Tips, tricks, guides, reviews, round ups, free cross stitch patterns, news and more from the Lord Libidan team.
I don my headgear, pick up my budgie and walk headlong into my stitching cave to mine... wait... to cross stitch! My headlamp sure makes me feel like a miner, but in reality, it's a tool I wish I had sooner. Today we talk about why getting yourself a headlamp might be a great little…
This post was originally in XStitch Magazine Issue 10: Mixtape 2, and has been adapted. For me, cross stitch projects have always gone the same way. You pick a pattern (or make your own), you get all your threads arranged, buy the fabric, cut it to size, put it in a frame, and start.…
Every year we give our estimates on the next year in cross stitch, and whilst our 2020 and 2021 guesses were right no the money (baring a virus keeping us at home), we're really starting to see the impact of people sat at home under various lockdowns and next year looks to be a very…
This post was originally in XStitch Magazine Issue 10: Namaste, and has been adapted. A Namaskar is a greeting. You put your hands together, bow your head slightly and say ‘namaste’. It’s mostly a sign of respect and has no real translation into actual words. People have tried, in fact, many have, but they…
Back in 2017 we were the first people to talk about the "new" DMC threads (although that was 5 years ago now), in fact we were 3 days ahead of the official announcement! It's not that surprising then that we've also spoken about the DMC Etoile threads before launch, and the Diamant threads too. But…
Not everyone has all the DMC colors, and whilst I would suggest everyone joins the journey to owning all threads, sometimes it just isn't viable. But how exactly would you go about replacing threads if you need to? Why Replace Colors? I guess we should start by discussing the possible reasons we might need replacement…
This post was originally in XStitch Magazine Issue 8: The Munchies, and has been adapted. I don’t know many people that don’t love food. You might be the type to crave a Thai, to devour a roast, or even to suck a boiled sweet. I have no doubt that reading this mag you’re already…
Christmas is nearly upon us, and we all know how hard it is to buy gifts for hobbies we don't know much about. So here's an updated holiday gift guide on what to buy the cross stitcher in your life. They're arranged by price from lowest to highest. Cross Stitch Gifts Under $25/£20 Aida…
If you choose to wash your cross stitch there is a need to dry it. This drying gives you a chance to block out your cross stitch (or pinning as its sometimes called) and ensures no stretching, warping, or folds can be seen in your finished project. But it also sucks. You have to get…
This post was originally in XStitch Magazine Issue 9: Orient, and has been adapted. When I first heard about this issue’s theme, I was giddy with joy. I love all kinds of Asian embroidery, and with a wealth of stories from Asia, such as the origin of the rumor that the back of your…