Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2017 i The World of Cross Stitching

All set for Christmas yet? No? Haha, don’t worry, us neither!! Maybe you’ve had your festive stitching on the go for a while now (or perhaps it never even stopped in your house?!), or like us, you’re yet to hit ‘full speed’ for your Christmas makes. I never like to be done-and-dusted too early, anyway - I’d be kicking myself over all the fabulous new festive ideas coming up that I’d only have to end up saving for next year! We’re just starting to hit our jolly-holiday stride this issue – like the cosy robin duo on page 10. Who doesn’t love these wintry, feathered friends? Plus, super-pretty seasonal florals, exclusively by April Rose (p78). Both’d be lovely designs, whether you celebrate Christmas or not. We’ve lots more, too, if…

Meet the designer Lesley Teare “With a festive sparkle, this’ll make a special card or gift you’ll love to stitch and send this holiday season!” How to use metallics Cut your threads slightly shorter than normal, to 30cm (12in) rather than 38cm (15in). When threading, if you are using two strands, cut a single length of thread and fold it in half. Feed the looped end through the eye of the needle and then pass over the point to secure it. This’ll keep it attached to the needle and prevent slipping.…

WINGED BEAUTIES Last year, I received a copy of your sister magazine Ultimate Cross Stitch Nature as a present from my dear aunt. The patterns inside inpired me to stitch something for my mother, who loves nature and bright colours. I used decopatch paper to decorate a plain frame, and then put my stitched pieces inside. I am very pleased with the result and I know she will be, too, when I give it to her. Also, I must add that it’s always such a joy to find The World of Cross Stitching in my mailbox every month! Diana Schaap, Gouda, Holland Lynne: What a super pressie, Diana – and I love how you’ve personalised it by decorating the frame. Adding a unique touch to projects, like embellishing cards, customising picture…

Winter wonder FESTIVE FUN Celebrate the magic of the festive season with these stunning designs! All from the John Clayton Collection, available at Heritage Crafts*, 'Christmas Toy Shop' (JCTS1268), 'Christmas Village' (JCXV1244) and 'Christmas Church' (JCCH1144) are all simply delightful. We think they’re the perfect projects to curl up with indoors, perhaps in front of a roaring fire, now that the evenings are drawing in. Packed with the most charming details that will be such a joy to recreate, they’ll definitely get you in the mood for Christmas! Each kit includes your choice of 14-count aida or 28-count evenweave, pre-sorted DMC threads, needle, chart and instructions, and the finished designs measure 22x31cm (8¾x12¼in) each. We think these wintry scenes would look stunning in any home – and they’d make great…

D o you know of any patterns of, or with, post vans in them? I have an image in my head of a snowy winter scene with a post van in it, but I can’t seem to find anything. Stephanie Allen, via Facebook Ruth says: It sounds like you’re thinking of an exclusive design by Kevin Walsh for DMC, that was in issue 50 of our sister magazine, Cross Stitch Gold. This sold out as a back issue ages ago, but it was also produced as a kit by DMC* called 'Scottish Highlands'. Sadly, it’s also now discontinued, but it may be worth still looking out for it on eBay or similar. Good luck! H ow many hoops should I have? I only have one but feel that I should have…

CRAFT SANCTUARY Have you ever dreamed of an entire weekend filled with creativeness and stitchy chat? Well, now’s the perfect chance to book your spot on one of these exact weekends! SewandSo’s latest Craft Sanctuary retreat will be held on 27-29 October at the stunning Cranage Hall in Cheshire. It’ll be the perfect chance to meet fellow stitchy addicts and try new skills and techniques. You’ll be guided through the intricacies of Japanese embroidery skills and you’ll cross stitch colourful Oriental lantern ornaments in a workshop with The World of Cross Stitching designer Lucie Heaton! Materials, workshops, food and accommodation are included in the price, starting at £425 MORE: Call Sheena at SewandSo* on % 01684 498031 or visit www.craftsanctuary.co.uk to book and for info WHERE AM I? Here I…

This quaint country cottage, framed by the most beautiful of blooms, would be a perfect project to get your needle into. We love the soft, gentle colour palette and the way the subtle shading makes the petals and leaves seem so lifelike. Plus, backstitch in complementary colours, rather than black, gives the piece a delicate and refined look. A great make for confident beginners and more experienced stitchers alike, use white aida for a crisp finish. Work outwards from the centre of the design so you’re sure to fit it neatly on your aida, with enough fabric border for mounting! And speaking of the mounting… When you’ve finished stitching, this pretty design would be a wonderful decoration for any spot in your home. Or, it’d be a lovely Christmas pressie…

Cross stitched samplers look so beautiful that you can recreate almost any phrase, and it still seems sweet and innocent at first glance! If you know someone who thinks the only thing worse than a back-seat driver is a back-seat cook, this fun saying is a must-stitch gift for them. Or, maybe your own family have an aversion to making dinner, but are full of endless advice as soon as you get started? Either way, this design is a kitchen essential for most! Worked in a classic sampler style, we love the way designer Rhona has intertwined blossoms around the scroll. And, the whole piece is set off beautifully with a border of pots, pans and other utensils, in the same shades as the main focal point of the design.…

Each month one crossword winner gets an original print of Monty Mouse plus a limited-edition Titch chart, both by Lucie Heaton. To find more adorable Furry Tales designs, check out www.lucieheaton.com! Bonfire night mouse key STITCH COUNT 39 high x 38 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 7x7cm (2_x2_in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton PRIZES WORTH £265 Seasonal stitching Get in a festive mood! 'Peace on Earth', 'Retro Rudolph' and 'Christmas Dollhouse' by Tiny Modernist* are three PDF charts you’ll love. Worth $19 (approx. £14.77) together, they measure 17x20cm (6¾x8in), 13.5x9.5cm (5½x3¾in) and 16.5x18.5cm (6½x 7½in), respectively, when using 14-count aida. 18 lucky stitchers will win all three charts! TO ENTER By text message, use keyword WOXS260TINYMODERNIST or if entering by post, please label your…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY 03 330 162 1 37 Issue 259 Our October issue was a treat for you – all occasion ideas and some seasonal makes for Halloween, to boot! So much inspiration… wow-factor poppies, mouth-watering cupcake cards from Joan Elliott, a shimmering seahorse and cutie pals Mittens and Cyril. Plus, shabby-chic stitching accessories. YOUR FREE GIFT: 3-in-1 Christmas kittens cards kit Issue 258 Herbert Hedgehog card kit, country cottage, poppy meadow, Helz Cuppleditch summer sailboat, koi pond, cute bunting, fairy motifs Issue 255 Madeira threads and chartbook, Cookie Bear, new baby ABC, puffin, bluebell woods, stitcher’s saying, woodland wreaths 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…

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…

Last week a few crafty pals and I were discussing the idea of some fund-raising. There’s a local community campaign for which we’re going to sell some crafty bits and donate the proceeds… We chatted a bit about good causes – charitable sources who themselves want finished crafty makes can be tough to find, but holding a stall at the local summer fayre or bake sales are ideal for selling goodies to raise money. Have you ever cross stitched for a charitable cause? If I don’t have a personal project to work on, then I can squeeze in little makes like cards, bookmarks or keyrings. They’re very popular at fund-raising sales, at our nearby charity shop. It was fab too to hear about Lorraine Lewis who runs The Lewis Foundation…

Be on the panel! Get a sneak preview Appear in the magazine Receive a stitchy gift Sarah Williams is a doctor from Bangor, Northern Ireland Can you describe yourself? Shy, organised and creative. How did you start stitching? On holiday in Wales when I was nine – my first pattern was a Welsh dragon my grandma gave me, to help me remember my Welsh roots! Fave recent design? The cuties bunting from issue 258. Memorable stitching moment? Frantically stitching a badger for my animal-lover friend, Nisha, on Christmas Eve! She loved it so much that she cried when I gave it to her. Who’s your dream stitching pal? Morgan Freeman! I feel like he’d have natural stitchy skills… and I could listen to his voice all day. “I love the…

Nothing says Christmas like the sight of the darling little robin, one of Britain’s most-loved birds. And, nothing says ‘I love you’ like this charming pair, snuggled up and gazing at each other, adoringly. While their magnificent red breasts are the first things to catch your eye, that special connection between them has to be second. Or, maybe they’ve just spotted their perch is right below a sprig of mistletoe! From the robins’ plump, feathered bodies to the rich greenery that surrounds them, it will be so lovely to bring this realistic piece to life. And, as it’s worked on a marble-look, sky blue aida (find out more about how this pretty shade got its name, Glacier, on page 98!) so it’s a ready-made backdrop – just add a scattering…

As the leaves are changing colour and the air is getting cooler, we can’t think of a better project to get our needles into than these pretty autumnal posies. Full of the richness and abundance of harvest-time, the two designs feature black-eyed Susans, echinacea, poppy seed heads, wheat ears, heather, leaves and berries – and it’ll be such a joy to recreate the sweet details! If you’ve never tried evenweave before, this project would be a perfect introduction to the fabric. Grid out your evenweave before you begin, marking 10x10 squares in tacking stitches – counting the threads will be much easier, then you can easily remove these guidelines when your project’s all done! To frame them like ours, fray the evenweave edges and, using doublesided tape, patch your designs…

Xmas garland ideas FESTIVE SPARKLE JINGLE BELL WREATH KIT T his sweet little holiday wreath is packed with seasonal treats and treasures. A Mill Hill kit (1020574) to buy from SewandSo*, it features a garland design that’s to be stitched on perforated paper, then embellished with beads and bells! Emerald, Christmas green and rich red are just some of the shades used, so give this stunning mini kit a try. Stitch count – 36 high x 36 wide, 6.5x6.5cm (2½x2½in) on 14-count green perforated paper TIMELESS DETAILS CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS W ith a seasonal selection of threads and a generous piece of fabric inside, this Janlynn kit, available from Arts and Designs*, is great value for money! Long stitch and French knots accompany the whole cross stitches, fractionals and backstitch in this…

FESTIVE IDEAS Have fun with these cheery baubles by Debra Page, perfect for cards, gift tags and more! 53 quick-and-easy motifs Debra Page's design inspiration Stitches for every skill level Helpful tips and advice Unique present ideas for your special someone CUTE CAT What an irresistible kitty (14)! Fray the edges and patch onto a oblong single-fold card in bright red (DEC4U, 17) from Craft Creations*. Trim with narrow gold ribbon. GIFT FOR A BABY A cutesy bauble (42) is so fab! Sew three sides of your motif to a bit of red felt, right sides facing. Turn through, stuff and slip-stitch the gap closed, adding a ribbon loop. JINGLE BELLS! We love these sparkly, brightly coloured bells (7). Simply repeat-stitch onto a white aida band, 2in wide, to your…

Christmas is just on the horizon, and these loveable little characters couldn’t be more pleased! From decorating the tree to going for a walk in the snow, designer Durene has captured all of our favourite things about the festive season in her sweet, playful designs. Great for all ages, these adorable cards will raise a smile with your friends and family this season. And, from the robin perched atop the kitty’s head to the perfectly wrapped pressies piled under the tree, it’ll be a treat to recreate the fab little details. This set is also easy to personalise – why not mix and match the sentiments for different recipients, and change up the colours to use threads from your stash? Simply stitch on 14-count aida, and then patch onto a…

Star Letter SWEET STOCKINGS Hi, I love your magazine and I look forward to each issue. I made small stockings for my family and friends for Christmas, using Furry Tales crossword and card motifs by Lucie Heaton, from issues of The World of Cross Stitching! These are from your issue 248 (Christmas 2016). I hope you like them. Thanks for the variety of designs – they definitely always keep me “in stitches”! Winifred Zimmermann, via email Leela: It’s great to hear from you, Winifred, and that you’re enjoying our designs! It looks as though you’re a fan of Lucie Heaton’s patterns, so you’ll be pleased to see her Christmas clock this issue (p68). It’s such a fun makingup idea, too! Prize worth £66! Win! Our Star Letter writer wins this fab…

No. 1 pet Fun facts about ... Pekingese dogs • This breed has a reputation for being confident, brave and stubborn • Originating in China, the Pekingese was favoured by Chinese royalty, and was used as a lap dog and companion by many emperors • They are one of the oldest breeds of dog – and genetically they are very closely linked to wolves! • Queen Victoria was given a Pekingese dog as a gift in 1861, which established the breed in Britain Design my pet! Q Hi Durene, I am very much enjoying your Pet of the Month series. I have never seen a cross stitch design of a Pekingese dog. As I have owned and loved this breed for over 40 years, I’d be absolutely thrilled if you…

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 CONTENTS 32 IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Nutmeg Company’s Meg, on cleaning projects 33 WISHES GRANTED Jenny’s designed a special canine pal for Janet!…

Fancy taking on a stitchy challenge this festive season? Then look no further than Amanda’s spectacular wreath cushion. Even if you’ve already decked the halls to within an inch of their life, we’re sure you can find room on your sofa for this stylish make. Not least as it means you’ll get to show it off to a whole host of visitors! With a perfect crafty-theme, it’s inspired by festive fabrics and embellishments. It’s so filled with variety… the shading, pretty prints, and different decorations adorning the wreath itself. Plus, it’s using a beautiful, timeless Christmassy colour palette you’ll love. In fact, we think the main challenge you’ll have will be putting your needle down at the end of each stitchy session! Choose to stitch it onto antique white evenweave,…

Join us on Facebook Chat 24/7 on our Facebook page – here’s what you’ve missed! Find us online www.cross-stitching.com www.facebook.com/ theworldofcrossstitching www.twitter.com/woxscrossstitch www.pinterest.com/worldofxs www.youtube.com/crossstitchtv OUR FAVOURITE POST Helen Lovell says, “Finally finished and framed these doorways, ready to be displayed in my hallway!” These summery doorways are just beautiful, Helen. We recognise them as designs from way back in our issue 61 (August 2002)! YOU LIKED Svitlana Roos says, “I started this more than three years ago. It’s the first time I’ve tried couching, and the lace on her blouse looks real!” This 'Woman with Bouquet' kit by Dimensions* Gold Collection is a stunning one, Svitlana. And the winner is… We asked you on Facebook: What’s your go-to for a gift stitching idea? I t seems that the top gift…

Dashing through the snow, Christmas Eve is a race against time for Santa and his trusty reindeer, as they rush to deliver bulging sacks of presents to all of the little boys and girls tucked up in bed. And, everyone knows that jolly old St. Nick can only drop off gifts if everyone’s asleep, so this clock is an essential for the festive season! This cheery design would brighten up any room, but if you hang it in a little one’s bedroom, they’ll know exactly when to visit the Land of Nod – especially since the numbers are stitched using glow-in-the-dark thread! Take a look at page 72 for the effect, and find a handy ‘How to’ step-by-step guide for making up your finished clock, too (p73). Lucie’s cuties bring…

Ready, set, shop! Getting ?tarted Where to buy your start-up kit – turn to shop! 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 & 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.buysubscriptions.com/world ☎ 03330 162167 ZWEIGART www.zweigart.de For fabrics, buy in the UK from SewandSo www.sewandso.co.uk ☎ 01453 889988 Products to drool over! Browse the latest stitching designs and ideas on PAGE 24 Your ?ojects Find all the…

REASON FOR THE SEASON Make our special cards to celebrate the nativity – great for beginners, too! DELICIOUS GOODIES Treat yourself to this fun design from award-winner, Durene Jones – YUM! PLUS MUCH MORE Simple step-by-step guide for biscornus with festive glitz Jolly holly alphabet, PLUS an easy advent calendar make Your cross stitching queries answered by our experts Stitch festive food with our Design Library – 40+ motifs Your stories, inspiration & letters… plus much more FAB FREEBIES INSIDE! THREE GIFTS FOR YOU Your 3-in-1 free gift includes: • 16m of high-quality Madeira threads • Two Christmassy colour packs • 46 fast-finish card & tag charts to stitch with your free threads GIFTS FOR YOU !…