Do-It-Yourself Stitch People โย Mix-and-Match Cross-Stitch Portrait Pattern Book
Do-It-Yourself Stitch People โย Mix-and-Match Cross-Stitch Portrait Pattern Book
Create heirloom-quality family portraits in cross-stitch! This comprehensive 192-page guide walks you through every step of designing, stitching, and framing personalized Stitch People portraits.
Note: We are in the process of reducing our inventory to convert to a full print-on-demand model which will reduce costs and make our books easier to get internationally. As such, physical books in our physical warehouse are on sale, and our digital patterns are not on sale. I know it's a little odd, but there's method to the madness. Thanks for understanding! -Lizzy & Spencer
What You Can Create with Stitch People:
๐ Heirloom-quality gifts for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays & life events
๐ Cotton anniversary gifts (perfect for the 2nd anniversary!)
๐ Hand-made holiday presents that become family treasures
๐ผ๏ธ Personalized family portraits capturing your loved ones
๐ธ Memory keepsakes immortalizing special moments
โจ Bite-sized projects instead of overwhelming cross-stitch behemoths
What's Included in the Book:
๐ 192 pages of comprehensive instruction & patterns
๐จ Mix-and-match templates for endless customization
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Complete family coverage: women, men, babies, children (multiple sizes)
๐ถ 36 dog breeds + generic patterns & customization tips
๐ฑ 15 cat breeds + kittens & generic patterns
๐ฐ Small pets: rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds & more
๐ Clothing & accessories: countless options including wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, canes
๐ค 16 alphabet/font styles for personalization
๐จ DMC color recommendations for skin tones, hair colors & denim
๐ How-to tutorials: special stitches, curly hair, lace, patterned clothing, tattoos & more
๐ผ๏ธ Framing tutorials for frame & hoop options
๐ธ 90+ example photos from Stitch People fans for inspiration
๐ Excellent usability: color-coded tabs, detailed table of contents, glossary, blank design pages
Perfect For All Skill Levels:
The 2nd Edition is designed for complete beginners to advanced stitchers. Whether you're learning cross-stitch for the first time or re-learning what your grandma taught you decades ago, this book provides everything you need to create beautiful, personalized portraits, including a "Cross-Stitch 101" section at the start of the book and an overview of necessary cross-stitching materials.
Why Buy the Book Instead of Going Solo?
Benefit from the experiences of thousands of cross-stitchers who have created Stitch People portraits! After designing over 500 unique portraits, I've compiled all my tips and tricks into one easy-to-use book. The instructions, patterns, and techniques will save you hours of trial and error, giving you an incredible foundation for your creativity.
Book Specifications:
Format: Physical printed book
Pages: 192 full-color pages
Size: 8.5"W x 11"H
Binding: Spiral bound (lays flat for easy use!)
Cover: Matte-finish
Author: Lizzy Dabczynski-Bean
ISBN: 978-0-9988236-2-1
No 3rd Edition Planned
Buy with confidence! There are no plans to create or release a 3rd Edition. Any additional content will be released in supplemental pattern collections or pattern books. This is the definitive guide!
Dog Breeds Included (36 breeds):
Airedale Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Beagle, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Blood Hound, Border Collie, Boxer, Brittany Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chow Chow, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Corgi, Dachshund, Doberman Pinscher, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Labradoodle, Mastiff, Miniature Schnauzer, Pomeranian, Poodle (Large & Small), Rottweiler, Samoyed, Shetland, Shih Tzu, Siberian Husky, Yorkshire Terrier, plus "Generic" patterns.
Includes a complete section on customizing pet patterns to create the perfect match for your pooch!
Cat Breeds Included (15 breeds):
Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Bengal, Birman, British Shorthair, Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest, Ragdoll, Persian, Manx, Siamese, Sphynx, plus Kittens and Generic patterns.
Includes a complete section on customizing pet patterns to create the perfect match for your cat!
International Shipping Available:
Available anywhere in the world! We accept payments from all countries. All transactions are in USD at current exchange rates. Shipping is calculated in real-time at checkout.
Note for EU & UK customers: VAT is NOT paid during checkout. Additional fees or duties may be incurred. Contact your country's customs officials before purchase to understand potential additional costs.
International orders may take several weeks for delivery. Any customs fees are your responsibility.
Free Bonus Resources:
Don't forget our FREE Print-It-Yourself Design Journal with blank grids for hand-designing patterns, compatible with our Traceable Acrylic Character Templates.
Watch the DIY Book Overview:
Ready to create heirloom family portraits? Click Add to Cart and start your Stitch People journey today! ๐งต
Utah Warehouse
Some of our books are still in stock at our warehouse in Salt Lake City, UT. If you order a book in stock at the warehouse (indicated on the product page) it'll typically ship within 1-2 business days via the shipping method you choose at checkout. Tracking numbers will be sent out once your package hits the mail stream!
Shipping Rates
Shipping rates for products at our Utah warehouse are calculated in real-time at checkout. Within the US, books can be shipped via USPS Media Mail, often in the $5-6 range (though it does take 8-10 business days to arrive). For customers not in the United States, shipping rates do not include any customs/tariffs/duties due when your package arrives in your country, and any such additional fees are the responsibility of the customer.
Print on Demand
Some of our books (and soon, all!) are part of our new Print on Demand program! This means the books you order will be printed and shipped from near where you live, anywhere in the world! This takes 2-3 weeks, and you can use the PDF version in the meantime โบ๏ธ This makes it cheaper for our customers outside the US, and simplifies our logistics so we can keep prices low! If the closest printer to you is outside your country, any duties/customs/tariffs imposed on your order are the responsibility of the customer.
PDF (Digital) Products
Once you complete checkout, you'll get immediate access to any PDF products in your order! And you'll have lifetime access to these files ๐
If you're unhappy with your order, send us an email at hello@stitchpeople.com and we'll make it right! Refunds are given on a case-by-case basis, and we're generous with store credit and exchanges!
Got questions? We've got answers ๐
How soon will my order arrive?
Any PDF products in your order will be available for download immediately after you complete your purchase!
For books in our Print on Demand program, you can expect to receive your book 2-3 weeks after placing your order. Your order is printed at and shipped from the printing facility closest to you.
For books still at our warehouse in Salt Lake City, UT, books typically ship within 1-2 business days. Orders are shipped via the method you choose at checkout, and tracking information will be available once your package hits the mail stream!
Please note: Media Mail, while the cheapest option, can take 8-10 business days to arrive, and the tracking can be spotty. It's a great, reliable option, but the tracking can't always be trusted.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes! For books in our Print on Demand program, those orders are printed at and shipped from the printing facility closest to you, significantly reducing shipping times and costs!
For books still at our warehouse in Salt Lake City, UT, international shipping can be pretty hefty, but it's an option if you'd like it!
Please note: We don't collect or charge any customs duties, import taxes, or VAT (Value Added Tax) on international orders at checkout. Any such fees imposed by your countryโs customs office are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Please check with your local customs authority before you place your order if you have any questions.
What's your return policy?
If you're unhappy with your order, send us an email at hello@stitchpeople.com and we'll make it right! We offer refunds on a case-by-case basis, and we're also generous with store credit and exchanges! We're pretty chill people, so as long as you're not trying to take advantage, we'll be accommodating!
Can I sell my finished portraits?
What you CAN sell
You're more than welcome to sell finished, cross-stitch pieces you've stitched using our patterns! Yes, this means you can open a shop and take commissions to stitch someone's family ๐ If you do, we'd love a shout-out! Something like "Inspired by Stitch People" is greatโit lets people know about Stitch People without suggesting an affiliation.
What you CAN'T sell
We kindly ask that you don't sell patterns you've designed with Stitch People patterns, or based on the Stitch People style, in any form. (considered "derivative works"). That starts to encroach on our intellectual property (copyright), which is sort of the magic sauce that makes our business work. If you have questions, or would like to discuss designing Stitch People style patterns in collaboration with us, you can reach out to us at hello@stitchpeople.com.
How long will I have access to my digital products?
As long as we're in business! And we're not planning on going anywhere anytime soon! ๐ Even if we update our website or change platforms, you'll always be able to access your digital products from your account. So whether your laptop dies, you drop your iPad in the pool, or your phone is run over by a gang of 4-year-olds on tricycles, you can always come back to your account and re-download!
All we ask is that you don't share your digital products with others who haven't purchased them!
Who's behind Stitch People?
Lizzy and Spencer Bean! Back in 2011, Lizzy saw the idea for cross-stitch portraits in a Martha Stewart Magazine, but didn't like the designs, so she made her own! That year, she made the first Stitch People portrait of her own familyโLizzy, mom, dad, husband, sister, and brother-in-law, and the combined 6 pets between them!
From there, Lizzy started taking commissions online, stitching hundreds of portraits over several years. Then in 2014, Lizzy published the 1st edition of Do-It-Yourself Stitch People book (now in it's 2nd edition!) and that started the next chapter of Stitch Peopleโdesigning patterns so other stitchers could make their own portraits!
We're still publishing patterns, many of which are collaborations with other talented stitchers! If you're interested in collaborating, send us an email to hello@stitchpeople.com!
