Available on my website www.thistleheartcreations.co.uk
Happy Stitching! Karen x
#scottishcrossstitch #scottishcrossstitchers #thistlecrossstitch #standrewsday
I've updated my Website, Ravelry and Etsy sites this morning and as a result have removed some older patterns and charts.
If there is something you are looking for and can no longer find it, please contact me so that I may send it to you by email.
A wonderful day exploring Kelmscott Manor, the country retreat of William Morris (father of the Arts and Crafts movement) and his family in Kelmscott Gloucestershire. I’ve been wanting to visit here for such a long time and so glad we finally did. It is so easy to see why he loved it here and why it provided such inspiration. The embroideries and tapestries by Jane and May Morris were so beautiful. The paintings and sketches by Rossetti who lived at Kelmscott for a time were glorious to see.
You will be able to download the pattern from my website at www.thistleheartcreations.co.uk
Please share the link to my website with friends and family, and don't forget to tag me on your photos so I can see what you create. Karen x
Pumpkin Pal is an original creation by Karen Wiederhold designing as Thistleheart Creations.
The chart pack contains the colour key with symbols for the DMC threads required to stitch the sampler, as well as A4 sized chart pages in colour and black and white.
Springtime Funny Bunny measures
14 ct 93x75 Stitches (16.9 x 13.6 cm) (6.6 x 5.4 in.)
16 ct 93x75 Stitches (14.8 x 11.9 cm) (5.8 x 4.7 in.)
18 ct 93x75 Stitches (13.1 x 10.6 cm) (5.2 x 4.2 in.)
The model is shown as stitched on ivory/cream aida fabric using DMC thread.
Happy stitching,
Karen x
Springtime Funny Bunny is an original creation by Karen Wiederhold designing as Thistleheart Creations. The chart-pack is delivered to you as an instant download PDF direct from Etsy for you to print on payment.
How's this for a burst of colour on a cold wintery day here in the UK?
I'm delighted to share my new counted cross stitch design with you called Joyful Garden Mandala.
As well as being a lovely summer or spring piece to hang on your wall, it would be lovely stitched in remembrance, as a decorative patch on a bag, quilt centrepiece or as a beautiful ring cushion for a wedding.
The measurements for the stitched area are:
14ct (20.5 x 20.5cm) (8.1 x 8.1 in.)
16ct (17.9 x 17.9cm) (7.1 x 7.1 in.)
18ct (15.9 x 15.9cm) (6.3 x 6.3 in.)
Joyful Garden Mandala is an original creation by Karen Wiederhold designing as Thistleheart Creations.
All charts are available for purchase in the Thistleheart Creations Etsy shop.
I decided that my first stitch for 2025 would be the model for my design called Snowflake Bouquet which I published in 2024.
I had been itching to start work on stitching this piece for a few months but had been uncertain about the choice of thread or colour I would use. Although I had created Snowflake Bouquet as a red-work piece there really isn't a requirement for it to be stitched in red.
The decision was made to stitch the model for Snowflake Bouquet on white 16 count aida by Zweigart, with one thread of DMC 107 variegated stranded cotton. This is resulting is a lovely shift of tones and a delicate finish.
To keep updated with the progress of this piece please visit my Instagram. I will endeavour to update photos here too but this may not be as frequent as you'd find on my Instagram account.
Here's the update from 7 January 2025. It's coming along beautifully .... I think you'll agree.
.png)
The model is shown as being stitched on Ivory Aida fabric using DMC threads. The stitched area measures 93 x 75 stitches.
Wishing you lots of festive fun stitching Merry Mousemas as much as I did creating it.
Karen x
Merry Mousemas is an original creation by Karen Wiederhold designing as Thistleheart Creations. The chart-pack is delivered to you as an instant download PDF direct from my Etsy Shop .
Bristol is a counted cross stitch piece inspired, at the time of its creation, in excited anticipation of my first time joining fellow cross-stitchers at the Bristol Stitchy Day in September 2024. I wanted to create a piece for all of us who would be there as a keepsake to commemorate what was indeed a wonderful day with friends doing what brings us joy.
Bristol is now available for all stitchers or gift recipients who have a love for this vibrant city, or a love for the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Hot Air Balloons which grace her skies.
Here's a little story about the things you'll find in this design.
There are lots of wonderful things to be found in Bristol which I could have included however I wanted to keep the design small so had to narrow it down to two which immediately come to mind when I think of Bristol - the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. I chose red as the main colour for this design as a nod to Bristol Samplers. Orange and coral represents autumn which is the season when this particular Bristol Stitchy Day would be taking place. Blue represents the River Avon which flows beneath the bridge while the shapes within the border represent the rocks of the Avon Gorge. The nameplate is inspired by the style of Victorian metal nameplates which are found around the city.
Bristol is an original creation by Karen Wiederhold designing as Weediflower Creations. The chart-pack is delivered to you as an instant download PDF direct from my Etsy Shop .
The model is shown as being stitched on Aida fabric using DMC threads. The stitched area measures 80 x 72 stitches making it the perfect size for a quick stitch project. Boo-Chic is a stylish addition to your halloween, witchy, fall or autumn decorating.
Boo-Chic is dedicated to my gorgeous and brave witchy-sister Ruth x
I'm sure you'll have a lot of pleasure stitching it as much as I did creating it.
Karen x
The model is shown as being stitched on Ivory Aida fabric using DMC threads. The stitched area measures 93 x 75 stitches.
I'm sure you'll have a lot of pleasure stitching it as much as I did creating it.
Karen x
Squeaky Halloween is an original creation by Karen Wiederhold designing as Weediflower Creations. The chart-pack is delivered to you as an instant download PDF direct from my Etsy Shop .
You may have seen me referring to sock-witchery in some of my posts and wondered why I call it that.
The simple reason is that even though I've already been knitting socks for about three years I still find the whole process a bit like magic. Honestly the wonderment of seeing a heel emerge out of a knitted tube still tickles me each time the heel-stage of the process is completed!
Also, the juggling of four or five double pointed needles and a circular needle looks like you might be weaving a spell to those observing...... (even though to the beginner sock-knitter it initially feels like a feat in itself getting to grips with it all).
If you're about the embark on the adventure of learning to knit socks I can tell you the finger-gymnastics and head scratching is well worth it.
Things I learned from learning to knit socks.
1. You can do this....you really can.
2. It becomes an obsession.
3. You have more socks than your feet will ever need.
4. Take your time and read the pattern carefully and make notes. The notes you make as you progress are so helpful.
5. There are a few different methods of constructing a sock. Pick one method and become comfortable with it's process and then try other methods to discover which one is your preferred method. My favourite is the 'heel flap and gusset' method.
6. Start with DPN's (double pointed needles). I found that using DPN's allowed me to observe and understand the construction of the sock more clearly; which was important for me in the early days. Nowadays I cast on my socks and knit the first round using DPN's then move onto a circular needle for the leg tube. I go back onto DPN's for the heel construction and then back onto the circular needle for the foot tube and toe. You will find what works best for you.
8. Purchase a sock ruler to help with getting foot lengths correct if knitting for others. If you're just knitting for yourself you don't really need one but I still find it useful. Mine is a wooden one which is great because it is easy to make a mark on it for each person's foot length.
9. Cast on your sock using needles that are a size up from the needle size you will use to knit the rest of the sock. This helps with the stretchiness of the cuff, especially if you tend to cast on quite tightly.
10. Prepare to collect lots of luscious yarn, and even better is that there are sock yarns available for every budget.
11. Have fun.
I'd love to hear about your sock knitting experiences and preferred method of knitting socks.
Karen x
.png)
The model is stitched on Zweigart Murano 32 count Ivory fabric using DMC threads. The stitched area measures 93 x 75 stitches.
I'm sure you'll have a lot of pleasure stitching it as much as I did.
Karen x
#weediflowercreations
.png)
Introducing my new design called Springtime; a lovely sampler for your seasonal or Easter decorating.
It’s available in my shop now.
Springtime sampler is a lovely counted cross stitch sampler perfect for your Spring and Easter decorating. The bees, tulips, blossoms, birds, sweet pink rabbit and bluebells capture the essence of the season in lovely fresh spring colours. Springtime is an original design by Karen Wiederhold designing as Weediflower Creations. The chart-pack is delivered to you as an instant download PDF direct from Etsy for you to print on payment.
The chart pack contains the colour key with symbols for the threads required to stitch the sampler as well as A4 sized chart pages in colour and black and white.
Design details:
Springtime Sampler measures
14 ct 113x131 Stitches (20.5 x 23.8 cm) (8.1 x 9.4 in.)
16 ct 113x131 Stitches (17.9 x 20.8 cm) (7.1 x 8.2 in.)
18 ct 113x131 Stitches (15.9 x 18.5 cm) (6.3 x 7.3 in.)
The model is shown as being stitched on 16 count white aida fabric.
The design is Silent Night by Emma Congdon in the latest issue of Cross Stitcher magazine. The minute I saw it I knew I had to stitch it. Do you fancy joining me in a stitch-along? I’ll call it #silentnightemmacongdonsal and will be starting today but you can join anytime.
Supplies purchased from www.willowfabrics.com.
.jpg "Celebrating 2024 Counted Cross Stitch Freebie")
As with the previous two years I bring you the celebratory free cross stitch chart for 2024. It's my gift to you and is available now for instant download on my website. The chart-pack contains charts for the design in both portrait and landscape format.
