About me

Who I am

I am Mária, designer of cross-stitch patterns, mum of 2 kids and designer of websites and e-shops. An unlikely, yet very real combination.

I want to continually bring you joy with my patterns.

I have been doing needlework since childhood, probably since I was six years old, when my grandma taught me how. She used to do mainly Richelieu embroidery, but I was later more captivated by cross stitching. And I’ve been true to it ever since.

I love cross stitching so much, that for a long time now I have been longing to learn to create my own patterns, but as a self-learner I found it very difficult (my first attempts were already back in 2008).

How I Came About Creating My Own Patterns

Sometime around the year 2017, I came across the Russian site www.vk.com where I saw real pattern designers. That’s how I discovered new dimensions of needlework. That’s also where, after a year or so, I found out that there is a pattern designing class. The problem was, that it was in Russian and I had no knowledge of Russian whatsoever and was able to follow the site only thanks to a translator.

Between October 2017 and June 2018, I attended a drawing class. During my second pregnancy I attended a drawing class just for fun and learnt various painting techniques. I had no idea back then that a year later I would join a pattern designer class. But it helped me tremendously and today I still make use of the skills I gained.

Then in 2019 I learnt the Russian alphabet, and in December I enrolled in the class to become a decent pattern designer. It wasn’t easy at all, but if you love something, you will do what it takes. As they say “me and my brother google” and “sister youtube autotranslator” we can manage just about anything.

In February 2020 the class ended, and I can now present you my first results from the class. I am absolutely thrilled, and I found out that I really enjoy it. I hope my excitement and joy will also bring you pleasure in creating beautiful cross-stitch works.

I look forward to photos of your cross-stitched pictures based on my patterns on maria@stitchspider.com

Formal education

create cross stitch patterns

I learned to create cross-stitch patterns from the best in the field, namely from Natalya Orekhova and Ksenia Adonyeva. I am sure many of you are already familiar with these names. They both have over 10 years of experience in creating patterns. Ksenia also formed a project connecting designers who have attended her classes. I am pleased to be one of them.

Site about the Class – A to Z cross-stich pattern designer class: https://disotadoya.ru/

In July 2020, I received a red diploma for successful participation in course, 25 hours of lectures, 2 months of practice and 5 course works. Gratitude, happiness, excitement and pride, those are the feelings, what I have right now.

Certifikat about Embroidery Pattern Designer from A to Z for Mária Erbenová — Certificate about Embroidery Pattern Designer from A to Z for Mária Erbenová

Let me share with you my joy from receiving my new certificate from the course of creating patterns out of photographs – expertly led by Lyuba Vodenikova. The certificate is not only proof of completion, but in my world it captures the variety of skills and tips that I gained while taking the course which will surely propel me forward in the development of future patterns.

The entry into this new creative area was my work on the robin bird pattern. This was my longest and one of my most demanding patterns so far. I feel truly proud and incredibly grateful for this experience.