If you follow me on some of my other social media accounts you’ll know that I’m also a keen cross stitcher. I’m one of those really annoying people that get all fidgety if they haven’t got something to do and will frequently be found stitching while “watching” TV or reading a book. For me it was less of a big deal when the COVID lockdown hit because I finally had no excuse not to tackle that backlog of projects. As people search for more “mindful” hobbies it has undergone a bit of a renaissance recently with a whole new generation discovering the joys of creating your own stitched cards, pictures etc.

Mollie Johanson’s new book Cross Stitch Celebrations: Bundle of Joy! is published next month and is mainly aimed at new and intermediate stitchers stitching for babies and children. Featuring seven different cute baby animal patterns as starting points the book encourages you to design your own birth samplers or cards using the additional borders, motifs and alphabets that also appear in the book.

Many new cross stitchers find it hard to get to grips with the complexities of working out how big your fabric should be, where to place your design on the fabric and then the actual stitching itself. Mollie has included a really helpful guide to the basics of cross stitch that is perfect for any beginner. She explains everything from forming the stitches and reading a pattern right through to planning your own designs.

The designs featured are not too challenging technically to cater to new converts but they are also cute enough that even seasoned stitchers would be happy to pick up this book and design a picture for a loved one’s nursery. The animal designs are really very sweet and when combined with some of the border motifs and the alphabets give you all the tools that you need to create something very special. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this book gives you the perfect starting point for a rewarding new hobby. Happy stitching!

Supplied by Net Galley and Walter Foster Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

UK Publication Date: July 5 2022. 96 Pages

What a fabulous themed cross stitch book! I love cross stitch, and do it a lot, but this book would also suit a total beginner. It talks you through all the equipment you’ll need, how to use it, how to create each of the main stitches, and also how to read a cross stitch pattern. The designs included are all lovely, yet all provide tips and ideas on how to adapt them to personalise them and make them your own. There are different alphabet sets for hand lettering details, and ideas for borders too. There’s even a section on how to frame and gift your homemade creation. Would highly recommend.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster and Netgalley for an eARC of this book to read and review

I haven't been a cross stitcher for ages but this book make wish I could start again at once.
Lovely schema, easy to follow.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I am an avid cross stitcher. This book is perfect for beginners. The author did a great job in explaining and showing the basic steps to cross stitching. Cute patterns that would be perfect for baby shower gift. Also with it being homemade, it is even more special.