Maybe it's Needlepunch. Where you punch the heavy yarn or wool fabric strip up and down to fill in the pattern.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_eo4B1DzDXVs/Sg...320%5B8%5D.jpg

http://kathrinesquiltestue.blogspot....ng-spring.html

this is stitchery :mrgreen: i was sure you way ahead americans would know this so much better than little tiny Norway :wink:

Sunyhope, it just looks like embroidery to me. What is the difference?

I agree with Ninnie, it looks as if embroidery stitches have been used, i.e. stem stitch, lazy daisy stitch, chain stitch. A good book on general embroidery stitches would help you, then you can choose which stitch to do where, and just follow the lines. As for the design, this one is what I would describe as perhaps naive, but you could embroider any design with simple shapes, in the same manner. Children's colouring books are quite a good source for the animals you mentioned. You can buy templates for heart shapes for the Love ones. Perhaps a library might be able to help you with some of the other ideas you mentioned. I hope that helps.

I found a lovely site called cedarberrystitches.com that has patterns for "primitive" stitching, which looks just like what you are asking about. I don't have any patterns for that, but some of them look fun.

Now that I can see what you are talking about I agree looks like hand embroidery, using different stitches.

There are several sites that offer free monthly patterns for this. here are a few
www.gailpandesigns has a monthly pattern for A Christmas Wish.
bunnyhilldesigns has a cute basket stitchery
capriconquilts.blogspot has a real cute one called Quilters Blessings.
birdbraindesigns.net has some tea towels
There are lots more but right now my mind is blank. I will think of them and come back.

A few more
http://lynetteandersondesigns.typepa...oahs-ark-.html

I looked at one of the downloads from the site zennia provided...it's embroidery. here's an excerpt from the download...

"The Stitchery:
Stitches used are: backstitch (BS), satin stitch (SS), running stitch (RS), lazy daisy (LD), cross stitch (CS)
and French knots (FN). Numbers below correspond to DMC Stranded Embroidery threads I used. Use two
strands of Embroidery thread unless otherwise stated."

I think it's just a case of one thing called by two names. You can find a lot of free samples too download on the internet...just google free primitive embroidery or free embroidery patterns.

If you go here
http://nicepeoplenicethings.blogspot...1%3A00-08%3A00
you can find some of the stitcheries you found at the kathrinesquiltestue.blogspot.
Scroll back several pages and you will find some of the free patterns. You can buy the whole kit for around $60.00.
here is more info on the designer
http://hugsnkisses.typepad.com/hugsfromhelen/
I love her work.