Take your cross stitch designs large scale with this cross stitch sweater tutorial
There is something really fun about making large scale cross stitch projects. I started by doing some stitching and embroidery on canvas. My favorite was the cross stitch arrows canvas that I stitched. It combined the large scale cross-stitching with arrows and fit my word of the year I had that year.
For awhile now I’ve been daydreaming about cross-stitching on a shirt or sweater. I think the idea really took hold one day when I was looking at my sisters thermal shirt and noticing the square designs that are part of those shirts. With built in squares it would be so easy to cross-stitch on them. But the project kept getting pushed back. Then while I was at the store the other day I found this sweater that I knew was perfect for my wearable cross-stitched dream.
The sweater has some great loose stitches and pretty nicely defined little X shapes. I loved the idea that I wouldn’t have to sketch out the pattern on the sweater I could just cross-stitch on it like I would traditional cross-stitch fabric.
Cross Stitch Sweater
Supplies
- Sweater (thrifted or one you already own)
- Embroidery floss
- Yarn needle
- FREE Cross Stitch Arrow Pattern
For my cross stitch sweater I used three different colors of embroidery floss, you could also use a lightweight yarn for this project.
I found the center of my design and the center of the front of my sweater where I wanted the design to go. I picked a design that pretty much filled up the entire front of my sweater. And the colors that I picked, kind of a gold, silver, and rose gold, went well with the metallic threads running through the sweater. It hardly took any time at all, just a couple hours, to get everything stitched up and ready to wear.
I’m still all about the arrows. It stuck after I picked Lead as one of my words of the year. I used the same pattern of arrows from the canvas I had made previously for this sweater.
Get the free Cross Stitch Arrow pattern here
I’m so in love with this lightweight sweater! You’ll definitely be seeing me wear it all through the fall. I think I’m going to need to pick up a few more to continue my wearable cross stitch sweater making.
Looking for more unique cross stitch projects? Check out these Cross Stitch Leather Cuffs!
Such a fun project idea 🙂
I so love your idea! Very simple to do, but looks so clever and cute. I’ve chosen to do same, but I’ll design a kitty cat pattern 😸 thanks for sharing. You’ll be looking so cute this fall! 👌