Introducing Our Hive

It's summer stitching season, so I wanted to do some patterns that would feel super sunshine-y and cheerful! The theme I'm stitching right now is bees, so Our Hive is what happened! It's a modern cross stitch pattern that has two cute bees buzzing around a cozy little beehive with some simple flowers. I added some geometric stitching motifs that feel a little more traditional to fill in the spaces and to make the design extra fun to stitch.

Our Hive comes as a printed leaflet. The leaflet has been commercially printed on silky paper that folds to the 8.5" x 11" size. The pattern is sturdy enough that it will stand up to lots of use.

FLOSS DETAILS:

The suggested blue in this design is from Weeks Dye Works.  I wanted the background feel light and airy like the sky, and this shade just screamed "sky" to me. It has some subtle variegation that I thought was perfect! (There is a DMC alternative in the pattern for those of you that prefer that option.) Everything else in the design was stitched with DMC. I wanted the solids to "pop" a little bit amid all the airy sky-like stitches.

FABRIC DETAILS:

The piece was stitched on 14 ct Aida (Vintage Smokey White by Zweigart). What I love about this fabric is that it's neutral, but it has a lot of subtle beige mottling to give it visual texture. Bonus: it comes in other fabric types, so if Aida is not your thing, you can get the look in a different material. I buy it by the yard because it goes with almost everything!

THERE ARE KITS!

Some of you have expressed difficulty sourcing the overdyed floss, so I put together a very limited number of kits to go with this release that includes a complete floss pack (along with a few other things!) Inventory is split between the Etsy shop and this website, so you can shop where your comfort zone is. If inventory is gone in one place, check the other.

Wait, what? You say the kits have a few other things? Yes! Yes, they do. The full kits include everything I used: The pattern, floss pack with DMC and Weeks Dye Works skeins, Smokey white Aida (14ct) from Zweigart, plus the newest bee enamel needle minder...

...and I also included a few little bonus surprises to make opening (and using!) the kit extra fun.

You will need to add a hoop (if desired) and needle to stitch the design.

THERE ARE SETS:

Some of us don't need the fabric and floss, so if that's you, I also have a few Bundle and Save sets available. The sets are a simpler option than kits. They include just the pattern and needle minder—so you can treat yourself to something special and use the stash of fabric and floss you already have.

The kits are limited, and once they’re gone, they are gone—but the individual pattern can be found at Cherry Hill Stitchery and through shops. The bee minder is also available separately.* *I have a pretty healthy supply of the bees on hand, but when stock of enamel minders are gone, this style of minder will be retired. I'm able to price our kits and sets lower than when the individual components are sold separately, because when I package them together there is less for the warehouse to store and handle. That means lower costs for me, and I pass those savings onto you. I hope you enjoy!

I'd love to cheer your projects in our Facebook group, so when you stitch these happy little bees jump on in and post your progress! Happy stitching, my friends!