Cross Stitch and Craft Cafe 2026 - come on in and join us!!

Coxy11

Hello everyone and welcome to our shiny new Cross Stitch and Craft Cafe 2026 thread!

Please do join us in sharing your makes, your successes and your WIPs - we love to see what everyone is working on.

My 2026 list to follow!
Coxy xx

Coxy11

My list for 2026:

• Sewn laptop cover – have had to buy a new laptop for work and need to keep it damage free. I have enough fabric in my stash even if I patchwork some fat quarters. Just need to measure and sew it.
• Christmas Card Exchange 2026 – getting this one on the boil early so I don’t get caught out!
• Knitted/crocheted post box topper for village post box – am in two minds whether to attempt this. Will give it some thought as some of the villagers are a bit cliquey and might moan. Have measurements and enough stash to complete it.
• Sort through stash and be ruthless about what to keep/donate to charity. I did do a sort through before we moved a year ago, but I still have too much.
• Take a class or visit a crafting event at least quarterly during 2026. I have already booked a trip to the Stitch Festival at the Business Design Centre, Islington for March. I also have a felting class booked for end of June so that represents Q1 and Q2 of 2026. Thinking I might go to Yarndale this year in September, but will need to check costings and logistics as it’s a fair old way for me to travel from Kent. Q4 will probably see me tackling a local wreath making class or similar.
• Haberdashery Shop - will this be the year I finally face my demons and pick this up again? It’s currently languishing in a project bag with the magazine chart and threads. If you remember it’s a very busy design and I’ve gone wrong – am about ¼ of the way through. Should I just start again I wonder like I did with the Chicory Fairy (I actually re-bought the kit for that one and marked the chart as I went).

More to follow I’m sure!

nmm

Ah, we cross posted, haha.

Using up current supplies is my only aim, currently making crochet flowers for a waterfall display.

Auti

Hello thank you so much for this thread  - will post later what I am in the middle of

Sazzy17

Hi 👋🏻 I'm a knitter/crocheter with dabbling on cross-stitch, pyrography & engraving.  The latter 2 being in the "ooooooh shiny & new" stage so I suppose my aims for 2026 are:

1. Only have a max of 3 knitting/crocheting projects on the go & finish them in a more timely fashion!  I tend to switch very easily & end up with bits of projects in various bags around the house.

2. Go to 1 workshop per quarter - nicked from Coxy but I really like this one, I'll be searching today.

3. Practice my pyrography & engraving - I have the tools but haven't dedicated much time to actually honing the skills to create nice designs & textures.  I bought one of those bevel pens with multiple bits & it's fab to work with, I just need to get better at it!

Can't wait to hear about your crafting creations xx

Auti

HI @ Sazzy17 - your pyrography sounds good. What are you planning to engrave - will it still be wood or is it different - it sounds very interesting

Coxy11

Hi all and welcome @Sazzy17 good to see you here. I too am intrigued by the pyrography. Not sure I like my handwriting well enough - do you use templates or is it freestyle? Please share pics if you can!!

I can relate to WIP’s in bags with resources although mine are in 2 x trunks hidden away! Out of sight out of mind is a problem though and I often surprise myself when looking for something else! 

The use up stash making flowers sounds great @nmm. Will this be another yarn bomb display? 

I drove past the village postbox yesterday and it started me thinking - I’d like to list some ideas for it and maybe work on the component parts. We are surrounded by orchards here in Kent, so I thought maybe apples and cherries could feature. Also hops maybe (not sure I’ve ever seen a hop crochet pattern!) but could just stick to Spring flowers for the first one (daffodils/snowdrops). Anyway, food for thought. Would have to install it under the cover of darkness lol! 

Have a good day all
Coxy xx

Auti

I am one lucky person as I have been given this for my birthday I am still at the stage of looking at the contents and reading the many pages of instructions! Also to say tomorrow is last chemo and then a couple of weeks of radiotherapy and I am all finished - really excited and looking forward to 2026  

Hope everyone is ok  

I have to finish off a mini cross stitch I got for christmas (bit more back stitch) which I will turn into a card for Christmas and I still have to finish another small flower and flower pot.

Charly27

Hi Auti just popped in to wish you all the very best for your last chemo and radiotherapy to come. Lovely gift to receive (happy belated birthday BTW) x

Auti

Thank you @Charly27

Coxy11

That’s a lovely gift to receive @Auti - many happy returns xx I’m glad to hear your treatment is nearly done - do you get to ring the bell? 

I also love the little Christmas design - is that a Stitchlets design? 

I only had a couple of hours of work this morning so decided to make myself a laptop pouch/cover using materials from my stash. I visited Colchester in September and there was a fabulous remnants shop so I chose two half metre pieces from those I bought, plus some wadding, and had a go! I’ve said before that I’m not confident with my machine, but it turned out okay - a bit wonky along the top stitching (due to the bulk I think) but good enough for what I needed. Laptop is a self purchase for new (very) part time role and I just needed to protect it when not in use/travelling. It’s a bit snug - should have allowed a bit extra for seams - but it’s okay. Project #1 done!



Hope everyone is doing okay?
Coxy xx