I’ve been working on a cross-stitched saddle pad. I’ve been wanting to try one for ages, but I always forget to buy the fabric when I’m at the craft store. I think I need to start making lists of what I need before shopping. Yes.
Anyway, I found some of that fabric while at the thrift store the other day. It came with a kit, so you can make your very own sign that says “Just Say No to laundry, dusting, vacuuming, washing, housework, cooking, cleaning and ironing.” That has nothing to do with this post at all, I just found it amusing.
But yes! Thrift store find, as I didn’t have the heart to drag my sister across town to Joanns. Lazy, no?
So far, so good, but I’ve come across a couple things to keep in mind, if one of you wants to try this yourself:
– The floss gets weaker every time it goes through the fabric. Eventually it will fray and break apart. This could be prevented by using small lengths of thread instead of long ones. (something I haven’t gotten myself to do yet)
– Beware of cats!
-Plan a pattern beforehand (check) and plan the colors beforehand, marking them on your pattern. This is to prevent stitching an entire line in the wrong color, which takes twice as long to undo. I’m using markers on the grid paper that came with the kit. 😉 Grid paper of any sort would probably be easiest for pattern making, so you know exactly which squares are what.
I’m enjoying working on this so far. Hopefully it will be big enough and hopefully I’ll have enough floss in the right colors!
Desktop Stables 
Hi there!
I’m working on my first cross-stitched saddle pad too. I saw that you were hoping it would be big enough, and I thought I’d mention that the standard size when working in 14 count seems to be 44 stitches by 49 stitches. Hope that helps!
Ohh between you and Becca I have to try this now!! I think i will run to Michael’s now :). This may be a silly question, but I have only cross stitched when I was really young. What do you do when you’re done? Like how do you cut it out?
You and Becca both chose great colors!
Aww, thanks Emily!
I’ve never finished a saddle pad before, but I think I’ll trim the edges to about a centimetre, fold them under and iron them flat, and then sew all the way around the pad with white thread, one stitch in from the edge. I’ll probably glue white fleece to the back too 🙂
That’s what I was thinking of doing as well. 🙂 I’ve never finished a saddle pad either… I’m making this up as I go! 😀
I am glad you guys are being the Guinea pigs ;). I went to Michaels and picked up some 14 count yesterday. So let me know how it goes!
Run your floss lightly through beeswax then heat the wax into the floss by running the waxed floss through your hands. That’s what saddlers do to keep the thread strong and slick. Hope this helps.