u/healiocentric

I bought some cross stitch supplies back in Nov 2024 as part of a therapy program I was doing that encouraged patients to develop mastery over some skill, but I never actually started it. I had only been able to find one kit at the sewing shop I had gone to, and it was cute, but it just didn't inspire me, and I didn't know what I would do with it when I finished. So I put it off forever 🤣

Over winter break though I found myself with more time on my hands than expected, and a creative itch, so I picked it back up. I thought "use two strands" meant "two lengths of the 6-strand floss in the kit" and totally mucked up my first attempt at that kit! Stumbled on this subreddit and learned a bunch, then started working on things that really get me going - making unique, niche gifts for friends. I am so glad I started - this has been a huge boon for my mental health! I have always struggled to maintain human connection through conversation or activities, but I love love love expressing my admiration and affection for them through gifts!

Self drafted, toy pony (stitch fiddle chart generated from art in the game Dance Dance Revolution) as a surprise gift for one lucky participant in a women's dance game competition
Give Jenny Credit - an inside joke for my work team, made with GlitchyFont from https://www.etsy.com/listing/1731001798/glitchy-font-cross-stitch-pattern
A dapper fox for some friends who wish to start a fox themed cocktail bar - self-drafted based off an illustration on some wrapping paper I have
Three Drinks - hodgepodge of DMC pineapple cooler pattern (https://www.dmc.com/CA/en/products/pineapple-cooler-cross-stitch) mirrored and color shifted for watermelon juice, this kawaii lemonade from etsy but without the face (https://www.etsy.com/listing/4426970617/anniversary-love-mini-cross-stitch), and a photo of a matcha latte that I chartified in stitch fiddle
Please Don't ... from https://www.etsy.com/listing/220260991/pattern-subversive-funny-cross-stitch
Queerkat - a gift for my partner who loves meerkats and is super queer. meerkat from https://www.etsy.com/listing/1862575336/meerkat-cross-stitch-pattern-easy with background self-drafted
Lemon & rhubarb happy - from https://www.etsy.com/listing/574884109/happy-lemons-rhubarb-digital-pdf-cross but I didn't have variegated thread and I wanted it to be vibrant because the friend I gifted it to is very vibrant, so I tweaked the colors

I'm working on two simultaneous projects now and have like 15 more planned so I guess I am a cross stitcher now?? 🤣

[FO] Just started this hobby the last week of 2025, safe to say I'm hooked! My FOs so far...