A Roundup of the Best Mother's Day Cross-Stitch Patterns

Cross-stitch is a wonderful hobby for people of all ages. It is a great gift to give any mom on Mother's Day. How do you know what to buy, though? Do you just get a pre-packaged kit, or do you try to find something a little different? Take a journey with me into the world of cross-stitch, and discover the variety of gifts available through the fun and exciting needlework craft of cross-stitch.

If you choose to purchase a pre-made kit for mom, there are many varieties to choose from. While all kits come with finishing instructions, some come with finishing tools as well. You can get kits that come with frames, coasters, mugs, or can be readily made into cell phone holders or a case for eye glasses. Alternatively, you can also get kits that can be made into whatever mom decides upon finishing her project. These come with canvas, thread and a pattern. Some kits have pre-stamped canvas, while others provide a chart for mom to follow. Kits are great to get for the mom who has always wanted to learn cross-stitch, but doesn't know where to begin.

Another great idea for someone new to cross-stitch is pre-stamped pillow cases, doilies or dresser scarves. When you get these, you may need to buy the thread separately. Check to see what is included in the kit, and if necessary, pick up the required additional supplies.

If your mom already enjoys doing cross-stitch as a hobby, you may need to get a little more creative when buying her a cross-stitch gift. There are so many things she can do with her talent. There are endless supplies just waiting to be gathered and presented in the perfect gift.

If your mom's hobby is cross-stitch you can make her heart leap for joy by getting her a few basic supplies, all packaged up together, waiting for her to find treasure after treasure. Some of the things to include in this package are: hoops, embroidery floss, canvas, embellishments, pattern books, needles, and scissors.

Hoops are usually a necessity for people who cross-stitch. There are a few basic varieties that come in many different sizes. Plastic hoops are nice because they are easy to work with, and they are easy to put in place and remove. Wooden hoops are good because they are thin and flexible. However, they do tend to break and can snag the canvas. Metal hoops hold the fabric well. They are usually lined with cork to prevent the fabric from slipping while you are working. Most hoops can be adjusted to the thickness of the fabric.

Hoops come in a variety of sizes. It is important to get several hoops that have different diameters. This way, mom can use the hoop that best fits her project. If she is making something small, she will use a little hoop. If she is working on a larger project, she will use a bigger hoop. Alternatively, frames are available to hold the fabric in place as well. These can be adjusted like a scroll, rolling the fabric from top to bottom.

Embroidery floss is also an essential supply for those who cross-stitch. A few manufacturers of this thread are DMC, J & P Coats, and Galaxy. The important thing to remember when getting floss is to be consistent. If you start out buying red DMC floss, make sure that all the colors you get are also made by DMC.

Filament is also a type of embroidery thread. This is used for special details and embellishments. Filament comes in metallic colors, clear sparkles, and other colors that will highlight a specific part of the work. It is used to make snow more noticeable, or draw attention to the rays of the sun. It is good to get filament when purchasing thread.

There are many things to consider when purchasing canvas for cross-stitch. Pre-made towels are available that have cross-stitch fabric sewn into them. There are also bookmarks, baby bibs, even blankets, all ready to be cross-stitched with the pattern of choice. Some of these are pre-printed. Some are not.

Besides pre-made canvas selections, there is also fabric you can purchase by the yard. You can buy rolls of aida cloth. This comes with different point sizes. The larger the point size, the smaller the stitches. Linen, hardanger, evenweave fabric, as well as perforated paper and plastic are all different types of canvas that can be used for cross-stitch.

Embellishments are a lot of fun to add to cross-stitch pieces. Beads, sequins, and charms can all add interest to a simple pattern, and turn it into a more intricate piece of art. The important thing is to get embellishments that will not overwhelm the stitches in a cross-stitch pattern. Pick ones that are small, but also have a big enough hole that mom won't have trouble attaching them with her needle.

Pattern books are fun, if only just to read. There are magazine subscriptions you can purchase so mom gets patterns every month or so. There are also pattern books for specific projects. Some pattern books give multiple Christmas ornament patterns, while others focus on sampler projects. Some pattern books have chapters with all sorts of projects in them, including wall hangings. The important thing to consider when getting mom a pattern book is to get one with patterns that will be fun to make.

Needles are pretty basic supplies. It is a good idea to get mom a variety of sizes, so she can choose needles appropriate to her canvas, thread, and embellishment. She may need to use more than one size needle to complete a special project. Be sure to get her an assortment of needles.

Scissors are used to snip thread and cut canvas. They can be fancy and ornate, or very plain. Scissors for cross-stitch need to be very sharp so the thread doesn't fray. They also need to have a sharp point, in case a stitch or two needs to be taken out. The other thing to consider with scissors is size. Make sure they are big enough for mom's hands, and small enough to get close to the canvas. Large scissors are difficult to work with when doing cross-stitch.

Now that you know so much about cross-stitch, head to your local craft or fabric store. Some stores have everything you need all in one place, while others offer basic supplies, but not canvas. Some stores have everything mom will need to crate and finish a project, including framing services.

Now there's an idea! Many people who cross-stitch neglect the all important frame. If your mom has a finished project tucked away, sneak in and get it framed for Mother's Day, or get her a gift certificate to have it framed herself. Everyone who does cross-stitch likes to see it presented in style.