Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i The World of Cross Stitching

Here at The World of Cross Stitching HQ, we’ve been hotly discussing our new makes… this month’s seen a fabulous burst of inspiration for all of us, with lots of new starts on the agenda! Jostling for our attention is first and foremost the wow-factor poppies on our cover. It’s a surprisingly easy project, just stitched on aida, using only a few fractionals and is French knot-free! The finished result looks really impressive so head to page 10, now. More popular choices, too, are the super-sweet Mittens and Cyril – this cutie-pie duo are making their début in the mag on page 18, and I just love them! Plus, for something more glam, try the glitzy seahorse on page 36. It’s got us reminiscing over holiday beach days. What about…

Ruth Southorn Ruth, our Editor, has been a cross stitcher since she was tiny and is ready to share everything she knows Fiona Baker Fiona is our Technical Editor so she’s all ready to answer your problems on all things stitch and chart related Jenny Barton Design pro, Jenny has been creating projects for us for years and is ready to take on your design challenges Katie Lewis All set to hunt down those elusive charts and products, Katie’s here to find shopping answers that you need Katriel Costello Stitching guru Katriel has worked in the industry for years, so has ample knowledge to answer any queries Parenting in stitches Q I wonder if you can help me? I saw this cross stitch design in a magazine (sorry, I’m not…

JN Needleart: Before you start, separate good quality threads into individual strands, in shorter lengths, and then start off with the loop method. Plus, be sure to railroad your stitches as you go along, for a nice finish. Tracy Chapman: Let your needle dangle and untwist every few stitches, to help prevent tangles. Sue Craig: I use a slightly larger needle than normal, as it makes the hole in the fabric a bit bigger and prevents the thread catching on the fabric. Chris Cooper: I use the loop method to start, but I tie the cut ends to the needle, which means that the thread doesn’t slip off the needle. Kim Gregory: Thread Heaven makes metallic threads much easier to use! Yvonne Doolin: I store my metallic threads separately, in…

Halloween ideas FAB QUICK!STITCH PUMPKIN N ever mind handbag-sized, this diminutive little kit (00M-001mmh) is even small enough to fit in your pocket – so it’s perfect to cross stitch while you’re on the move! It’s always amazing to see the amount of detail you can get in a teeny space and this Jack o’lantern is scarily impactful. Experienced stitchers will stitch this cute squash from the ‘Make Me’ range by Mouseloft* in under an hour, while beginners will love getting stuck into this whole-stitches-only design, with just a little backstitch definition to bring out the details. Stitch count – 21 high x 21 wide, 4x4cm (1½x1½in) on 14-count cream aida EYE!CATCHING COLOURS HALLOWEEN ABC W hat a fab spooky sampler by Stitchers Anon, from Lakeside Needlecraft*! The chart pack is…

42" SPOOKY IDEAS Delight friends and family with these whimsical Halloween designs by Jenny Barton 42 quick-and-easy motifs Jenny Barton's design inspiration Stitches for every skill level Helpful tips and advice Unique present ideas for your special someone SPOOKY SILHOUETTE Use glow-in-the-dark thread for this creepy motif (22), to make a padded hanging. See the ‘How To’ section on our site at www.cross-stitching.com for a step-by-step guide. CASTING SPELLS Make this owl (23) into a fun pencil topper! Back your motif by sewing onto orange felt (right sides facing). Then hem the bottom, open edge, and turn through. WITCH’S BREW This quirky design (25) would be a fab Halloween party invitation! Once you’re done, mount onto patterned paper and then patch onto a white card blank. GLORIOUS GLOOP Turn this…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY 03 330 162 1 37 Issue 258 Our September issue was filled with inspiring stitching ideas, including a quaint thatched cottage, a soothing koi pond scene and a field of stunning poppies. Plus, pretty roses cards, a retro kitchen sampler, sweet sailboat hanging, cuties bunting stitched on perforated paper, parrots ABC and 37 magical fairy motifs! YOUR FREE GIFT: Herbert Hedgehog card kit Issue 257 Beautiful Butterflies card kit, deer and butterfly, gladioli, sundae cards, ships in bottles, floral wreath, Art Deco ABC, beach huts canvas Issue 254 Fizzy Moon card kit & Elegant Lady chart, exotic flamingo, lilacs, floral heart, cats cushion, new baby cards, Assisi motifs Issue 256 Summer Rose card kit, Tatty Teddy, beaded owl, floral doorstop, roses cushion, camouflage ABC, geometric hanging…

Be on the panel! Get a sneak preview Appear in the magazine Receive a stitchy gift Emma Shaw is an Assessment Officer from Lancaster Best thing about stitching? I love being totally absorbed in the task at hand. It’s great seeing a picture slowly coming together and then showing it off to others! What’s your best stitching tip? Keep checking the back of your stitching for knots! I’ve had to unpick my work so many times after I’ve noticed a big knot at the back. Fave recent project? I love the pretty, bow-embellished cards from issue 255. Proudest moment? Completing my first ever project! It was a complicated Christmas kit and I was so happy with it when I finished it. Any fun stitchy plans? I’d love to try different…

Star Letter STITCHY STYLE You featured my letter when I stitched the snowy owl from Ultimate Cross Stitch Nature onto my T-shirt – that was in issue 252 – and I told you that my daughter decided she wanted a kingfisher on hers… Here it is! As you can see, I gave it my own twist by fading away the edges. It meant I had to do a lot of counting, but the finished result is just what I wanted it to be! I hope you like it too. I love stitching nature-themed designs – and I’m now working on a sweet deer pattern. Anja Koote, Holland Lynne: It’s great to hear from you, again, Anja. I must say, I love this kingfisher design – what a lovely idea to make…

Scary stitching HAPPY HALLOWEEN With autumn just around the corner, why not try your hand at some Halloweenthemed stitches? We think these three colourful designs by Mill Hill – 'Moonlit Treaters', 'Boo House' and 'Spooky Scary', all available from Sewandso* – would fit the bill perfectly! Each design comes as a kit, and includes 14-count perforated paper, threads, decorative beads and buttons, needle and chart. 'Moonlit Treaters' and 'Spooky Scary' both measure 13x13cm (5_x5_in) and 'Boo House' measures 12.5x12.5cm (5x5in). Packed full of colour and interest, we think these designs would be fab Halloween decorations! ORIENTAL DELIGHT I f you’re looking for a more challenging project to get your needle into, 'Jewels of the Orient' (3898) by Dimensions Gold Collection* would be a great one to bookmark. Featuring two beautiful…

Fantastic frames KNOW_HOW Q When a pattern tells you the design area, how do you know what size frame to get? I know the magazine gives this info, but what about kits? Also, is the ‘aperture’ the hole where the picture goes? Tracey Rose, via Facebook A Fiona says: Choosing the size of a frame aperture (yes, it’s just the ‘hole’) depends on how much area of unstitched fabric you want showing around the edges of your design. This’ll depend on how much fabric you used, as that limits how much you can have on show in the aperture and, of course, how much you need to use for the mounting – stretching and lacing it around the mount board within the frame. If it’s a cross stitch kit, then…

Join us on Facebook Chat 24/7 on our Facebook page – here’s what you’ve missed! OUR FAVOURITE POST Peggy Edmondson says, “Just finished 'Crazy Cat Lady' by Heritage Crafts* and made it into a cushion. It’s the first time I’ve ever made piping!” We love this design, Peggy – and it looks absolutely perfect as a cushion! 23 people like this YOU LIKED Belinda Richards says, “Here she is finally finished, after many late nights – sometimes until midnight! – after long shifts at work.” What a stunning project, Belinda! We recognise it as 'Spirit of Winter' by Heaven and Earth Designs*. 1K people like this And the winner is… We asked you on Facebook: When do you start your Christmas stitching? I t seems we stitchers are an organised…

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 is usually worked over two threads of the fabric so it has an equivalent design size…

YOUR 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: White x2 Dark ginger x3 Dark red x2 Red x1 Light ginger x2 Brown x1 Dark blue x2 Cream x2 Orange x1 Light orange x1 Dark cream x2 Beige x1 Dark green x2 Green x2 Blue x1 Ginger x3 Grey x2 Total: 30 lengths Factbox Stitch in no time! Stitching Time Approx. 3-4 hours each Type of Stitches Cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch, French knots Ease of Stitching Advanced beginner MAX. STITCH COUNT 26 high x 25 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 4.5x4.5cm (1_x1_in) These designs were stitched using stranded cotton from your coverkit TOP TIP Use the loop method to…

JOY IN STITCHES Hello, I just finished this beautiful panda design from one of your old issues. I made it into a birth sampler for Liam, the third son of my niece, who lives in Florida. It was such a joy to work on it! Right now, this sampler is winging its way to Florida in my sister’s suitcase, as she’s visiting our family out there. I’ve also stitched two other designs for Liam’s brothers, Zayne and Collin. I hope they like them! Hennie van der Duim, the Netherlands Leela: Aww, I love this design, Hennie, and I’m sure little Liam will, too! I like how you’ve customised it with his name and date of birth – it’ll be a lovely keepsake, and he can treasure it for many years to…

Q Could you possibly design me a chart for a Sussex spaniel please? Especially the face, if you can. My parents have a chocolate brown one, called Bisto, and it would make their day to receive a stitched card or gift. Michelle Faulder, via email A Jenny says: Thanks for your request, Michelle. I had so much fun designing this little fellow. You’ll use a palette of six thread shades, and plenty of backstitch for the furry details. Enjoy! Sussex spaniel key STITCH COUNT 29 high x 24 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 5.5x4.5cm (2x1_in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton Please note: Jenny can only fit in fairly small designs and for copyright reasons she is unable to chart logos, or characters from films…

D o you know of a hairdresser-themed cross stitch? My daughter’s training to be a hairdresser at the moment, so I’d love to stitch something hairdresser-related for her. Carolyn Hensley, via email Ruth says: Our sister mag, Cross Stitch Crazy, has recently featured a whole library of hairdressing designs by Jenny Barton, that sound just perfect. In issue 232 (September 2017), you’ll find 10 fun motifs that’d really suit! See www.buysubscriptions.com/ back-issues/cross-stitchcrazy- magazine-backissues for back issues, stock permitting. C you help me find a supplier of Venus threads? I bought a whole load when they came out a number of years ago, but now I can’t find anyone who still sells them to top up my supplies. Eve Hall, Redcar Katie says: Sadly, Venus threads aren’t widely available in the UK…

Stitching has always been an important part of Tracey McRobbie’s life. She taught herself to embroider when she was eight and, as a young adult, she discovered the joys of counted cross stitch. “This opened up a whole new world to me!” she reveals. Today, Tracey works with children aged between six and 12 at Fort Langley Learning Centre in British Columbia, Canada, a non-profit childcare centre. “When I showed the children my stitching projects, they couldn’t believe I’d made them with my own hands!” she says. One day, after watching the children enjoying an art activity, Tracey began to wonder if they’d take to cross stitching. She’d already successfully taught her two sons and seven-year-old granddaughter how to stitch, so she began by putting together some little kits, with…

No. 1 pet PET OF THE MONTH Design my pet Q Hi Durene, I would love for you to design a chart of a long-haired dachshund. I own several miniature long-haired dachshunds – they’re all red, with a black overlay on the backs and ears, apart from one ‘odd one out’, who is black and tan. It would be great to cross stitch a long-haired dachshund! Many thanks in advance. Nancy Clay, Arlington, Texas A Durene says: Thanks for your request, Nancy. I love dachshunds, and I’ve always thought that the longhaired variety is particularly beautiful! It sounds like you’ve got your hands full with your furry little troupe, but I hope you’ll enjoy taking some time to stitch this chart. You’ll use a variety of similar thread shades to…

Loop start With both ends of a strand threaded, bring your needle up (1), leaving a loop at the back. Work the first arm of your stitch (2) & secure it by passing your needle through the loop. Backstitch Add detail and definition. Bring your needle up at (1) & down at (2), come up again at (3), then back down at (1) & so on, to direct each stitch ‘back’ towards the line of the growing backstitch. Cross stitch Bring your needle up at the bottom left corner (1) & down in the top right (2) for the first ‘arm’ of your stitch. Work the second arm, coming up in the bottom right (3) & going down in the top left (4). French knots Easy with practice – come…

Being as this is an October issue of the mag, I’ve been thinking about some upcoming celebrations that I need to be ready for. Of course, I’ve had my usual birthday and anniversary cards to make and tick off the list this month, plus a new Halloween decoration to stitch for my house. But did you know, too, there’s a lesser-known ‘holiday’ in the 10th month? It’ll be World Sight Day. While it might not be a day that’s widely celebrated, or even known about, taking care of our sight should be a priority for all of us. I think it’s certainly a message that us cross stitchers need to heed, especially. I have a friend who’s registered blind, and uses a guide dog, and I myself have picked up…