Stitcher resources: free tutorials

If you are looking for information on how to finish your stitched pieces, check out these great tutorials. Our designers have put together some fine step-by-step instructions for making bookmarks, biscornus and all kinds of ornemental finishes that will make your cross stitching look fabulous!

Biscornus

How to make a biscornu with contrasting fabric - By Tam's Creations

>> How to make a biscornu (whip stitch method)
By Barbara Ana Designs

View and print out detailed, step by step photos and instructions
for making a biscornu

>> How to make a biscornu - with contrasting material
     By Tam's creations
     Alternative method for making a biscornu with fabric for the back.
     View and print out tutorial.

>> see all our biscornu patterns

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Humbug

>> How to make a humbug
By Faby Reilly
Step by step instructions. View and print out humbug tutorial.

>> See all our humbug patterns

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Miniature tassels

>> Making Miniature Tassels - A Creative Poppy Tutorial
the "One-minute Mini Tassel" , step by step with photos

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Bookmarks

>> Tutorial: Two ways to put together a Bookmark - By Faby Reilly
     Faby Reilly offers advice on how to finish a Bookmark, using either
    a ribbon and interface or a piece of felt. Compare the 2 methods
    and select the one that will work best with your stitching!

>> see all bookmark patterns

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Scissor case

>> How to make a scissor case, step by step.
By Marie-Anne Réthoret-Mélin.
A beautifully finished case, complete with inner lining. The trick is to limit the amount of fabric that can be quite thick near the tip of the case. Marie-Anne Réthoret-Mélin takes us through each stage of the process. The case is entirely assembled using the whipstitch method, using the backstitch line as a guide.

>> see all scissor case patterns
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Key ring - Key Fob

>> Tutorial: how to make a keyring
By Faby Reilly
A cute hexagonal shaped key fob. In additional, the keyring included a special slot for inserting your coins. Very useful when you go shopping.

Patterns adapted for this shape:

>> Poppy Bookmark and Key fob

>> Love Bookmark and Keyring

>> Plum orchid bookmark and fob

Needlebook

>> Tutorial: How to make a needlebook
By Faby Reilly - La Fée rie
It's all in the detail!
Faby Reilly provides plenty of tips and instructions for making a very refined needlecase.

>> see all needlecase patterns

Tutorial: how to make a round pinkeep

Round pinkeep

>> Tutorial: how to make a round pinkeep

By Agnès Delage-Calvet

It can be a bit tricky to mount your stitched piece into a circle. Follow these instuctions to make a round pinkeep (applies also for the cover of a round box).

Stitch the round pinkeep with white lace with this tutorial.

Ort-bag

>> Tutorial: how to make an ort-bag
By Faby Reilly - La Fée rie
Dispose of little bits and ends of floss as you stitch with this pretty and convenient ort-bag that will also hold your scissors handy.

This tutorial is illustrated with Lavender Bouquet Ort-bag pattern

Octagon Pouch

>> Octagon Pouch Tutorial
By Faby Reilly - La Fée rie
How to make a round pouch with 4 octagon shaped stitched sides and a stitched base.

Octagon pouch shaped patterns:
>> "Love" Bridesmaid pouch
>> Lavender Bouquet Pouch

Star-shape tutorial

>> How to assemble a star-shaped hanging ornament
By Faby Reilly - La Fée rie

Star shaped patterns:

>> Xmas star pattern

>> Frosty star pattern

Pendeloque (pear-shaped ornament)

>> How to make a Pendeloque
By Faby Reilly - La Fée rie

Pendeloque shaped patterns:

>> Frosty Pendeloque pattern

>> Chrismas pendeloque pattern

Heart shape tutorial

>> How to make a heart shaped ornament
By Faby Reilly - la Fée Rie

Create the perfect heart-shaped mini-cushion.

This pattern was initially designed for the Sweet Roses Heart and Sweet roses Sampler patterns.

Customized flower-shape button

>> How to make a cornflower button
By Faby Reilly - La Fée rie

Make your own matching button (using Fimo paste) for the center of a biscornu: Learn how to mix colors, shape and finish a button. Faby Reilly's tutorial is especially designed to complement the exquisite Cornflower biscornu cross stitch pattern she designed but can easily be adapted for other charts such as her Poppy Biscornu pattern.

More finishing ideas:

This is where stitchers share their own ideas for their finished pieces. Come and check out all the creative ideas for finishing your projects and don't hesitate to send us you own!

>> see more creative ideas for finishing your projects

Three quarter cross stitch

>> Three quarter cross stitch tutorial
A tutorial by Creative Poppy, illustrated with a pattern by Perrette Samouiloff.
How to identify a three-quarter cross stitch in a chart and its direction. How to stitch it on Aida, on linen or evenweave. Close up photos of stitches.

>> Perrette Samouiloff: "Where the beach meets the sea"

Other resources

Fabric calculator for cross stitch projects:

Calculating the size of ANY design on ANY fabric count. Print out the results too!
All Creative Poppy cross stitch patterns are linked to this calculator so there's no guesswork about the size of fabric anymore.

>> Test now with a Creative Poppy sample design

>> Test now with my own data

Blank grid:

Use this grid to compose your own text, add names, dates to your cross stitch patterns.

>> Download blank grid

Great links

Here's a selection of some of Creative Poppy's favorite websites offering useful information for stitchers
>> cross stitching and needlework expertise and resources
>> manufacturers of needlework fabric, floss and specialty threads (coming soon!)
>> blogs (coming soon!)

>> back to what's new
>> back to catalogue
>> back to designers