Home  Arts Sewing
 Why Stitch A Cross Stitch Rose Pattern? |
| Why Stitch A Cross Stitch Rose Pattern?
by John Wigham
If you ask people to name their favourite flowers, it is likely that they will place roses high on their lists. Roses are very popular, and have been named the Queen of flowers, possibly because of their beauty -- creating a wide expanse of color in the garden, and valued for their heady fragrance too. There are thousands of varieties that differ in shape of blooms, size, fragrance and some even lack thorns. Roses are so popular you cannot go far wrong when stitching a cross stitch rose pattern.
One reason so many people are fascinated by roses is how they symbolize life's struggles and achievements. If you survive the thorns of life, you're rewarded with loveliness and contentment.
It is easy to find charts and kits of rose designs; these can vary from the traditional bunch of roses or samplers to the more modern -- Rennie Mackintosh designs or Art Deco. Of course, which design you choose is up to you, and also what you may consider to be the preferences of the lucky recipient of your project. However, it is advisable to consider the symbolism of roses. This may affect your choice of cross stitch rose pattern.
Aphrodite and Venus were two Greek goddesses of love. Roses were used to identify these lovely ladies. Another tradition involving roses comes from Italy. To tell others that a confidential meeting was taking places, roses were put on the room's door. This tradition produced the term 'sub rosa' because the meeting was taking place 'under the rose,' which in turn meant a secret was being kept.
Christians also felt roses had symbolic meaning. Roses have five petals, and those petals represented Christ's five wounds. In addition, red roses were said to be symbolic of the blood that flowed from martyrs for Christianity.
The rose is a symbol of many cultures too. It is the national flower of England and the USA. The red rose is considered to be symbolic of socialism and social democracy. They are also used in heraldry and coats of arms. In England, The War of the Roses took place between the House of Lancaster, whose heraldic badge contained a red rose, and the House of York, who was represented by a white rose.
When it comes to flowers, many people believe they have meanings. These meanings are the result not only of the type of flower by also the color and even the shape.
* Red roses depict love for most people. A red rosebud symbolizes something beautiful and pure. Moreover, if the red rose is devoid of thorns, it represents love discovered at first sight.
* A yellow rose means platonic love, friendship and joy. It can also symbolise new beginnings. If the yellow rose has red tips, this could indicate falling in love. Beware of yellow roses in German speaking countries. Here, they mean infidelity and jealousy.
* Pink roses are suitable when you appreciate the actions of another. If the pink is dark, then the rose symbolizes being grateful to another person. At the other end of the spectrum, light or pale pink roses convey being sympathetic toward the other person.
* Peach or orange roses symbolize fascination with another and feelings of desire and passion.
* A white rose symbolises purity and innocence, especially in white rosebud form. Typically, a bride will choose white roses; this may be interpreted as a new start in life. A white rose can also indicate reverence, humility and friendship.
If you choose a perfect cross stitch rose pattern that has a rose in an inappropriate colour for what you wish to convey, do not despair. With just a little thought, you can easily adapt the design to accommodate a new color.
Before you start, keep these hints in mind:
* If you find you need to use threads of a different color, buy the same brand as the other threads. Threads from different cross stitch companies can vary in appearance, so always utilize the same thread brand.
* Remember that you will not be just choosing one color, because the design will probably not contain a solid block of color. You may need to buy several different colored threads. For example, a red rose may contain about four different types of red thread. This makes the rose appear more three dimensional.
* When in doubt, as for help. The employees at a craft store should be able to help you pick the right threads. Also, hold the threads next to each other so you can see how the shading will look. Moreover, don't just consider the color of the roses when making your thread choice. Make certain the roses don't clash with the material and the other threads you'll be using on your cross stitch rose pattern.
Keep these tips in mind as you select a different color for the roses. With a little bit of upfront preparation, you're bound to create an amazing project for a special person in your life.
Obtain your free quality-report from Patterns Patch cross stitch community. There are more than 150 cross stitch patterns ready for immediate use by John Wigham's community members with some featuring a cross stitch rose pattern. Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.
|
|
 |
Ads |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
