Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2018 i The World of Cross Stitching

With festive prep now in full swing, I’m really excited to welcome you to our Christmas issue – we’ve got everything you need to get ahead on all your seasonal stitching, so there will be no last minute finishing of projects on Christmas Eve this year! For everyone who’s looking to get stuck into a big Christmas design, turn to page 10 right away for Margaret Sherry’s adorable cats in stockings pattern – we can’t resist them! Alternatively, we’ve got a family of owls cuddling up together as they wait for Christmas morning (p20) and a fun set of dancing reindeer (p84), showing off their favourite jumpers at the office party. If you’re after something smaller, try Angela Poole’s sweet set of robin Christmas cards (p58), Durene Jones’ adorable nativity…

Inside your kit… To help you sort your threads, here is a list of the colours and number of lengths inside your kit: White x8 Tan x2 Blue x2 Red x3 Green x2 Light green x3 Orange x1 Light grey x3 Dark red x2 Pink x1 Light emerald x3 Light blue x4 Emerald x2 Black x3 Gold metallic x5 Teal metallic x2 Total: 46 lengths Snowman Bauble key STITCH COUNT 42 high x 38 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 7.5x7cm (3x2¾in) This design was stitched using stranded cotton and metallic thread from your coverkit Meet the designer DURENE JONES “It was great fun designing this double-sided snowman for the Christmas tree! He’s such a jolly chap, and is sure to be appreciated by people of all ages.…

Star Letter IN LOVING MEMORY This finished work of mine is a kit by RTO called ‘Beautiful Nuthatch’. I bought it last year as a gift for my dad, who had just managed to introduce a family of nuthatches to visit his garden regularly. Shortly after I bought the kit, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal cancer. I made the decision to try and get the stitching finished to give to him at Christmas (if not before), but this was the largest piece I’d ever attempted and I’ve only recently gotten back into stitching. With a one-year-old daughter, I rarely had time to stitch, so the majority of the work was done sitting in my car while my little girl slept in her car seat. Thankfully, I got it finished…

PICK OF THE MONTH Bunny love FESTIVE CUTIES Our hearts melted when we saw these brand new designs from Bothy Threads* – and we bet yours will too! With four designs in total, the adorable Bebunni is getting ready for Christmas in a variety of sweet outfits, including a Christmas angel and a jolly pudding! Several of the designs use Lana, a wool-blend thread, for a fluffy finish to features such as Bebunni’s hood. Each kit comes with 14-count white aida, a needle, clear instructions and pre-sorted stranded cottons as well as any extra threads or beads needed. ‘Angel’ and ‘Poinsettia’ measure 18x22cm (7x8¾in) when complete, and ‘Christmas Pudding’ and ‘Rudolf’ are 16x22cm (6¼x8¾in). BEAUTIFUL BAUBLE Create a Christmas decoration you’ll be proud to hang in your hallway with this…

Time for tea Q Do you know where I can buy a 15cm (6in) square plastic coaster? I’d like to ‘fill’ it with some stitching and use it as a decorative teapot stand. Cassandra Nance-Kievill, via Facebook A Sarah says: What a great idea, Cassandra! Here at Stitchtastic*, we stock a few acrylic coaster options, although none quite as large as 15cm I’m afraid. What might be best for your teapot however, is our range of glass tableware, as the heat from the teapot won’t affect the finish on the surface like it could with the acrylic. Whilst we have a set of 10x10cm (4x4in) Glass Square Coasters (ACC-GC-4-BLACK) which have a 7.5x7.5cm (3x3in) visible insert for your stitching, we also produce a set of Four Glass Placemats (ACCGPL-4-BLACK), which…

PRIZES WORTH £285 Let it snow Pass the mulled wine and mince pies! We’re feeling very festive here at The World of Cross Stitching and we think it might have something to do with this ‘Christmas Cottage’ kit – part of the John Clayton Collection from Heritage Crafts*. This heart-warming design is the ideal project to curl up on the sofa with in the run-up to the end-of-year festivities. The finished piece measures 31x22cm (12¼x 8¾in) and would look great framed and displayed over a roaring fire. We have seven ‘Christmas Cottage’ kits to give away to lucky readers. TO ENTER To enter visit our website www.cross-stitching.com or label a postcard ‘Heritage Crafts giveaway (WOXS274)’ PRIZES WORTH £288 Best in show Get yourself in the mood for some festive stitching…

SHANNON WASILIEFF Have yourself a very vintage Christmas with Shannon’s nostalgic design library (p47), which is packed with lovely ideas for simple cards and gifts. CAROL THORNTON You’ll find Carol’s evocative woodland scene on page 28. With delicate snowfall, winter animals and colourful border, it will be a joy to stitch! POPPY BENNER Deck your home with Poppy’s marvellous mittens (p70), a sweet set of tree decorations that are sure to draw compliments this Christmas season.…

Q I’m looking for a small cross stitch chart of a gothic-style dragon, in black and grey colours if possible – I’d love it if you could please chart me one? Josephine Davis, Exeter A Jenny says: What a fantastic idea for a project Josephine! I hope you like this little dragon design I’ve made. It’s worked entirely in black and greys, and uses backstitch and fractionals for some great spiky detail all around the body. Enjoy stitching him! Dragon key STITCH COUNT 29 high x 27 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 5.5x5cm (2x2in) 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 and…

Q I’m currently stitching the Mittens and Cyril design from issue 265 – what size frame did you use in the main picture in the magazine? Sarah Jane Emmanuel, via Facebook Heather says: We always list the exact aperture size of the frame we use in the photos on the shopping lists for each project, so that readers can create the same look in their own pieces. For this adorable Mittens and Cyril design, the frame we used for the photography had an aperture measuring 18x26cm (7x10¼in). Q I have a picture I would like to make into a cross stitch project. Are there any programmes or apps that I could use? Clara Hughes, via Facebook Katriel says: Why not try DMC’s* Snap and Stitch service – upload your picture (making sure…

CHARITY OF THE MONTH HELPING HAND After her mother was admitted to hospital for cancer treatment in 2010, Lorraine Lewis, along with her husband Lee, found herself running shopping errands for some of the other patients on the ward. It was then that the couple hit upon the idea of delivering free gift packs for people in hospital. There was a huge demand and now The Lewis Foundation provides 1,000 free packs a month to cancer patients in the Northampton area. They have a selection of 27 gift packs, including essentials such as shower gel, plus items such as puzzle books and cross stitch kits to keep patients occupied. APPLY To get involved, go to www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk Good as gold Why not make this Christmas the year that you finally master…

Ellen Ainscough is a customer service assistant from Merseyside Tell us about your latest project It’s the Halloween SAL from Lakeside Needlecraft – it caught my eye as I love Halloween. How did you start stitching? I got into it at an early age when I was taken to a craft shop and asked to pick something I would like to try. What has been your proudest stitching moment? Completing my ‘Haunted House’ by Bothy Threads in just over six months. I couldn’t wait to finish it, so I worked on it every free moment I got! Favourite recent WOXS design? Amanda Gregory’s floral cards with blackwork backgrounds from issue 269 – blackwork has always been a technique I want to try. What was the last thing you stitched as…

Lizzie is getting super-excited for Christmas now, bundled up in her cosy snowflake jumper! This would make a great card for a little girl or special friend, and you could also tweak the pinks of Lizzie’s outfit so that they’re in the recipient’s favourite hues! Jumper Mouse key STITCH COUNT 39 high x 32 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 7x6cm (2¾x2¼in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton Missed a chart? ISSUE 273 Celebrate Thanksgiving with American friends or family and our sweet pilgrim mouse. ISSUE 272 Monty is dressed in his vampire costume, ready to go trick or treating! ISSUE 271 Make a special ‘get well’ card to show a loved one just how much you care. For back issues, call ☎ 03330 162 137…

No. 1 pet PET OF THE MONTH Design my pet! Q I would love to have one of my dogs immortalised in cross stitch, who is a rescue dog called Fitzwilliam Darcy. I named him after the Pride and Prejudice character, but he is not a gentleman – although I adore him no matter what! I got him from a rescue centre eight years ago and I can’t imagine my life without him. He is silly and snuggly and always makes me feel better after a long day. Wendy Wise, via email A Durene says: Thanks for your request, Wendy. It’s really touching to hear just how proud you are of your dog, and it’s clear that he values you as much as you value him. And how brilliant a…

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 Editor and is on hand to answer any technical stitching questions that you may 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 High flyer Q It’s my daughter’s 21st birthday next year and she’s a huge fan of the Red Arrows aerobatic display team. She’s at…

⨯ Sue Hanslow: I always attach a label saying hand made, or sewn with love, and then my name. Then I wrap it first in tissue paper, then matching paper with ribbon. A small gift can look a million dollars with just a little care. ⨯ Jo Flanagan: Start early so you don’t have a last minute rush to finish. ⨯ Lynne Meg Gibbs: I wrap the finished gift in tissue paper and roll it, so it does not crease. ⨯ Cassie Ruth: I keep a list of who I send my cross stitch cards to, and make sure I start stitching at the end of July so I don’t have to rush. Once I’ve made about twenty I start mounting them and crossing them off my list. ⨯ Gail…

COLOURFUL CHART SNOWMAN TRIO In ‘Snowman Trio’, a download from Durene Jones Cross Stitch on Etsy*, snow people huddle together looking very happy to be out in their warm hats and scarves. Almost every square of this design is covered, so a stitcher with some experience will relish this project. The bold colour palette is sure to be welcomed too, with bright red, green and yellow working beautifully in this circular scene. Stitch count: 160 wide by 154 high, 29x28cm (11½x11in) on 28-count evenweave HAPPY FAMILIES ALL SEASONS We love the sentiment behind this ‘Snowmen For All Seasons’ design: “Families are for all seasons because love doesn’t melt”. Four portraits show a snowman for spring, summer, autumn and winter. Why not set yourself a challenge and stitch all four over a…

Join us on Facebook Chat 24/7 on our Facebook page – here’s what you’ve missed! OUR FAVOURITE POST Shirin Pawane says: “Framed at last. Did the framing myself. How does it look?” We think it looks stunning, Shirin – what a beautiful design! And great work with the frame. We’ve got some framing tips for stitchers on page 89. YOU LIKED Hannah Grace says: “This is my current WIP – just started page three out of four last night. Designed by Teresa Wentzler.” It looks fantastic, Hannah. Not much further to go now – you must be really excited for the finished piece! And the winner is… We asked you on Facebook: What’s your favourite Christmas stitch? The results are in, and our red-breasted feathered friends are the clear winners,…

While serving in the Royal Corps of Signals, which he did for 24 years, Gary Skeels started pestering his wife, Karen, about some stitching she was doing. “I was told it was cross stitch and to ‘shut up and go away!’” laughs Gary. “Yes, I was being annoying, but after much persuasion, Karen showed me the basics and the rest is history.” That was 21 years ago, and Gary’s stitching is still going strong. HISTORY BUFF Gary, who is 56 years old and who now works as a security supervisor at the National Railway Museum, found that stitching gave him something to do while living away from his family – he was posted to Aldershot in 1997, while his wife and two children stayed in York. “When I tell people…

⨯ Issue 273 The November issue is full of stunning Christmas designs, including a cute Santa scene, fun photobooth cards, robin redbreast stocking, napkin cracker set and Scandi-style advent calendar. Plus, Remembrance Sunday poppies, 42 gingerbread motifs, dinosaur baby sampler and a tartan ABC! YOUR TWO GIFTS: nostalgic calendar + cute bear chart ⨯ Issue 272 Three festive greetings cards, autumn scene, Halloween stitches, patchwork cat, monogram ABC, teatime sampler, woodland cards ⨯ Issue 271 Fashion boutique card kit, Barbecue bear, fantasy dragon, sewing sampler, butterfly bookmarks, mason jar cards, toyshelf sampler, ballet ABC ⨯ Issue 270 kit, Barbecue bear, fantasy dragon, sewing sampler, butterfly bookmarks, mason jar cards, toyshelf sampler, ballet ABC Adorable fawn card kit, dainty fairy, pretty herb sampler, sunshine ABC, 37 sports motifs, stained glass dragonfly,…

SPRINKLE SOME MAGIC Capture a beautiful fairy in stitches as she dashes through the holly O LITTLE TOWN Celebrate the birthplace of Christmas with a stylish cushion CHRISTMAS WREATHS This sweet collection of six classic card designs will be quick to stitch and send WINTER WARMER Turn this snowy scene into a tea cosy – we show you how! FESTIVE HOME STYLE Create fun table decorations with our set of Christmas trees in pots WINTER WONDERLAND An enchanting project for the season, complete with silver charm embellishments ’Twas the night before Christmas… Show off your needle skills with this jolly Santa, using shimmery metallics and seed beads! PLUS MUCH MORE ⨯ Personalise gifts with our cheeky elves ABC set ⨯ Jazz up your tree with our decorations Design Library ⨯…

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…