Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2019 i The World of Cross Stitching

Are you an animal lover? We’ve got an array of creatures for you to enjoy stitching this month, from Durene Jones’ folksy-style chicken design (p40) and Kay Widdowson’s snoozing fox (p24) to a selection of jungle animals in Rhona Norrie’s matching game for kids (p72). We also have part 2 of Lucie Heaton’s beautiful birds blanket project on page 56 and in next month’s mag we’ll show you how to turn all 12 designs into a patchwork quilt. You’re going to love Fiona Baker’s stunning lighthouse design on page 66. Stitched on specially dyed fabric to create a dramatic stormy sky, this will be a perfect piece of art for a nautical-themed room. If you know someone who loves the glitz and glamour of the 1920s or ‘30s then take…

BEAUTIFUL CARDS & GIFTS Inside you’ll find a simple backstitch ABC and some fab finishing ideas, perfect for adding that personal touch to your designs. Meet the designer Amanda Gregory “I love watching the flowers in my garden change with the seasons, and so I was excited to work on this project, creating a floral wreath design for each month of the year. I’ve included plenty of classic flowers.”…

It’s often said that true style never really goes out of fashion, and that’s certainly true about these cards! Featuring six iconic outfits from decades past, Maria has created a stitched catwalk of ladies modelling timeless clothes. From the gorgeous 1940s model wearing her chic suit and matching pillbox hat to the trendy 80s girl in a ra-ra skirt, one-shouldered top and hair bow, there are so many fun details to enjoy bringing to life. Maria has cleverly used backstitch to create a sketchy feel, like you’d find in a fashion designer’s notebook. While the overall designs measure about 10.5x7cm (4x2¾in), there’s plenty of stitch detail within them to keep your interest, including fractionals, half cross stitch and French knots. You’ll also find some metallic threads to add a luxe…

Boring plastic boxes, begone! Poppy’s funky lunch bag is a handy way to take your packed lunch from home to office, as well as being a lot more fun than a dull box – and better for the environment than a single-use plastic bag, too. This fruity design is stitched on aqua coloured aida using just whole stitch and backstitch, meaning that these mouthwatering motifs are easy to create. The panel is also made using a simple repeat pattern, which you will need to stitch twice per panel to make a lunch bag like ours. When you’ve completed your stitching, turn to page 32 to find instructions on how to back your aida with oilcloth and add poppers to make it into the finished lunch bag. Once you’ve made one…

Finishing cards Q I am doing a small cross stitch project to attach to a card that does not have an aperture in it. How do I attach the stitching without ruining the fabric, as I have never done a card like this before? Vanessa Bell, via Facebook A Heather: Displaying your work as a single-fold card is a great way to show off your stitching. The important thing to remember is that this will only work with aida, as you’ll need to trim the fabric leaving a border of two or three aida blocks around the edge of your stitching. Then, fray one row around the edge using tweezers. Cut a piece of paper matching your fabric colour to a slightly smaller size and stick to the back using…

Sometimes it’s the simplest designs that have the biggest impact, and that’s certainly the case with this latest project from the versatile Durene Jones. Her stylised chickens and branching floral details are reminiscent of Scandinavian design, using monochromatic shades of browns and blues to create a harmonious feel. While the pattern itself is intricate, the placemat uses just whole cross stitch and backstitch, so all levels of stitchers will enjoy working on this calming piece. This design is perfect for a country-style kitchen or dining room, and would look lovely against a wooden or white table. Stitch one and use it as a placemat for the centre of the table, or create a complete set for everyone in the family. We’ve used a light blue cotton fabric here to finish…

Open your window and be greeted by even more of these welcome visitors in part two of three in this bird quilt series. This month you’ll be greeted by a rather lovely cheerful bunch! Admire the green woodpecker with his bold body and red-striped head, plus the appropriately named grey wagtail with his slate plumage and long black tail. You’ll be drawn to the acrobatic siskin, flittering about in a green and yellow blur, and also the delightful goldfinch, marked with a red face and yellow wing patch. With now eight different birds to choose from, you’re sure to find a pretty plumaged pal just for you (look back at issue 283 for part one). This realistic style will make it appear that the birds are perched right on your…

How did you get into designing cross stitch? I couldn’t find a chart or kit suitable for stitching for my son and since my background was a greeting card artist, I decided to design something myself. My friend Tina encouraged me to send the design off for publication and, lo and behold, it was accepted! I was so excited to see it in print. That was 20 years ago and I still get excited when I see my designs in magazines. Favourite subject to design? My favourite subject is easy – cute animals which probably comes from my time painting cute and cuddly animals for greeting cards. Favourite commissions? There have been so many lovely commission ideas, but it would have to be the Indian Elephant from WOXS Issue 206…

Nurture & grow LOVE BLOOMS Made up of bright flowers, butterflies and hearts, these love-inspired greeting card kits are part of the new Summer Collection from Bothy Threads* – such happy patterns that will make you enjoy and appreciate the smaller details in life. ‘Sweet Tree’ (XGC2) has space for initials and a date, making it an ideal gift for weddings or anniversaries – it could even be modified into a lovely birth sampler. For grand wedding milestones, we love the ‘Silver Celebration’ (XGC3) and ‘Gold Celebration’ (XGC4) trees using metallic thread. Or, if you’re looking for something more versatile, why not try ‘Sweet Heart’ (XGC1)? All four kits come with a card and envelope as well as aida and threads. TEACHER APPRECIATION It’s almost back-to-school time! So why not…

1. FABRICS Begin with either aida or evenweave. Aidais 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 of 14-count aida. Cross stitching fractional stitches is easier…

KAY WIDDOWSON Kay has created a delightful woodland scene to brighten your home, featuring a dozing fox snuggled up amongst the autumn leaves (p24). SUSAN BATES Enjoy the farm without the mud by stitching Susan’s vibrant landscape complete with rustic tractor, wheat fields and bright blooms on page 8. POPPY BENNER Impress your colleagues with Poppy’s fruity lunch bag on page 28. Using whole stitches and backstitch only, the mouthwatering design is easy to create.…

Wonderfully nostalgic, this piece celebrates the traditional harvest that takes place all over the countryside, when the crops in the fields begin to be brought in and hay bales appear. And while the tractors that are used today might have changed a bit in looks from this vintage-style model, many elements of this late summer event have remained unchanged. Full of Susan’s trademark attention to detail, this realistic scene uses over 30 thread colours. Backstitch is used to highlight certain details of the tractor and the landscape, including the picturesque farmhouse in the distance, while half cross stitch creates the distant landscape and beautifully soft sky. This is a project that will last you throughout this season and into early autumn. All the many hours spent stitching will be worth…

STITCH COUNT 40 high x 32 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) — 7.5x6cm (2¾x2¼in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton Dancing about in her beautiful yellow dress, Lizzie Mouse is happy and enjoying the summer sunshine. What’s this? Lizzie has a special present just for you – a stunning, bright sunflower! She hopes it’ll bring a smile to your face. Missed a chart? ISSUE 283 Monty Mouse is keeping his cool this summer by zooming around on his skateboard. ISSUE 282 Lizzie is ready to relax in the pool with her cute red and white polka dot swimsuit. ISSUE 281 This is one groom who will certainly sweep you off your feet! Great as a wedding gift. For back issues, call 03330 162 137 or visit…

Q Could you possibly design a small cheerleader pattern as I would like to stitch one for my granddaughter’s birthday in November? Thank you. Joan Worthington, via email A Jenny: I hope you like this sweet cheerleader, Joan. You can choose alternative thread shades for each element of the design to really personalise it to suit your granddaughter. There’s a few fractionals for shaping and backstitch for definition. Cheerleader key STITCH COUNT 30 high x 28 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) — 5.5x5cm (2¼x2in) 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 TV.…

Q Can you recommend some easy cross stitch samplers for a beginner? I have been stitching for 20 years, but at 80, I’m now teaching a 75-year-old male friend, which has been interesting for both of us! Cecilia Carr, via email Hannah: That’s brilliant you’re sharing your hobby! Check out our sister magazine, Cross Stitch Crazy. This monthly title features a host of small designs, specifically designed for beginners. Q What’s the best cross stitch software to design my own patterns? I currently use Jane Greenoff’s iStitch 2, but what other ones are on the market that are not too expensive? Julia Charles, via Facebook Katriel: We use Cross Stitch Professional Platinum*, although this may be outside of your price range and is quite in-depth. However, check out some comparison reviews online…

In the dark of night and during treacherous weather, lighthouses have long been a beacon of hope to ships sailing the stormy seas. Fiona’s striking scene shows a magnificent lighthouse standing tall above the crashing waves, guiding lost sailors to safety. This project is quite unique – whereas you’d usually have half cross stitch all going in the same direction, here Fiona has purposely designed the piece so that the half cross stitches go in different directions to show the choppy motion of the lively sea. Another fun fact about this project is that the cloudy grey sky and forked lightning are part of the fabric, aptly named ‘Stormy Night’. Working together, Fiona and Sew-it-All created this impactful fabric especially for this project – this means less stitching time for…

CLASSIC MOTIFS TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR HOME Only six thread shades Factbox × Stitching Time Approx. 2-3 hours per letter × Type of Stitches Cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch, French knots × Ease of Stitching Beginner/advanced beginner Shopping list × Zweigart* 14-count white aida measuring 10x10cm (4x4in) for each design × Stranded cotton as listed in the key × Size 24 tapestry needle × Canisters of your choice from local stores Thread & fabric cost Approximately £9 *For stockists see page 90 Sara READER PANEL “This letter set is beautiful. I love having my own monogram on my craft bags, so if I find a fabric I like I’ll make a bag and use this lettering to put onto it.” Delft Blue ABC key MAXIMUM STITCH COUNT 23 high x 23…

Fun facts about Stffies • As their name suggests, Staffordshire bull terriers were developed in Staffordshire. • The breed originated by crossing an English bulldog with a black and tan terrier. • March 2018 saw Cooper become the UK’s first police dog that was a Staffordshire bull terrier. • Declared as the most popular dog breed in Britain by ITV’s Britain’s Favourite Dogs programme in 2019. Design my pet! Q Hi Durene! Please can you design my beautiful girl Roxy? She’s a Staffie (Staffordshire bull terrier) and I can rarely find any charts of this type of dog. I would really love to see my girl in stitches! Many thanks. Gillian Carruthers, via email A Durene says: Your Roxy is simply adorable – just look at that smiley face! You…

Join us on Facebook Chat 24/7 on our Facebook page – here’s what you’ve missed! OUR FAVOURITE POST Swobina de Vries-Kramer says: “Just finished for my husband the Gottwald AMK 1000. I made the pattern myself by scanning in a photo and using a cross stitch computer programme. It took me eight years on and off!” YOU LIKED Marieve Dompierre says: “I took a break from this one doing smaller projects and now I’m back at it!” This ‘Planetarius’ design from Bucilla is magnificent, Marieve – that dark background really lifts all those beautiful colours! And the winner is… We asked you on Facebook: What would your stitching superpower be? I t’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Super Stitcher! Stitching quickly was the most desired superpower with 60%…

Choose your project… With our Factbox guide in every one of our projects, you can make sure you choose the right level for you. Absolute beginners should aim for a design without fractional stitches. Buy your materials… Use our Shopping List for each project, which specifies everything needed, like size of fabric and finishing materials. Using another fabric with different HPI (holes per inch), will give a different finished size of design. Calculate your fabric requirements like this: Stitch count divided by HPI of ‘new’ fabric choice = new size in inches. Add at least 10cm (4in) on each dimension to allow for mounting, or less for cards. Get ready… We always recommend starting in the centre of a design and working outwards. Our charts are marked with two centre…

Quarter The chart shows which corner has the fractional. Bring the needle up in that corner and down in the centre of the square, halfway across the diagonal (diagram 1). Three-quarters Work a quarter stitch, then a half stitch across the other diagonal arm of the square as in diagram 2. Like quarters, three-quarter stitches can face any direction. Two symbols When two symbols share a square, work a fractional in each colour. Decide on the quarter stitch for the background colour, then a three-quarters stitch for the main one (diagram 3). Back-to-back For a stronger outline, work a three-quarter stitch in each colour, stitching them back-to-back (diagram 4). Make sure that the two half stitch arms lie neatly parallel to each other.…

Solve the clues then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to spell a type of cheese (8) ACROSS 1 Admission of being wrong or sorry (7) 4 Let in (5) 7 Unit of land measurement (7) 8 Large wading bird (5) 11 In addition (4) 12 Person who doesn’t eat meat or fish (10) 14 Garden butterfly (3,7) 15 Cunning tactic (4) 18 Worn and shabby (5) 19 Go faster (5,2) 21 Sneaking suspicion (5) 22 Put in order (7) DOWN 1 Successfully bring about (7) 2 Item for sale at auction (3) 3 Currant biscuit (9) 4 Dull pain (4) 5 Wall painting (5) 6 Ballroom dance (5) 9 Juicy fruit (5) 10 Roller coaster (3,6) 11 Blacksmith’s iron block (5) 13 Catch sight of (7) 15 Piece…

Alison Waddington is retired and comes from Rhyl, Wales How did you start stitching? My teacher encouraged me to do some cross stitching in junior school. I made a dressing table cover on green aida with red and white stitches. It made me feel good about myself that I could do it. What was the last thing you stitched as a gift for someone? It was for my grandchildren, because I wanted them to have something special from Grandma. I stitched their initials, K and E, using a seaside ABC from an old issue of WOXS. What has been your favourite design recently in WOXS? I’d like to stitch the Enchanting Unicorn from issue 278. This looks like a good project to follow. What’s your proudest stitching moment? Some years…

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 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 Best brands Q What’s the difference between the thread brands you show on the patterns and which one do you recommend using? I’m new to…

× Lorna Smith: I start a few months in advance and often have at least one other project on the go at the same time because gift pieces might not always be to my taste, so I alternate between projects to keep my motivation going. × Tina Ayres-Chilton: Each November I look at all the birthdays and special events coming up in the next year and mark the charts I want to stitch and for whom. I write a shopping list of all the threads and aida I may need – checking my stash first, get it all ready in a box and then make a note on my calender 2 months in advance to make. Depending on the chart I may start sooner! × Wendy Wilson: For birthday cards…

ESSENTIAL COLLECTION OF DESIGNS PICTURE YOUR PET IN CROSS STITCH This fabulous collection of cross stitch pets has over 400 animal portraits and motifs in a range of styles, from naturalistic to humorous. As a downloadable ebook from SewandSo*, every kind of pet is featured: cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, budgies, guinea pigs, goldfish – even ferrets. The ebook includes sentiments and themed alphabet charts so you can personalise your cards and gifts. BEGINNER-FRIENDLY PUG To us, the pug is one of the prettiest pooches around. This bite-sized kit from Mouseloft* can be completed in an evening and contains everything you need to work this little fella. For pocket-sized designs, Mouseloft can’t be beaten and the amount of detail they get into just 22 by 22 stitches is incredible. Don’t stop…

39 STYLISH IDEAS Enjoy how Emma Congdon has embraced the precise lines and geometric shapes of art deco 39 quick-and-easy motifs Emma Congdon’s design inspiration Stitches for every skill level Helpful tips and advice Unique present ideas for your special someone DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT This iconic lady from the 20s (25) will be perfect for your fashionable friend. Fray and patch your stitching onto glitter paper and then attach to a single-fold card. TOUCH OF LUXURY Jazz up your household décor with this classy pattern of repeating geometric shapes (31) stitched onto aida. An excellent finish for make-up brush holders or vases. ON THE EDGE Reading has never looked so good! This fan-shaped motif (33) sits neatly on the corner of your page. To make, just patch your design…

PRIZES WORTH £250 Seasonal selection Check out the latest seasonal charts and accessories from Creative Poppy* to get you in the mood for cosy evenings in. Perhaps you fancy a bit of spooky fun with a Halloween design, or it might be that elegant blackwork is more up your street. Or maybe a pin cushion or quirky biscornu pattern will catch your eye. We have £10 vouchers from Creative Poppy for 25 lucky readers to spend on their website! See details below for how to enter. TO ENTER Visit our website www.cross-stitching.com or label a postcard ‘Creative Poppy giveaway (WOXS 284)’ PRIZES WORTH £269 Fresh as a poppy We can’t get enough of Karen Carter’s fun-to-stitch designs, so we’re over the moon to see that the ‘Poppy Shore’ kit, the…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY 03330 162 137 Issue 283 Our new issue is packed with fab summer patterns! Stitch Tatty Teddy at the beach, create a stunning sunset silhouette, and travel the world with our globe-trotting Design Library. We’ve also got part one of our bird quilt, a 3D bicycle and art nouveau bookmarks – plus great tips, expert advice and much more! YOUR EXCLUSIVE GIFT: Sunflowers needle book kit Issue 282 Enchanting fairy card kit, cocker spaniel puppy, tropical postcard set, floral bunting, sunny meadow, nostalgic seaside scene, book cover trio Issue 281 Cookie Bear card kit, helter skelter, cocktail hanging, cake cards, elephant baby sampler, summer florals, golfing bears, nautical motifs, 3D scenes Issue 280 Birdcage bookmark kit, folk art coasters, peg bag, bug ABC, geisha, spring wedding…

ISSUE285 ON SALE 9 AUG Britain’s No. 1 THE WORLD OF Cross stiching PUMPKIN PILE Enjoy stitching these mischievous bears, complete with glow-in-the-dark stars! BIRD QUILT-PART3 You can look forward to the final instalment of this heirloom project LET’S PARTY! Celebrate with one of six super sweet birthday card designs by Durene Jones AUTUMNAL FAIRIES Challenge yourself with Angela Poole’s magical garden scene EXCLUSIVE Give someone the royal treatment Step back in time with this grandiose King Henry VIII pattern, full of exquisite detail. Designed by Kareen Taylerson, this Tudor monarch will be a satisfying stitch! TRICK OR TREAT Win best costume for sure with these three fab Halloween masks for kids SOOTHING GLOW These delicate swaying lanterns are stitched on soft lilac Zweigart aida PLUS MUCH MORE Stitch a…

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…

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, & 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…