Marion Hernandez

Incorporating Your Heritage Using Celtic Wedding Cross Stitch Patterns.

There are many different Celtic wedding traditions, which date back to at least the middle ages. One of the traditions is the use of many different combinations of the Celtic knot whether it's in a handfasting or the couple's jewelry. Celtic wedding cross stitch designs are a great way to incorporate the Celtic tradition into gifts and keepsakes.

Enchanting Lair offers a cross stitch pattern that is a combination of a border with the Celtic cross border and an old-fashioned Celtic wedding blessing on a blue background. Design Works Crafts has a pattern with a Celtic wedding prayer. It has a more complicated pattern than other Celtic cross borders, but the pattern also includes alphabet information for the names and date for the wedding couple.

There are many different type of Celtic wedding cross stitch samplers. LifeTime Samplers offers a product that includes a Celtic cross border and also full alphabet for the couple's name and the wedding date. Another wedding sampler is also offered by Dinky Dyes and is very colorful. In addition to a place for the couple's names and wedding date, it also has enough room for the wedding location.

For those wishing to create their own Celtic wedding cross stitch designs, there is a book titled "Celtic Cross Stitch: 30 Alphabet, Animal and Knotwork Projects" by Gail Lawther. It was published in 1996 and has many different ideas for both beginning and experienced crafters. It allows someone to create patterns for samplers and embroidery designs for things like wedding dresses and christening robes.

Another book for Celtic enthusiasts is "Celtic Cross Stitch Designs" by Carol Phillips. The book details over 30 different cross stitch patterns, including two sets of alphabets that can be used for samplers and also many items, like picture frames, that could be given as wedding gifts. It has many different ideas for how to customize store-bought household items -- napkins, tablecloths, etc. -- that can then be given to a new bride and groom.

For advanced crafters who want to create their own Celtic wedding cross stitch patterns, sites like Aon Celtic Art and Illumination (http://www.aon-celtic.com/) offers free resources for creating your own borders, and they also offer more complex cross stitch patterns for sale. Many can be used to create wedding samplers and other gifts.

There are many different options for those wanting to incorporate their tradition into special items using Celtic wedding cross stitch patterns. While they all seem to have a common theme of Celtic items they also are very different and can be customized for any bride and groom.