All sorts of useful stuff

• Customers Gallery - Here we have displayed photos of all of our completed designs. Some of these have been stitched by our ourselves or close friends, the rest have been kindly sent in by customers. If you have completed one of our designs, please send us a photo and we will publish it here.
• DMC Colour Chart - Not sure of what a DMC colour looks like? Well we have reproduced the DMC colour chart here so you can see the whole range at a glance.
• Conversion Charts - Not everyone likes to work in DMC. We have two conversion charts here, one From DMC to Anchor and one from Anchor to DMC.
• Newsletters - Each month we will be providing hints and tips on cross stitching, showcasing some of our great new designs and generally letting you know what's new in the world of Stitchtastic.
• DMC thread shopping checklist - When you go shopping for DMC threads, do you always end up with a list on a scrap of paper? This is what I always used to do until I got fed up with losing it or getting the wrong colour or quantity of threads.
• How to wash cross stitch once finished - Having spent sometime completing your cross stitch project, it is now the time to begin the process of preserving this piece of work. It is important to remember that as it is hand worked and your hands contain natural oils, the material will require washing to ensure that it is completely stain free.
• Tips for left handed cross stitchers - There are lots of left handed people but as they are well aware, most directions for any form of craft are aimed mainly at people that are right handed. A good guide to which hand actually holds the needle is to use your strongest hand for this purpose, that is the hand you write with.
• A guide to framing cross stitch - Having completed your piece of cross stitch and after it has been washed and ironed, it is now time to frame your cross stitch.
• How to read a counted cross stitch chart - New to cross stitch? Don't worry, below you will find an easy guide to following a cross stitch chart which will enable you to complete a beautiful piece of work.
• What Should I Cross Stitch? - It is now possible to cross stitch pictures of not only flowers and animals but practically any form of transport you can think of. Ranges of cross stitch now consist of cars of many makes and models, motor bikes, tractors, trains, ships, lorries, military vehicles and even Formula One Cars. What a super present for an avid Formula One fan - a cross stitched picture of their favourite driver's car.
• General stitching tips - There are all sorts of tips available to enhance the speed and quality of your cross stitching and some of these are listed in this article.
• Getting organised - Whether you are new to cross stitch or an avid stitcher, can you find the right coloured thread or floss quickly when you need it or are your sewing items rather mixed up? Do you hoard materials which you have purchased whilst out shopping because they might come in handy for something?
• What to do with those unfinished designs - Once you are "hooked" on cross stitching and have accomplished several beautiful pieces of work, occasionally, you tire of a project you are working on and just can't get motivated to finish it. Don't get too despondent and just throw the unfinished piece in the back of a cupboard and totally forget all about it. 
• Finding a Great Place to Stitch - Finding a great place to stitch depends on many factors, the most important one must be how much time each day you can find to stitch. Then you need to think about whether you stitch sitting down or standing at a frame, are you a television addict glued to various soaps, stitching whilst you watch, do you enjoy a quiet atmosphere or are you a fan of background music whilst you sew? Are you an occasional stitcher or do you like to spend as much time as possible stealing time away from other things to cross stitch? The list is endless and obviously a personal choice.
• Working on Black or Dark Fabrics - Cross stitch pieces worked on black or very dark fabrics look absolutely stunning when they are completed as the colours, especially the paler ones, seem to really stand out against the dark background. However, stitching on dark fabrics is totally different from working on a light background and you may find it needs some different techniques.
• How to free up more time to stitch- How do you free up more time to stitch? The answer is organisation - organising your daily schedule as well as yourself and your stitching materials to achieve the maximum amount of free time to spend on your favourite hobby of stitching.
• Cross Stitch for men - Yes, there really are men who enjoy cross stitching, admittedly they are much fewer in number than lady cross stitchers but they do exist. Most men involved with cross stitching treat it as a form of art, not particularly sewing, however, men are as capable as ladies at producing a wonderful piece of cross stitch.
• Stitching for charity - There are several established non-profit making charity stitching groups all over the world supporting various charities in a number of ways.
• Visiting craft and stitch shows - Visiting craft and stitching shows can be a very enjoyable and informative day out. With a little thought and forward planning, it is also possible to achieve the most you possibly can from a visit to one of these events.
• Making Cross Stitch Cushions - What better way is there to compliment the soft furnishings in any room of the house than making cross stitch cushions? The pattern on your cushion can either be extremely busy or, perhaps, a single flower matching the main colour of your curtains. If the cushion is for a child's room, their favourite character from a book would look amazing stitched in their favourite colours. The choice is endless.
• Using Waste Canvas - Using waste canvas is not difficult if you are an experienced cross stitcher and it will enable you to create a truly unique finish to a plain article of clothing. Items such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, a pocket on a jacket or a plain canvas bag can be made to look really chic.
• Cross Stitch - the next step - If you are an experienced cross stitcher who has completed numerous pictures, tablecloths, cushions, key rings and coasters, etc., you've probably inundated friends and family with cross stitched birthday gifts and Christmas cards. Maybe you would like to try a new challenge in the sewing field. How about progressing to other types of embroidery such as petit point, hardanger, crewel embroidery or maybe even beadwork?
• What If You Don't Want to Frame it - Cross stitch pictures in most rooms of the house, not sure what else you can do with your completed cross stitch pieces? There are lots of options available to you if you don't wish to frame your completed cross stitch, some of which are listed in this article.