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Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters

Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters | Red-Handled Scissors

A few simple, easy-access organization bins can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your craft supplies neat and at the ready, but, luckily, staying tidy doesn’t have to be boring. Clean up your workspace in true DIY style with a set of cute cross-stitch storage canisters! They’re stitched with colorfast cotton yarn, so they’re a great way to add that handmade touch to any home, office, or craft room storage shelf—I even use one in my kitchen to hold my dish soap, scrub brush and vegetable brush.

Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters | Red-Handled Scissors

Here’s what you’ll need:

Please note that the links to supplies and tools that are provided below are affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through.

Supplies:
* Stainless steel cutlery caddy (mine was from IKEA)
* Lion Brand Yarn Kitchen Cotton

Tools:
* Darning needle
* Scissors

Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters | Red-Handled Scissors

Tip: I wanted to be able to use my canisters everywhere from the craft studio to the kitchen, so I used a colorfast cotton yarn for both durability and to keep my stitches looking good when they inevitably get wet.

Here’s how it’s done:

Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters | Red-Handled Scissors

Step 1
Thread the darning needle with an 8" length of yarn in the first color that you’ll be using.

Starting on the inside of the canister, bring the needle through hole A from the back to the front, leaving about a 2" tail of yarn on the inside of the canister. Then, holding the yarn tail in place with your finger, insert the needle into hole B, stitching from the front to the back.

You should now have a diagonal stitch on the outside of the canister between holes A and B, and the tail of yarn and the threaded darning needle should both be on the inside of the canister.

Note: For the purposes of this tutorial, the outside of the canister is referred to as “the front” and the inside of the canister is referred to as “the back.”

Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters | Red-Handled Scissors

Step 2
To finish your cross-stitch, bring the needle and yarn through hole C from the back to the front, then insert the needle into hole D from the front to the back, crossing the diagonal stitch you made in step 1. Once again, the threaded darning needle and the tail of yarn should both be on the inside of the canister.

Once your cross-stitch is complete, remove the darning needle from the yarn, then secure the stitch by tying the two yarn ends together in a tight knot on the inside of the canister. Trim away any excess yarn length with your scissors.

Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters | Red-Handled Scissors

Step 3
Continue making individual stitches following the directions in steps 1 and 2 until you’ve achieved your desired design.

Note: Cross-stitches are usually worked in horizontal rows instead of individual stitches. But, because the canister is curved, making individual stitches helps keep the design flat against the inside of the canister.

Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters | Red-Handled Scissors

Step 4
Before using your newly stitched canister, make sure each cross-stitch is knotted off tightly and that any excess yarn ends have been cut. (You don’t want your supplies to get stuck in the stitches while you’re taking things out and putting them away!)

Organize: Cross-Stitch Storage Canisters | Red-Handled Scissors

There you have it: cute and useful!

Now, where will you use your cross-stitch storage canisters?

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