber-Tea from Silver Creek Samplers Six shades of Gentle Art Sampler Threads bring this cute design to life. *Forever we'll be strong and free, Sweet cup of Liber-Tea.* Just something fun by Silver Creek Samplers, this measures 66 x 114 stitches. Cute finished as a sandwich-sign stand-up or a little fabric wallhanging quilt!
Beaded Leaf Needlebook and Ladybug Scissor Fob from The Constant Stitcher Well, if this isn't the coolest little set... since it's stitched entirely with beads... you CAN'T HELP but cradle it in your hands and fall in love with it! It's heavy in your hand, and very tactile. OK... begin with 25 count Lugana -- the leaves that are the front and back of the needlebook are stitched on that. Next, the inside pages are labeled in cross stitches with your needle sizes to help you organize in there. Finally, the ladybug is worked on 25ct Victorian Red Lugana. Wonderful, sturdy fabric for this piece... the chart and assembly instructions come WITH the beads -- which are ever-so-slightly larger than Mill Hill's. See the little Just Nan Ladybead on there??? She's an extra little decoration... and well... we have wonderful scissor options for this piece as well!!! Chart comes with the beads and assembly instructions. Fabric, Ladybead, and scissors all offered separately.
Penny America from Tree of Life Samplings FreedomLibertyJustice! What a perky and cheery pot of Americana! The lavish bouquet of stylized flowers bursts like fireworks from that little pot and the blowing flag is extra-festive. The edge treatments look like the edges of penny rugs -- small circles of wool -- pennies. These are stitched instead, but mirror the swirls and stars from the flowers. Stitched on almost anything you like, the threads called for are Weeks hand-dyed cottons and your stitch count is 163 x 78. Just something cute that came through the shop this summer!!!
From Every Mountainside from Priscilla's Pocket Here's another endearing Patriotic design we just had to have! By Priscilla's Pocket, stitch the little girl waving her flag over one on 40ct. (sorry about that...!) She is worked in Crescent Colour's Belle Soie Silks -- 8 different colors in this! She measures a mite 1-1/2 x 2-3/4. Then, mount her onto this cool, handmade wooden hornbook thread palette. It measures only 4 x 4 with a two-nch handle. Really pretty... who wouldn't love to have this??? Offered as the chart, with horn book separately... in case you want to stitch it on something larger and finish it a different way.
Home of the Free Sewing Set from Needlemade Designs This is a STUNNING set of designs! By Needlemade Designs, it features a box-top design, tiny pin mattress, and even tinier scissor fob! Proceeds from the sales of this chart are being donated to the Wounded Warrior Project -- Designer Linda Vinson offers insight about that on the back of her chart. She has designed this amazing Home of the Free waving flag piece to be framed or grace the top of a small box. Worked on 28ct linen over one thread with Crescent Colours' Belle Soie Silks of Tulip, Blue Lagoon, Oatmeal Scone, Chocolat and Scarecrow, the main design measures approx 100 x 60 stitches. (The painted box in the pic is from JoAnn's. It includes 6 little round boxes inside that Linda has made into firecracker boxes!!! There is a white resin pre-made box shown on the back cover -- as an alternative to finishing your own.) Next, is the tiny mattress -- it features E Pluribus Unum on one side, and the American Eagle on the other -- all in 35 x 40 stitches. Finally, the EXQUISITE little fob rounds out the set -- it is 20 x 20 stitches -- so approx 2/3 of an inch in size! Absolutely enchanting! Color pics are included in the directions for mattress assembly, including that rouched ribbon edging, making the interior firecracker boxes, and even painting the 4 x 5 paper mache' box from the craft chain store. Next -- notice the 3-1/2 inch Stars and Stripes Scissors????? They are available separately, so you'll want those, too! We're bringing this model to St Charles and Houston for our Fall 2011 Shows!!!
Sadie Stuart: I Pledge Allegiance Sampler from SamSarah Design Studio Here's a faded-glory-flavored piece that features the original Pledge of Allegiance as its verse! Stitched on Weeks Dye Works 30ct Havana in yummy shades of Crescent Colours hand-dyed cottons, this finishes approx 4 x 9-1/4. There is a small needle book pattern included that is worked on Week's Tin Roof hand-dyed Gingham, too... so you get a taste of two different colorways for this piece. Each project features a few special stitches -- nothing hard -- just something fun for a bit of extra texture. Offered as a single leaflet.
One Nation from ByGone Stitches Wow... this is a neat piece! It's a flag of the United States... but the stripes are made up of the names of the states, in the order in which they joined The Union! Offered as a chart, the stitch count on this piece is a generous 210 x 400 -- 13 x 25 on 32ct! Stitched in ONLY Crescent's Cupid, Blacksmith Blue and Antique Lace hand dyed colors, it's just stunning! The stars are all Cross Stitches... but you could Satin Stitch them if you like. (As a bonus... there is a listing inside of the actual dates each state joined the Union -- kind of fun trivia to know!) A lovely piece for a family room, classroom, library or office!
Freedom Bits from Erica Michaels Another itty-bitty seasonal wonder... remember, these finish a mere 1 x 2-ish... in TOTAL SIZE!!! The design comes charted like a regular cross stitch design... and includes a cut of 40ct silk gauze. Freedom Bits joins this delightful collection of tiny seasonals... each one is as cute as the other!!!!
Freedom Park from Praiseworthy Stitches Join the 4th of July Celebration in Freedom Park! Lots of metallic long stitches scattered everywhere make up all the fireworks going off in the sky, and the garlands on the gazebo are actually strings of beads! 'Fireworks bursting, Flags waving, Sparklers shining, Freedom!' Add your initials on that lower right-hand edge, and you've finished a charming 6 x 13 summer sampler. Charted for DMC or overdyeds, this has a very nostalgic, hometown flavor, with pretty, soft and dusty colors.
Little Bit O' Summer from Erica Michaels Linda has rounded out her four TINY seasons with this wild seashore scene!!! The sand castle, the little terra cotta crab, pelican, bright sunshine, stormy sky, and those roiling waves... I was going to say all we needed was JAWS... but I do see a little sea turtle in those waves!!! A teeny-weeny 1 x 2 creation... this joins Spring, Autumn and Winter -- and all are really neat! Each framed piece fits easily into my hand... SUCH an eye-catcher displayed individually on a small plate easel! Olde Colonial makes the little frame you see here... We can send the chart (that contains the little piece of gauze) and that petite frame! Zip-Zap - you add schnigglets of your flosses to stitch this in about 15 hours... and you're done!
Grand Old Flag from Erica Michaels Wow... Erica Michael's Linda Stolz has really outdone herself with this one! An old-fashioned flag design, stitched in overdyeds... you can stitch this on any count fabric you like... or try the 40ct silk gauze included in the design package! On 28ct... Grand Old Flag measures approx 3 x 5... BUT... if you decide to be adventuresome, and work on the gauze, you will be transported into Bliss! Grand Old Flag will measure a mere 1 x 3-1/2!!! You can work it in regular cross stitches... and it will be lovely... but you can also work it in HALF the cross stitch... (you never even cross the X!)... and for 1/2 the work, you get triple the impact! A lovely little design, her overdyed color choices remind you of denim and raspberry, with age-stained white. Offered as a chart, the 40ct gauze is included -- Just in Case!!!
Sailing Through Life from Heaven and Earth From the original artwork of Jane Wooster Scott... this is exquisitely charted by Heaven & Earth Designs! Absolutely HUGE, solid stitching, and breathtaking in presentation... we have several other really cool Summer and Patriotic scenes like this one, to enjoy! Definitely a family heirloom -- if you live through the stitching! -- these lovely Summer and Patriotic designs are simply a treat for your Wanna Stitch Someday Stash! Measures 450 x 379.
Bayside Bungalows Kit from Country Cottage Needleworks and Crescent ColoursCrescent Colours has released an exclusive design stitched with their threads, by Country Cottage's Nikki Lehman. Absolutely charming in color and design element, the chart comes with 10 complete skeins of crescent's hand-dyed cotton floss, and a packet of Just Another Button Co clay shells and birds. Stitched on 28ct Natural linen (fabric options are many -- you supply that part), this finishes approx 8-1/2 x 11-1/2. All the little beach houses are just perched right there on the beach, waiting for weekend inhabitants!!! Wonderful, dusty colors, it looks weatherworn and relaxing! Too Cute!
3 New Nautical Charms from Charland Designs We have three new solid sterling silver charms, hand-made by Charland (and her kids!) , that join our scallop, pirate ship, mermaid... and a bunch of others! A little flounder, a pelican and a tiny lighthouse... each of these has lots of detail... and are perfect for a charm bracelet or as embellishments on needlework! You just have to have the right things -- which most of us DO! Lovely detail... even though the pirate ship isn't the newest, it is DEFINITELY my favorite!
Farm Animals with Personality! Mill Hill has released three Button & Bead Kits that feature the charming artwork of the Quilting Industry's favored designer, Jim Shore! Full of color and incredible detail... Shore designs resin figures that all feature detailed quilt blocks and patterns decorating them everywhere. Vibrant color, and charming designs, we now have Clarissa Cow, Percy Pig and Sophie Sheep that are joining our three cats -- all are offered as complete kits of charts, tons of beads and flosses, and a special button embellishment, along with the 14ct perforated paper. So breathtakingly pretty... the beads always catch the light with these, and they look like 'a million bucks!'
Soap 'n Water from Acorn House 'I love soap 'n water, makes me smell just like I ought'r' Oh my gosh, isn't this just the cutest thing???! It BEGS to be stitched for a little boy to hang in his bathroom! Or a rodeo-gal , to hang in hers!!! Offered as a chart, it finishes 7 x 7 on 14/28ct, and is simple crosses using overdyed flosses. Just darling... it'd be fun in the laundery room, too!!!
Liberty Tin Sewing Box from The Stitching Parlour Head to the Grocery Store to buy 16 oz of Mrs Fields Cookies!!! You'll find them in a metal heart-shaped tin... that you'll need for this cute stitching box! Liberty Tin Sewing Box was originally designed in 2005 -- and the tins are still on the market -- so you'll need 28ct natural linen, and regular DMC flosses, and some cute patriotic lining fabric to make your look like the pic. (Actually, I think I would get my lining fabric first, then change any thread colors you need to. More thread choices than seasonal fabric choices these days!) Anyhow, the tin top features red stripes of Smryna Cross Stitch over 4 threads -- speedy to execute! Leaves on the tree are Lazy Daisies. The blue area is decorated with 13 Mill Hill ceramic star buttons -- Homespun Elegance's Olde Brass Buttons would be stunning on this, as well. Notice the tiny pin cushion tucked inside -- it's pretty cute, too! Just a fun piece to have! Offered as the chart.
2009 Spring Mini-Kits from Mill Hill This year... we have a set of 6 new magnet designs... most of them aimed at tempting you to break your diet!!! Stitch a miniature root beer float, a bucket of popcorn, a tall and frosty glass of lemonade... or go right for the banana split!!! There is a darling little flip-flop design... but we know the run-away best seller will be the festive Happy Birthday greeting!!! Always offered in complete kits, these are such a good value. You get the chart, beads, flosses and any other called-for embellishments, along with a magnetic backing for the frig! Finishing approx 2-1/2 inches in size... I'm in love with that little banana creation!!! (Scrap book with these -- embellish your pages! The flip-flops need to grace the cover of the vacation picture album -- they'd be kind of fun stuck (forget the magnet!) onto the front of a digital picture frame! And, of course, the Happy Birthday needs to be a package tie! Always cute and quick!
Awaken the Day from Mill Hill Mill Hill has licensed the artwork of Jim Shore and charted his designs into cross stitch! The first three publications are here, and they are stunning! Offered in leaflet form, each is stitched with DMC flosses and embellished with Mill Hill beads and MH's Jim Shore buttons. Santa's workshop finishes approx 12 x 15, Harvest Trio finishes approx 5 x 12, and Awaken finishes approx 8 x 10. So colorful and pretty, we've packaged the beads and buttons together if you need them!
Little Stitchies from Bareroots This is a set of miniature wool candle mats... all created with our Weeks Dye Works hand-dyed wools!!! NO Cross Stitches involved... no sewing machines... these are tiny 10-inch round mini-mats -- doilies -- if you will. Designed to be Straight Stitched out of wool pieces... think about Punch Needle for these! Offered as the line drawings, they are PERFECT for punch, as well as the wool! Now, in most Primitive-Stitch wool projects, you Blanket Stitch everything together. Blanket gets confusing when you run out of thread and turn corners... but these aren't like that! These just use little TACK STITCHES to attach everything! Look at the little chicks -- you can really see what I mean on that one! These are absolutely the most charming little things! You'll need a 1/4 cut of Weeks wool for your background piece... choose black, it's the 1/2-inch piece showing as the outside border. Then, we sell millions of Schnigglet pieces -- 8 x 8-ish in size -- and several of those are all you need for all the cut-outs! If you're going to punch instead... use a 3 strand needle... or even a 6 stand for the background! Absolutely nothing to do with Cross Stitch... I fell in LOVE with these when I saw them... I couldn't help myself, and I bought them all!!! Offered as actual sized line drawings ready to be traced and cut out. Wool Combination 'recipe of colors' also included. 1/4 Yard wool cuts run $18 each... Schnigglet cuts $3.50 each.Use the Comments Box to tell us if you want wool... and for which pieces! Or just go to our Weeks Wool page and go for it!
Summer Snapperland from Bent Creek The last in the Summer Snapperland set is finally here! Sorry we don't have a nicer image of the entire thing, but we'll get one up as soon as we finish our own model. The first design is darling... it's a tiny beach house, complete with a whale weathervane and little red crab on the sandy beach! Offered as the small individual card, there are snap embellishments included for the each design. As with Spring and Winter Snapperland, Bent Creek has designed a really neat border chart, so that you can stitch all four designs in this mini-set as one bigger design. That border design reads, 'Turn your face to the sun, and the shadows fall behind you.' Along with the sunshine and shells, there are seahorses in the border design as well, and the special embellishment package contains more snaps, clay sand dollars and a sea scallop. (We'll have a nicer image up of the whole thing as soon as our own model is finished.) Stitched on 32ct Rue Green Belfast Linen... each design finishes approx 3 x 3. Stitched together with the freebie border, the entire piece finishes approx 5 x 15. SOOO cute!
Summer Soapbox from Bent Creek This is the cutest one of these! Check out those little doodle-ladybugs on there! Finishing a whopping 2 x 19... this whole set has been fun, because it's perfect to hang on that skinny wall everybody has between two door frames! The other three Soapboxes are pictured on the back cover, so when you get this, check your stash, and make sure you have the other three! You could even get industrious, and stitch all four side by side on one chunk of fabric, add some clay buttons, and make quite an impressive piece! Summer Soapbox is presented as a leaflet.
Postcard from Paradise from Bluebird Designs Blue Ribbons's newest checkerboard design, this one is stuffed full on 'teeny-weeny beachy' things!!! Mixed in between the alphabet, you'll find sand castles, fish, mermaids, a bikini, sun tan lotion, a camera, octopus, beach ball, sun glasses, a cool tropical drink, flip flops and sea shells, palm trees, a sea horse, a flamingo, sail boats... I'm going on and on!!! Darling, it is offered as a chart, and finishes approx 9 x 10 on 32ct. Stitched in Crescent Colours overdyeds or regular DMCs... the border is worked in Fishbone Stitch, and I bet you can find lots of other places to add other fun stitches and a few cute embellishments! Cute and different!
Summer Garden from Country Cottage Needleworks Oh... this is so pretty! A balanced little row of organized summer flowers... do you think the kitty knows the rabbit is hiding between them? Offered as a chart, this is stitched on 32ct Waterlily linen in 18 luscious shades of regular DMC floss! Finishes approx 5 x 10. So cheerful! Cherry Hill This is a sweet piece stitched in both Crescent and DMC flosses. Finishing approx 6 x 6 on a 28ct cream, I love the dusty pink and green shades!
Beau Leggy & Calamity Pippi from Ink Circles Stitch a bit of Western Whimsey for your Old West Family Room, or something cute for the bedrooms of the little cowboys and cowgirls in the family!!! A pair of designs by Ink Circles, these are offered as individual charts, are worked on 32ct Blue Spruce Belfast linen in good 'ol DMC flosses' and finish approx 5 x 7. (28ct, 10ct, 14... really any count will work -- you just want that awesome dusky blue background.) Nothing special in the stitches area -- just regular cross stitches. You could add beads to the cactus, metallic to the belt buckles, moon and stars, and if you choose 10ct fabric... some Wisper furry thread to the animals, and Very Velvet to make their boots suede... so many cute things! The designs themselves are really good... I love those bowled legs... and the names of the designs, too!!!
Seaside Stitches from Jeannette Douglas One of three stunning new pieces by Jeannette Douglas... Seaside Stitches is full of special stitches, intricate motifs and stitch details, and special threads! Stitched on 32ct Meadow Mist Belfast Linen in 29 different silks, hand-dyeds, metallics and a wool, the thread pack listing is a miniature 'Who's Who' in the world of threads!!! The piece finishes approx 6 x 8 and is shown on the leaflet cover in one of Olde Colonial's exquisite Birdseye Maple Dowry boxes. I can't tell what is my favorite part in all of this... there is a handpainted crab charm, lots of mermaids (with metallic tails), seashells and anchor motifs all stitched over one thread, the ship in the center has chain stitches around it... like a miniature rope. The Soie d'Alger, Silk 'n Colors, Waterlilies, Glorianna Silks, Luminescence, Princess Perle Petite, Lorikeet and Needlepoint Silks in here are a luscious blend of light, medium and dark corals, seaside blues and greens, rich jewel green and blue metallic, soft sand browns and creams... it is truly a miniature work of needleart! Offered as the leaflet with threads and embellishments, linen and box are offered separately.
The Sunshine State Sampler from Jeannette Douglas Flamingoes, sailboats, palm trees, orchid and orange blossoms, hibiscus and flip-flops, crabs and fish... the only thing missing from this delightful tropical sampler is the margarita drink in the pineapple -- complete with the little paper umbrella!!! What a fun thing to stitch to remember a vacation, or to put in your sun-room, or your house in the Bahamas!!! Designed by Jeannette Douglas, this is offered as the leaflet with all the necessary threads and embellishments. It finishes approx 4 x 11 on 32ct Meadow Mist Belfast Linen. The silks and overdyeds are rich, bright pinks, aquas, lime greens and yellow. The tiny embellishments include a scallop, starfish and palm trees. Lots of special stitches... go somewhere warm and sunny for vacation, and make THIS your vacation project! (Remember how certain projects stand out in your mind? You remember that you were stitching something in particular when something important was happening in your life... you always remember that time in your life when you look at that piece.) If you're not going to Florida, but somewhere else sunny and tropical, then leave off the place or substitute your destination. This is your summer 2006 sampler!
Heart of America from Little House Needleworks Quite a commanding piece, this is a medley of patriotic designs by Little House Needleworks that fits beautifully together nestled in a Crescent Colours frame. Stitched on 30ct hand-dyed linen (we have several Weeks shades that are awesome!), each block is a single design all by itself... and some are garnished with clay buttons as well. Offered as a Special Release Kit, it includes the chart, clay pack of 6 buttons, and 11 complete skeins of Crescent Colours hand-dyed flosses! Finishing approx 11 x 13 on the 30ct, it fits into Crescent's navy blue frame beautifully. It's framed in The Family Tree Co's (a busy little division of Crescent Colours!) Beatrice 12 x 15 frame, with their 'timeworn' finish in the 'blackbird' color. Perfect! Great colors, lots of color definition, a VERY nice piece... this is a definite!
Brave Hearts from Little House Needleworks A verse taken from 'Under the Stars' by William Rice, Diane has set it to an endearing needlework design! Using pretty overdyeds, this is charted for either Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silk or cotton flosses, and finishes approx 6-1/2 x 11 on 28ct linen. Red for brave hearts, white for peace... the colors and design are perfect for a family room, and I think the finished piece would make an awesome gift! Offered as the chart.

Your Favorite Vacations... from Mill HillTake a peek at these, and remember a favorite vacation, or special weekend off somewhere! (Actually, these remind me of some of my favorite movies, too!) There are red and white wines -- Italy or California? Tropical Hideaway is the hotel patio that overlooks the ocean! Lakeside Retreat is that cabin somewhere slightly cool, Seaside Sampler reminds you of everything wet, while On The Range reminds me of the movie 'City Slickers!' Offered as complete kits of the 14ct Perforated Paper, flosses and tons of Mill Hill beads and a button or two, they measure approx 5 x 5 when stitched. Our shop models are always on 28ct linen, because we like to make these into small, hanging cabinet-pull pillows. BUT... think about stitching these on the paper to frame next to a fav trip shot? Or front of the trip scrapbook??? In the pics, you'll notice the small decorations on the frames... those are the companion beaded ornament kits, also new, that compliment this set!

Spring and Summer What-Nots from Mill HillHere is the 2007 set of small ornament/pin kits by Mill Hill. Really, really nice, generic designs, they go with the larger Button & Bead kits, also freshly released! The tiny Tuscan cottage is pretty, the wine glass would make a DARLING wine bottle decoration for a special gift. Kitty and Dog are always popular. The sailboat is awesomely contemporary, and the western boot is SO Oklahoma... those Mill Hill gals in Wisconsin have no idea how much these Oklahomans love their boots! (However, I too, am from WI... and don't own any cowboy boots!!!... even though I've lived in Oklahoma for 25 years!) Anyway, these 2 x 3-ish inch kits come complete with the pattern, paper, beads and necessary flosses. Quite a good value, they are really fun to stitch, and require only scissors to cut them out for finishing! Think about these for neat scrapbook ideas, or something fun to attach to a favorite picture frame as an added embellishment!
There's even MORE!