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    Home » DIY And Crafts

    How To Cross Stitch A Metal Strainer

    Published by Pam Kessler | 814 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article. - 15 Comments

    I'm not sure whether to call this embroidery or cross stitch or what?

    I would lean toward cross stitch, but I'm not using traditional aida cross stitching cloth to make it.

    But then again, I am using DMC floss and I am making big old x's???

    So after much deliberation .  .  .  cross stitch it is.

    Jump To

      • Basic Cross Stitch Supplies
      • Tips For Cross Stitching On Mesh
      • FREE Bee Cross Stitch Pattern
      • Non-Traditional Items To Cross Stitch
      • More Upcycles From The Thrift Store Decor Team

    How to cross stitch a metal strainer

    Last month when I showed you some of my Vintage Garden Tools Repurposed For Gardening and I included a rather large vintage strainer as an air plant holder, I also had an idea for how to use some of the other smaller vintage strainers I had found.

    Mesh vintage kitchen strainers

    Why not cross stitch a design on them!

    I had originally planned on making a bee design on one strainer and a beehive design on the other strainer. I had two of them so why not make a matching pair, right?

    But I miscalculated how long it would take me to whip up the first one. Time got the better of me and I decided I'd just do the bee for now.

    So no beehive for you.

    Basic Materials Needed For Cross Stitching

    Cross stitch supplies

    • Item To Cross Stitch (JUMP TO list of non-traditional items to cross stitch)
    • A Cross Stitch Pattern (JUMP TO bee pattern below)
    • DMC Thread (black, yellow and white)
    • Needles
    • Scissors

    Bee cross stitch pattern

    Tips For Cross Stitching On Metal or Mesh

    Since the holes were fairly large on my metal strainer, I used the entire 6 strands of floss instead of splitting it down to 2 or 3 strands. I wanted the bee to be beefy enough to be seen and not something you just casually notice when up close to it.

    I used a size 3 Embroidery Needle which has an eye large enough to accommodate 6 strands, yet small enough to fit through the screening. You could also use a tapestry needle if you want a blunter end, I used the embroidery ones because there was a little thing called a pandemic going on and I didn't have a lot of needle choices at the house.

    Since the mesh on a strainer is curved, it's nearly impossible to make your second part of the x like you normally would, by poking down and poking back up in the same swipe. You'll most likely have to poke down and poke back up in two strokes. Unless I'm the only one who used to do one swipe to speed up the process and if that's the case you can just ignore me.

    Knots may be an issue. It is hard to get a good knot on a curved object, but just try to hide them as best you can. And since mesh is see through, you won't be able to keep your thread running from one like colored area to the next unless they are literally side by side. Basically, you will have to knot off more than usual.

    And the number one odd thing is instead of poking the needle through holes and covering over squares like you do in aida cloth, you are covering up empty space with your x's.  You can see my diagram below.

    how to cross stitch on mesh screen

    For some reason this was very counter-intuitive to me and I got lost a few times before I got the hang of it.

    I guess you could just put x's where the wires intersect and call it a day, but I didn't feel the coverage was very good that way.

    FREE Bee Cross Stitch Pattern

    You can  Get Your PDF of Bee Cross Stitch Pattern HERE

    FREE bee cross stitch pattern

    Thrift store decor

    Fun Non-Traditional Items To Cross Stitch

    • Kitchen Strainers, Colanders and Sifters
    • Tennis and Badminton Rackets
    • Splatter Screens ( Kim from The Kim Six Fix shows how she did similar stitching on a splatter screen from Dollar Tree in her post How To Stitch A Sieve, Strainer or Splatter Shield.)
    • Window Screening (think chippy old wooden screen door)
    • Caning on a chair
    • Pegboard
    • Really, anything that has a grid pattern!

    Have you cross stitched any non-traditional items I can add to my list?

    Cross stitch kitchen strainer

    More Repurposing Ideas From The Thrift Store Decor Team

    And an extra treat today, it's Thrift Store Decor Wednesday here so pop on over to the other bloggers and get some ideas of how to repurpose thrift store finds!


    Petticoat Junktion - Old Birdhouse Makeover

    Domestically Speaking - Farmhouse Craft Organizer

    My Repurposed Life - Thrift Store Doll Rocking Chair Makeover

    Our Southern Home - Horse Statue Makeover

    Sadie Seasongoods - American Flag Decor In Buffalo Plaid

    House Of Hawthornes - Bumble Bee Inspired Makeover (that's me)

    Creative ways to makeover thrift store finds

    Other Posts You May Enjoy:

    25 Upcycled Garden Ideas

    How To Turn A Vintage Thermos Into A Lamp

    How To Make A Penny Bowling Ball (For Yard Art)

    « Repurposed Sink Planter
    Homemade Natural Mosquito Spray »
    487 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Becky Rizzonelli

      June 10, 2020 at 6:29 am

      This arrangement is absolutely darling. What is yellow bowl on top of scales? A coffee cup?

      Reply
    2. Tania

      June 10, 2020 at 8:04 am

      Oh my goodness, that's SO cute! Thanks for the tips too! I have a rattan chair back that I'm going to try cross-stitching soon.

      Tania

      Reply
    3. Vintage Quilter

      June 10, 2020 at 9:10 am

      Thank you for the BEE Pattern, I love it!

      Reply
    4. Karen Steinmann

      June 10, 2020 at 9:56 am

      Are you still doing a newsletter? Changed my email address and now don't receive them. Loved your insight and comments and decorating tips.

      Reply
    5. gail

      June 10, 2020 at 10:12 am

      I love it! I'm not generally a fan of BEE stuff, but this metal strainer is adorable! It makes me think I should do something similar for my camper decor.

      Pinned!

      gail

      Reply
    6. Sandi

      June 10, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      That is so adorable! I love the bee theme. Hugs,

      Reply
    7. Sue Pagels

      June 10, 2020 at 3:05 pm

      Well, isn't that just the cutest? The whole vignette is adorable (did I spell that right????) Once again I love your posts the best! You always have the cutest things!

      Reply
    8. Our Hopeful Home

      June 10, 2020 at 4:02 pm

      Oh my gosh I LOVE this! I haven't done cross-stitch in years but it's all the rage again and I'm hankering to try it. Never would have thought to use a vintage strainer. Thanks for the inspiration! xo Kathleen

      Reply
    9. Sarah Ramberg

      June 11, 2020 at 6:43 am

      That is ADORABLE!! I love anything with bees on it so this is right up my alley. Just perfection.

      Reply
    10. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

      June 13, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      How adorable! I would never have thought of doing this...now I'm going to be looking for things to cross stitch!

      Reply
    11. Mandy Williams

      June 18, 2020 at 11:19 am

      My strainer is a bit bigger & I’ve seen pretty flowers but I’m loving that bee! I might have room to stitch both!

      Reply
    12. Kathy

      June 20, 2020 at 6:56 am

      LOVE it! I’ve cross stitched on a old wooden window screen, but I’ve got a vintage tennis racket tucked away...you’re giving me ideas...!

      Reply
    13. María

      June 22, 2020 at 3:01 am

      this is SO LOVELY and original i'll have to give it a try. I'm in love. have a good day!

      Reply
    14. Christy @ Our Southern Home

      June 22, 2020 at 7:46 am

      This is darling and perfectly vintage! Think I now need to learn to cross-stitch!!

      Reply
    15. Maryann

      June 23, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      Oh my gosh! How clever are you!!!! That is adorable!

      Reply

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