Welcome to BuyAssociation.co.uk

It’s all about the Folklore - Hannah Coleman, Dreamwall

It’s all about the Folklore

This summer’s biggest interior trends is all things folky, think handcrafted, vintage. Perfect if you are trying to create an inviting warm, cosy, homemade feel to your home. Think distressed furniture, folklore motifs like animals, birds, wildlife, especially flowers.

Shops are bursting at the seams with gorgeous interior folky feel products, and endless folklore homespun crafts to choose from. But one of my personal favourites that’s made a huge comeback to the interior world has to be Cross-stitch pattern and craft.

Its all about the cross stitch in time.
Cross – stitch is one of the oldest forms of embroidery and can be found all over the world. Many folk museums show examples of clothing and interiors decorated with cross stitch. Cross - stitch is a popular form of counted thread embroidery, in which X-shaped stitches are tiled and raster-like patterns are used to form a picture. Traditionally, cross – stitch was used to embellish items like household lines, dollies and dishcloths. It is now increasingly popular to simply embroider pieces of fabric and hang them on the wall for decoration.

There are many stitches which are related to cross-stitch and were used in similar ways in earlier times. The best known are Celtic cross-stitch, Irish cross-stitch and Montenegrin stitch, which is reversible, meaning the work looks the same on both sides. These types of styles have a slightly different look than the ordinary cross stitch pattern.

Cross stitch wall hangings
Cross-stitch wall hangings are certainly the best way to show off your cross-stitch pattern. Either these type of wall hangings can be purchased already made, or get crafty and have ago at making your own.

Marie's cross stitch website is perfect (www.mariescrossstitch.co.uk), as they are specialists in supplying cross stitch kits, including all the accessories you need to complete your cross stitch project. Also available are recommended cross stitch rugs and wall hangings already made. One of my favourites on the website is the Gorgeous Floral Girona rug/wall hanging cross stitch kit with a 10% saving of £103.53 (correct at the time of going to press) the pattern is bang on trend for this coming summers folky season.

Another favorite is the Brigantia cross stitch rug/ wall hanging kit, each rug comes with attractive and compact packaging making them the ideal gift but also the perfect storage for the canvas and wool when working.

Making your own cross stitch wall hangings couldn’t be easier
If you purchased a kit to make your cross stitch wall hanging, it probably came with a piece of backing fabric to finish the project. If you’re designing your own wall hanging, you’ll need to pick out fabric that looks nice with the stitched piece and with the rest of your décor.

The backing fabric serves as a kind of border for your cross stitch design, so a little of it will show (or a lot, if you use it as a real border). It’s worth it to spend some time to find a fabric that you like.

Cut your fabric a little bit bigger than the size you want your wall hanging to be. If you want a real border, leave a couple of inches all the way around. Fold over the edges of the fabric so that the raw edges are inside. Ironing the edges flat and straight will make this much easier.

Use your sewing machine if you want to sew about three and a half sides together, with the right sides together so that the proper sides will be showing when you turn it inside out. Stitch the rest closed by hand. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can do this all by hand.

Add two pieces of ribbon to the top of the cross stitch wall hanging by tacking the ribbon to the back of the wall hanging. You could also sew the ribbon into the seam at the top of the wall hanging. Tie these two pieces together in a bow at the top and hang as you like. You can also use just one piece of ribbon, string or other hanging material looped over the top of the wall hanging. Enjoy your new piece of wall art!

Brian Yates Pip cross stitch wallpaper
If you don’t want to make your own cross stitch wall pattern but want to incorporate the cross stitch pattern into the home, adding a contemporary twist then I highly recommend Pip cross stitch wallpaper by Brian Yates. Metallic inks are used throughout this wallpaper as well as matt inks. This wallpaper is also raised to give the effect of real stitches. Perfect washable surface, so can be used in a child’s bedroom as well as in a kitchen. Five colourways to choose from - I adore the pale pink cross stitch with a white back ground. Available at http://www.interiors-europe.co.uk/ or for more details http://www.brian-yates.co.uk/

Love to know more crafts
I came across another fantastic website jam-packed with information on how to get into this folk hobby. http://www.lovetoknow.com/ Click onto crafts for free patterns, tips, fun projects and help with your favourite crafting hobbies. Whether you’re interested in knitting, crochet, beading, the website has tons of perfect projects to satisfy your crafting desires. And since there’s nothing more enjoyable than family craft time, there are plenty of wonderful ideas for quick easy projects you can do with children.

Heritage crafts is a world leader in counted cross stitch design check out there website for more details and latest news on this highly popular trend http://www.hcrafts.com/ Heritage crafts work with talented artists and produce high detailed cross stitch designs that can used as pieces of art, make a statement and have your cross stitch design beautifully framed, or incorporate it into a piece of furniture.

Hannah Coleman

Hannah Coleman is the owner of Dreamwall (wall coverings with a difference) established in 2003, Hannah is a specialist in imitation brick, stone and slate products. Hannah's passion is interior wall coverings, interior design, loves textured surfaces and reviewing the latest wall covering trends.

More pages

Page 1: It’s all about the Folklore

UK Investment property from just £34,500 High-quality student rooms in an emerging market with 10% net yield guaranteed

All you need for a beautiful bathroom - at affordable prices

UK property insurance from intasure - Click here for great deals and up to 40% risk related discount on UK & overseas insurance

Calculate how much you can earn - rent out your UK holiday home here

Holiday homes to rent - across the UK & Ireland

Advertise Your English Rental Property simple, effective and affordable marketing online!

Discounted hotel rooms in the UK - click here for Laterooms special offers