I've honestly lost track of how many hours I've spent scrolling through notforgotten farm cross stitch patterns on a rainy Sunday afternoon. There is just something about that specific primitive aesthetic that pulls you in and doesn't let go. If you aren't familiar with the name, we're talking about the incredible work of Lori Brechlin, the creative force behind Notforgotten Farm. Her designs aren't just patterns; they feel like little pieces of history that you get to bring to life with a needle and some thread.
What I love most about this style is that it completely rejects the idea of perfection. In a world where everything is high-definition and digitally polished, sitting down with a piece of linen and some hand-dyed floss feels like a quiet rebellion. It's about the soul of the piece, the "wonkiness" of a hand-drawn house, and the muted, earthy tones that look like they've been sitting in a cedar chest for a hundred years.
Why the Primitive Style Just Works
If you've ever looked at a notforgotten farm cross stitch piece, you'll notice it's a far cry from the bright, neon-colored kits you might find at a big-box craft store. The "primitive" or "folk art" style is all about storytelling. It's inspired by the samplers that young girls used to stitch in the 18th and 19th centuries—pieces that were meant to be functional and educational but ended up being beautiful family heirlooms.
Lori's designs often feature things like quirky crows, oversized pumpkins, lopsided saltbox houses, and sheep that look like they've seen a few things in their time. There's a certain humor in them, too. It's not stuffy. It's whimsical in a dark, earthy way that makes you want to wrap yourself in a quilt and drink a mug of hot cider.
Picking the Right Materials
You can't really just grab a piece of bright white Aida cloth and expect to get that signature Notforgotten Farm look. Well, you could, but it might look a little bit jarring. Most folks who dive into this world prefer working on linen or evenweave.
I usually go for something like a 32-count or 36-count linen. If it's pre-dyed to look like it's been stained with coffee or tea, even better. Brands like Picture This Plus or Lakeside Linens have these "dirty" or "vintage" shades that work perfectly. The goal is for the fabric to have some variegation—little splotches of darker brown or tan that give the background some depth before you even make your first X.
Then there's the floss. While DMC is the old reliable of the stitching world, many notforgotten farm cross stitch patterns suggest hand-dyed cotton threads. Think of brands like The Gentle Art, Weeks Dye Works, or Classic Colorworks. These threads aren't a solid color; they have subtle shifts in shade. So, a "green" thread might range from a deep moss to a faded sage in a single strand. This gives your stitching a textured, "old" look that flat colors just can't replicate.
The Joy of "Smalls"
One of the best things about Lori's work is the abundance of "smalls." In the cross-stitch community, a "small" is exactly what it sounds like—a tiny project that doesn't take three years to finish.
Let's be real: we all have those massive "Work in Progress" (WIP) piles hidden in our closets. The ones that are the size of a twin bedsheet and make us feel guilty every time we look at them. Notforgotten Farm has plenty of those little gems that you can finish in a weekend. They're perfect for making "pinkeeps" (pincushions), ornaments, or little stuffed pillows to tuck into a bowl or a tiered tray.
Stitching a small design is so satisfying because you get that hit of "I finished something!" without the existential dread of a massive project. Plus, they make the best gifts. Stitched a little crow for a friend? Put it in a tiny vintage frame you found at a thrift store, and you're a hero.
Seasonal Stitching and Tradition
It feels like there's a notforgotten farm cross stitch pattern for every mood the weather brings. Her autumn designs are probably the most iconic. I mean, nobody does a pumpkin or a bittersweet vine quite like she does. When the leaves start turning and there's a chill in the air, I find myself reaching for those burnt oranges, deep reds, and muddy browns.
But it's not just for the fall. There are beautiful winter scenes with stark trees and tiny red birds, and springtime motifs that feel like a garden waking up after a long sleep. Because the style is so rooted in the seasons, it feels like you're in tune with the time of year while you're working on it. It's a very grounding hobby.
How to Finish Your Masterpiece
Once you've finished the actual stitching, the fun part (or the terrifying part, depending on how you feel about sewing) begins: the finishing.
If you're doing a notforgotten farm cross stitch, you aren't necessarily going to run to a professional framer and spend $200 on a gilded frame. A lot of people choose to "primitive finish" their work. This might involve:
- Distressing a frame: Buying a cheap wood frame and hitting it with some sandpaper and dark wax.
- Creating a pillow: Backing the piece with some homespun fabric or wool felt and stuffing it with sawdust or walnut shells.
- Using old buttons: Sewing on mismatched vintage buttons as accents.
- The "grungy" look: Some people even go as far as lightly "painting" their finished piece with a mix of instant coffee and vanilla to give it an extra-aged scent and look (just be careful not to ruin your hard work!).
Finding Your Community
The world of "Flosstube" (cross-stitch YouTube) and Instagram is full of people who are obsessed with this aesthetic. If you search for the hashtag, you'll find thousands of people sharing their progress. It's a really supportive community. We all laugh about our "frogging" (that's when you have to "rip it, rip it" out because you made a mistake) and obsess over new pattern releases.
Lori Brechlin herself is quite active and often shares her own process, which is so inspiring to see. Seeing the original folk art paintings that inspire the patterns makes you appreciate the transition from brushstroke to stitch even more.
Why We Keep Coming Back
At the end of the day, I think we love notforgotten farm cross stitch because it feels human. It's a slow hobby. You can't rush it. You have to sit down, focus, and move one stitch at a time. In a life that's usually lived at 100 miles per hour, that hour in the evening with a needle and thread is sacred.
There's something deeply meditative about the rhythm. Poke the needle up, pull it through. Poke the needle down, pull it through. Over and over. Your mind starts to quiet down. You aren't thinking about your emails or the laundry; you're just thinking about whether that next stitch should be "Old Blue Paint" or "Cast Iron Skillet" (actual thread names, by the way).
Whether you're a seasoned stitcher who has been at it for decades or someone who just picked up a hoop yesterday, these designs offer a warm invitation. They tell you that it's okay to be a little bit rustic, a little bit lopsided, and a whole lot of creative. So, if you're looking for your next project, maybe give one of these patterns a try. Just don't blame me when you end up with a house full of hand-stitched crows and a sudden urge to buy vintage tin boxes to store your thread!