Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2020 i The World of Cross Stitching

Let’s keep calm and carry on stitching! It’s been a difficult time across the world recently, but I hope that you’ve all been continuing to stitch – it’s such a relaxing and mindful activity and I’ve got plenty of projects to keep you motivated this month. First, let’s all head to the seaside with Fiona Baker’s stunning nostalgic pier stitched on special dyed sunset fabric (p72) and Emma Horan’s bright summer holiday scene (p24). We chat to new The World of Cross Stitching designer, Emma, about how she transforms her vibrant paintings into cross stitch designs on page 29. Add a splash of colour to your home with Amanda Butler’s citrus fruit set (p58). We show you how to turn the three botanical-style patterns into handy accessories to add a…

Football Mouse key STITCH COUNT 40 high x 31 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 7.5x5.5cm (2¾x2¼in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton Concentrating on a game of keep-yuppy, Monty dreams of one day playing for England. Stitch him for footie-mad girls and boys and patch him onto a sports kit bag or use waste canvas to stitch him onto a favourite T-shirt. Missed a chart? ISSUE 293 Make way for Her Royal Highness, Princess Lizzie of Furry Tales, in her ballgown. ISSUE 292 Here comes hardworking Monty with a lawnmower, ready to tackle the garden. ISSUE 291 Lizzie has been very busy in the garden harvesting colourful spring blooms. For back issues, call ☎ 03330 162 137 or visit http://bit.ly/1NwX3Rv…

Sunset beach Q I have been wanting to stitch the sunset project by Fiona Baker in issue 283 (August 2019). I’m having problems finding the tropical aida, however I live in Australia and not many places stock it unfortunately, and those that do are abroad and have overseas shipping costs, making the fabric too expensive for me. Do you know of any places online that stock it in Australia? Or are there any alternative fabrics I can use for the project? Jacqui, via email A Heather: Sorry to hear you’re struggling to find this fabric for a reasonable price, Jacqui. Have you thought about hand-dying some aida yourself? This is a great way to produce unique-looking fabric, as you can create a graduated effect fairly easily by dip-dying the material…

Karlyna Schroeder: I swap colours based on what I have, especially on small projects. That way I can use some of my leftover stash. Deborah Richardson: If you’re combining designs you can draw an outline of each motif on paper, cut it out and then move them around on a larger piece of graph paper so you can get the spacing right. Emma Urbanski: When swapping colours, it’s important to make sure the shades from light to medium to dark go well together – take your time finding the best combinations. Claire Fisher: If changing colour, put all the threads onto the fabric in good light to make sure they don’t disappear into the fabric, especially if you are using coloured fabric. Susan Sprigg: I adapted a pattern for a…

QUICK-TO-STITCH GONE FISHING This design might be a tiddler, but it’s still a catch! Those in a hurry can download this from Maria Diaz’s* website and stitch in an evening or two. And your dad doesn’t have to be an angler to appreciate the sentiment behind the phrase ‘gone fishing’. Whole stitches-only make this a good choice for novice stitchers who like backstitch, which is used to achieve the vivid detail of the golden fishing line and the shape of the fish. Stitch count: 36 wide by 35 high, 7x7cm (3x3in) on 14-count aida COOL CHARACTER DESIGN CHAMPION S how your dad he’s a winner with a fun design from RIOLIS, available from Stitcher* (SSN44180). Dressed in a football strip and wearing a number one shirt, this happy lion holds his…

This series has been designed by me especially for those of you who are keen to learn new stitches and treat yourself to a fun monthly challenge. The designs will cover a variety of styles and themes each issue and every pattern is small enough that it can be stitched over a weekend or in between larger projects, as well as finished in a manner of your choice, exercising your creativity! Although they may look intricate, my patterns are simple to follow, and I’ll give you clear step-by-step tutorials for the special stitches where needed. I do recommend practising the new stitches on a piece of scrap fabric before you start your main design. I hope you enjoy learning these new techniques! NEW SKILLS Thistle key STITCH COUNT 58 high…

Fun facts about tuxedo cats aspecificbreedofcat but refers to their bi-colour markings, usually black with white. SirIsaacNewtonandBeethoven all had pet tuxedo cats to keep them company. catreceivedthePDSA Dickin Medal, the charity’s animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, for his services in World War II. He protected the food stores on board the HMS fromrats Design my pet! Q Hi! I have a very loveable tuxedo cat called Oreo that I would love to have made into a design to be cross stitched. Oreo is quite regal (he believes he is king of the house) and he loves all his people (or subjects?). He waits for all his family to come home each evening and then loves to cuddle up in my lap, tucked under a blanket, while…

Home and car keys are some of the most misplaced everyday objects, it’s happened to all of us at one point or another and it’s a very frustrating experience! So, don’t waste your time trying to retrace your steps or doing the ‘searching for my lost keys’ pat-down dance, just whip up one of these handy key pockets instead. There are three homely motifs to choose from – a cute and welcoming cottage, a sweet bird carrying a key and a trio of flowers with the word ‘keys’ – so each member of the household can have their own design for their set of keys. You can take your personalisation a step further by changing up the colour of the cord and bead for each person or picking a different…

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. The most common fabric is 14-count aida. 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…

Symbols Look for a symbol close to the chart centre – the arrows on our charts easily show the centre so you won’t need to count! Find this symbol in the key. The codes in that row show which thread shades to use for cross stitching blocks with this symbol. Thread brands The thread shades are listed in separate columns for the different manufacturer brands of thread. For best results, you should stick to one manufacturer for the whole of a design. Backstitch & French knot shades The shades used for these are listed under the cross stitch symbols. The number of strands needed for these can vary, so make sure you check how many to use, as it’s specified in the key. Stitch count & Design area The finished…

MARGARET SHERRY Celebrate a birthday with Margaret’s adorable fluffy kitty holding a large celebration cake, complete with candles (p10). Make a wish! AMANDA GREGORY Amanda has incorporated oriental lilies, white roses and sweet pink gerbera daisies to create a wonderful wedding wreath display (p84). SIOBHAN HARRISON Siobhan has created a set of Father’s Day cards (p38) featuring a range of hobbies so you’re sure to find a design to suit a special man in your life.…

TOP TIP This is a great card to stitch and keep hold of in case a birthday sneaks up on you! Fun design for everyone Factbox × Stitching Time Approx. 6 hours × Type of Stitches Cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch × Ease of Stitching Beginner Inside your kit… To help you sort your threads, here is a list of the colours and number of lengths inside your exclusive kit: Dark blue x 1 Dark pink x 2 Pink x 2 Light pink x 1 Yellow x 3 Light blue x 1 Dark green x 1 Green x 5 Light green x 2 Blue x 2 Grey x 2 Total: 22 lengths Happy Birthday key STITCH COUNT 36 high x 53 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 6.5x9.5cm (2½x3¾in)…

Tell us a bit about yourself I live in St Austell, Cornwall where I make and sell cross stitch kits and colouring postcards. I’m also wife to Phil, a mum to a three-year-old called Tommy and ‘Human Servant’ to a demanding cat named Stoopy. When I’m not in the studio you’ll find me with my family exploring Cornwall’s beautiful countryside and beaches, whilst daydreaming of future things to create! When did you begin painting? As a child I was always creative, but I didn’t really start painting until I was in my thirties. Adult life and various fast-paced careers in city centre locations left little time for play. A couple of years after relocating to Cornwall I had to take some time off work and so, inspired by my surroundings,…

LESLEY TEARE, DESIGNER Find a leaf buddy Q I’m currently stitching the ‘Stumpwork Cottage’ by Lesley Teare in issue 279 (April 2019), but having trouble following the leaf instructions. I’ve used felt for the padding but it slides around before I can stitch over the top of it. Any suggestions? They’re so tiny and fiddly. Thank you for your help, keep up the great designs. Sandra Poole, via email A Lesley: I’m so pleased to hear you’re enjoying my ‘Stumpwork Cottage’. The leaves are indeed quite small and fiddly to hold, but it sounds like you’re almost there with them. All you need to do is tack the leaves onto the fabric before working the satin stitch over the top. I recommend using a magnifying glass or a lamp, as…

THE WORLD OF Cross Stitching KNOW-HOW Backing with paper Q I’m currently working on the ‘Egg Hunt Set’ from issue 279 (April 2019). Step 3 says: ‘For a shaped design, back with paper first.’ I have never done this before and am not sure what you mean by this. Do I glue white paper onto the cross stitch I am to cut out, and then cut? Thanks for all your help. Jan Winning, via email A Heather: To cut out any shape from aida, back it with either white paper or iron-on interfacing first, to limit the possibility of fraying. Aida doesn’t fray as much as evenweave, but frayed fibres can occur when the blocks of weave are cut at an angle. With the egg set, we recommended paper as…

Whether he is your dad, grandad, step-dad, family friend or perhaps even your husband, we hope you have a special man in your life who deserves celebrating on Father’s Day. April Rose has created this set of card designs with Father’s Day in mind, packed with the hobbies and pastimes that men of all ages can enjoy. Worked on 14-count aida with no fractionals and minimal French knots, this project will be a breeze to stitch. Each motif is set off by an oval frame, but if you are short on time, you could leave this off. Or, if you’re looking for a really fast finish, work these as backstitch-only motifs on a coloured fabric background instead. All of the greetings have been designed to sit within the same sized…

Not only do lemons add a fresh boost to your cooking, but they can inspire your décor, too. Amanda has designed not one, but three gorgeous citrus patterns using a vintage botanical illustration style that is sure to turn heads. The mix of vibrant lemons of varying ripeness are so realistic we can almost smell them. We’re spoilt for choice – there’s a large pattern that can be made into a roomy apron pocket, and two repeat border patterns which’ll look fab on a tea towel or oven glove. Each separate element of the design, such as the detailed leaves and delicate, white blossoms, are stitched in four different colours of backstitch, which really brings everything to life. And the use of blended threads makes this design shine, quite literally,…

PRIZES WORTH £249 Summer daze We’re looking forward to those lazy days in the garden and RIOLIS’ ‘Cottage Garden Summer’ kit (R1847) is a celebration of these delights to come. This bee-autiful piece measures 20x30cm (7¾x11¾in) and the kit (RRP £24.99) contains 14-count Zweigart flaxen aida, wool/acrylic threads, needle, chart and instructions, as well as a scrolled wooden hanger. Courtesy of our friends at SoloCrafts*, we have ten of them to give away. TO ENTER Visit our website www.gathered.how/woxs or label a postcard ‘SoloCrafts (WOXS 294)’ PRIZES WORTH £260 Good show Head on down to The Creative Craft Show* at Birmingham NEC, on 26-28 June, and top up on crafting essentials, check out the latest trends and get some great ideas for your summer stitching. With more than 100 exhibitors…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY ☎ 03330 162 137 × Issue 293 Don’t miss our May 2020 issue with a striking tiger so real that it jumps right off the page! You’ll also find a blackwork hummingbird – fab for beginners, motivational ocean cards and a special commemorative VE Day design, plus more! Then try getting creative with your stitching with mix and match cake toppers or pretty wildflower hoops with trailing thread. YOUR EXCLUSIVE GIFT: 3-in-1 cute cupcake card kit × Issue 292 Chart book & 3 charms, Peter Rabbit, Easter hanging, spring SAL (part 1), baby jungle cards, choc ABC, Notre Dame, armchair pincushion, daffodils, Art Nouveau DL, grazing sheep × Issue 291 New baby card kit, pretty Flower Fairies design, sparkly koi, pansy table runner, spring sampler, Mother’s Day…

× Choose your project… Using the 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…

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.…

Tracey Knight is a retired teacher from Alton Technique you’d like to master? My fractional stitches are pretty hit and miss! I keep trying to get some consistency with them. I have found that switching my needle for one with a sharper point does help. Who are your stitchy buddies? I belong to a couple of stitching groups, but admit that I prefer the contemplative, meditative aspect of stitching by myself. Who would you love to have a stitching session with? I wish I’d had the opportunity to meet Jo Verso. Her books and designs were the ones that kept me going when I was a cross stitch newbie. Your fave project style? I love backstitching, I think that it really brings a project to life. That’s probably why I…

Commemorate a loved one’s special day, whether they’re turning 5, 50 or 100, with this paw-sitively radiant kitty and his lovingly baked sweet treat. Everyone will adore this cuddly cat, especially as he’s bringing a big birthday cake. It’s not a Margaret Sherry design without plenty of backstitch to bring this fluffy feline to life. Backstitch in charcoal grey makes the cat look extra soft and strokable, and backstitch in a lighter grey adds detail to the flames on the candles. This design is a great project to grow your stitchy confidence with – it’s worked primarily in whole cross stitch, with a little bit of half cross stitch thrown in to make those candles glow. Once you’ve added your last backstitch, you’re ready to mount and frame your work.…

Twinkle toes THE WORLD OF Cross Stitching PICK OF THE MONTH FAIREST OF ALL Say hello to Lily the Fairy! She’s a little bit shy, but always friendly and ready to add a magical sparkle to your day. You can choose from four different designs from The Little Stitchery UK*, each with their own special charm – ‘Sparkle’, ‘Magic’, ‘Hugs’ and ‘Daisies’. All these Lili of the Valley designs are available as instant PDF downloads, the charts themselves are laid out over multiple pages so they’re large and easy to follow. Plus, they’re worked in whole stitches only, with some backstitch detailing. Each design is approx. 16x14cm (6¼x5½in) when stitched on 14-count aida and would be perfect as a birth sampler, or a wonderful work of art for anyone who…

Q My daughter would love me to stitch her either a leopard gecko or her Coton de Tulear dog. However, her Coton may be hard to stitch, since she is pure white, so I’ve attached a pic of the gecko. Christie Herrick, via Facebook A Jenny: I have a soft spot for geckos, Christie, and this one is a real cutie, so I hope I have done it justice in stitches! It uses natural-looking brown, grey and green colours so be sure to sort your threads – and stitch – in a good light. Leopard Gecko key STITCH COUNT 23 high x 30 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 4x5.5cm (1¾x2¼in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton Please note: Jenny can only fit in fairly small…

I was in my local fabric shop and found a product called ‘monks cloth’ that looked like aida. What is it and can I cross stitch on it? M Flynn, Gibraltar Fiona: Monk’s cloth is a loose woven cotton fabric, which is similar to aida in the way that the weave is made up of blocks of threads. Unlike aida however, you must pre-wash it in cold water as it often shrinks, making it difficult to establish the correct count and size you might require for a cross stitch project. I thought I saw a pattern in WOXS with a mouse painting, but I can’t find it! I would really like to make it for my daughter who is an artist and whose nickname is Mouse. Am I imagining it? If…

Crowned the queen of cross stitch flowers, Amanda Gregory’s delicate blooms are inspired by floral studies she paints in her own garden, and her love of flowers and cross stitch come together perfectly in this delicate wedding wreath. Amanda has included oriental lilies, white roses and sweet pink gerbera daisies in her floral display, worked in whole cross stitch with a few fractionals in the lilies’ stamens, and backstitch in four different shades of thread. Any one of these blooms could be stitched on its own to make a card, scented sachet or small gift. Framed in a special double hoop hanging, we can picture this being carried down the aisle behind the happy couple by a young flower girl – these petals won’t make anybody sneeze either! If you…

THE WORLD OF Cross Stitching EXCLUSIVE Let’s get tropical! With a burst of vibrant colours, this exotic toucan brings the rainforest to you – the ideal stitch for summer! PLUS MUCH MORE Keepyour spectacles safe in a stylish sweet pea glasses case Slapsun lotion on and get ready for our summer ABC Takeflight with our airborne Design Library motifs Yourcross stitching queries answered by our experts Yourstories, inspiration & letters… plus much more FURRY TALES CARD KIT Wearing a tie-dye dress and with flowers in her hair, Lizzie is ready to dance to some groovy tunes at a music festival. This will make a perfect summer birthday card. Your card kit includes: 14-countwhite aida 24lengths of stranded cotton Colourchart & key Prettyillustrated card Handyenvelope SWEET SUMMER STITCH! Contents subject to…

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…