A Clear Focus- Settling into my Niche

I am right in the middle of my summer break, which makes this the perfect time to reflect on the direction of my business. How wonderful it is to finally find my niche—that little corner of the needlework world that feels completely right, as though it was made for me.

Over the past few months, I found myself naturally gravitating towards it. While I have loved exploring different embroidery techniques and expanding my skills, cross-stitch is where my heart truly feels at home. So I have decided to focus A Dutch Stitcher Design entirely on creating original and reproduction cross-stitch patterns. That also means saying goodbye to upcycling pre-loved clothing with hand embroidery. As much as I enjoyed creating those one-of-a-kind pieces, focusing on cross-stitch design simply feels like the most natural fit.

Since making that decision, I have been busy designing, stitching, and creating. Several reproduction patterns have already been added to my Etsy shop, and I could not be more proud of them. But that's not all—I am currently working on two small original designs that I hope to release later this year.

One of the greatest joys of running this little business is that I have the perfect excuse to go thrift shopping for antique and vintage needlework. Over the past few weeks, I have spent far too much time browsing Vinted, where I discovered a stunning clutch bag and an absolutely beautiful decorative box. Neither piece features cross-stitch—they are both worked in petit point—but I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new magnifying glass. As soon as it arrives, I cannot wait to study every tiny stitch and transform these beautiful vintage treasures into patterns that stitchers all over the world will be able to enjoy.

I hope you'll enjoy following along as A Dutch Stitcher Design continues to grow. There are plenty more reproduction patterns to discover, original designs waiting to be stitched, and undoubtedly many more vintage treasures to uncover along the way. Whether you've been here from the beginning or have only just found my little corner of the cross-stitch world, I'm so grateful you're here. I hope you'll join me on this creative journey as I continue to celebrate the beauty of cross-stitch—one stitch, one pattern, and one story at a time.