Rediscover your love of cross stitch with just 5 minutes a day. Practical tips for getting back into stitching, plus free November patterns to inspire you.
I’ve been cross stitching for nearly fifty years, and for most of that time, it was just part of my routine. Lately though? Not so much. Projects sit unfinished, fabric stays folded, and I’ve gotten really good at excuses. “I’ll start tomorrow,” I tell myself, but tomorrow turns into weeks.
Recently, I asked myself a simple question: What if I stitched for just five minutes a day?
That small thought made me smile—because I knew the truth. Most days, I’d just be getting warmed up at the five-minute mark and would probably keep stitching much longer. But five minutes felt doable. It felt like a way to begin again without pressure.
Why Does Five Minutes Work?
Five minutes works because it’s too small to argue with. You can’t tell yourself you don’t have time for five minutes. You don’t need to clear the table or find the perfect lighting—you just sit down and start.
And here’s the thing: once you’re actually stitching, it’s easy to keep going. Your fingers remember what to do, and before you know it, the thread is gliding through fabric, one stitch at a time.
For me, those few minutes have become a daily reset. They’re a reminder that you don’t need big blocks of time to do something you enjoy.
How to Make It Easy to Start
If you want to bring your stitching routine back, set yourself up for success:
- Keep it visible. Leave your hoop and floss somewhere you can see it—on the end table, next to your chair, or wherever you drink your morning coffee.
- Thread your needle before you stop. Ending a session with your needle ready to go makes starting again effortless.
- Mark your spot. A simple slip of paper or magnetic ruler keeps you from wasting time trying to remember where you left off.
- Celebrate small wins. Even a few finished stitches count. They add up faster than you think.
Pro Tip: Five minutes a day means thirty-five minutes a week—over two and a half hours a month. That’s real progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it at first.
When Life Gets in the Way
There will still be days when life pulls harder than your thread. That’s okay. This isn’t about streaks or guilt—it’s about staying connected to something that matters to you.
Look, when I’m stitching, I’m in a better mood. Period. That’s reason enough to make it happen. Sometimes cross stitch gets pushed aside, but when I pick it back up, things feel right again.
So here’s to getting back to it—me and anyone else trying to reclaim this part of their routine. We don’t need hours or perfect conditions. We just need five minutes and the willingness to start.
Patterns That Inspire Me This Month
I love sharing patterns that designers have graciously offered for free. This month’s five capture the spirit of gratitude and creativity I’ve been feeling:
- Heartstring Samplery: Grateful, Thankful, Blessed
- Heartstring Samplery: Thankful Every Day
- Ellen Maurer-Stroh: November Birth Flower – Chrysanthemum
- Punker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching: Turkey Creek Manor
- Fat Quarter Shop: Grateful, Thankful, Blessed (a completely different design from Heartstring Samplery’s)
Each one feels like a small celebration of the season—thankfulness, beauty, and the comfort of tradition. Whether you stitch one or all five, they’re a lovely reminder of how generous our stitching community truly is.
Final Thread
So if you’ve lost your stitching rhythm like I did, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Just pick up your needle and give yourself five minutes.
Because five minutes isn’t about productivity—it’s about getting back to something that’s always been part of who you are.