the burning question is now available to download for compound machines and up. this pattern will be available to download through may 13, 2026.
attn machines:
moving forward, i will be compensating test stitchers for their work. right now, this is going to be trialed with testers i have an established working relationship with. i have added examples of photos as a point of reference for quality to be delivered at the end of testing process.
right now the two main options for compensation will be a flat fee for labor and/or compensation for supplies for the project. i am also open to negotiate something in the middle if any tester has something else in mind.
if you have not test stitched for me before but are interested in the compensation model, i will be experimenting with one to two trial tests, limited to small, assigned projects that i will select (i usually let testers request which pattern they want to test). if trials go well, then i can discuss moving toward compensating larger test stitches. trialing is more to ensure we are both comfortable with expectations, delivered photos are quality, and that the process concludes with all parties fufilling their role in the process.
if you have any questions about this, don't hestiate to reach out. you can apply to test stitch patterns here.
attn: all machines
perk update for simple, compound, and heavy machine memberships:
rotating patterns will be included with your membership. these patterns will remain in the membership pattern vault for a minimum of one month for download. most of these patterns will eventually become available in main shop catelogue, some of these patterns may remain member exclusive and will be noted as such at release.
releases of these patterns will be announced here on the prettystitchmachine.com blog and social media, stay tuned for the first releases. all content relating to these patterns will be included under the tag 'members only vault'
as always, thank you for your patronage<3
prettystitchmachine.com
hi machines -
this post is going to break down what i consider and how i determine the difficult level of my patterns, to better help you understand and consider these factors when picking out patterns.
influencing factors
- size: generally smaller patterns are easier to tackle, while large patterns are more challenging, in management of supplies and time to complete. normally when patterns are larger than a 5-8" hoop, i will consider it more challenging for the average hobbyist.
- types of stitches: types of stitches largely influence my determination of how difficult a pattern is. if a pattern only includes full cross stitchs or tent stitches, i will consider it beginner friendly. minor back stitching details means while there are some back stitches, it's not a majority of the work or found all over the pattern. extensive backstitching, including long back stitches where couching may be beneficial, quarter stitches, fractional stitches, or patterns that generally work better on a high count fabric such as linen, i will consider them more challenging for a hobbyist.
- colors: the lower the number of colors called for, generally the simplier the pattern is. the higher the number of colors, the more challenging. this comes with supply management, accessibility to a robust DMC library, and mangaging reading multiple symbols.
- color blocking vs confetti: if a pattern includes a lot of confetti stitching (single stitches of color without surrounding stitches matching that color, like confetti), i consider it more challenging, for the same reasons of a high number of colors. while my patterns generally don't include confetti, if it is present i do consider that in my difficulty determination.
- coverage: a full coverage pattern (no fabric shown) is generally more challenging than partial coverage patterns. some stitchers prefer to grid their full coverage patterns to help them manage their work. sometimes partial coverage patterns can also be challenging but it is generally easiser to catch mistakes in them sooner in the process than in full coverage projects.
difficulty levels for psm
- beginner: a project that can be tackled with relative ease by someone new to the hobby. these patterns will generally be small to medium in size, generally use 1-15 colors, and would contain at most minor back stitching details, no confetti stitching, and would be best completed on a low count fabric (like 14 count Aida)
- advanced beginner: a project that may be challenging for someone new to the hobby but not insurmountable, or a good step up to a beginner ready to work on something a bit more challenging. these patterns generally are medium to large, may include using over 15 colors, will most likely include more extensive back-stitching. an advanced beginner project may be small but include extensive backstitching or a high color count.
- intermediate: a project that is best suited for a seasoned stitcher, generally medium to large, includes generally up to or more than 20 colors, extensive back stitching, a few specialty stitches, and may be better completed on a high count fabric such as evenweave or linen. confetti may be more prevalent.
- advanced: a project that should be taken on only by experienced stitchers who can manage multiple colors, specialty stitches, high fabric counts, and a large size project that may take a significant period of time to complete.
please remember these are just some general guidelines! if you are unsure if you think you can take on the complexity of a project and would like some input from myself, don't hesitate to send me a message, i'm always happy to chat!
stay safe out there everyone,
jane