Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i The World of Cross Stitching

The recent pandemic ensured the iconic World War II phrase ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ is as motivational today as it was back then. So, Siobhan Harrison of April Rose has put a modern twist on the vintage posters with four uplifting designs to encourage you to keep calm and enjoy your hobby whether it be gardening, stitching or spending time with your pets (p62). Green-fingered folk will love Katie Crumpton’s design of a modern-day witch practising her magic on a sunflower (p78) and Fiona Baker’s tranquil garden filled with sunny blooms and birds (p84). I recommend spending the long summer days stitching these designs in a shady spot in your own garden! If you’re after something quick and small to stitch, one of those projects you can pop in…

TOP TIP If you struggle with French knots, you could try using similar colour beads in their place Tea key STITCH COUNT 50 high x 39 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 9x7cm (3½x2¾in) DESIGNED BY Lynn Horrabin ILLUSTRATION CONVERTED BY Fiona Baker STITCHED BY Laura Boyter This design was stitched using stranded cotton from your cover kit Inside your kit… Here are the colours and number of lengths of thread in your kit White x1 Dark brown x1 Brown x2 Light brown x1 Turquoise x3 Light turquoise x3 Green x1 Dark pink x2 Light pink x2 Pink x2 Grey x2 Blue x2 Light blue x2 Total: 24 lengths Stitch in no time Factbox Approx6hours Crossstitchfractionals backstitch, French knots Intermediate…

Saving for a rainy day can be a great way to store all those bothersome coppers you find down the back of the sofa cushions or floating around the bottom of your bag – they soon mount up, allowing you to splurge on a special treat, whether it’s for you, the family home or a special gift for someone else. There are a few reasons to stitch the whole set – they’re fantastic for helping you budget for a holiday you’ve been longing for or a muchneeded night out with your friends There are three easy-to-stitch designs, which can be tackled by all levels of stitcher, although beginners may prefer to swap the French knots on the umbrellas for brightly coloured seed beads instead. Enjoy picking out your jar or…

Recreating coverkits Q I look forward to receiving your magazine each month and I particularly enjoy stitching the card kits. I would like to know if I can purchase just the illustrated cards used in the kits, such as the ‘Fantastic Fox’ and Ed Hedgehog? I often sew more than one of the designs and the effect is not the same if it’s not mounted in an illustrated card. Valerie, via email A Sue: Great to hear you enjoy our card kits, Valerie – as Senior Art Editor for the magazine, it’s my job to design these beautiful coverkit cards and ensure they fit the stitching perfectly, so I’m really happy you like them and are eager to find more. While we’re unable to supply additional cards, you could make…

When did monsters get so adorable do you think? We can probably thank Disney and Pixar with their genius invention of Monsters Inc. Then there’s Sesame Street’s hilarious Cookie Monster and the stories of Julia Donaldson featuring her totally lovable Gruffalo. Thanks to these wonderful creations and many more we’re able to help relieve children’s fears of figures hiding under beds and celebrate all creatures great and small. So, with the ever-growing popularity of these fantastic beasts in mind, Rhona Norrie has created this set of five fun cards with a thrilling surprise inside. For added excitement each of the characters has a tail to be patched on the inside of the card, making this project extra roarsome fun. To keep the make simple you just need to use a…

Sea turtles can be found around the world as they migrate across oceans, and they can live for up to an impressive 50 years in the wild – that’s a long time to be stuck with the same boring old shell on your back, don’t you think? Perhaps that’s why this lively creature has chosen a rather more stylish ensemble of vibrant patchwork patterns to adorn her shell. She sure does brighten up the seabed as she glides through the currents in search of new friends to show off her beautiful body art to! Stitched on vivid blue aida to create an underwater background, this straightforward project uses whole cross stitches, backstitch and a few French knots as added decoration on the shell. If you’re not yet a pro with…

Stylish sampler MODERN VINTAGE Well known for detailed designs with a contemporary twist, Modern Folk Embroidery* is a go-to if you’re looking for something that bit special. These three new releases – available as PDF downloads so you can start stitching immediately – are especially attractive. The first, ‘The Linnet’s Song’, is 264 stitches high by 105 stitches wide and is inspired by an ancient Celtic folk song, while ‘Rule of Life’ is an homage to Quaker alphabet samplers and is 219 high by 178 wide. Lastly there’s ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ at 241 high by 333 wide, which is also influenced by original Quaker works. 5 fab finds… for stitching on the go Travel in stitchy style this summer FRIENDS FANS Well timed to coincide with the release of HBO’s…

PRIZES worth £1,087! PRIZES WORTH £269 Short and sweet Quick to stitch and beautiful to look at, Mouseloft’s* ‘Stitchlets’ range will always get the thumbs up from The World of Cross Stitching team. We’re all rushing to get our hands on the latest additions to the collection, which include the cute ‘Koala’ and colourful ‘Toucan’. They’re great framed as a group or make excellent cards, and we’re excited to have 13 bundles of eight different designs to give away. The kits included are the four new releases as well as four old favourites including ‘Sloth’, ‘Puffin’ and ‘Peacock’. TO ENTER Visit our website www.gathered.how/woxs PRIZES WORTH £250 Busy as a bumble bee We’re sampler addicts here at The World of Cross Stitching, and the Historical Sampler Company* has plenty to…

Woodland wonder Fawn over this stunning baby deer among an autumnal landscape packed with detail and designed by Jenny Barton PLUS MUCH MORE Cosyup at home & stitch a traditional cottage sampler Trycreating a constellation ABC that’s out of this world Stitchsomething magical from our Design Library Yourcross stitching queries answered by our experts Yourstories, inspiration & letters…plus much more FESTIVE ROBINS CARD & CHARM KIT Start stitching for Christmas now and send a charming stitchy greeting to someone special. Your card kit includes: 14-count aida 12 lengths of stranded cotton Easy to use fullcolour chart and key Pretty printed polka dot card Cute snowflake charm Handy envelope TO SUBSCRIBE 3330 162 147 CAN’T WAIT FOR NEXT ISSUE?…

Be on the panel! Roxy Opas is a global mobility manager from Dorset What is your idea of cross stitch heaven? I would have to be sat by a roaring fire with my stitching and a mug of coffee on a winter’s afternoon – it makes me feel cosy just thinking about it. Tell us about your favourite stitchy project? I really love all of my Wrendale projects by Bothy Threads, so it’s really difficult to pick just one but if I have to it would be ‘The Diet Starts Tomorrow’. I frame all of my projects and rotate them throughout the year. Recent fave WOXS design? I love the Wallace and Gromit design in issue 307 (June 2021), it reminds me of my childhood and my…

Mischievous pair Ed Hedgehog and Tom Mouse are all set for some adventures, and don’t they just look as happy as can be in this scene. What have they been up to today, do you reckon? The look of delight on both their faces speaks volumes and even the little ladybird looks keen to join in the fun. Presented in a poster-style finish, these best pals make for an easy stitch using blocks of solid colour and a simple backstitch outline, meaning you won’t need to worry about changing thread colour too often and can really sink your teeth into this rewarding project. You’ll find just a few fractionals to help create extra precise details such as eyes or the ladybird. Display on a stretched canvas like us, or mount…

It’s scientific fact that tea heals all wounds as far as the Brits are concerned. One thing most never agree on, however, is how it should be served. The options and flavour varieties are almost endless, so to celebrate all things tea – bold flavours, healing properties and its ability to soothe the soul – Emma Congdon has designed this stunning stitch with a fun retro feel and colour combinations that really pop. Emma’s own mum helped inspire this sampler. It features an eclectic mix of china, each of which showcases different colours and patterns to represent the mix of flavours. There are 17 different shades of thread to keep organised, including a bright coral to contrast against zesty lime green, but the design is a medium size and uses…

Q Hi Jenny, I would like to make a card for my stepdaughter’s birthday. She has a lovely grey and white cat – I wonder if you could design one for me? I have seen two designs in past editions of The World of Cross Stitching but I couldn’t get the pattern right. I hope you can help me. Joy Clarke, via email A Jenny: What a great idea, Joy. Here’s a cat chart that uses a mixture of grey and white threads in cross stitch and backstitch only – it’ll look fab patched on a card. Cat key STITCH COUNT 30 high x 29 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 5.5x5.5cm (2_x2_in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton Please note: Jenny can only fit in…

Best for birthdays CONTEMPORARY HOOP HAPPY BIRTHDAY This project from LuckyStarStitches* is all about the letters, but packs in cute party motifs such as cake, candles and balloons. Ideal for beginners, it’s worked on 14-count aida in three strands, and uses minimal backstitch. If you love the stripy hoop in the photo, this seller has a separate frame-wrapping tutorial to buy, with instructions to make your own. Stitch details: 77 wide x 63 high, 14x12cm (5½x4½in) on 14-count aida VERY VERSATILE GIFT TAGS Embellishing your gifts with funky tags is simple with this kit from Bobo Stitch*. All six designs are printed to actual size on the A4 insert – simply follow the instructions to create pin pricks on your tags as a guide for the cross stitch and backstitch. This…

In late 2019, Historic Royal Palaces posted a tweet asking for volunteers to take part in an upcoming exhibition inviting Londoners to share objects that represent their mental health journeys. When Lane Line saw this, she knew that she wanted to share her story. “Cross stitch is my salvation… so I sent in my details.” Despite her initial fear of putting herself out there and sharing something so personal, she took a leap of faith and got involved. She’s now one of 10 participants displaying at George III: The Mind Behind the Myth at Kew Palace, which runs until Autumn 2021 and aims to ‘inspire thought, discussion and reflection on how we think and talk about mental health today’. Talking to curators in preparation for the event, Lane opened up…

This iconic typographic quote that we’ve all come to know and love was first produced in 1939. The original Keep Calm and Carry On posters were intended to boost morale at a time of great fear for the air attacks expected at the outbreak of World War II. More than 75 years on it’s a sentiment that still resonates, offering courage and strength to many, so we’re thrilled to share these canvases, designed by Siobhan Harrison at April Rose*, with you. Siobhan’s updated the hopeful message with a pastel palette and a collection of super cute illustrations focusing on popular hobbies and pastimes, including gardening, spending time with pets and stitching. There are four charts to choose from and they make use of a mixture of cross stitch, half cross…

Especially for stitchers who are keen to learn new techniques and have a go at a fun challenge, welcome to this month’s workshop. The designs cover a variety of styles and themes each issue and every pattern is small enough to be stitched over a weekend or in between larger projects. My patterns are simple to follow, and I’ll give you clear step-by-step tutorials for any special stitches. We’re focusing on stumpwork, or raised satin stitch, this time so you’ll have another trick up your sleeve for adding texture and interest to your stitches. It’ll be a great skill to add to your repertoire and is excellent for giving your work a 3D effect. As always, I recommend you have a go at this new stitch on some scrap fabric…

× Issue 309%August Take a trip down memory lane with a retro ice cream van designed by Durene Jones or bask in stitching Jenny van de Wiele’s Polaroid-style picnic scene. There’s Lucie Heaton’s boho florals, Maria Diaz’s nautical ABC and Carol Thornton’s portrait of a mother and baby elephant, as well as Jenny Barton’s magical mermaid and Heather Nugent’s bookmarks. EXCLUSIVE GIFT: Stylish home sweet home hoop kit × Issue 308, July All-occasion gift tags, Fantasy dragon, fruity beach accessories, Belle & Boo sea adventure, vibrant summer sampler, crafty pincushions and sunny Greek taverna × %Issue 305, April 2-in-1 Felt frame kit, Peter Rabbit, spring sampler, Easter wreath, dinosaur ABC, café Design Library, Mexican kitchen, stylish cats, Ramadan and Eid cards × Issue 307, June Country Companions, Wallace & Gromit,…

Star Letter UPCYCLE ODD THREADS I’ve been stitching for many years and have ended up with lots – and I mean lots – of odd lengths of threads. About 15 months ago, I decided to use some of them up, and the result was this table runner. I made the patterns up as I went along, and I was so pleased with the result. The trouble is that I stitched this between other projects and have now got lots more odd threads, which I hope to use to make cushion covers. I hope this will inspire other readers. Joan Pain, Devon Hannah E: Wow, Joan, what a brilliant idea for using up odds and ends. We really love ideas for creative ways to reduce waste and I think there are a…

Fiona Baker Our Senior Technical Editor, Fiona, is ready to solve stitching dilemmas and answer technique questions Heather Nugent Heather is a cross stitch designer and multicrafter – she’ll help you transform your stitching into finished items Hannah Erskine A lifelong stitcher, our Charting Assistant Hannah can answer any chart or stitching related questions Jenny Barton Design pro Jenny has been creating projects for us for years and is ready to take on your design challenges Hannah Fletcher All set to hunt down those elusive charts and products, Hannah’s here to find shopping answers that you need New nursery Q I was delighted to see a pattern for Peter Rabbit in issue 305 (April 2021) as my daughter is due to have a baby and it perfectly matches the theme…

Penny Woolcock: I’ve discovered double-sided acid-free craft tape on a good thick piece of white cardboard – I got mine from the newsagent. I put tape all around and across the cardboard then line up the top (a bit like covering children’s school books). It’s been working for a while so I keep doing it. Any larger designs will go to a framer. Jacky Bouck-Standen: I go to my local framer around the corner. He does an amazing job and has a great selection of mounts as well as frames, and he gives great advice. I frame smaller projects in hoops myself. Helena Forsberg Ekström: I buy cheap frames in various stores and use the lacing method. With small or seasonal stitches I make hangings with ‘fabric frames’, a bit…

Fun facts about Samoyed • The Samoyed is a Siberian breed of dog named after the Samoyed people of that region of the world. • Identifiable by their fox-like features, they’re part of a group of dogs that are closely related to wolves called a spitz breed. • If you play a Sammy music they might sing along – they’re known to have a melodious howl. Design my pet Q Hello. My name is Hazel Clay, and this wonderful dog was a Samoyed named Dougal. He belonged to my sister-in-law and he was just the loveliest dog you could hope to meet. Unfortunately, a year or so ago, Dougal became ill very suddenly and passed away although he was still quite a young dog. I would dearly love to stitch…

If you ever wonder why your plants don’t sprout when hoped, perhaps you’re missing a secret ingredient. This modernday witch is practising on a happy sunflower and it seems to be working a treat – it’s growing strong under a magical rain cloud. Don’t despair if you’ve mislaid your own wand, however. Why not leave it to Mother Nature and stitch this while you wait for those first shoots to appear? People of all ages are bound to love this scene, and enjoy the stylish twist added with backstitch to highlight the light and shade in the design. With a few fractionals for detail on the witch’s eyes and fun bumblebee t-shirt, as well as half stitch shadows, this project is suited to stitchers with a little experience, but it…