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Unique Tattoos Created in the Style of Cross-Stitch Embroidery

Turkish tattooer Eva Krbdk combines craft and body art with her unique cross-stitch tattoos. The intricate and often-adorable designs are composed of small, x-shaped “stitches” that form an entire portrait or scene. Krbdk also goes against the norm to produce eye-catching results. Unlike your typical tattoo, a cross-stitch pattern doesn't normally include dark outlines in its imagery. Instead, it uses color and shape to imply form.

Despite this simple motif, Krbdk comes up with some complex compositions. She has permanently inked portraits of Darth Vader and Marilyn Monroe, in addition to colorful flowers and cute animals. Her technique is an interesting choice that merges two separate art forms, in which both utilize needles as critical tools. It's a fantastic and contemporary take on the timeless activity.

Check out Krbdk's Instagram to see more of her tattoos. She works within multiple styles, including some watercolor, stippling, and pixelation.

Eva Krbdk: Website | Instagram
via [design you trust]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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