OhSewCrafty Blog

So I started Mini Kindred Spirits by Anne Stokes for Heaven & Earth Designs as a diamond painting, on July 13th.  “Mini” is somehwat a misnomer, the canvas is 63 x 69 cm, and the pattern is about 16 pages (9 are full pages, the others are partial).  In early June, I had contacted “my” vendor on Ali Express (Xpress Show Foreign Trade) and asked for a quote for the blank (gridded) sticky canvas and 413 bags of square “stones”.  The cost was less than expected, extremely reasonable, and the order arrived a few weeks later, though I did not start it right away because it’s huge! 
Once I did start it, I couldn’t stop.  Diamond painting goes pretty quickly, especially with the aid of EZ Pdf software… it has a case sensitive search (so you can search for symbols), and precise highlighting (I use a stylus). But now that I have finished the first row of pages, which represents 25% of the chart (or more, since the last row of pages are partials) and I’m putting it aside so I can focus on my stitchy wips.

Preview image is from Heaven and Earth Designs.  

As a general overview of diamond painting, it is the placement of small, faceted, flat bottom “stones” (actually plastic resin) on sticky canvas. The stones come in the full DMC color range, and can be round or square.  The stone size is generally 1/10 inch in diameter or height/width, but I’ve heard some larger ones are available too.  Diamond painting kits can be done on preprinted canvas, or on blank (gridded) canvas using a chart, just like cross stitch.  Kits are available on Ali Express, Amazon, Herrschnerrs’, and even at Michaels’.  Many cross stitch designs can be converted to diamond painting, especially those that are full coverage and don’t call for backstitch or any specialty stitches.  You can create your own kit (and order from Ali Express and other vendors) by figuring out the canvas size and number of stones needed in each color.  Size is also a consideration since diamond painting canvas is 10 count.  As a comparison to cross stitch, diamond painting is considerably faster, more sparkly, and larger (most of us don’t cross stith on 10 count fabric).  The process is fun and I like DP finishes, but I wouldn’t want it all over my house, like my cross stitch is.