Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i The World of Cross Stitching

Springtime stitching is well under way and the longer evenings mean more time to enjoy the fantastic new projects in this issue! My cover star for this month is Margaret Sherry’s pretty kitty on page 10. You’ll love stitching this fashion-forward feline and the finished design will add a touch of glamour to your bedroom wall. Join in the Easter celebrations with our egg-cellent seasonal projects! Choose from one of Lucie Heaton’s beautiful Easter motifs in the Design Library (p47) or try something new with Amanda Gregory’s Easter egg baskets (p68). Stitched on plastic canvas, these sweet makes are sure to be brought out year after year. Plus, you’ll find a sparkly collection of unicorn cards that’ll jazz up someone’s birthday (p56), an intricate Venetian mask design to take your…

PICK OF THE MONTH Country living CHARMING STITCHES Bothy Threads* brings you this charming collection of 20 ‘Dale Designs’ from Derwentwater Designs. Inspired by famous buildings and views, designer Rose Swalwell has captured the picturesque countryside perfectly in these kits. Shown here are ‘Edinburgh Castle’ (DW14DD301) which measures 17x15cm (6¾x6in), ‘Bridge House’ (DW14DD102) which measures 13.5x13.5cm (5¼x5¼in), ‘Anne Hathaway’s Cottage’ (DW14DD204) which measures 18.5x17.5cm (7¼x7in) and ‘Shakespeare’s Birthplace’ (DW14DD212) which measures 18x12.5cm (7x5in). All kits come with 14-count aida, stranded cottons, needle, stitch diagram and instructions. BATHROOM BLISS Give your bathroom towels a mini makeover using the designs in this new booklet from Rico Design*, No. 161 ‘My Cosy Bathroom’. From flowers and butterflies to succulents and swans, these motifs are worked in pretty pastel shades of mint green, white,…

Fiona Baker Fiona is our Technical Editor so she’s all ready to answer your problems on all things stitch and chart related Heather Nugent Heather is our Charting Assistant and is on hand to answer any technical stitching questions you have Jenny Barton Design pro Jenny has been creating projects for us for years and is ready to take on your design challenges Hannah Kelly All set to hunt down those elusive charts and products, Hannah’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 3D cross stitch Q Is it ok to use Fray Check edging glue on stitching? I thought I might try it to make assembling 3D cross…

• Sara Gordon: Sometimes it’s advisable to use three strands of thread instead of two, to give better coverage. • Tina Rea-Davies: Ensure you have no sharp corners before you start, as your thread will snag. Also use shorter lengths of thread, again to reduce the snagging. • Hazel Wroe: Don’t pull the stitches too tight, or it can make finishing off on the back a bit tricky. • Judith Harrison: Oversew all the way around the edge in a contrast colour to give a lovely finish. Plastic canvas is also great for kids as it does not require a hoop, and they can’t pull it too tight and distort the work. • Sue Craig: Use nail clippers when cutting out your design, and a nail file if there are…

Elegant ladies EXQUISITE BEADING SPRING BEAUTY It takes effort to look this good, and it takes some stitches, too! Forty thread shades, beads, metallics and blending are required to create ‘Spring Beauty Princess’ from Passione Ricamo*, stitched here on hand-dyed Dusky Rose jobelan by Polstitches for a soft pink background. Perfect for the season, this elegant design will keep you occupied for many a spring evening. To get started, download the chart from the Passione Ricamo website. Stitch count: 250 wide by 250 high, 45x45cm (17¾x17¾in) on 28-count Dusky Rose jobelan FANTASTIC DETAIL HISTORIC SAMPLER I n this ‘Henry VIII Sampler‘, the king is flanked by his six elegant wives, each wearing a plush dress and accoutrements fashionable at the time. A perennial favourite from DMC*, this kit comes with the…

ISSUE 267 ON SALE 22 MARCH EXCLUSIVE You’ll love to stitch Bebunni He’s back! This super-sweet project features our fave bunny pal with the great big ears and an even bigger heart PLUS MUCH MORE • Shoot for the moon! With 30 Design Library celestial motifs • Try something new with our sweet mug cosy designs • Exclusive! Bluebells sampler from Historical Sampler Co • Your cross stitching queries answered by our experts • Your stories, inspiration & letters… plus much more TWO FAB GIFTS INSIDE FOR YOU Everything you need to stitch this vintage-chic greeting card! Inside your kit: • 14-count aida • 15 lengths of stranded cotton • Colour chart & key • Tapestry needle • Card & envelope PLUS… A giant floral chalk art chart designed by…

Selena Birkman is an office manager from Missouri, USA How did you start stitching? A neighbour introduced me to cross stitch when I saw her stitching 32 years ago! Tell us about your latest project… It’s a rural farm scene with a field and barn. It reminds me of my local area. What’s your best stitching tip? Thread Heaven for metallic threads is a life saver – to keep fraying at bay. What’s your fave design from a recent WOXS? Margaret Sherry’s ‘Festive friends’ which was on the cover of issue 261. What do your family and friends think of your hobby? My friends applaud my work and my family love my stitching, but they do not understand how I have the patience for it! What do you love most…

Fun facts about Jack Russell terriers • A Jack Russell terrier (JRT) can leap five times its own height • JRTs are often used in TV and movies – Eddie the JRT star of TV sitcom Frasier received more fan mail than any other Frasier character! • Even canines get sunburn and JRTs are particularly sensitive to sun rays due to their light-coloured coats • In 1982, Jack Russell terrier Bothy became the first dog to go to both the North and South Poles Design my pet! Q Dear Durene, could you please design me a chart of a tan-and-white Jack Russell terrier? I would like to stitch this in memory of our beloved Jack Russell named Trio who we had to have put to sleep. At present, I am…

Precious pieces Q About 40 years ago, I stitched several Precious Moments designs for my baby’s room. I framed them myself without glass, but after being stored away for years they are now badly yellowed from time. I took them apart and soaked them in a sink full of Oxyclean Bright Whites and a gentle clear detergent, but they are still yellowed. Are they salvageable? Debbie Lombard, via Facebook Q Jacqueline says: Discolouration was likely caused by acidity from the non-acid-free card in the frame, and other atmospheric pollutants. Wet cleaning will lighten acid staining but it cannot always be removed, sadly. Cotton fabric will also yellow with age, and unfortunately, nothing more can be done to improve its appearance. Re-mounting using acid-free card and glazing when framed should help…

KNOW-HOW Q I never know what to do with my designs when I finish stitching them. I would love to sew one on a pillowcase, or even on a cardigan or t-shirt, yet I have no idea how to do this. I would love some tips! Elinor Rebibo, via Facebook A Heather says: We love it when our readers get creative with their stitching and turn it into practical items, and we always try to give making-up instructions in the magazine where possible. These are listed with the projects on the pages, and often feature photos, too, to help illustrate the steps. How-tos can also be found at www.cross-stitching.com, along with ideas from our sister magazines, too. An extra-easy way to make something new would be to stitch it directly…

Stitch for any occasion Factbox • Stitching Time Approx. 3 hours • Type of Stitches Cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch, French knot • Ease of Stitching Advanced beginner Inside your kit... To help you sort your threads, here is a list of the colours and number of lengths inside your free kit: black x1 dark turquoise x1 turquoise x1 gold x2 yellow x2 light yellow x2 brown x1 dark green x1 green x1 light green x1 white x1 Total: 14 lengths STITCH COUNT 19 high x 33 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 3.5x6cm (1¼ x 2¼ in) This design was stitched using stranded cotton from your coverkit Meet the designer Kim Martin Kim has loved drawing and making things since she was a child. Little did she know…

WEDDING BELLS My niece is getting married next year so I thought I’d stitch the happy couple a wedding sampler. I looked through my back copies of WOXS (I have a lot) and found ‘Together in Tandem’ in issue 154. They are a young couple, and this design looked less formal than some I’d found. It was so nice to see the picture appearing, stitch by stitch, and I even mastered the French knots. Now I just have to get it framed. Going through my back copies I have now found loads of charts I want to stitch – that’s the next few years of stitching decided on! Sue Moden, Cambridge Sue: I love flicking through back issues, too. It’s amazing how you can pass something by the first time round,…

Join us on Facebook Chat 24/7 on our Facebook page – here’s what you’ve missed! OUR FAVOURITE POST Tere Camacho says: “Got my stitching gifts done for the ladies at work. They’re fabric envelopes and inside of each one I placed a set of note cards with matching envelopes.” What a fantastic making up idea and we love the personalised touch with the stitched initials. 4 people like this YOU LIKED Lin Dudely says: “My stitchy picture for my son for Christmas.” We adore the eleven vibrantly coloured frogs in this ‘Frog Pile’ cross stitch kit by Design Works Crafts*. We’re sure your son loved it Lin, and we bet it looks fab hung on the wall. 479 people like this And the winner is… We asked you on Facebook:…

Q I’m looking for a small cute sloth pattern to make into a card, and was hoping you might be able to help? Thank you. Louise Penston, via email A Jenny says: I love sloths with their lazy ways and laidback attitude! I hope you’ll enjoy stitching my design, Louise – it uses all grey shades, so keep a close eye on the colour changes on both the key and chart. It might be a nice idea to use a brightly coloured card to frame him! STITCH COUNT 26 high x 29 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 4.5x5.5cm (1¾x2in) 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,…

I ’m looking for some dinosaur cross stitch patterns. Can you please help me? Katie Downs, Cardiff Hannah says: This Modern Dinosaur pattern is available as an instant download PDF chart from HeleneWorkshop* on Etsy, and lists just 25 DMC threads in solid block colours for an easy stitch. The finished design will measure 22.5x22.5cm (8_x8_in) on 14-count fabric, and the PDF includes a colour as well as black and white chart, for just $5.40 (approx. £4.00). Kids will love this striking dino montage! I ’m looking to organise my Anchor threads on a big board, but can’t find one with all the numbers in order. Any ideas where to find one? Elizabeth Lovert, via Facebook Katriel says: I’m afraid storage solutions specifically for Anchor threads are hard to come by, but…

How did you begin illustrating? Ever since I learnt to hold a pencil I have had a love of drawing and painting that led all my relatives to buy me art-related gifts at birthdays and Christmas for years to come – which was very much appreciated! This interest grew throughout my school years so that pursuing these skills was the only option that would satisfy me. At art college, a career in art started to seem possible, so I continued on to Swansea Metropolitan University and gained a first-class degree in Illustration. What’s been your proudest moment? During my final year at university I was delighted to be among 10 students from Welsh universities selected to meet Prince Charles for ‘Tea at Highgrove’. We were chosen for being ‘outstanding achievers’…

PRIZES WORTH £256 Country craft We’ve teamed up with ICHF Events* to offer 16 lucky readers a chance to win a pair of tickets to the fabulous Weald of Kent Country Craft Show, at Penshurst Place, Tonbridge from 5-7 May. Children under 16 go free, so our lucky winners can make a real family day of it! Features at this show include fantastic displays showcasing the best of craft, beautiful handmade products for the home and garden, plus fun activities including crafting demonstrations and workshops. TO ENTER To enter text keyword WOXS266SHOW or label a postcard ‘Weald of Kent Country Craft show tickets giveaway (WOXS266)’ PRIZES WORTH £274 Seaside stitches Bothy Threads* are offering two fantastic cross stitch kits to give away. Capture the fun of a day at the…

• BOTHY THREADS www.bothythreads.com ☎ 01900 828 844 • CLOUD CRAFT www.cloudcraft.co.uk • CRAFT CREATIONS www.craftcreations.com • DESIGN WORKS CRAFT www.dwcrafts.com • DOODLECRAFT DESIGN www.doodlecraftdesign.co.uk • FLOSS & MISCHIEF www.flossandmischief.com • FORESIGHT-LED www.foresight-led.co.uk • GOLDLEAF NEEDLEWORK www.goldleafneedlework.co.uk • HELENEWORKSHOP www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Heleneworkshop • HERITAGE CRAFTS www.hcrafts.com ☎ 01889 575256 • HOBBYCRAFT www.hobbycraft.co.uk ☎ 0330 026 1400 • ICFH EVENTS www.ichfevents.co.uk ☎ 01425 277988 • KREINIK Available from SewandSo, as below • LAKESIDE NEEDLECRAFT www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk ☎ 0333 050 1184 • LOUISE MEAD www.louisemead.co.uk • LUCIE HEATON www.lucieheaton.com • MARIA DIAZ www.mariadiazdesigns.com • MILL HILL www.hantex.co.uk/millhill • MIRABILIA DESIGNS www.mirabilia.com • MOUSELOFT www.mouseloft.co.uk ☎ 01477 533566 • PASSIONE RICAMO www.passionericamo.eu • RICO DESIGN www.rico-design.de • SEWANDSO www.sewandso.co.uk ☎ 0800 013 0150 • STAYHOMESTITCHES www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StayHomeStitches • STITCHER www.stitcher.co.uk ☎ 0161 464 7310 • STITCHYLUNA www.etsy.com/uk/shop/StitchyLuna…

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…

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…