This Is Us: A Cross-Stitch Portrait With Ties Close to My Heart
There’s something truly special about creating a piece that feels personal and meaningful, even if it’s not for my own family. Recently, I had the absolute joy of stitching this family portrait as part of Heather at MunnsMade’s “Gift Giving” initiative. If you’ve never heard of it, Heather invites her followers to nominate someone in their lives who might need a little extra love and kindness. Out of the final nominees, I choose one story to stitch — and this time, it was this beautiful family.
A Portrait with a Purpose
The family I chose for this portrait has two sons, both on the autism spectrum. As a parent of a daughter with ASD, their story resonated with me deeply. While I won’t share the details of their current journey, I knew I wanted to create something that would bring a bit of light to their lives.
I was lucky enough to be given a wealth of information about the family — both written and visual! This allowed me to include plenty of intricate details, from the clothing choices to subtle features that make each family member unique. The text at the bottom, this is us, is stitched in my own cross-stitch font, “Ivy”, which you can check out here.
The Process and Finishing Touches
This piece was designed and stitched with love from start to finish. After spending about a week perfecting the design, it took me another 10 days to bring it to life on 14-count Aida fabric. I chose to finish the piece in a simple 6” embroidery hoop, letting the portrait shine.
Another special touch I’ve been adding to all my portraits for over a year now is a Certificate of Authenticity. I included one with this piece, and it felt like the perfect way to complete the gift.
It's All in the Details
Let's see the characters in detail:
Creating Joy Through Stitching
I can only hope this portrait brings as much joy to its new owner as it brought me while I was stitching it. It was a privilege to capture this family in thread, and I’m so glad Heather’s initiative made it possible.
If you’ve been inspired by this piece, I’d love to stitch a portrait for you too! Family portraits are the perfect way to celebrate your loved ones or even give as a thoughtful gift to someone special. Each one is designed to tell a unique story, and I work closely with you to ensure every detail is just right.
Let’s create something meaningful together!
