Instagram iconInstagram icon
Facebook iconFacebook icon
pinterest iconpinterest icon
YouTube iconYouTube icon
Tiktok iconTiktok icon
LTK iconLTK icon

In Stitches

It’s been a good month since Scott and I fled the city for the California coast, but I’d yet to share the DIY gift I “stitched” up to celebrate our 2 wedded years together (not to mention that I’m clearly behind on sharing the photos). They say that year numero dos is the gift of cotton, so with that in mind, I snagged a hoop, fabric, and thread from the craft store, and got to work. (Yup, I even double checked that my cross stitch material was made of 100% cotton.)

Rather than purchase a pattern that wouldn’t seem as personal, I created my own simple text from this website (using the traditional cross stitch in Amsterdam). And the phrase is an excerpt from the book Guess How Much I Love You, read by my awesome little bro during the ceremony. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the theater; just because he’s that darn cute.

I picked out the most perfectly gaudy frame and sprayed it with a pretty, matte white paint. Which, by the way, you can find similar ones pre-painted (and yipee, vibrant!) on Etsy – here, here, and here, to name a few.

Sure it may be a bit, um, feminine, but in the end, Scott loved the sentiment (phew). As soon as our plane landed in our chilly Chicago, we unpacked our bags and added the tiny art to our growing collection framing the front door.

Has anyone else attempted their hand at DIY cross stitch templates? Or perhaps you’ve been a bit more brave and winged a more complex pattern? Whether you’re stitching, painting, nailing, or hot glue-gunning, we’d love a peek into your latest projects.

Want to see our 1 year project? Check it out here, the year of – easy enough – paper.

Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

  • Andrea B12.8.10 - 10:08 AM

    I love this. I’m going to steal the idea one day and do something similar.ReplyCancel

  • Jane @ The Borrowed Abode12.8.10 - 10:51 AM

    I love it! What a cute idea. :) May have to do something like this myself.
    I’m pretty pleased with my latest project- a classy little (at least to me) modern winter wonderland for my coffee table. http://theborrowedabode.com/2010/12/coffee-table-vignette-winter-wonderland/ReplyCancel

  • Kim12.8.10 - 11:17 AM

    Jane, it looks lovely! The bold red is beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • Kirsten12.8.10 - 12:33 PM

    Don’t think it can get any more adorable than that! What a precious piece you created:)!ReplyCancel

  • lazysmurf12.8.10 - 3:47 PM

    That is so cute! I have been doing cross stitch too, it is a lot of fun, thanks for pointing me to that custom pattern site. I have been using filters in photophop which works well enough but this looks even easier. I made this one for my friend, http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbogdanich/5190349952/ we used to play bubble bobble when we were kids.ReplyCancel

  • Kalli12.8.10 - 3:50 PM

    that’s a cute gift! I made this http://www.flickr.com/photos/kallifornia24/3383469301/ last year for a project with my friend Liz. I printed the word in a cross-stich font (found on dafont.com I think?) on heavy paper, pricked holes with a pin and stitched it with embroidery floss. Made one for my mom that said “you are loved”ReplyCancel

    • Kim12.8.10 - 4:56 PM

      Kalli, I absolutely love that! Did you end up framing it?

      And lazy smurf…oops! That page is private.ReplyCancel

  • Dave12.8.10 - 5:18 PM

    Nice work Miss Kimbo! Lil’ Bro. had us all in tears 2 years ago.
    See you soon.ReplyCancel

  • lazysmurf12.9.10 - 8:38 AM

    oh sorry I didn’t want her to see it before I gave it to her! http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbogdanich/5190349952/ReplyCancel

    • Kim12.9.10 - 9:18 AM

      Ah, LOVE it on that black fabric, lazysmurf!ReplyCancel

  • Kelly12.9.10 - 11:31 AM

    Would you stop being so cute & crafty & perfect? Your making me feel like less of an artist! haha!! Just kidding I love you and everything you do :):):) Can’t wait to see you soon!ReplyCancel

  • It looks great, Kim! Seriously. I have done some cross stitch and hand embroidery, but I don’t have pics of anything. I have embriodered monograms on pillowcases, made an embroidered monogram that I framed and I have a modern-ish leaf cross stitch I’ve framed. I love that yours is modern, but traditional.ReplyCancel

  • Alichia12.16.10 - 12:27 PM

    Wow. I haven’t cross-stiched since middle school. Your project makes me want to take it up again! Wonder if I can get anything done for Christmas presents with only 9 days left! Gotta run…..ReplyCancel

  • Kim12.16.10 - 12:40 PM

    Hi Alichia,

    Once I had all the supplies, this simple pattern only took an hour or two. Hopefully this makes you feel like you can get some done in time!ReplyCancel

  • Daniel12.23.10 - 1:36 AM

    I just fell in love with the idea. I wish my girlfriend could think of the same thing as a gift. Hmmmm. Really good. Come up with more ideas so that I can write greeting cards with your excerpts. Haha! Thanks.ReplyCancel

  • Alichia1.3.11 - 8:50 PM

    Kim – I finally got around to my cross-stitch project! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/GettingCraftyReplyCancel

  • […] Book/Song Lyrics Cross-Stitch from Yellow Brick Home. I also love this. […]ReplyCancel

Let's be Pen Pals

Our Pen Pals have direct access to first looks, a peek behind-the-scenes, and exclusive interviews showcasing members of the #YBHDIY community. We can’t wait to connect with you!

Kim and Scott

We’re Kim + Scott, Chicago based content creators behind the Home + Lifestyle brand Yellow Brick Home.

Join us as we renovate and nurture vintage homes across Chicago + SW Michigan!

Instagram iconInstagram icon
Facebook iconFacebook icon
pinterest iconpinterest icon
YouTube iconYouTube icon
Tiktok iconTiktok icon
LTK iconLTK icon

LEt's be Pen Pals

Subscribe for first looks, behind-the-scenes, and exclusive community content

/* footer flodesk form */

This site uses affiliate links. We will always disclose sponsored posts in the text and by using the ‘sponsored' tag.

© 2024 Yellow Brick Home. | All Rights Reserved. | PRIVACY POLICY