Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2015 i The World of Cross Stitching

Armed with a cross stitch chart, needle and a few threads, I love that I can create a piece of art (plus enjoy a spot of relaxation as well). I’m sure you feel the same, so we’ve plenty of ideas in this issue to do just that! Warm loved ones’ hearts… give your home a one-off look… Where will you start? For something cute, it has to be Helz Cuppleditch’s sweetie-pie mice on page 10. This bath time baby is making us all say “ahh”. And stitching it will be as much fun for you as the finished piece will be for the lucky recipient. What about the All Our Yesterdays garden sampler – this exclusive is on page 26, and the motifs will be good for fast-finish cards too,…

Everyone knows that a kid’s bathtime wouldn’t be complete without an excess of bubbles and toys – how else do you keep them distracted when you’re cleaning behind their ears? So, this mummy mouse has made sure her little one has his rubber ducky and favourite boat, ready for sailing on those foamy seas when it’s time to have a wash! This colourful design is packed full of charm, like the loving look on baby’s face as he gazes up to his mum. Worked in a variety of stitches, it has the extra technique element of Light Effects metallic thread to add iridescent shimmer to the bubbles. All in all, it’s a great project for confident beginners or if you have bit more experience then you’ll breeze right through in…

Virtual design Choose the right charting software for you Virtual design Q I want to try my hand at making my own cross stitch patterns, but I don’t know what kind of computer software to use, or how to get started. Any ideas? Shayla Amador Benavidez, USA A Sarah says: The software we use at The World of Cross Stitching mag has been especially written by a software company for our publishing needs, but there are lots of options on the market. Depending on what you’re looking for, and the kind of computer you have, you can narrow down some of the options, but here are a couple of choices that I think are great. WinStitch by Ursa Software* costs £40 and is a basic option for getting started, and…

Some of the card designs you feature have patterned papers used in the aperture – can you tell me how you use both this and add the stitching, too? Melody Barnabas, via email Anne says: The ideas we show for making up cards with patterned paper aren’t actually aperture cards Melody, they’re usually single-fold cards which just have the stitching applied to the front as a patch. So adding a pretty piece of crafting paper is easy, with more double-sided tape. Pretty papers Patch patterned paper and your stitching to cards Love to see all your projects made up into cushions or hangings – I’m running out of space to put framed pictures. I have a sewing machine, but I have no idea how to use it. Can you help? Kelly…

The world cross stitching CLUB OF THE MONTH SEW BEAUTIFUL This group of cross stitchers has been going for 11 years. Members’ ages range from mid-30s to mid-60s. Meeting every other Wednesday at the All Saints Church Hall, Hale Barns, just south of Manchester, most members are cross stitchers, but they also tackle tapestry, knitting, crochet and cardmaking. For more info, contact Sandra Whydle at whydle@aol.com or call her % 07807 878873. APPLY: Want to tell us about your club? Write to the address (p17) or email letters@cross-stitching.com WHERE AM I? Once again I am in one of Cornwall’s most picturesque hamlets huddled around a harbour, where my family come every year, along with enough cross stitching to do over our joyous two week holiday. The man on the boat…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY 0844 826 7341 Issue 225 Stitch in the change of season with the fabulous designs in issue 225! There are the cute Forever Friends bears, a glamorous Art Deco lady, pretty spring bulbs draught excluder, vintage-chic baby sampler, stunning space design done on glow-in-the-dark aida and Joan Elliott’s spring Design Library. Plus your FREE gift: an adorable Margaret Sherry hedgehog card kit Issue 224 Joan Elliott desk calendar Cookie bear, boho dreamcatcher, pretty wedding sampler, colourful robots, Michael Powell exclusive Issue 221 Bebunni calendar & Madeleine Floyd robin chart Margaret Sherry’s sledging cats, Furry Tales, winter forest, Halloween ABC STILL AVAILABLE AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE Issue 223 Fizzy Moon Christmas card kit festive Country Companions hedgehogs, pet stockings, gingerbread train, cookies sampler, wintry cards…

Join us on Facebook Chat 24/7 on our Facebook page – here’s what you’ve missed! OUR FAVOURITE POST Jenny Robinson: “Made the 'Summer Patchwork' from issue 219 into a cushion for my mum’s birthday. First time I have attempted turning my projects into something other than cards or tags.” You did a great job Jenny! YOU LIKED Barbara Homewood: “Started the circular part of the dreamcatcher design from issue 224 today. I am unable to stitch for too long as I suffer from fibromyalgia and end up in agony from sitting still for too long.” And the winner is… We asked you on Facebook: What do you do with the ABC sets in the mag? We love alphabet sets as they are so versatile. Whether you stitch up whole names…

ACROSS 1 Spiny animal that rolls up into a ball for protection (8) 5 Knock against with a jolt (4) 7 Small piece of gold (6) 8 Almost (6) 9 Luxurious chauffeurdriven car (9) 11 Worn and shabby (5) 12 Expanse of salt water (3) 14 Declare void, cancel (5) 15 Yellow maize eaten as a vegetable (9) 18 Bracelet without a clasp (6) 19 Calm and undisturbed (6) 20 Toy teddy (4) 21 Type of firework (8) DOWN 1 Truthfulness (7) 2 Biscuit made with wholemeal flour (9) 3 In a level and regular way (6) 4 Canal boat with a high ornamental curved end (7) 5 Metal alloy (5) 6 Fruit with a hard rind and juicy flesh (5) 10 Exactly the same (9) 12 Favourable result, achievement…

Ready, set, Getting satarted Where to buy your start-up kit – turn to page 96 to see exactly what you’ll need ANCHOR www.makeitcoats.com % 01484 681881 For kits, fabrics & threads CRAFT CREATIONS www.craftcreations.com % 01992 781900 For blank & aperture cards DMC CREATIVE WORLD www.dmccreative.co.uk % 0116 275 4000 For kits, fabrics, threads and more JOHN JAMES NEEDLES www.jjneedles.com % 01527 830941 For needles & sewing essentials MADEIRA www.madeira.co.uk For fabrics, threads & accessories, buy in the UK from Barnyarns www.barnyarns.co.uk % 01765 690069 THE WORLD OF CROSS STITCHING SUBSCRIPTIONS www.subscribeonline.co.uk/ world % 0844 826 7341 ZWEIGART www.zweigart.de For fabrics, buy in the UK from Willow Fabrics www.willowfabrics.co.uk % 0800 056 7811 Restock your stitching stash Get great new kits to stitch and accessories, page Your projects Find all…

Be on the panel! × Get a sneak preview × Appear in the magazine × Receive a stitchy gift Gillian Kelk is a newspaper publisher from Indiana, USA First cross stitch project? The first one since I really got serious about stitching was a massive fractal, done on black aida. What is your idea of cross stitch heaven? Sitting on the deck of my cabin with a cup of tea and listening to the hummingbirds and finches on the feeders while stitching. Who do you like to stitch for? Usually I just stitch for myself, but recently I have started making cards for various occasions. Fave design from a recent issue? I love doing Christmas projects so issue 221 is getting a workout right now. If I have to pick…

Q I was wondering if you can help with a small, simple wolf pattern? I’m going to use it on notebook and sketchbook covers, and would like to be able to adapt it for different colours. I’ve been trying to chart my own with the whole wolf, but can’t get it right. I hope you can help! Kira, via email A Jenny says: I hope this is just what you are looking for Kira. Done in just seven thread colours, it should be easy to adapt to what you want for your book covers. Pack leader! Jenny has designed this chart of a wolf for Kira Wolf key STITCH COUNT 22 high x 32 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 4x6cm (1½x2¼in) This design was stitched using DMC…

To the point Q What’s the difference between petit point and cross stitch? How different is the resultant texture and is it possible to combine the two in one project? Dawn Callaghan Donaldson, via Facebook A Anne says: This is a really great query Dawn, thank you. Petit point is a lovely technique and not really widely used in cross stitch, but when it is, I think it can be very effective. Petit point is worked as a half cross stitch but each stitch is over one thread of the evenweave (so it cannot be worked on aida), and yes, it is usually worked within a design that also uses cross stitch (working over the two threads). So four petit point stitches will take the same area as one whole…

READER STORY Family comes first: Avid stitcher Julie McDonald pictured here with her husband and kids The World of Cross Stitching reader Julie McDonald, from Washington state in the USA, is an avid stitcher. Taught by her grandmother when she was in her teens, Julie quickly developed a passion for the craft. “It’s like painting with a needle. I love the smell and feel of the different fabrics, the amazing plethora of colours of thread and the endless pattern designs. I enjoy seeing the project unfold as I stitch”. Like many keen stitchers, however, Julie has a problem when it comes to displaying her work. She told us, “I’ve been stitching for almost 30 years, and I’ve run out of wall space for all of the designs I love. I…

46 TASTY IDEAS Stitch these sweet designs by Ursula Michael that are sure to be enjoyed by all 46 quick-and-easy motifs Ursula Michael’s design inspiration Stitches for every skill level Helpful tips and advice Unique present ideas for the special people in your life BIRTHDAY TREAT Stitch a pretty cake and candles design (16) for someone special on their big day! Patch onto a gift bag from a local store to make a unique wrapping for a present. SWEETIE JAR This design of tasty treats (17) is ideal for sweet-toothed loved ones! Back your stitching with iron-on interfacing so it stays fray-free when trimming, and decorate a jar. STRAWBERRY DELIGHT Stitch a choc-covered strawberry (42) as the perfect tag for homemade treats! Ours is mounted onto felt for an extra-special…

SAVEUP UP TO $92.88 when you subscribe to Dear Stitcher Don’t miss out on this chance to subscribe to The World of Cross Stitching magazine today and save up to $92.88 on the annual cover price. We’ve all the inspiration and best practical advice for you to indulge in your passion, and we share the latest ideas so you can get the maximum from your hobby. Subscribers benefit with a free cover gift and you can also enjoy discussing designs on our vibrant social media sites plus an active website and forum. Happy stitching, Ruth, Editor The World of Cross Stitching The World of Cross Stitching Great reasons to subscribe: ONLY $49.99* for 13 issues a year FREE COVER GIFT with every issue EACH ISSUE delivered straight to your front…

Pinking Shears Lightweight, super sharp. Best quality! Best price! £17.95 Magnifying Chart Aid Keep your place on a cross stitch chart. Place the metal board under your chart and the magnifying clear plastic square on top. The red grid lines keep your place as you stitch. The corner magnets hold needles and scissors securely. Size 10cm x 8cm. Complete Chart aid £15.95 Magnifying Top only £10.95 Lowery Floor Stand Simply the best! Metal construction. Strong and stable, deep clamp holds any frame just where you want it. Height, angle and reach fully adjustable with easy to use levers. Accessories available include chart holder, light bracket, daisy dish and an adaptor for extra wide frames. Available in Silver grey satin finish or in Stainless steel Silver grey £79.95 Stainless steel £139.99…

Stitching’s a breeze! Let Senior Technical Editor Anne show you how it’s done, in this guide CHOOSE YOUR ESSENTIALS… Start with these must-have items 1. FABRICS Begin with either aida or evenweave. Aida is best for beginners, with regular woven blocks and obvious holes. It’s stiffer than evenweave, but will soften slightly as you work. 14-count aida is the most common. It’s harder to work fractional stitches on aida, as you’ll need to make an extra hole in the fabric, in the centre of the aida block. Evenweave is a lovely fabric to work on when you have a little more experience. The fibres aren’t woven in blocks as with aida, so it’s softer and the fine weave has more threads-per-inch – the most commonly used is 28-count. One stitch…

Meet the designer Lesley Teare “Stitch your way into spring with this beautiful roses design I created especially for you. The pretty pink roses will brighten up any home. Great as the sachet, it can also easily be made into a card for someone special.” FREE GIFT Inside your kit... To help you sort your threads, here is a list of the colours and number of lengths inside your free kit: Pink x2 Light pink x3 Light green x2 Dark pink x2 Green x1 Total: 10 lengths Floral sachet key × Cross stitch in two strands pink light pink light green ×Backstitch in one strand dark pink green STITCH COUNT 33 high x 36 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 6x6.5cm (2¼x2½in) This design was stitched using stranded…

Ruth Southorn Ruth, our Editor, has been a cross stitcher since she was tiny and is ready to share everything she knows Anne MacGregor Anne can answer even the most difficult technical questions with her encyclopedic knowledge and skills Jenny Barton Design pro, Jenny has been creating projects for us for years and is ready to take on your design challenges Fiona Smith With her ears to the ground for the hottest stitching merchandise, Fiona’s all set to search out the stash you need Katriel Costello Stitching guru Katriel has worked in the industry for years, so has ample knowledge to answer any queries CONTENTS 32 IN THE SPOTLIGHT Sarah Heys, charting editor on home charting software 33 WISHES GRANTED Jenny’s designed a wolf to answer Kira’s request! 34 FRIENDLY…

× Deby Young: Stitch with two strands and then back with felt using a glue gun. Also, only use patterns with whole stitches. × Grace Greenhalgh: Use scissors to cut edges really close with no bits sticking out. Don’t use your best stitching scissors, it makes them blunt in no time! × Cheryl Naisbitt: I always use the loop method to start my threads and run the needle through the back of the stitches to tie off. × Anji Mae: I always use a needle smaller than the hole, let the thread untwist often and never run long strings. When cutting I make a rough cut with scissors, then go back with fine-tip sharp scissors to trim up the finished piece. × Elizabeth Rush: If you tend to stitch tightly,…

Spring flowers designs BLENDING ADDS DETAIL SPRING TIME CHART LEAFLET So cheerful – a show of beautiful pastel tulips bloom out from a galvanised metal watering can, in this chart (55887) by Sue Hillis Designs from Sew and So*. Shading is enhanced by blending different colours in the needle at the same time. Otherwise it features only a few fractional stitches, some half stitch and no French knots, so it’s a nice quick-make for stitchers with some experience. Stitch count – 112 high x 89 wide, 20x16cm (8x61/2in) on 14-count aida CHALLENGE YOURSELF SPRING Spring has truly sprung in this design by The Cross-Eyed Cricket and available at Arts and Designs*. The word ‘spring’ is in pretty-patterned letters that are adorned with flowers, bonnets and even bunting. Fractional stitches and…

Fun facts about Siamese cats • Originally from Thailand (Siam), they’re the first breed of the Orient. • Their eyes are blue because the gene responsible for the coat pattern also restricts the amount of pigment (which is responsible for green or brown colours) in the eyes. • They are great at learning tricks and even better at training their owners to do what they want! • They’re very talkative and love welcoming visitors to their home. Design my pet! Q I have two elderly Siamese cats, which I love dearly. One is a Chocolate point and the other is a Lilac point. I would love a design that shows my beautiful pets together which I could keep forever. Nicola Ryder, via email A Durene says: Siamese cats are really…

Delicious!: Stitchy-themed bakes would be too good to miss I’ve been lucky enough to go to a couple of friends’ birthday celebrations this past month – always a fun opportunity for stitching cards! But I wanted to tell you about the fabulous cakes on offer at both parties. Anyone who knows me will know I’m never going to pass up the chance for a good bit of cake, but I admit it was very inspiring to see the amazingly-decorated treats. The stunning displays of sugarcraft – roses at one and a knitting-theme for the other (balls of wool from rolled icing, with chopstick needles!) made me want to get tips from the star bakers in question, for a stitching-theme party. I giggled with the clever lady responsible for the ‘woolly’…