Stamped cross-stitch kits have the patter printed onto the fabric itself, so that you only have to stitch in the colours indicated. In counted cross-stitch, the pattern is printed on a separate sheet of paper, leaving the fabric blank. This means that you have to count the squares yourself to see where each stitch goes. Most people also start stitching from the center of the pattern to make sure there’s equal room on both sides to frame the design. This, of course, calls for even more detailed counting.

Needless to say, stamped cross-stitch is easier and simpler, making it a more popular choice for beginners. You don’t have to count from the center of the pattern; you can get start stitching right away. The catch is that stamped kits don’t usually carry as much detail as counted cross-stitch. Squares have to be bigger for the stamps to be visible, which means you don’t get as much colour variation or fine gradients as you would with a counted pattern. Counted cross-stitch kits allow for higher-count fabric—that is, more stitches per square inch—so you can work in small details and use a wider range of colours. Finished products also come in a broader selection of sizes in counted cross-stitch patterns.

A finished counted cross-stitch project can have enough detail to resemble a painting; many people have them framed and put on walls. Stamped cross-stitch patterns are usually more of the ornamental kind, such as tablecloth borders, throw pillow cases, and placemats. Stamped cross-stitch also isn’t limited to Aida cloth, the square-weave fabric commonly used in emroidery. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule—you can find a good variety of patterns across both types.

Most people start of with stamped cross-stitch and then move up to counted patterns as they get more experience. Others opt to take a break from complex projects with simpler ones, or simply have no preference. If you’re starting out, you may want to start simple, but it’s always good to leave room for change and try out both types before making your choice.

Nests: Easter may be over, but spring nests are set to be fashionable all through the season. You can find nest-shaped charms that need no adornment, or more elaborate pendants made with wire and beads. This lends itself especially well to necklaces, as they’re big enough to be centerpieces without being gaudy and loud. Many are intricately designed, so you’ll want to use one or two per piece so you don’t distract from the detail.

Flowers: Flower beads are back in fashion, and the variety is greater than ever. From pewter and copper to shiny Swarovski crystals, they come in pretty much any material, size, color, and design. Five-petal pieces are especially popular these days: more whimsical than roses and tulips, but less dominating than daisies and sunflowers. The best part is that you can use them as much as you like in a variety of pieces, and even make matching sets.

Owls: You may have noticed a big trend in owl patterns in the last two years, and it’s not expected to go away anytime soon. Cartoony owls have showed up in pendants, key chains, and phone charms, but this year they should make their way to other wearable jewelry as well.

Beaches: Shells, starfish, suns and parasols—these are slowly making their way into the hottest jewelry designs. Whether it’s because people are pining for the beach in the midst of the recession, or simply want to express their love of the water, it’s a trend worth following and one that should still be in fashion years from now.

Fibers: Not many people warmed up to the idea of putting feathers and fabric in their jewelry, at least not until this year. Expect to see lots of feather pendants and earrings, floral fabrics used as necklaces, and tassels hanging from people’s wrists and ankles. It’s easy to incorporate into your existing bead designs, but make sure not to make it look too overpowering.

One important thing to remember is that premature babies tend to have sensitive skin. This means you can’t just use any yarn from the craft store. Take your time to choose the softest, most comfortable yarn you can find, preferably made from all-natural and organic fibers. They may be more expensive, but that’s just a fact with preemie clothing. If you’re not sure, have your project approved by the parents before starting out. It does ruin the surprise element, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Most experts recommend using thin, pure merino wool. Baby alpaca wool also works well but is a little warmer, so it may be too hot in areas with mild winters (but would be perfect for those born up north). Some babies are allergic to wool, however, so again, it’s best to ask. If this is the case, Egyptian cotton is a great alternative—as an added perk, it can insulate when it’s cold and get breathable when it’s hot. Acrylic yarn is a cheaper but less comfortable alternative.

Sizing is also important. Premature babies are small, but even then their size can vary widely. Chest measurements are usually between eight and 14 inches, and lengths are about 18 inches. You can measure the baby yourself, but usually it’ll do just to make it a little bigger than your estimate. Slightly oversized clothes are still usable, plus the baby will have time to grow into it. The length is fairly easy to adjust; you can just add or subtract rounds as you go along.

Hats and mittens are great if you’re a beginner or just don’t have time for a large project. If you think the baby has enough clothes (it’s a popular gift, after all), try making a blanket or playing mat. They’re just as easy to make and don’t require as much planning as clothing items. Stick to bright, happy colors—remember, these babies are struggling and need all the positivity they can get!

Most people think it’s complicated, and it’s partly true—for one thing, you have to be more precise with your sizes than with pants or tops. But besides that, the steps are pretty simple. Most bra patterns are more or less alike, and you can safely change them up to accommodate your size. If you know your way around a sewing machine and a pair of scissors, you can make your own bra—the best you’ll ever own—in no time.

It starts with the right sizing. Measuring yourself for a bra is harder than it sounds, but certainly doable. First, measure under your bust and add four inches to the number. Some experts recommend rounding odd numbers up to the nearest even to make for easier measuring down the road. Next, you’ll need to measure your cup size. Take measurements around the biggest part of the bust and the part just above it, then use the difference as an indicator. A difference of one inch is an A cup, 2 inches is a B cup, and so on.

You can get to work with just these numbers, but if you want, you can take other measurements such as the distance between your breasts and your preferred strap length. Make sure to write everything down; you’d be surprised at how hard it is to remember when you start stitching away. Even so, you can adjust the distance between cups by just subtracting or adding from the middle of the pattern. Straps are usually added at the end, so there’s no use measuring beforehand—although you may want to mark off where the strap holders will be attached.

Don’t forget to stock up on materials besides the fabric, needle and thread. Use fiberfill to line the cups—one layer for a soft, light look and two to give it more shape. If you need a lot of support, double the outer fabric as well. Try it on once it’s usable; if you want, you can replace the nylon lace with a wide-stretch elastic—this usually fixes the problem.

One thing you’ll notice about Camilla beads is their variety—they range from plain, solid-colored pieces and gemstone imitations to intricate patterns on stainless steel and pewter. To help buyers navigate through their stock, they’ve classified them by theme rather than basic characteristics like color and size. Some of the most popular themes are birthstones, flowers, food, nature, animals, religion, sports, and abstracts. This makes it easy to find the right pieces if you’re going for a particular look, without leafing through thousands of images.

Materials used for Camilla beads also run the gamut, from inexpensive plastics to exquisite birthstones, colored glass, Swarovski crystals, and precious metals. Glass beads are perhaps the most popular, no doubt because of their range of colors and designs. Many of them are handmade and individually checked for flaws, so you can be sure each bead, no matter how small, is just as sturdy as it is pretty. This variety has inspired many enthusiasts to experiment with their own combinations, mixing and matching until they find a style that’s uniquely their own.

Despite this variety, there’s a certain look that ties all Camilla bead products together—some people say it’s their natural elegance, others think it’s their tendency towards bright, optimistic colors. In any case, their jewelry is sure to lift up any outfit, whether it’s a summer dress or a winter knit. They can tie any combination of items together and still manage to look unique!

Camilla beads are particularly a favorite for bracelets. Each piece is made to fall just right on the wrist, which ensures a comfortable fit every time—something that’s hard to find in most commercially made beaded jewelry. The themed pieces, which range from Celtic and tribal designs to coffee cups and robots, also make for excellent personalized charm bracelets. It’s a great way to wear your own character or give a touching gift!

The most common crochet flower patterns, as well as the simplest, are those that are done in rounds. This makes the design flexible; you can make the flower as big or small as you like. However, the center remains more or less the same size, so if you want to keep things in proportion, a good size would be two to four inches across. You can go with the standard two-color plan (one color each for the center and petals) or break away from the norm and try more or fewer colors.

Five-petal flowers are the most symmetrically attractive, and work well as decorations for bags, hats, scarves and tops. They also look really nice on girls’ dresses—if you’re looking for a gift, get a simple shift and just stick some of these on. They’re probably the first designs you’ll find when you start looking for crochet flower patterns. They take no more than 20 minutes to make—even less if you’re really good—so you can make an entire garden with just a day’s work.

A typical crochet flower pattern starts out with a chain-6 ring for the center, then surrounds this ring with about 15 single crochet stitches for the petals to hang on with a slip stitch. The sides of the petals are made with about three chain stitches and joined with a double crochet running down each one. There are variations to this pattern, of course, and if you’re brave enough you can even tweak them on your own.

More complicated designs often include several layers, so you have a more “three-dimensional” finished product. You may be able to find patterns for these at a craft store or a knitting specialist, sometimes even as part of a kit. These usually require light yarns, as the work is more intricate and thick strands will just drown out the design. You can use them as adornments for headbands, women’s hats, or sofa blankets, or even give them away as souvenirs for parties.

Many people find needlepoint designs too complicated for a first project, or aren’t sure their work is good enough to give away. But Christmas stockings can go either way: you can find designs you can probably do on your first day of learning, and those that take years of practice to master. Most of the time, it’s really just a matter of finding the right design.

Start by looking for Christmas stocking kits at your local craft store, if you don’t have supplies yet. Most of them will include the stocking fabric, threads and needles, and a pattern with detailed instructions. Some will even include a few spares to make room for mistakes, or a variety of patterns you can choose from. If you’re a bit more advanced, you can tweak the design as you please, but you can usually get good results just sticking to the original pattern.

You can also create your own design, of course, but this will take a lot more time. One of the first steps is deciding on the size of the stocking, and after that, the fabric size—most needle point projects use 13 or more, but that can vary depending on your specifics. You can then cut out the pattern from both the cross-stitch fabric and whatever you’re using for the back, lining and trim. Once you’ve got your pieces, you can incorporate your design into it, whether by hand or using a computer program. Then you can choose your thread colors, buy the threads if you need them, and get started.

For some people, this process can take months, so you’ll need to start early if you want your stocking in time for Christmas. Most experts recommend starting at least three months in advance and working on it at least an hour a day. This will give you enough time to choose your design, create your pattern, and shop for supplies—and do things over in case you slip up or change your mind.

That’s why it’s no big surprise that crochet shawl patterns are easy to find, both online and at brick-and-mortar shops. They range from simple, solid-colored ones to top-of-the-line pieces that look like they just came off the runway. And what’s great about finding projects online is that most of them are free, meaning you don’t have to make a big investment for something you’re not sure you will enjoy.

Many people take a basic shawl pattern and make several pieces to give away as gifts. This is a great idea if you’re looking to save over the holidays or are out of gift ideas. For one thing, you can be sure they won’t find the same shawl anywhere else; for another, knowing that you put time and effort into the gift will mean a lot to them.

It’s also easy to move on from shawls to ponchos, vests, and waistcoats, as they tend to have more or less the same shape and use the same techniques. Once you finish a shawl, chances are you’ll want to move on to something bigger, or at least try different styles. And since most of these items are fairly loose, you don’t need to worry about fit or sizing as much as with sweaters, hats, or socks.

One thing you should always look for when looking at shawl patterns is the difficulty level. Have a good idea of how much complexity you can handle and choose your project accordingly. Most of the patterns available today are rated “beginner,” “intermediate,” and so on, or something similar. You want to make sure you’re not taking on too much, especially if you’re buying your gear at the same time.

Once you’ve mastered the basic shawl design, try tweaking the patterns and adding your own touches, even if it’s just a lace trim or a different yarn weight. Not all knitters have an eye for color or texture, but it’s always good to try new stitches, new shades, or new yarns. After all, experimenting is part of what makes crochet fun—you never know what you can come up with!

Many of their patterns are free, which is great for beginners who don’t want to invest too much in their craft just yet. It also works well for amateurs who don’t expect to make a business out of knitting, or even professionals looking to cut a few corners. Most of their yarns come with free patterns online, which are rated according to difficulty (beginner, easy, intermediate, and experienced).

Clothing is no doubt the most popular of Bernat patterns. They cater to men and women of all ages and sizes, and can go from casual to formal to funky. Each pattern includes information on the yarns and needles required, so you can get your supplies at the same time. Ponchos and shawls are especially popular because they’re easy to make, but there are also sweaters, vests, skirts, and dresses available.

Beginners often go for smaller pieces, such as children’s clothes. Bernat also offers excellent variety in this department, with fun, age-appropriate colors and designs and products ranging from hats, mittens, and bootees to sweaters and socks for school. The recommended yarns are among the softest, warmest, and most comfortable, so they make excellent wintertime gifts for kids as well.

If you’re looking for something other than clothes, you can look into Bernat’s range of toys, crafts, home decorations, and kitchen accessories. They have patterns for stuffed toys and rattles, placemats and coasters, throws, afghans, and Christmas tree ornaments. For the holidays, you can try one of their stocking patterns—use it as quick gifts for kids or hang one up in your home for a unique, creative touch.

Bernat patterns also go beyond knitting and cover crochet and non-needle crafts, although the range is much smaller and not as up to date. The crochet patterns lend themselves especially well to home décor, with products ranging from small coasters and ornaments to mats, blankets, and table covers. There’s no end to your options—no matter what your style or skill level is, Bernat is sure to have something fun for you to do.

The company is known particularly for its selection of yarns, which include both common and hard-to-find fibers. There are basic yarns in all lace weights and thicknesses, as well as various textured and multicolored ones. Although they don’t make their own for the time being, many people go to Dragon Yarns for their broad range of fibers, which include wool, silk cashmere, cotton, bamboo, alpaca and angora. There’s something here for every taste—plant-based, organic, smooth, chunky, you name it.

Although based in the UK, Dragon Yarns carries brands from all over the world, including Italian, Canadian, and even Uruguayan manufacturers. This is part of what makes them a good resource: they’re open to sourcing their materials from lesser-known sellers and even support small and startup manufacturers. Many of their brands are approved by the World Fair Trade Organization and have been certified for quality. There’s also a good selection of organic and all-natural ones for knitters who have sensitive skin or are environmentally conscious.

This variety is particularly attractive to intermediate to expert knitters, who may want to experiment with different textures or color combinations. For instance, their chenille-type chunky yarns offer lots of room for creativity—they’re great for making fun scarves and ponchos, but they also work well as accessories, adorning hats, bags, and cardigans. Of course, for those just starting out in the craft, there’s no shortage of options either: basic light yarns come in all colors and weights, so you can start as small or big as you like.

Dragon Yarns also sells patterns, which can come in handy if you find a nice yarn but don’t know how to work with it. There are buttons and accessories to help you spruce up your finished products, or even get ideas for your next project. They also have instruction books and pattern books for knitters of all skill levels. It’s a one-stop shop—whether you’re just starting out or are ready to start your own business, you’re sure to find everything you need here.