Lately, my studio table has been completely taken over by tiny mushrooms, sleepy foxes, and a lot of tea (for me, not the hedgehog). I’ve been deep in the woods—at least creatively—working on my newest cross-stitch collection: Woodland Whimsy. This series has been a slow and cozy process, the kind of stitching that pairs perfectly with a rainy afternoon and a comfort show playing in the background. I started with the fox (always the fox), sketching him curled beside some spotted mushrooms. I knew right away he’d set the tone for the whole collection—calm, a little curious, and full of warmth. From there, the other woodland friends came to life one at a time:
- The squirrel gave me a bit of trouble (that tail shape took three redraws).
- The owl went through two color palettes before I found one that felt earthy and soft.
- And the hedgehog in a teacup? That one made me smile from the start—I knew I wanted something a little quirky to round out the set.
Some of the most fun has come from testing the stitches. I’ve been playing with scale, keeping each design under 60x60 stitches so they stay beginner-friendly and quick to complete. It’s always exciting to watch the first few blocks of color come together into something recognizable. Right now, I’m finalizing the color keys, tidying up the charts, and taking final listing photos (which means lots of natural light chasing). My workspace is a mess of thread scraps, pattern drafts, and sticky notes with scribbled DMC numbers—but I kind of love it. If you’ve ever wondered what the design process looks like behind Petal Stitch Studio, this is it: lots of tea, lots of thread, and a whole lot of joy in every stitch.
More soon, The Cozy Stitcher🌿