A simple, beginner-friendly list of cross stitch starter essentials—fabric, floss, needles, hoops, scissors, and a few tidy upgrades that make stitching easier.
The Best Cross Stitch Supplies (Beginner to Advanced)
A curated guide to the best cross stitch supplies—starter essentials, project bags, organizers, floss storage, needles, fabric tools, and lighting. I share my top picks in each category plus links to deeper “best of” posts so you can shop exactly what you need without scrolling forever.
Cross Stitch 101: How To Thread Your Needle Using the Loop Start
The loop start is a simple, knot-free way to begin stitching when using an even number of strands. It creates a secure stitch with a clean front and back.
DMC Color Catalog
Browse the full DMC color range with a fast, sortable table that includes DMC numbers, color names, hex codes, and RGB values. Search, jump by color family, and click any value to copy.
DMC Floss Color Matcher
Finding the perfect DMC floss color can be tricky when you’re working from a digital palette or inspiration image. This DMC Color Matcher helps you convert any HEX or RGB color into the closest matching DMC embroidery floss shades—so you can stitch with confidence and get results that look just right.
Cross-Stitch Fabric Size & Picture Frame Calculator
Not sure what size fabric to buy or which frame will fit your cross-stitch? This free Cross-Stitch Fabric & Frame Calculator does the math for you, helping you plan margins, framing, and finished size before you ever pick up your needle.
DMC Floss Skein Calculator
Not sure how much DMC floss to buy? This cross-stitch skein calculator estimates skeins needed by fabric count, strand count, and stitches per color, with a built-in buffer to help prevent thread shortages.
French Macarons
Crisp, delicate shells with a soft, chewy center — these classic vanilla macarons use the stable Italian meringue method for consistently smooth, bakery-style results.
Greek Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
This is the traditional way Greeks make roast lamb – cooked until tender, half braised in a garlic lemon-flavored liquid that transforms into a luscious sauce.
Seared Scallops with Brown Butter and Lemon Pan Sauce
Simple and delicious lemon buttery scallops. Tangy and just yummy.
Sauvignon Blanc-Steamed Mussels with Garlic Toasts
Always a staple for our feast of the seven fishes Christmas Eve dinner, this classic white wine muscle recipe is delicious as an appetizer or a full meal.
Steamed Lobster
Many are intimidated when it comes to cooking live lobster but, I’ll be honest with you, I think it’s easier than a lot of cuisines, and steamed lobster is no exception and maybe the easiest, elegant dinner of them all.
Pot Roast
There is nothing like the smell of a pot roast, it’s the ultimate comfort food. I love putting it in the oven in the morning and having a delicious dinner later that night.
Brown Butter Creamy Apple Pie
A crumbly brown sugar streusel tops a classic apple pie made easy in a frozen pie crust.
Classic Seafood Paella
An icon of Spain’s cultural identity, paella done right is a truly spectacular dish: a thin blanket of saffron-scented rice with a crackly, crunchy bottom crust, studded with fresh seafood.
Blackened Tilapia with Radish and Cucumber Salsa
This spicy dish works well in summer or winter. The cooling flavors of the salsa help balance the heat from the fish.
Coq au Vin
Coq au vin is a French chicken stew in which chicken thighs are braised in a red wine sauce with bacon, mushrooms, and herbs. It may sound fancy, but it’s really not difficult to make at home.
Ham, Egg, and Cheese Brunch Cups
These little beauties are pretty on a brunch platter and yummy in the tummy.
Italian Meatballs
This Italian meatball recipe is very easy to make, and since we skip the messy step of pan-frying the meatballs, it becomes downright simple.
Balsamic Bolognese over Zoodles
The spicey kick with the balsamic twang gives this meal full of flavor with very few calories.
Paper Plane
This is my current favorite cocktail. Not too sweet and just perfect all year round.
Chicken with Artichoke Pan Sauce
Robust Italian flavors—piney rosemary, peppery pancetta, zingy lemon—make homey chicken breasts sing in this classic Italian chicken dish.
Dijon & Balsamic Chicken Sheet Pan Meal
This Sheet Pan Dijon Balsamic Chicken and Veggies makes the perfect weeknight dinner that’s healthy, delicious, and easily made all on one pan in under 30 minutes!
Overnight Oats with Flax & Chia Seeds
Healthy, satisfying overnight oats with flax and chia seeds can be made in five minutes. Considering how low-calorie they are, they will stick to your ribs.