Monica Knits

Flower SprayI was introduced to cross stitching at age 26 by the plant nurse at the foundry where we both worked. I was the only female in manufacturing, so it was nice to spend my lunch hour with another female professional. In addition to projects for her home and family, she cross stitched small designs that could be sold at a church bazaar to raise funds for charity, like Christmas ornaments, and inspirational or entertaining wall hangings and desk ornaments. Read about other cross stitch inspirations...

We became good friends. The plant we worked at was shut down a few years after we met and I moved away to another job. However, when I cross stitch, I remember fondly the time and projects we shared.

Not all the kits or charts I purchased have the designer name. Where it was provided, I have listed the designer.

Dale Burdett. I enjoy Dale Burdett's country themed designs in her "Hopscotch to the Country" leaflet. I made several of her designs as gifts, but stitched the Three Mallards for our home.

Monika Burkhart. Her red rose in a bud vase has a striking, high contrast, black background with crisp and disappearing vase edges. Because much of the vase is created by illusion and the Aida cloth, the design works up quickly. I made this one twice, once as a gift. In addition, I purchased a kit as a gift for my mother-in-law.

Daniel Gorman. Two things attracted me to this Daniel Gorman's Pheasant in the Grass: the autumn colors and the minimalist design. Dimensions Inc., Counted Cross Stitch.

Eugenia Parfionow. Acorns was the second of a pair of autumn colored 5" x 7" cross stitch patterns designed by Eugenia Parfionow for "The Creative Circle". Just as warm and inviting as Thistles, it was also fun to stitch.

Just Cross Stitch. I loved the blue and grey colors of The Summer Carousel Horse and stitched the 20" x 16" horse without the post. Janlynn kit.

Gary Patterson. His whimsical, computer age version of cat and mice not only made me smile, but it reminded my of our family's first cat Peter (pronounced Pātă), who was a very good mouser, and cozy companion. I purchased both The Mouser and "The Siesta", an equally enchanting and humorous design.

Milly Smith. I worked a couple of cross stitch patterns from Leisure Arts leaflet 404, "Milly Smith's Country At Heart," but there are several more which I am also inspired to make. I enjoyed the fruit basket with Love Birds and also stitched the "Merry Christmas," message as a gift.

Monicaknits. The Flower Spray on black background was created for an antique footstool with worn upholstery. You may have noticed that I love the look of cross stitch on black background. Though it is harder on the eyes to stitch against a black background, the colors really pop, making it worthwhile. If you use a lap frame, and place a white cloth on your lap, it is easier to see the holes for stitching.

Sunset Kind Hearts is a cross-stitch kit that I have made at least 4 times, once for myself and three times as gifts. I also gave the kit twice as a gift to friends who also cross-stitch. It works up quickly, I like the sentiments it expresses and it combines my loves of needlework and gardening: Kind Hearts.

The New Berlin Co. I purchased a number of Christmas ornament kits that have been simple and fun to cross stitch. At first I made them as accents for Christmas parcels, but then I made some to hang in our home. The kits come complete with ornament frame, self-adhesive mounting board, DMC embroidery floss, 18-count Aida cloth, needle and instructions. Some kits also come with metallic accent yarn or beads. I have made the following: Christmas Kitty, Poinsettia, Snowman and Cardinal, and Sugarplum Mouse.

The Stoney Creek Collection. I converted these charming card kits into ornaments so that we could enjoy them year after year: Santa Bear and Rocking Horse.

Lois Thompson. I made a large, stained glass window of a rooster and chick for my parents old farm house. The barnyard scene had a chicken wire background of about a hundred hexagon shaped pieces of glass. So, when I saw the Rooster and Hen with a chicken wire background, I had to stitch one for both my parents' home and ours.

Barbara L. Waters I was inspired by her Cozy Sewing Room cross stitch kit sold by Sunset. The quilt reminded me of a hand sewn quilt my grandmother made for me and the antique sewing machine of my mother-in-law's sewing room.

Teresa Wentzler created a beautiful counted cross stitch design comprised of six beautifully framed cross stitch fruit vignettes on even weave cloth, using 75 colors of DMC floss, plus almost 60 blends: Fruit Bell Pull.

Karen Marie Zabroski. Three things inspired me to stitch Karen's Calla Lilies, the dramatic black background, the pleasure I had with a related Sunset red rose kit by Monika Burkhart, and the gift of a segment of a white Calla lily from my mother-in-law for our first garden. I purchased 2 kits: one for our home and one for my mother-in-law's.