Dmcthread's Blog

DMC Puts a Sweet New Twist on a Classic Stitch

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Hello Everyone-

You all had great guesses as to what the difference was between the designs I posted yesterday.

Congratulations to Linda Pacesas who posted the correct answer to the Blog at 10:44! Another congratulations goes to Robin LaLone who was first to guess the correct answer on the DMC Facebook page at 1:54 pm, they are both our winners! They guessed correctly that the designs on the left were done in half cross stitch and the designs on the right were cross stitch.

They both win the DMC Sweet Treats Half Cross Stitch Kit! The Half Cross Stitch Kit comes with the new Half Cross Stitch Brochure (that I will post after the show) which includes free yummy charts and half cross stitch directions and tips. The kit also includes all the Pearl Cotton skeins you need to stitch a design in the brochure, a DMC size 22 Tapestry Needle, and DMC Aida Fabric 14 ct. This is the first brochure that features me, Emma Broidery!

But what threads were used to create these delicious designs? The half cross stitch was stitched with DMC Pearl Cotton, and the cross stitch was stitched using the traditional two strands of DMC Cotton Embroidery Floss.

A Little Bit About This Technique

DMC and well known designer Alice Okon needed to develop a technique for a needlework class at the CHA 2010 winter show. We needed a quick stitch so that class attendees could walk away with an almost finished project. Thus, the Half Cross Stitch technique was born. This technique takes less time, and you achieve an extremely similar look to traditional cross stitch. The coverage is great, and DMC Pearl Cotton has such a beautiful luster to it. Beginners can pick up this technique as an easy and fun way to learn cross stitch, and experienced stitchers can experiment with this new technique and use it to speed up certain stitching projects.

This technique is catching on and getting BIG! Crafts N’ Things is featuring a bunch of fun half cross stitch projects, look out for them in the July issue.

After TNNA, June 15th, I will post complete directions on the Half Cross Stitch – DMC style. I will also have the charts to these designs and other free projects so be sure to look out for that.

In honor of our new technique and all of the sweet designs we had made for it, we are having a cupcake theme for the next two days. Lately I have been obsessed with cupcakes and designs incorporating sweet desserts such as ice cream. It seems like I’m not the only one…

This cute cupcake was designed and stitched by Cheryl Fall from About.com Needlepoint. Cheryl has ice cream on the mind as well. Her ice cream on a stick series has a cute ice cream design for every month. Check out June’s design here.

The new issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework has a yummy free ice cream pattern

Flickr has a pool called Cupcake Stuff and it’s a mecca of awesome stitched cupcakes! Here are some of my favorite cross stitched cupcakes I found over there.

1. Josh and Rebecca cross stitch cupcake
2. City in the NZ “I’m Rad” cross stitched cupcake
3. Camile Silveira cross stitch cupcake
4. Thimble mini cupcakes
5. Honeysuccle cupcake
6. Dan’s Powderpuff “Bite Me” cupcake
7. Michele Leigh “I Heart Cupcakes”
8. Teeny Tiny Turkey

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s sweet cupcake projects!

xoxo Emma Broidery