These cross-stitch projects are perfect for beginners!
Y’all, I have discovered cross-stitch, and I’m almost getting good at it! I am ALL about the quick and easy beginner-friendly projects that suit my skill level (low) and time commitment (even lower, lol!), and fortunately, there are a ton of super cute projects out there that fit all my requirements.
Check out this list of my current favorite super cute, beginner-friendly cross-stitch projects below:
Giant Pegboard Cross-Stitch People
These giant pegboard cross-stitch people are just as easy to stitch as the small ones (and honestly even easier for my myopic eyes!), but the impact of these is incredible. I think they’d look adorable in a child’s bedroom or playroom, or as decorations for a bridal shower or anniversary party.
Heart Pendant
This is probably the easiest, simplest, most beginner-friendly project, but at the same time it’s so cute! Drill the holes by hand into a wooden blank (a cut from an old tree branch would be perfect for this), and then simply connect the dots. These would make adorable Valentine’s Day gifts for friends.
Paper as a Medium
Working on paper is a little trickier than working on fabric, because once you punch a hole in paper it stays punched, but with paper you can also pre-punch your holes, AND you can even pre-print your actual pattern. This makes a huge difference in the learning curve that is figuring out how to transfer a printed pattern to your actual project. My first few projects have SOOO many errors, since apparently I didn’t know how to count, lol.
Ornament
Here’s another really cute way to display a beginner project! The tutorial calls for finishing the edges with a sewing machine, but you could easily do this by hand, as well. I like my ornaments to look a bit padded for a three-dimensional effect; if you like the same look, just sneak some batting in between the Aida and the felt backing before you finish sewing the two together.
Gift Tags
I LOVE this idea for using up mini projects in a useful way! The tutorial uses mini Christmas-themed images to make holiday gift tags, but you could also create easy monograms or other themed icons to make reusable gift tags for birthdays or other holidays. If the Aida in the tutorial has too high of a count for your beginner eyes, lower the count of the fabric and choose a smaller icon to stitch.
Bottle Cap Magnets
One problem with beginner projects is what on earth you’ll do with them. I already have more bookmarks than I have books (and I have a lot of books!), so what else can I make from my small, simple experiments? These magnets are SO cute and so fun–and SO simple! I love them for trying out small-scale projects, and for learning how to work with evenweave fabrics and higher-count Aida fabrics.
DIY Patterns
Being a beginner doesn’t mean that you can’t design your own patterns! If you can draw an “x”, you can design your own easy projects to stitch. This tutorial walks you through software programs that make the process easier, but you can also use plain old graph paper and a set of colored pencils.
Cross-Stitch Patch
I love that this little patch project uses the same finishing method as I often use on my bookmarks. Alternatively, you could substitute most of these other bookmark finishing methods, too! The tutorial advises against using iron-on fabric with a felt backing, but you actually can (carefully!) iron onto 100% wool felt.
Greeting Card
If you’re a card maker or scrapbooker, you’ll love this way of adding mixed-media embellishments to your greeting cards. You can buy aperture card blanks pre-made, but crafting your own card from scratch will allow you to customize the aperture to the perfect size for your finished cross-stitch project. A monogram would be so beautiful for a thank-you card!
Window Screen Art
This cross-stitch is actually fake, which makes it a fun way to get the look without having to deal with long, tangly lengths of yarn. Instead, you’ll cut short pieces of yarn and tie square knots at the back to give the look of an “x” without using the actual cross-stitch method. This could be a terrific project for a young beginner who knows the square knot but isn’t quite ready for full-on stitching with needle and embroidery floss.
P.S. Do you have an awesome and beginner-friendly cross-stitch project that you love? Tell us about it in the Comments!
