Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2015 i The World of Cross Stitching

This is the time of year when I look for beautiful projects that are also quick and easy to make. That’s why we’ve packed this issue with last-minute festive designs and speedy-finish cards. Check out the timeless picture of Santa and his snowman pal (p10), the decorative Christmas cards on page 38 (I love that there are a couple here that’ll be fab for winter birthdays too!) and whimsical Rudolph on page 72. And I’m sure you’ll want to stitch this month’s exclusive free gift for that extra special person in your life. By DMC, it’s a card featuring the adorable Tatty Teddy that’s sure to impress the lucky recipient – head to page 8 now! When all my preparations are done, I’ll be finding time to relax with a…

Say cheese! It might be the most hectic time of the year, but Father Christmas is never too busy to take time out for a photo opportunity with his friends. With big grins on their faces and a festive feeling in their hearts, this loveable duo will light up any room. It makes the ideal winter project, as every stitch will brighten those long, dark evenings! Start today and you’ll easily have it wrapped and sitting under the tree in time for Christmas Day... be it for yourself or someone special! Work your whole cross stitches first to make up the main design, then add fractionals and backstitch to give definition, and French knots for detail. After all, a snowman’s smile wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t made from…

Circles of fun Stitch in the season Designer Durene Jones has created more fab festive designs for you STITCH IN THE SEASON Popular designer Durene Jones* has added these three fun and colourful instant downloadable PDF designs to her Etsy store, and we can’t wait to stitch them! 'Snowman Trio', 'Mouse Christmas Wreath' and 'Mr Arctic Fox Wreath' are all worked in a variety of stitches, including beads and French knots. When stitched on 28-count evenweave or 14-count aida, they have finished sizes of 29x28 cm (11½ x 11in), 28x28cm (11x11in) and 19x19cm (7 ½ x 7 ½ in) respectively. The two 'wreath' designs fit comfortably into 12in (30.5cm) and 9in (23cm) hoops so you can easily hang them in your home for the season. HIT THE BOOKS With 37…

Always in my heart Joy is looking for a simple design that will be easy to stitch Q I am looking for a pattern with the wording ‘Miles apart, close at heart’. I learned to cross stitch decades ago but haven’t done it for years, so I’m looking for an easy pattern without fractionals that I can do on 14-count aida. Thank you! Joy Steadman, Washington DC, USA A Jenny says: Worked in whole cross stitches only with a little backstitch in just a few thread shades, hopefully this chart is just what you are looking for, Joy. 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. Fab finish Q I’ve been looking…

Looking to stitch a Christmas card with a difference? Then you’ll love this traditional and stylish set of beautifully decorated doors. From a picturesque country cottage to a grand entrance set behind marble pillars, this collection is sure to give you a warm, cosy feeling. Each home is adorned in its own special way, and will take just a couple of evenings to finish, but the subtle shading and detail created with a variety of techniques means there’s plenty of interest in each one. Why not pick a design that’s similar to your home, and adapt the colours to personalise it? It’s a great way to request a family member’s presence over the holidays, or to send out invites for a special Christmas party! We’ve mounted ours in classic red…

Fun facts about Cavalier King Charles spaniels • They’re named after King Charles II, who ruled England in the 17th century. He instituted a law that said this dog could not be barred from any public place. His decree is still in place today. • Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall owned a Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Blenheim. After Blenheim died, Bacall kept a portrait of him in her home. • Ronald Reagan gave first lady Nancy Reagan a Cavalier King Charles spaniel as a Christmas gift in 1985. Design my pet! Q This is Tolley (see photo below), a perfect Cavalier King Charles spaniel (even though his facial markings aren’t perfect). Tolley was 12 and half years old, a perfect travel companion and constant, loyal, loving friend, a comic and…

The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is one of the most spectacular light shows you’ll ever see, courtesy of Mother Nature herself. For those who’ve travelled to the far reaches of the northern hemisphere and been lucky enough to witness this visual marvel, it really is an enchanting experience. And, while we undoubtedly agree it’s worth a trip to the Arctic region, we’d also highly recommend travelling there from the comfort of your own sofa! Take a trip to a land of snowcovered mountains, majestic evergreen trees and the ethereal glowing skies with a needle, thread and Shannon’s striking design. You’ll use variegated cottons to recreate the ever-changing colours of the lights, and also work a combination of rightand left-leaning half stitches to reflect the effect from sky to land.…

Good intentions: New Year is great for fresh starts We’re fast approaching that time again – the start of a new year, which comes a new set of stitching resolutions! Each year I start off on 1 January by vowing and declaring that this will be the year that I get organised! Resolutions include making sure that my stash stays tidy, creating a diary of the projects I want to stitch that year for special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays, and ensuring I finish all the projects I start. But then, as life takes over, my to-stitch pile gets bigger and all those dates start looming large, I eventually lose my good intentions around Valentine’s Day! Mind you, I saw a post on our sister mag PaperCraft Inspirations’ Facebook…

Be on the panel! Get a sneak preview Appear in the magazine Receive a stitchy gift Terri Schmidt is a professor of science education from Florida, USA How did you start stitching? I was in a craft store looking for something to do when I found a pattern of two whales. I bought the kit and taught myself how to cross stitch. What is your idea of cross stitch heaven? A nice ocean view, a good cup of coffee and all the time in the world to sit back, relax and cross stitch. Favourite recent design? I can’t wait to start stitching Madeleine Floyd’s 'Seashore Sampler' from issue 231. What do you love about cross stitching? It’s “Terri”fic! I love to start with the blank fabric, commence stitching and watch…

Star Letter SUNNY SENTIMENTS Here’s one of the stitched sunflower cards from issue 232 of The World of Cross Stitching. I loved stitching every bit of it, plus yellow is my favourite colour. I’m a radio presenter on local radio and I stitched it for an elderly regular listener who's going into hospital for open heart surgery. Terri Robinson, via email Ruth: What a lovely thing to do Terri. These card designs are so cheery and bright that we’re sure the listener who you stitched the card for will love it and appreciate your efforts Sunny sentiments Terri stitched this cheerful sunflower card for a listener who is about to have surgery Win! The writer of our Star Letter wins both of these April Rose Illustration kits – ‘Song Bird’…

Pip J Slack: I keep a lookout for offers that are advertised in WOXS and other stitching magazines – you never know when you’ll come across a really great discount. Raynette Schroeder: I use the wishlist feature at my favourite web store to make a list of the items I’m interested in or needing for a project. Then, when I’m ready to order or one of the big items go on sale, I just move what I want from my wishlist to my cart and go from there. Cathe Yemma-Rainone: I shop online just as I would if doing it by going store to store. I read emails from several online suppliers, see who has the best deals for what I need and then order from them. Trish Begg: I…

1 Carefully cut around each piece of the house, making sure to leave half a square of plastic canvas around the stitching on each piece. 2 Whip stitch the centre of the two roof pieces together using white thread. Make sure that your stitches are neat as they will be on show. 3 Stitch around the edges of the roof, using the same thread, to cover up the plastic canvas edges and give your house a neater finish. 4 Whip stitch the base piece to the sides and front of the house using white thread. Then whip stitch the corners together using brown thread. 5 Glue around the top of the house, being careful not to spill any, and place the roof firmly on top. Leave to dry. And there’s…

Dorien READER PANEL This reindeer is so beautiful, it’s my favourite design in the issue. It’s so modern and colourful – I absolutely love it! It would be perfect to use for a tray to serve my gingerbread cookies and milk on. Shopping list Zweigart* 14-count white aida measuring 45x35cm (18x14in) DMC stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame of your choice with a minimum aperture measuring 34x23cm (13_x9in) Thread & fabric cost Approximately £20 *For stockists see page 90 TOP TIP It can take up to two weeks to have a project professionally framed, so make sure to allow extra time when stitching for a special occasion…

1 Starting off Each skein of Color Variations has a blend of soft multi-colours that flow seamlessly into each other. Because of this, don’t use the loop method to start as the colours won’t match properly. We suggest using thread lengths of 38cm (15in). 2 The whole stitches When making the whole stitches, we recommend completing both arms of the stitch at the same time, rather than doing a half stitch and returning along the row. This will ensure that the shade variations in the thread flow smoothly. 3 The half stitches Work each of the half stitches in turn, but check in advance whether they’re leaning to the left or to the right – there’s a different chart symbol for each. This placement gives a clever effect of mirroring…

ISSUE 237 ON SALE 4 DECEMBER CHALKBOARD CHIC Create a contemporary-style sampler using black fabric – it’s so on trend! IDEAS FOR GUYS Try these makes on hand-dyed fabric, fab for men and music lovers alike FURRY FRIENDS Fancy a Stitcher’s Challenge? Try our oh-so-sweet cats and dogs design SO GRATEFUL Show how much you care with our cross stitched cards to say “thanks Join us for new season stitches! Adorable Fizzy Moon is here to capture your heart – perfect to make as a gift or for you WHOLE STITCHES MAKEOVER Exclusive! We show you how to make a simple tablecloth for a fresh new look GIRLY TREAT Bring a touch of fantasy to life with this gorgeous little mermaid pattern PLUS MUCH MORE Travel the universe with our…

metoyou.com The Me to You oval, Tatty Teddy signature and Bear logo are all registered Trade Marks of Carte Blanche Greetings Limited www.dmccreative.co.uk Produced under license for © 2015 CBG Ltd. ® cbg.co.uk Inside your kit... To help you sort your threads, here is a list of the colours and number of lengths inside your free kit: White x2 Grey x2 Dark red x1 Light grey x2 Blue x1 Red x1 Dark grey x3 Total: 12 lengths Easy for all abilities Factbox Stitching Time Approx. 8 hours Type of Stitches Cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch, French knots Ease of Stitching Beginner There’s more! Love adorable Tatty Teddy? Then check out these kits and mini kits available from DMC* Where to buy *For stockists see page 90 How to... mount your design…

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 B 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 Fiona Smith With her ears to the ground for the hottest stitching merchandise, Fiona’s all set to search out the stash you need Katriel Costello Stitching guru Katriel has worked in the industry for years, so has ample knowledge to answer any queries Lovebug! For a funky drive, this VW Beetle design is available in different colour choices Lovebug! I’m just wondering if…

Fast festive ideas GREAT STOCKING FILLER SANTA’S WASHING Within just a couple of inches, a story is told and a joke is made in this endearing little design (F33stl) from makers of tiny kits, Mouseloft*. Whole stitch and backstitches are used in this kit’s black-and-white chart, plus it’s completed with a festive red card and perfectly petite envelope so it’ll be all ready to mount and post it as soon as you’ve finished stitching. Stitch count – 30 high x 29 wide, finished size 5x5cm (2x2in) on 14-count light blue aida START STITCHING IMMEDIATELY FUN CHRISTMAS Looking for a cute design that’s of excellent quality and you need it quickly? Then look to JB Cross Stitch* where you can download this PDF collection of nine super motifs. All are chock-full of…

With their patterned hats, bushy beards and long plaits, this group of gnomes is sure to win over your heart… not to mention putting a smile on anyone’s face who sees it! With lots of details to create, such as the heart decoration hanging from the lettering and the cute couple with intertwined hats, you’ll be kept entertained from the first stitch to the last! Worked on 14-count crisp white aida, the colours simply pop out of the design. Only 12 thread shades have been used to create this sweet sign, but you could easily swap out any for threads in your stash. Or why not make it a few times in different colours as housewarming gifts? You can also stitch an individual gnome like us as a card, fab…

Stitching’s a breeze! Let Technical Editor Fiona show you how it’s done, in this reference guide 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…