Hand-stitched Kenyan heritage art
Crafting stories, restoring dignity.
One-of-one artworks, stitched square by square over weeks and months by artisans trained through Cross Stitch International, then professionally framed for homes, offices and institutions.
Our impact in numbers
- 1,200+individuals trained
- 7,000+lives impacted
- 28+institutions supported
- USD 1.8M+paid to artisans
From the collections
One of one, made by hand
Each piece is hand-stitched by an artisan trained through our programmes and professionally framed. Once acquired, it is not made again.
The making
Five stages, thousands of crosses
Every piece passes through the same five stages. Depending on size and complexity, one work takes from two weeks to six months.
Image and blueprint
An image is selected and converted into a coded blueprint: a chart that gives every square of the design its colour.
Guided stitching
Working from the blueprint, the artisan matches each code to its colour-coded thread.
Hand stitching
Trained artisans stitch the piece square by square and row by row, keeping the tension even across thousands of crosses.
Washing and finishing
The finished fabric is washed and prepared so that the work lies smooth and square.
Professional framing
Framing preserves the textile and presents it as a finished work, ready to hang.
In their own words
The people behind the pieces
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I grew so fond of the piece. It was extremely engaging, to the point of even stitching while in a public transport vehicle.
EvaLiving with disability, who stitched an elephant
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With the money earned, I felt a sense of pride in the work of my hands, as I had never before made such amounts of money.
CelestineCommunity groups, who stitched two peacocks
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Cross stitching is a labour of love. Though challenging, in the end I see that God has made something beautiful out of me.
StellaLiving with disability, who stitched a flower
Commission or visit
Commission a piece, or come and see the work
Choose a piece from the collections, commission one from over a thousand catalogue designs, or arrange a private viewing in Nairobi. Every acquisition pays the artisan who stitched it.