This was such a nice project to work on – something imagined, created, photographed, and edited just for this blog. I hadn't realized how much I missed crafting for the sake of sharing here until I was all wrapped up in it again.
So anyway: thank you for reading! Thank you for giving me such a good reason to do things like this.
When my wife Kristie and I were in Virginia last month, we visited one of my favorite thrift stores and I picked up some larger embroidery hoops than I'm used to (8"), thinking I'd find a project for them eventually. And this one works!
This project combines two of my favorite tools: cross stitch and iron-on transfers. It's a pretty way to keep track of my travels in the United States, although a map of any country could be used (I have dreams of someday doing a worldwide map, but I'll need a bigger hoop!).
You will need:
- An 8" or larger embroidery hoop (I wouldn't recommend going smaller; you might risk losing tiny states like Rhode Island, which even in this project is only one stitch! Sorry RI!)
- Iron-on transfer paper
- Cross stitch fabric (I use 14-count Aida)
- Embroidery thread
- Tapestry needle
Start by finding a map of the country you'd like to use – just a black and white outline of the states or territories.
Flip the image using Photoshop or other image software (see above how it's backwards – very important!), and print on the iron-on transfer paper.
Follow the iron-on transfer paper instructions to transfer the image to your cross-stitch fabric.
Start filling in the states you've visited with stitches!
I decided to only do the states where I've spent at least one night. Despite a long road trip back and forth to New Orleans and many drives to Virginia, just passing through so many states didn't feel like a real visit, you know?
The map didn't end up looking quite as empty as I feared it would – but I still have a lot of traveling to do in my home country!
I thought a lot about My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem while working on this project – especially the quote, "[Traveling by road] is right up there with life-threatening emergencies and truly mutual sex as a way of being fully alive in the present."
I'm excited to add more states next year with our baby boy in tow (thinking specifically of Tennessee for a much-anticipated wedding in the spring!).
Let me know if you give this project a try! I was imagining it could make a good holiday gift for a crafty friend (transfer the map to the fabric and stretch it in the hoop, and wrap it along with a needle and 50 different thread colors) or a way to work with a child on their geography and fine motor skills simultaneously. It was definitely a geography refresher for me, and gave Kristie and me a chance to talk all about the trips we want to take.
PS – My cross stitch patterns on Etsy.
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