Cross Stitch People: Clothes 1

In continuing my series of cross stitch people, here are some clothes!  It is super easy to mix and match them and change the colors to get the perfect outfit.  You can also add stripes and other designs to your own cross stitch.

Click on the picture below to see it larger.  

Here is the larger pattern, with the colors that I used.

Block Letters Cross Stitch

So I have been making my patterns in KG-Chart, which is a great free program.*  It doesn't have a fancy text input tool, so you have to do all of it by hand (which is actually kind of relaxing... see my Rorschach quote).  I haven't decided yet if it is worth it to shell out some money for a better program--like Pattern Maker Pro. 

Anyhoodle... that means I am doing all the text by hand.  So I decided to try making my own "fonts" in the program so I don't have to be constantly trying to remember what kind of letter I want.  The first one is very close to what I use for my woven friendship bracelets.  I had to tweak a few letters for them to look right with the others, because they look different when I weave them.

While making this, I realized that I have NEVER EVER made a bracelet with a "Q" in it.  And I've done more than a hundred.  It's not a very common letter, apparently!

So, here is a link to the PDF.  Feel free to use however you want! 


*Just, for the love of God, don't try to switch to backstitching when you have some cross stitches selected.  They will disappear.  And then you will "undo" and the cross stitches will be in the spot that they were before you selected and moved them.  Hopefully.  But, hey, it's free!

Mitosis Cross Stitch Pattern

I LOVE the process of mitosis.  It's one of the first things that drew me to Biology in High School.  I have embroidered it before, but now I have created my own cross stitch pattern.

On it, you can see one cell going through Mitosis and then Cytokinesis to form two daughter cells.  I wanted it to be small, so it is very simplified.  (Like, no homologous chromosomes!  So these cells belong to some haploid organism with only two chromosomes.)  But it's still pretty.    

Click for bigger!

Here is the link.  Have at it, ye scientists!

Next, I will try to figure out something to do with genetics, because genetics rocks! 

Anatomical Heart Free Cross Stitch Pattern

 I first designed this pattern over a year ago and got about 50% done with the project before abandoning it (I have learned that I lose interest quick if there are huge swatches of color.).  I have tweaked it a little and put it into a fancy PDF for you. 

Anatomical hearts are cool, right?  As a biologist, I feel that I must present at least one organ pattern.  Though I must admit, my knowledge of anatomy and physiology is pretty basic because I am a Cell Biologist.  So expect some awesome cell patterns!

 Want a PDF of the pattern?  Here it is!  Just, you know, link back and whatnot. :)

Dumbledore Quote Free Cross Stitch Pattern

 Here's my second cross stitch pattern!  I was thinking about what I should do next when I remembered that Dumbledore said a lot of cool things in Harry Potter.  This quote is from the first book, The Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone.

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." ~Dumbledore

 Here is a link to the free PDF!  If you use the pattern, I would to hear from you (and also a link back). :)

Now, what to do next...?  I have no school or work for a month, so lots of time to come up with patterns!

Cross Stitch Pattern Designer Program (With free Rorschach Quote Pattern!)

I'm the kind of crafter who follows patterns but also MUST design my own patterns.  I've spent hours looking through cross stitch patterns online and got the urge to make my own.  So I started to search.  There are so many cross stitch pattern makers out there!  But most are for converting images into cross stitch (want your baby's face forever remembered in 50 shades of fleshtone thread? Bam!).  And the ones that have the tools I want are $50 and up.  Seriously?  For a glorified Paint program?

After much searching, I found the perfect program: KG-Chart.  It lets me draw stitches and shapes and add in backstitching.  When you go to print the design, it gives you a handy dandy table with the DMC numbers for all the colors and how many stitches are in each.  (Though I must admit that I choose colors for my projects by squinting and comparing to the printout.)

My first pattern is a Rorschach quote, from Watchmen.  Though it's a kinda long, loud movie that I *may* have fallen asleep during my second viewing... it's a really cool quote.  Every time you read it, though, you must imagine Rorschach saying it with his crazy-awesome voice.

Here is a PDF of the pattern.  So go for it, cross stitchers!  If you post your completed project, please link back and let me know.