Innholdsfortegnelse for Special 2020 i The World of Cross Stitching

With life not quite back to ‘normal’ just yet and the days getting shorter, I can’t think of a better place to be than in my favourite chair with my current cross stitch WIP. There’s plenty in this issue to entice you to the sofa during the winter months, too. You might recognise our cover stars this issue – it’s been several years since they’ve appeared in the magazine, and I’m thrilled to welcome back the adorable Country Companions duo, Ed and Edwina Hedgehog. Find them on page 10. We’ve included several projects that are perfect to decorate your home this holiday. Delve into Fiona Baker’s stunning nostalgic lamp post design (p36) or Jenny Van De Wiele’s cardinals hoop (p26) for statement wall art. Christmas dinner isn’t complete without a…

Mitten Mouse key STITCH COUNT 38 high x 37 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 7x6.5cm (2_x2_in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton Missed a chart? ISSUE 300 Spread some cheer with Monty, who’s getting into the festive spirit as a jolly elf. ISSUE 299 Perfect for the knitters in your life, Lizzie would be a welcome craft companion. ISSUE 298 Ready to go trick or treating, Monty is looking fa-boo-lous dressed as a scary monster. For back issues, call ☎ 03330 162 137 or visit http://bit.ly/1NwX3Rv…

Q For my hubby I would love a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle in red. He’s the only person I’ve never stitched for. He is my rock and he’s also my full-time carer. I would love to surprise him as a thank you. Danielle L Rowan, via Facebook A Jenny: What a lovely thought, Danielle. Is your husband lucky enough to own one of these classic American cars, I wonder? I’ve brought this beauty to life with bright red bodywork, adding a black roof and hood stripes (though you could work these in red to match the rest of the car if you prefer). It shouldn’t take you too long to complete, and would look fantastic mounted in a little frame, aperture card or coaster, ready to surprise your other half. Vintage…

Christmas robins WHOLE STITCHES ONLY ROBIN’S CHRISTMAS MINI SERIES: ‘PEACE’ Here is one of three complementary designs from Twin Peak Primitives* on Etsy – the other two bearing the words ‘Hope’ and ‘Joy’. While they look stunning as a set, the charts are bought separately and work equally well as stand-alone pieces. The chart comes as a hard copy in black and white, or as a digital download in either black and white, or colour. Stitch count: 101 wide x 80 high, 14x11cm (5½ x4½in) on 18-count aida GREAT GIFT FOR A STITCHER CHRISTMAS ROBINS SCISSOR FOB A trio of robins adorn this scissor fob from Creative Poppy*. The download comes with charts, a key, an alphabet to personalise the reverse, plus step-by-step instructions, which detail how to whipstitch the pieces…

Tell us a bit about your home life I live just outside Wells in Somerset, which really is a beautiful place to live. If you have never visited before, Wells is the smallest city in England – the Cathedral is quite a tourist destination. I have a teenage daughter and I spend most of my time caring for her as she has a brain injury. How did you begin designing? I studied Art and Creative English at university. After graduating I worked on a couple of cross stitch magazines, as Technical Editor. That was my introduction to cross stitch, which was simple for me to pick up with my creative background. After I had my daughter, I began designing for the magazines I used to work on and my design…

Fun facts about Jack Russells tricksandroutineseasy so they make natural TV and movie stars. Eddie from wasplayedbyaRussell Terrier called Moose, while Uggie won a Palm Dog Award for his role in 20-30cmtallbutthesebouncy dogs can jump five feet in the air. theymakeexcellentrunningbuddies. Design my pet! Q My much-loved Jack Russell, Jasper, sadly died in January this year after he’d been poorly for a long time. My kind mother-in-law has been trying to find a cross stitch of a Jack Russell Terrier, but none of them look like my Jasper. I’m attaching a photograph of him taken on the Alentejo coast last year (we live in Portugal). I really hope you can help with a much longed-for chart! Dawn Birbeck, via email A Durene says: I’m so sorry…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY ☎ 03330 162 137 Issue 300, Dec There are festive treats galore in this issue. Stitch Santa’s steam train speeding through the snow, a sweet teddy and a 50s-style party scene. You can also create an heirloom elves stocking, 12 days of Christmas sampler and sparkly stag, not to mention our exclusive design of a Christmas classic, The Snowman! EXCLUSIVE GIFT: Beatrix Potter calendar with six beautiful designs of Peter Rabbit and friends to stitch! Issue 299, Nov Birds & teacup card kit, traditional Santa, Advent calendar, festive feline cards, hygge motifs, sparkly fairy, Snakes and Ladders game, biscobourse, pretty poppies Issue 296, Aug Beach huts chart, samurai, Forever Friends bear, lazy daisy ABC, milestone birthday cards, Furry Tales Wedding sampler, blackwork jellyfish, hedgehog cushion, mini…

ISSUE 302 ON SALE 26 NOV PATCHWORK CUSHION Mix and match our selection of pretty patchwork motifs for a unique project MADE TO MEASURE Watch your little ones grow with Fiona Baker’s inspirational height chart BOSS OF THE HOUSE Welcome guests with Durene Jones’ playful feline design MISTLETOE KISSES Bold hares and colourful winter blooms create a striking scene EXCLUSIVE Spread your fairy wings & fly! You’ll love this beautiful fairy gazing wistfully into the magical woodland WISHES IN STITCHES Choose from four adorable animals to create 3D cards on perforated paper WINTER WONDERLAND Cosy up in an armchair with Amanda Butler’s mesmerising Northern Lights landscape PLUS MUCH MORE Celebrate a special occasion with our Champagne design Mark the New Year with a fireworks ABC & numbers set Our theatre…

LISA REAKES Lisa’s set of Christmas Firsts cards on page 56 are perfect for celebrating milestone occasions such as weddings, moving home or a new baby. AMANDA GREGORY We think Amanda’s winter florals alphabet set (p69) will make stylish personalised napkin holders to impress guests at your Christmas table. LUCIE HEATON Start the festivities early as you stitch Lucie’s Scandi-inspired design (p18) to make a personalised Christmas Eve box filled with gifts for a loved one. STITCHING HELP! Don’t forget to send all your stitchy questions and design requests in to us! Email us at: theworldofxstitching@immediate.co.uk Write to: Ask the Experts, The World of Cross Stitching, Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST Send in queries via social media: www.facebook.com/theworldofcrossstitching www.instagram.com/worldofcrossstitching We will try and answer your…

Inside your kit… To help you sort your threads, here’s a list of the threads included in your kit: White x7 Pink x1 Black x2 Yellow x3 Blue x3 Grey x2 Peach x2 Light emerald x3 Emerald x2 Straw x1 Metallic gold x3 Total: 29 lengths Angel Decoration key STITCH COUNT 65 high x 67 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 12x12cm (4½x4¾in) DESIGNED BY Heather Nugent STITCHED BY Laura Boyter This design was stitched using stranded cotton and metallic thread from your cover kit How to… make your angel decoration 1 Use a ruler to find the centre of the plastic aida and start stitching the centre of the design from there. Stitch the angel’s body on one side of the aida, flip it over and stitch the…

The night before Christmas just got even more exciting with the Christmas Eve box, which is filled with all kinds of family fun! Surprise the children and bring the box out in the evening for them to open. You can fill it with anything you like: hot chocolate, pyjamas, bubble bath, a festive film or book and a family board game are just some of the goodies you could include. To make yours, simply wrap a shoe box with Christmas paper and then patch your stitched design onto it. Lucie’s used Scandi-style motifs of a rocking horse, hearts and flowers, which are worked in whole stitches on white aida in bright red, blue and green threads, giving a crisp finish. Over the page you’ll find an alphabet chart so you…

Buon Natale! Q I’m looking for a project with the word ‘Christmas’ in different languages – any ideas where I could find such a thing? Lisa Hyde, Birmingham A Hannah F: You’re in luck, Lisa – check out this Permin Christmas Star Pillow cross stitch kit (SSN42978), available from Stitcher* for £23.69. The design is simple yet stylish, featuring a star shape made up of Christmas greetings in various languages, which sounds just what you’re looking for! The kit contains 8-count ecru coloured aida, DMC Pearl and Soft cottons in shades of red, backing fabric for making up the cushion, along with the chart and instructions. It uses whole stitches only for a nice easy finish, and the completed star design measures approximately 40x40cm (15¾x15¾in). This is such a fabulous…

Dawn Gray O’Keeffe: I start working on next year’s cards and gifts during my Christmas holidays, while I’m still excited about it, and so I’m ahead if plans go astray later on. Mary Cooper: I used to make tri-fold cards and dreaded the job, but nowadays I cheat and fray the edges of my projects and then stick them directly onto the front of the cards. This saves so much time! Billie Cope: I think it’s important to pace yourself so you don’t get burnt out. Gifts get started throughout the year and stored, then decoration pieces begin towards the end of summer so I’m not sick of Christmas by the time it arrives! Emma Urbanski: I buy the Christmas multi-card craft packs in the post-Christmas sales and make mini…

Picture your ideal walk on a cold and snowy Christmas Eve. You’d be wrapped up warm in a cosy hat, scarf and mittens, perhaps with a dog lead in your hand, or a warming mug of hot chocolate to wrap your fingers around. Looking up to the sky, you see snowflakes gently floating down, highlighted in the soft glow of the old-fashioned lamp posts that frame the quiet streets. There is something so delightfully festive about candles. Fiona cleverly blends colours and fine metallic braid to capture the feeling of flickering candlelight through glass in this nostalgic scene. As our Stitcher’s Challenge project, you’ll also get a chance to try Algerian eye stitch, and we’ve provided a handy tutorial on how to achieve this on page 40. The use of…

Bring some icy sparkle to your winter cards and gifts with these designs by Durene Jones 41 quick-and-easy motifs Durene Jones’s design inspiration Stitches for every skill level Helpful tips and advice Unique present ideas for your special someone DANCING ON ICE Get your skates on to stitch this gorgeous mini motif (7). Mounted onto glittery card and a homemade blue gift tag, it’ll add some sparkle to your gift wrapping. CATCHING SNOWFLAKES Your cat-loving friends will adore this cute character (23)! Mount the design in a handmade blue aperture card to make a purr-fect winter greeting. WRAP UP WARM This design (26) is perfect for anyone who enjoys a snowy winter walk with their dog! Patch the cosy duo onto blue paper before sticking on a single-fold card WINTER…

The perfect Christmas gift from A unique Christmas present they’ll continue to totheirdoor gardening, cooking, crafting, cars, music, wildlife and much more SEE OUR FULL RANGE OF MAGAZINES ONLINE Remember ordering online is safe and secure, choose from any of these payment options This offer closes on the 31st December 2020 and is valid for UK delivery addresses only. The discounts shown are savings calculated as a percentage of the full shop price, excluding Radio Times and Match of the Day which are calculated as a percentage of the Basic Annual Rate. For overseas rates visit www.buysubscriptions.com. All Christmas gift subscriptions will start with the first issue available in January 2021. Should the magazine change in frequency, we will honour the number of issues and not the term…

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…

Fave WOXS design? It has to be the Faye Whittaker picture from issue 298 (Oct 2020). Autumn is my favourite time of year and the picture reminds me of a song called Forever Autumn, which I sing to my daughter. Who are your stitching buddies? The family dog, Abbey – she loves to curl up on my lap and she doesn’t grumble when I occasionally catch her on the head with my frame! What’s your current project? I am stitching ‘Portland Head Lighthouse’ by S Clarke, from Artecy Cross Stitch. It’s a real challenge as it has so many different colours, but I love lighthouses and it is one of my favourite places to visit. Describe cross stitch heaven… Having the house to myself when the family have gone out, there’s a…

The excitement of waking up on Christmas morning with the covers pulled off the bed by the weight of a full stocking is one of our favourite childhood memories! Ed and Edwina Hedgehog are smarter than that, though – hanging their stockings on the bed frame means they stay nice and cosy as they unwrap the treats Santa has left for them. With just three French knots and a few fractional stitches in the hedgehogs’ noses, there is nothing to put this design out of the reach of all levels of stitcher. There’s plenty of backstitch detail to depict this prickly pair, and the design is packed with detail so we recommend breaking it down into smaller sections to keep you motivated and to be sure of finishing it in…

Sweet tradition MEMORY LANE Christmas is wrapped up in our childhood memories, and nobody captures the tender moments of childhood better than Lili Violette. In these PDF charts from Creative Poppy*, using bright colours and polka dots on natural raw linen, those memories and festive traditions come to life. We love the sweet angels in ‘Christmas Lights’, the jolly gingerbread details in ‘Christmas Biscuits’, and the miniature knitted mittens in ‘Sweet Christmas’. If you’re looking for a design that depicts the joyful anticipation of what’s to come, you’ll love ‘Christmas Eve’ with its scene of party preparation and tree decorating. Choose either ‘Buon Natale’ or ‘Happy Christmas’ for the greeting. Are you looking for a quick festive project to stitch as a gift or decoration? Then ‘Christmas Snow Globe’ (C217)…

During winter, people celebrate their different cultures and faiths with holidays and festivals. There’s a whole world of celebrations to stitch for, and Diane has covered a small selection here. On Thanksgiving, our friends in the US give thanks for the harvest on 26 November and you can celebrate with Diane’s pumpkin design, which is a really easy stitch. Kwanzaa is the annual celebration of African-American culture from 26 December to 1 January – use bold thread colours to mark the occasion. Script-style lettering draws you in to the Diwali card, which marks the Hindu festival of lights, from 14 November, and if you have Jewish friends, stitch them a card for Hanukkah, which begins on 10 December this year. In 2021, the exciting Chinese New Year festivities fall on…