Unusual Crafts: Large-scale and graffiti cross stitch

In my newfound fondness for cross stitch, I have come across several unusual variations on the craft.

1. Giant cross stitched wall art
Artist Jessica Decker makes giant cross stitched works to hang on your wall: hearts, a bicycle, an anchor tattoo, a great "High Five!" typography piece, and more. Decker creates these works using a painting canvas. She paints the front, then marks out her design on the back and punches tiny holes in the canvas for the yarn to go through.

The results are huge, punchy, graphic, and wonderful. You can buy completed works in her Etsy shop, buy one of her kits, or try your hand at making one yourself.

2. Cross stitched chain link fencing
I can't decide if this is "cross stitching in reverse," or if the negative space between each chain is a giant cross stitch hole. Regardless, graphic designer Ryan Cook used red surveyor's tape to create cross stitch graffiti in (on? Through?) a chain link fence in an abandoned parking lot.

I love the way this melds traditional crafts with modern street art, and the way that it is not damaging to the property. It also makes you look at an everyday object in a new way, which is one of the highest purposes of art, if you ask me.

The Craftivist Collective also advocates making cross stitch graffiti on chain link fences by weaving strands of yarn.

3. Cross stitched protest masks
Speaking of the Craftivist Collective, I love all their work, but I'm particularly struck by the anti-loneliness cross stitch work which was applied to the famous statue of Eleanor Rigby. The statue, which commemorates the Beatles song of the same name that highlights the plight of the lonely elderly, is perfectly suited to wearing this surgeon's-style cross stitched face mask. Nicely done.

Image courtesy Flickr/craftivist collective