Monday, May 27, 2019

Floss Swatch Project




This ongoing project has become my hands-down favourite new obsession!  I was looking for a way to showcase the floss colours I own and play around organizing them in different ways without having to completely pull apart the three boxes of numerically ordered bobbins that I store my floss in every time the whim catches me.

I own almost every shade of DMC's six-stranded cotton embroidery floss - that's more than 400 bobbins of floss and while the storage boxes I use are great for keeping my colours in numerical order, it doesn't make it easy (or all that fun or photogenic!) to play around with new combinations.  I own DMC's floss colour card and while it's a handy, irreplaceable resource, it too doesn't allow me to play around with putting different colours together - and (call me slightly crazy) but I do think that the colour of the floss just looks ever so different when it's stitched up than it does when it's wrapped around a bobbin or just hanging out in a skein - maybe it's the way the light hits the different direction of the stitch 'legs'?

I knew I wanted a stitched record of all the colours of floss I own, and I played around with the concept of one really big tapestry of each colour lined up in one big chart, just like the floss colour card - but quickly realized that wouldn't allow me to move things around and see how colours looked beside each other.  What I really needed were small, stitched cards of each floss colour - like an embroiders version of Pantone colour chips - and so the Floss Swatch Project was born.

I love 14 count white plastic canvas for my swatches.  It's cheap and so easy to work with - and best of all it doesn't fray or get bent or dirty.  You can either stitch your swatches on one big piece of plastic canvas and then cut them apart, or cut small blanks and stitch as you go.  Aida cloth would work too, especially if you used some Fray Check to keep the edges neat and tidy, but I must admit that the plastic canvas is my favourite for this project - it's just so easy!


Right now I'm just pinning the small number I have stitched up on to a corkboard so I can see them in all their glory - but once I have more completed I'll probably sort them by colour and store them in mason jars so they stay dust free and don't get strewn about the house.

Want to start a Floss Swatch Project of your own?  Guess what?!  We put together a resource so you can do that easily - and best of all?  It's FREE!  You can download the FREE PDF HERE  - it includes a chart and instructions to stitch your own swatches and a handy printable chart of all the current DMC 6-strand Cotton Embroidery Floss colours so you can check off your progress - and yes, it includes the new colours released last year.

Don't use DMC floss?  No problem!  You can still use the PDF tutorial to stitch swatches with whatever brand of floss you prefer - there are plenty of checklists available online for each brand of floss, usually there's a free one on the manufacturers website.

Please, please don't forget to tag us on social media (we're @weelittlestitches on Instagram, @weelittlestitch on Twitter, and Wee Little Stitches Cross Stitch on Facebook) and use the hashtag #flossswatchproject and #fsp so that we can see your progress. 

Happy Stitching!  xox J.

- x - x - x - x - x - 


Friday, December 29, 2017

Stitchable Patches are in the Shop!





We're so excited to introduce our newest cross-stitchable products - patches!  These 3 inch round patches are now available in a 3-pack in both our shops so that you can create amazing cross-stitched designs to add to your jacket, backpack, knapsack, purse, or hat.  Made from durable, easy-to-stitch vinyl, our patches will stand up to the daily wear-and-tear of everyday life.  Every 3 pack also comes with a page of 6 blank charts, to help you with designing your own fun messages.

You can find the stitchable patches in our Shop and Etsy Shop too.

Patterns for patches will be rolling out in to the shop in the coming months, but we're pleased to offer you a free pattern here and now! 


Get your pattern HERE

We want to see what you make with our patches, so please tag us #weelittlestitches on your social media  <3  Happy stitching!  J&C

Monday, November 27, 2017

New Website!






It's finally here!  We've opened our own website!

 www.weelittlestitches.com


We're so excited to finally have our patterns offered (for instant download - hurray!) at our own domain where you'll find all the classic weelittlestitches designs you love, as well as some exclusive patterns you'll only find there.

Don't worry though, the Etsy shop isn't going anyway - so you'll be able to shop whichever site you prefer!

Happy stitching.
J.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Let's Celebrate Canada 150 (with a FREE PATTERN)!

Happy Canada Day, Stitchy Friends!!  Well... almost - we're a few days early.  On July 1 this fine country of ours celebrates 150 years of awesomeness and to celebrate we wanted to create a quick stitch for you to whip up just in time to party. 

The design will fit perfectly in a 6 inch hoop.  You can download the free pattern HERE.



What are our favourite things about the Great White North? In no particular order: Timbits, universal healthcare, the Blue Jays, double-doubles, toques, moose, hockey, Lake Erie (also half American, so that's cool too), poutine, spelling words with 'o-u-r', summer (short though it may be), Degrassi, back bacon, decent beer, Anne of Green Gables, the metric system, general friendliness, the Rocky Mountains, and Coffee Crisp chocolate bars.  What are your favourite things?

Happy Stitching & Happy Canada Day, Hosers! <3 J,C, & E


Saturday, June 10, 2017

Storybook Princess Pattern Updates

Hello All! 

We've finally updated both our Storybook Princess patterns (regular Pixel People and Pixel People Minis) to include the Polynesian Princess Moana! 


Don't worry if you already own the previous version of the pattern - just email us proof of your original purchase (be it your Etsy receipt, a screenshot of your 'purchases' on your Etsy account, a copy of your email from us, just something to prove you already bought the pattern) to weelittlestitches@yahoo.ca and we'll happily send you the new version FREE OF CHARGE.


Happy stitching! <3 Jacqueline 

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Join Our Monthly Newsletter Mailing List

Do you ever feel like you're missing out on our social media posts?  Do you never think to check the blog or Facebook page or just pop by the shop to see what's new?  We know you're super busy all the time with work and friends and family and home life so we want to make your life a little easier.  Starting in May we're going to be publishing a monthly newsletter which will be filled with lots of goodies including tips, tutorials, links to the new designs in the shop, sneak peeks at upcoming patterns and life around Chez Weelittlestitches, and every single month there will be a FREE PATTERN that you won't find anywhere else!! Not here on the blog, not on our Flickr page, nowhere! And the best part? All this wonderful stitchy goodness will be delivered straight to your inbox on the first Tuesday of every month.  Just click on the link below to start the process.  Oh, and we promise that we won't spam you with a gazillion emails or sell your addy to anyone - ever!

Sign up HERE