Enter a world of joyful kawaii whimsy as CrossStitcher sits down with Japanese designer Kyoko Maruoka to discuss Japanese cross-stitch, end of year traditions, and the release of her beautiful new book, Happy Days Cross Stitch…
How did you fall in love with cross stitch? Have you always been interested in arts and crafts?
My family ran a small factory that sewed T-shirts, so I grew up surrounded by rolls of fabric, threads, and various types of sewing machines. I enjoyed making stuffedmy nephew in 1997. During my first ever visit to an embroidery store, I saw cross-stitch patterns from overseas for the first time. Until then, I had only seen cross-stitch patterns designed by Japanese crafts people. I was amazed by the variety of beautiful and charming cross-stitch patterns, including William Morris, German designers and modern illustration-style ones – I became captivated!
