Revisiting cross-stitch after a L-O-N-G hiatus

June 8, 2026

Cross-stitch was really popular when hubs and I got married many moons ago. Eventually, the quilting bug bit and I set my cross-stitch supplies aside. However, there’s this one unfinished project that’s left me frustrated every time I pull it out to work on it.

I took the unfinished project to my Friday sewing group at the library. Their recommendations: (1) stitch using a really bright task lamp and a pair of slightly stronger reading glasses. 2) DO NOT RIP OUT any existing stitching. Merely blend the four colors (which are one shade apart) in that section as best I can and keep on going. Wise advice. I’ve made noticeable progress.

At the JK Quilts 2025 spring retreat, one of the daily projects featured a tulip cross-stitch design with Sulky 12 wt thread over 14 ct Aida fabric. I didn’t actually start the project until after I returned home, but I’ve actually enjoyed cross-stitching again! I like the sheen and feel of the Sulky thread and not having to manage 6 strands of traditional DMC floss. (A single thread of 12 wt thread equals 2 strands of traditional DMC floss). The 14 ct white/off white Aida cloth was much easier for me to see with standard reading glasses and overhead lightling.

If you like to stitch for a good cause, the Haven 2026 Charity Quilt & Stitch Along with Fat Quarter Shop has a new start date – Friday, July 3rd! Find all of the updated details here. This means you still have time to order a quilt kit or pull from your stash (and your friends’ stashes)!

This morning, I pulled supplies from my stash to make the cross-stitch version of Haven. I need a small, portable handwork project for upcoming travel and shortened summer sew days at the library. I’ll actually stitch it using Sulky 12 wt thread over 14 ct Aida cloth. Other than white, there are no exact DMC to Sulky matches for this project on the color conversion chart.

Here are the color substitutions I made using Sulky 12 wt thread already on hand:

Navy: Color 1199 – Admiral Navy Blue
Dark Blue: Color 1095 – Turquoise. (the stitched sample has more of a teal look to me than blue)
Light Blue: Color 1205 – Medium Jade (same reason as above)
Green: Color 1156 – Light Army Green
White: Color 1001 – White

Sulky – DMC conversion chart (free download) from Sulky website.
Sulky 12 wt petites color chart (free download) from Sulky website.

Serious x-stitchers may be interested in the Sulky 12 wt petites color card (with actual thread samples) that is available for $25.00 from the Sulky website.

Quilt show’s over – what’s next?

June 7, 2026
Block Party Exhibit at the Georgia Celebrates Quilts (all made by K-12 students)

For a solid week, I ate, slept and breathed all things quilt show. It was a highly successful, well-attended event. I was able to see quilty friends I haven’t seen in months. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of the kids who’d entered blocks in the show. I also made some contacts that may very well lead to me teaching classes closer to home and helping establish a stitching hangout spot for folks in the Smyrna/Vinings/Mableton area.

Following the show, I have to ship the blocks and swag packets that didn’t get picked up at the close of the quilt show. I’ll launder the exhibit backdrop and pack it away for the next show. I’ll add more notes to the block party chair notebook that will be turned in at our show committee wrap-up meeting in late June.

Today (Sunday after the show), I am doing absolutely nothing. Sadie and I went to the local farmer’s market and took a leisurely ride by the river before returning home. This afternoon will involve a long nap, a good book and working on a cross-stitch project. Dinner will be a nod to my childhood – breakfast for Sunday night dinner. Whether it’s me cook or Waffle House remains to be seen.!

Getting Block Party ready for the quilt show

June 2, 2026
39 blocks from students in grades K-12 ready to mount on the display panels.
Display panels with quilt blocks attached and ready for transport on Wednesday.

Return mailers prepped with swag ready to distribute with the blocks after the show ends on Saturday.

The past two months have been a blur prepping everything for the Block Party Exhibit at the Georgia Celebrates Quilts show this weekend. Block Party is done and ready to be installed Wednesday morning. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Charlotte and I rolled the last display panel on the XXL pool noodle this morning.

Quilt show work began over a year ago with planning meetings and initial outreach to Georgia quilt shops. There’s been ongoing support for kid and teen sewing programs at local libraries and other nonprofit groups. I’ve sourced and delivered sewing machines, fabric and notions. I even helped teach some of those classes. The consistent outreach by the guild’s communications committee, members and sewing friends resulted in 60% more blocks being entered in this show versus the previous one.

On Sunday, I volunteered with the quilt judging committee. A long, long day, but what a learning experience! A few pearls of wisdom: make sure you clip all thread tails, bury your knots well and roll the damn cat hair off the quilt and the pillowcase before turning it in!