Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i The World of Cross Stitching

Now summer’s here in it’s element (though maybe I shouldn’t tempt fate?!) and that means lovely long hours of daylight, just ripe for the taking, I’m excited that we’ve heaps of inspiration packed into the issue for you this month! You won’t be able to resist our gorgeous patterns, showing off all the joy of the season. Like the pretty birdhouses project on page 76 which is fighting it out to be my current fave with our gorgeous fresh florals, as showcased on our cover. Head over to page 10 to get started on that one! While my hubby’s enjoying a summer of sport on TV (check out the athletics-theme ABC, p65), I love all the outdoorsy inspiration. Grab a deckchair at the Cornish-inspired sun-drenched card locations on page 26,…

Who wouldn’t love to receive these eye-catching blossoms in beautiful shades of violet, pink and blue? Taking centre stage, the petals of the anemone are recreated in realistic detail using clever shading and a scattering of French knots. Balanced perfectly by the small yet flawless pansies and dainty grape hyacinths, we love the way these individual bouquets are presented in glass jars, giving the whole piece a lovely, vintage feel. Accented by rich greenery and stitched on clean white aida to make the colours pop, this scene is a joy to bring to life. You’ll use over 35 different shades – including DMC’s metallic Light Effects threads for a shimmering touch to the water. Make sure to use a sharp needle when adding the fractional stitches, or, try using 28-count…

The Handmade Fair The Handmade Fair is just around the corner! Join Kirstie Allsopp from 16-18 September at Hampton Court Palace for hands-on workshops showing you how to make beautiful things for your home, and fashion accessories. Plus, learn about upcycling and do some fab communal crafting. And, our friends from DMC will be in attendance! Stop by their marquee for mini masterclasses, technique taster workshops and lots of lovely product samples including colour-changing Coloris threads. Learn a new skill, improve your technique or get help with a tricky project. Fashionistas will discover new ways to transform a plain T-shirt and homewares using the new Custom by Me! range. And, to celebrate DMC’s 270th birthday, there might even be some cake! MORE Full Experience tickets cost £29 for WOXS readers…

Q Jenny, please can you help me find a Statue of Liberty chart design in colour? I’ve looked quite a bit online but haven’t seen any that I like. Thanks for your help! Karin Perry, via email A Jenny says: Thanks for your request, Karin. I’ve created this close-up design of Lady Liberty so we can see the details of her face. Using seven colours, I made her natural but added a bit of shading and shadows. I hope this beauty is along the lines of what you’re looking for! Please note: Jenny can only fit in fairly small designs and for copyright reasons she is unable to chart logos, or characters from films and TV…

Can you help me find designs of George Pig from Peppa Pig, any of the Mr Men, Minions, Paddington Bear, Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep? I’d be so grateful. Mrs J Derrick, Bristol Jo says: There is no officially licensed producer of Peppa Pig characters or Minions, I’m afraid, due to copyright laws. Mr Men and Paddington were both licensed to Bothy Threads*, but are now discontinued. The Aardman characters were all licensed to Anchor* but are also discontinued. You could see if any retailers have remaining stock or check eBay. Good luck! Can you help? I’m after a Westie design, either a chart or kit will do. Coralene Amy Challice, via Facebook Jo says: This 'Highland Westie White Terrier' is available from Bluebell Threads*. Prices start at £3 for…

Who doesn’t love a bit of birdsong to brighten their day? These little warblers are ready to whistle while you work – and bring their homes to life in stitches! Durene has captured every little detail in this design – have you spotted the bees buzzing around the beautifully decorated houses? What about the welcome sign and bunting? Even the birds are an array of colours. Using 24 vibrant hues, you won’t find a dull moment when stitching this piece. We mounted ours in a pretty pink frame to bring out the rosy hues, but you can use any colourful frame to finish this beauty! Perfect for confident beginners, this design is mostly whole stitches with some fractionals and a scattering of French knots. It’s the backstitch you’ll want to…

Britain’s No 1 The World of Cross Stitching ISSUE 246 ON SALE 16 AUGUST EXCLUSIVE Stitch our prettiest fairy! You’ll adore this magical project, daintily dancing through the summer blossoms PLUS MUCH MORE • Try something new with our stitchy Halloween decorations • Your cross stitching queries answered by our experts • Pretty and fun-to-make… embellished autumn sampler • Stitch up some treats with our baking Design Library! • Your stories, inspiration & letters… plus much more YOUR FAB FREE GIFT! CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE! FREE CARD KIT Adorable Bebunni is back with this fastmake card for your festive stash Your fab free gift includes: • 14-count aida • 18 lengths of stranded cotton • Tapestry needle • Colour chart • Illustrated card • Envelope TO SUBSCRIBE ☎ 0844 826 7341…

Be on the panel! x Get a sneak preview x Appear in the magazine x Receive a stitchy gift Kati Bosch works in banking, from Kansas, USA How did you start stitching? A friend of my mum’s made the most beautiful cross stitch, and I always admired them but never did much of my own until about a year ago. I’ve quickly become addicted! What’s your favourite style? I love samplers, but I’ve yet to actually attempt one. The intricate designs with beads and speciality threads and colours have caught my eye several times too. Favourite recent design? I love the thread spool wreath from issue 239. I can’t wait to start it! Best tip you ever heard? Always bring a project with you! You can work on it at…

Star Letter BEAUTIFUL BUNNY As soon as I saw Bebunni in issue 233, I wanted to stitch her. I could just picture her sitting on my new sewing cabinet, especially when I saw the hoop-on-a-stand finishing idea in issue 230. I worked in DMC Light Effects threads and more gold for the butterflies. After all these years, I still get tips and ideas! Dayle Shastal, Manitoba, Canada Jo: She looks cute Dayle. We’re glad you’re finding stitchy inspiration in the mag. Win! The writer of our Star Letter wins both of these gorgeous Madeleine Floyd kits – 'Garden Birds 1' (XMF1) & 'Garden Birds 2' (XMF2) – worth £27.49 each from Bothy Threads! www.bothythreads.com or call ☎ 08448 000 221 A very cross stitched wedding I ’ve spent the last…

These greetings might be small, but talented designer Jenny has packed each mini scene full of detail. Every design features a different seaside scene, from a trio of boats moored for the evening to a beautiful rock formation, slowly worn by the gentle wash of the waves. Each charming chart makes for such a relaxing stitch and would be perfect for any number of occasions. Stitch for a summer birthday, a ‘bon voyage’, or even send to a friend who lives far away as a reminder of England’s sunny shores. Worked in a soft palette inspired by sun-bleached shades and on white aida, you’ll use a variety of stitches, including fractionals and a fair amount of backstitch, making these great projects for beginners. And, as each one has been designed…

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 Jo Stenlake All set to hunt down those elusive charts and products, Jo’s on hand 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 Find a fir Q I recently came across an article, ‘Christmas Stitching around the World’, from issue 169 of The World of…

Linda West: I stitch for Christmas all year round. I don’t have a plan specifically – I just make what takes my fancy. I like to do little projects for Christmas and turn them into cards or tree decorations for quick finishes. Sue Ward-Allsop: I always make my Christmas cards... around 30 of them, and usually small gifts for all my grandchildren. Last year it was stockings with their names on. I usually start Christmas stitching around June but am a bit behind this year so best get a move on! Helen Frazier: This is my first year stitching so haven’t thought about Christmas yet. But next year I plan to look at the designs in magazines throughout the year and start stitching early to avoid a mass panic in…

Lighthouse ideas STITCHY ART MEVAGISSEY LIGHTHOUSE This little lighthouse from Emma Louise Art Stitch* will remind you of holidays in picturesque Cornwall on a summer’s evening. With pre-sorted Anchor threads, this’ll make a great little kit (ELAS002) to take away on holiday. The blue sky is created in half stitches, and there’s felt backing to finish. Stitch count – 83 high x 26 wide, 13x4cm (5x1½in) on 16-count white aida band CHALLENGE YOURSELF HARBOUR 2 Michael Powell Cross Stitch Art* creates quirky and unique designs! Like this chart (X85CH) worked in whole and half stitches. With a bit of long stitch and French knots, plus 13 of the 41 symbols as blended threads, it’ll suit a more experienced stitcher. Look out for companion chart, 'Harbour 1' (X54CH), as well. Stitch count –…

No. 1 pet Fun facts about rat terriers • This breed was originally used to catch vermin on ships, and the first served on Henry VIII’s flag ship • Police have started using rat terriers as search dogs as they’re quick to train and small in stature • Rat terriers are known for their ‘brains, brawn and beauty’ • Former US President Theodore Roosevelt has a strain of the breed named after him – officially called the Teddy Roosevelt terrier • This breed featured in Harper Lee’s 1960 book, To Kill a Mockingbird Design my pet! Q Please, Durene would you chart me a rat terrier? I have had many of these dogs over the years but two very special ones, Ginger and Holly. Sadly, Ginger is no longer with…

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…

Can you believe it… we’re almost halfway through the year! Now, I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions and when I wrote about this a while ago, some of you emailed me with your goals for 2016. (Like Kath, who said she’d been working on cards for Macmillan coffee mornings, so her aim was to stitch more ‘for me’. I hope you’ve found time to do that, Kath!) Me, I reflect on my goals throughout the year – especially coming up to July. Have you heard of ‘Christmas in July’? Many of my cardmaking pals are true devotees, making sure their festive papercrafting activities are well underway so they’ll have enough Christmas cards done – and avoiding any last-minute panics, too. It’s my target to do the same and have…

GIFT 1 HANDY FOR HOLIDAYS This cute flower Thread Cutter is a fab alternative to scissors and is just the right size to take away on holiday for quick cutting! SO EASY TO USE Whether cutting from a skein, or trimming away a thread end on your project, simply slide your threads between the petals and the safe, concealed blade will do the work for you PRETTY AND PRACTICAL Never mind searching around for scissors – wear this Thread Cutter around your neck so it’s always there when you need it! GIFT 2 FAB FREE CHART Exclusive luxury 'Summer Rose' chart to stitch Kati READER PANEL “The 'Summer Rose' design is so pretty! It’s a gorgeous project and I can’t wait to make it for my daughter. It’ll go well…

Join us on Facebook Chat 24/7 on our Facebook page – here’s what you’ve missed! OUR FAVOURITE POST Trish Bandoni from California said, “I’m hoping that maybe stitching this snowman will cool me off in our boiling 100 degree Fahrenheit weather today!” YOU LIKED The honour of #projectoftheweek recently went Linda West for her recent finish – the adorable 'Sew Busy' kit from Dimensions. She said, “I love working on these adorable sewing mice!” And the winner is… We asked you on Facebook: When do you start Christmas stitching? We’re not surprised that most of you said you start around this time of year. Why not get a head start on giftmaking with our fab cushion on page 72? It’ll make the perfect pressie for all ages! Websites you’ll love…

Keep it in the family Q You do a lot of charts for mums, dads and grandparents and I wondered if you had any ideas for more unique families, like foster families. I’ve been searching for something that’d allow me to include all the children I come across in my career. Rachel Clark, via Facebook A Lizzy says: There are so many different types of families these days. And there are certainly ways to include each everyone in a stitched family portrait. It’s the reason I came up with my book of patterns, Do-It-Yourself Stitch People. Why not try a collage? Stitch each of your family members and frame them separately. Then, as foster children come along, you can stitch and hang them up with the rest of the family,…

Sponsored by Create and Craft TV, see the new Disney range at www.createandcraft.tv/disney With the school holidays upon us, these 15 ideas to keep the kids busy over the summer break will be just the thing. Girls, boys… younger, older – we have something fun for everyone… Sky 674, Freeview 23 Freesat 813, Virgin 784 1 Encourage children to try cross stitch with this bumper project box. The 'B-Crafty Cross Stitch Kit' (603536) is just £15.99 from Hobbycraft*. Everything’s inside for beginners to make no less than 10 projects, using plastic canvas, wool threads, plastic needles and beads to add special accents. Instructions are included for making bookmarks, brooches, a coin purse and much more. Recommended for ages 8+. 2 This book is packed with projects for kids to enjoy.…

Sit down with this comfy cushion, a warm cuppa and just enjoy the sunlight streaming in. Pick up your WIPs and get to work with your stitching as you revel in the comfort of your own giant stitched cushion! Try something new with Zweigart’s Turkestan aida. It’s 100% cotton at a very large 3.5-count which is perfect for making this colourful geometric design. You’ll stitch with Soft Cotton, a thick cotton with a smooth, matt finish. Then pick up a size 18 needle and you’ll have this project finished in no time! Not only is it an easy new fabric, but perhaps the chance to try a new thread type too, in the shape of the Soft Cotton. But, if you’d rather stitch with regular stranded cottons, just use all…

Getting started x ANCHOR www.makeitcoats.com ☎ 01484 681881 For kits, fabrics & threads x CRAFT CREATIONS www.craftcreations.com ☎ 01992 781900 For blank & aperture cards x DMC CREATIVE WORLD www.dmccreative.co.uk ☎ 0116 275 4000 For kits, fabrics, threads and more x JOHN JAMES NEEDLES www.jjneedles.com ☎ 01527 830941 For needles & sewing essentials x MADEIRA www.madeira.co.uk For fabrics, threads & accessories, buy in the UK from Barnyarns www.barnyarns.co.uk ☎ 01765 690069 x THE WORLD OF CROSS STITCHING SUBSCRIPTIONS www.buysubscriptions.com/world ☎ 0844 815 0049 x ZWEIGART www.zweigart.de For fabrics, buy in the UK from SewandSo www.sewandso.co.uk ☎ 01453 889988 Your Projects Find all the charts, kits, threads & accessories featured in this issue x AMAZON www.amazon.co.uk x AMANDA GREGORY DESIGNS www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AmandaGCrossStitch x BLUEBELL THREADS www.bluebellthreads.com x BOTHY THREADS www.bothythreads.com x BUTTON…

Afghan – a woollen blanket with areas inset for cross stitching, often used for baby designs Aida band – a narrow strip of aida, available in varying widths, and finished with a decorative edge Aperture – a hole through which a design is seen in cards & frames Backstitch – used to add detail & definition. See how to stitch it in our diagram above! Beading needle – a longer, finer needle than a tapestry needle, used for adding seed beads to a design Counted stitches – embroidery stitches worked on counted, or evenly woven, fabrics like aida & evenweave. Cross stitch is the most basic counted stitch Floss – USA term for stranded cotton Fractional stitches – made from either a quarter or three-quarters of a cross stitch, these…