Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 i The World of Cross Stitching

With the nights getting longer, we’ve stuffed this issue with cheery festive projects to brighten your days. We know you love stitching cards for loved ones at this time of year, so we’ve got two sets for you to enjoy – find Lucie Heaton’s playful dalmatians on page 18 and Heather Nugent’s Christmas bikes on page 58. Rhona Norrie’s cute teddy bear Design Library on page 47 includes 35 joyful motifs that’ll make perfect greetings too. At Christmas, it’s nice to have handmade heirlooms that you bring out and display year after year – something that can be passed down through the generations. This month there are a few projects that would make fantastic annual traditions. Try Mollie Johanson’s Nativity felt board on page 36. Kids will love putting on…

SIX CHARTS TO STITCH! Enjoy these six playful designs featuring beloved Forever FriendsTM characters for you to stitch and cherish PLANNING AHEAD There's space to fill in all of your important occasions and we've included the magazine on sale dates, too – you'll never miss an event again! 2 GIFTS FOR YOU PLUS… Get your festive fix and stitch this dazzling scene inspired by The Nutcracker, designed by Maria Diaz…

We don’t know about you, but we can think of 101 reasons to stitch these adorable dalmatians and we can’t wait to get started on the set. We all know from Disney’s classic just how playful these puppies can be and Lucie Heaton’s cuties are bound to steal the show. They’ll surely bring joy to all who see them, so which design will you choose to stitch and send? While one of these characters steals a candy cane, another snaffles around in the bottom of a Christmas stocking and one’s even untying the bow on a gift. These playful pals are big on impact but the charts are actually small and easy to stitch. At no more than 35 by 35 stitches you’ll be able to finish one in a…

Q I would love a chart of a hummingbird with a dreamcatcher to make for my mum as a Christmas present, please can you create a design for me to stitch? Elanna Scott, via email A Jenny: What a nice idea, Elanna. A hummingbird and dreamcatcher is a lovely combination. These birds are petite enough to fit inside a dreamcatcher, even with its wings spread. I hope you enjoy stitching the bird’s bright colours, and the feathers. Humminbird Key STITCH COUNT 30 high x 27 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. Satin…

Festive family fun A STOCKING FULL SANTA’S SIDECAR Santa and Rudolph have traded in their sleigh for a motorbike and sidecar, but don’t worry – it’s still packed to the rafters with presents. ‘Santa’s Sidecar Stocking’ from Dimensions makes a wonderful gift for kids. A name can be added at the top, too, for that personal touch. This is an ambitious project but the kit is well organised with a clear chart and instructions, plus light blue 14-count aida, felt backing, a button, threads and a needle. You can buy it from LoveCrafts*. Stitch count: 224 high, 40cm (16in) long on 14-count aida ELLY THE ELEPHANT MERRY ELLY Join Elly as she decorates the Christmas tree in this fun, festive scene designed by Simon Taylor Kielty for Bothy Threads*. We like…

Christmas greetings cards are traditionally used to send heartfelt tidings to friends and loved ones who are near and far, and what better way to send your best wishes than with a merry bicycle laden with gifts. Popping with vibrant candy colours and featuring baskets brimming with trees, wreaths, sweets and stacks of presents galore – even a happy pup along for the ride – these stitches are just the ticket for delivering joy this festive season. With four cards and two tag designs to pick from across the set, there’s something for everyone – we especially love playful details like spokes strung with fairy lights. The tags are great for adding a personal touch to a gift, and they can be made by trimming colourful cardstock to size and…

✖ AMAZON www.amazon.co.uk ✖ BOTHY THREADS www.bothythreads.com 01900 828844 ✖ CREATIVE POPPY PATTERNS www.creativepoppy.com ✖ CROSSSTITCHHEART ON ETSY www.crossstitchheart.etsy.com ✖ DKH CREATIONS www.dkhcreations.co.uk DMC www.dmc.com 01924 371501 ✖ ELLBIECO ON ETSY www.ellbieco.etsy.com ✖ HERITAGE CRAFTS www.hcrafts.com 01889 575256 ✖ JOSY ROSE www.josyrose.com % 020 8519 5128 ✖ LAKESIDE NEEDLECRAFT www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk 0161 505 1910 ✖ LOVECRAFTS www.lovecrafts.com 01409 404 010 ✖ LUCIE HEATON www.lucieheaton.com ✖ MARIES CROSS STITCH www.mariescrossstitch.co.uk 01376 777017 ✖ MARVLING BROS www.inamatchbox.com ✖ MILL HILL Available from Lakeside Needlecraft, as listed ✖ PANNA® www.panna-stitch.com ✖ PAST IMPRESSIONS www.past-impressions.co.uk 020 8335 3930 ✖ SEW HOT www.sewhot.co.uk ✖ SEW-IT-ALL/FABRIC FLAIR www.sewitall.com 01280 821777 ✖ SEW INSPIRING www.sewinspiringuk.co.uk ✖ SOLOCRAFTS www.solocrafts.com ✖ THE FROSTED PUMPKIN STITCHERY www.thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.com ✖ THE NUTMEG COMPANY www.3dcrossstitch.co.uk 01748 884926 ✖ TRELLIS & THYME www.sosaecaetano.etsy.com ✖ ZWEIGART…

ISSUE 314 ON SALE 2 NOV Have a cracking Christmas! Put the kettle on, put your feet up and pick up this smashing Wallace & GromitTM stitch PLUS MUCH MORE ✖ Versatile Christmas ABC, ideal for personalised cards & gifts ✖ Learn how to make a pretty poinsettia table runner ✖ Capture the enchanting story of The Nutcracker in stitches ✖ Your cross stitching queries answered by our experts ✖ Your stories, inspiration & letters… plus much more EXCLUSIVE: 3D ELF TREE DECORATION KIT Join the festive frolics with our cheeky elf tree decoration designed by Heather Nugent. Find all you need to make this 3D bauble in your kit. Your 3D bauble gift includes: White 14-count plastic aida 36 lengths of stranded cotton Red baker’s twine Clear chart &…

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…

Be on the panel! Geta sneak preview Appearin the magazine Receivea stitchy gift Chloe Macphail is a student dispensing optician from Reading What’s been your fave cross stitch project? My first project, which was a Christmas tablecloth with Santa on and a sleigh all the way around the edges. It’s the biggest project I’ve done to date – it’ll be used yearly and it’s what started my passion for stitch. What is your idea of cross stitch heaven? Sat in bed with a good audio book on, and working on a Wrendale Designs kit. Fave WOXS design? My favourite design is the Wallace and Gromit one from issue 307 (June 2021). It gave me such a sense of nostalgia. What really drives you mad when you’re cross stitching? The threads…

Is your special 3D village taking shape? The second set of our three-part Christmas SAL (Stitch-A-Long) features an enticing looking bakery and a town house adorned with fairy lights. Of course, no village square is complete without a magnificently decorated Christmas tree to take centre stage, too. Embellished with multicoloured seed beads and a golden star on top, the tree sits in the middle of the scene for all the cosy cottages and town buildings to centre around and bring this festive community to life. Check the information over the page carefully for how many of each piece to stitch on plastic canvas before you begin, and then follow our simple instructions to construct each of the buildings. Don’t worry if you missed part one in issue 312 (November 2021)…

Elizabeth Wall: I like to turn my stitching into magnets for the fridge. I stick card to the back of the design then glue a super-strong magnet to the card. Jo Watson: I stitched a large rainbow unicorn head onto the back of a denim jacket using soluble aida – it works a treat. Susanne Hopkins: The little wooden easels you can buy from craft stores make good display stands. I change my stitched pieces around depending on the season. Jessica Roukala: I’ve made a levitating picture. I backed the stitching with a sturdy fabric and attached clear fishing line to the corners for hanging. Nisha Chauhan: I used a bookmark design to make slim pencil cases, which I gave to my daughter’s teachers as thank you gifts. Melanie Rowe:…

The retelling of the story of the birth of Jesus is shown in Nativity scenes year after year across the world and, as this set of colourful figures show, they look just as wonderful in cross stitch too! With a set of characters including the wise men, shepherds, an angel and of course Mary, Joseph and the baby, there’s also a selection of animals eager to join in the scene. Backed with felt and positioned on an easy-to-make felted stable scene, kids will enjoy playing out their own adaptations of the tale. To capture little ones’ imaginations, these figures would also make great finger puppets or you could fix them onto sticks for a 3D puppet show. With simple whole stitches in straightforward blocks of colour and just a bit…

PICK OF THE MONTH Two turtle doves STITCH AND SING ALONG You’ll want to break into song as you stitch the magnificent new additions to the Karen Carter Collection, which celebrate the beloved ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’. Named ‘Three French Hens’ (KCFH1602), ‘Two Turtle Doves’ (KCTD1601) and ‘Partridge in a Pear Tree’ (KCPT1600), the designs are inspired by the first three verses of the well-known carol. So warm up your vocal chords as you sort your threads and get ready to stitch the 15x15cm (6x6in) designs from Heritage Crafts*. Why not stitch them as a set and frame them in fancy golden frames to make an eye-catching centrepiece for your home this holiday season. BAG NEW THREADS Like sweeties in a jar, you’ll want to reach out and grab a…

Fun facts about Goldendoodle • The Goldendoodle is a hybrid dog – a result of mixing Poodle with Golden Retriever. Also known as Groodles, Doodles, or Goldenpoos. • Jennifer Aniston, Chris Hemsworth and John Travolta are all famous Goldendoodle owners. • There’s even a mini Goldendoodle, which is a Miniature or Toy Poodle crossed with a Golden Retriever. They stand at around 13 to 20 inches in height. Design my pet! Q My sister-in-law has owned a Goldendoodle for nearly two years and I am still struggling to find a cross stitch picture of one. I’d love it if Durene could design one for me because it would make a lovely card for my sister-in-law’s birthday. Kath Hodgkins, via email A Durene says: It would be my pleasure, Kath. With…

Decorating the tree is one of the most exciting annual rituals for many. There are those who opt for a tasteful tree in a single colour, those who throw absolutely everything at theirs – the more tinsel the better – some of us even end up with multiple trees to avoid household disagreements. Diane’s baubles with their retro vibe should appeal to the pickiest of tastemakers. Stick to the same heritage colour palette of olive green, scarlet and ruby in muted tones to please those who prefer traditional trees, or ramp up the thread colours to punchy purple, vibrant pink and gold for those who like their Christmas trees to rock. If you’ve not worked on plastic canvas before then you’ll like it for its stiffness. It’s really easy to…

✖ Issue 312, November Enjoy Margaret Sherry’s exclusive snowpal or join in with our new three-part 3D winter village Stitch-A-Long. Plus there’s a clever advent tree, quick-stitch penguin cards and stylish metallic motifs as well as a grand manor house packed with detail. We’ve covered other occasions too – check out our Diwali cards, and a Thanksgiving ABC for creating monogram napkin holders. EXCLUSIVE GIFT: Merry mice gift tags kit ✖ Issue 311, Oct Rockin’ robins card kit, enchanting woodland fawn, harvest basket, autumn sampler, nesting hedgehog, boho cards, spook-tacular bunting and constellation ABC ✖ 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 310, Sept Afternoon tea card kit, Country CompanionsTM…

Star Letter A GLOBAL EFFORT I’m writing to share my enthusiasm with you – finally, after four years, I was able to complete the Thomas Kinkade ‘A Holiday Gathering’ pattern (Sew Inspiring*) that my husband gave me for Christmas. This delay is also down to WOXS – I find your published patterns too good to resist! There were several moments of despair, Kinkade’s pattern was extremely complicated, but the satisfaction of seeing the final result is priceless. It is also thanks to the letters of the other stitchers that I found the strength to finish it. So thanks The World of Cross Stitching and thanks to all of the stitchers all over the world! Camilla Maffiuletti, Italy Hannah F: What a heart-warming story, Camilla. You must feel so proud that your…

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 multi-crafter – 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 Have your elf a merry old time Q My daughter-in-law has asked me to create names for my grandchildren’s new Christmas stockings. I’ve recently come back to cross stitch and I just know…

Designed especially for stitchers who are keen to learn some new techniques and set themselves fun new challenges, welcome to this month’s workshop, which focuses on turkey work – a technique that achieves a fun pom-pom style finish. I aim to 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. Factbox Learn a new skill Approx16hours Crossstitchbackstitch straight stitch, turkey work, beads Advanced Gnome key STITCH COUNT 88 high x 38 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 16x7cm (6¼x2¾in) STITCHED BY Faby Reilly This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton,*Rainbow…

On the lookout Capture the magic of the night before Christmas with a charming Bothy Threads design from Maries Cross Stitch*. ‘The Magic of Christmas’ (BTXAJ17) sees pooch and mouse perched at the window waiting for Santa. Use sparkly thread and French knots in this 14x19cm (35½x48¼in) design, at £18.69. Stitch egg-cellence Pretty hens in beautiful shades of grey and gold peck around in this rustic design from Lucie Heaton*. ‘Chickens Modern Cross Stitch Sampler’ (EYG0621-1-1-1) has a finished size of 25.5x20cm (10x7¾in), uses whole cross stitch with a little backstitch and you’ll need 18 different thread colours. Download the PDF for £4.75. Eyes of a tiger Worship your cat with this eye-catching design from PANNA*. ‘British Blue Cat’ (PD-7122) makes a stunning cushion front that you’ll love cuddling up…

Hanging a stocking on the end of a bedpost or off the mantelpiece is a popular Christmas Eve tradition, before children worldwide struggle to go to sleep with all the excitement of what Santa may bring – if they were on his ‘nice’ list, that is! This jolly snowpal and robin friend look like they’re eagerly awaiting the magical event too, and they’ll keep all those special gifts safe until the morning in this cheerful stocking, personalised with the lucky recipient’s name. We’ve stitched this pair on ice blue evenweave and worked the snowflakes in DMC Diamant thread with a sequin at the centre, to add to the frosty effect of a winter’s night. The sparkling red sequin berries complete the snowpals’ ensemble of top hat adorned with sprigs of…

A MAGAZINE IS THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WHETHER IT’S GARDENING, COOKING OR CRAFTING, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TAKE THE HASSLE OUT OF YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND GIVE A GIFT THAT LASTS ALL YEARA ★ The perfect Christmas gift from only £29.99 ★ A unique Christmas present they’ll continue to enjoy all year round* ★ Delivered direct to their door ★ Over 30 magazines to choose from – 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 2021 and is valid for UK delivery addresses only. The discounts shown are savings calculated as a percentage of the full…

✖ Choose your project… Use the Factbox guide in every one of our projects, to 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…

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-quarter 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.…

Welcome This collection of Forever Friends cross stitch charts is a true celebration of friendship! The designs capture the loving and playful nature of these adorable bears. Whether they’re drinking tea, shopping, rocking out on a guitar or celebrating Christmas, the bears are the perfect way to show someone you love just how much you care. Stitch for birthdays, anniversaries or just because! Happy stitching! The World of Cross Stitching Red Rose & Christmas Gift key MAXIMUM STITCH COUNT 101 high x 110 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 18.5x20cm (7¼x7¾in) ILLUSTRATIONS CONVERTED BY Fiona Baker STITCHED BY Rachael Moore These designs were stitched using DMC stranded cotton TOP TIP Add the backstitch last and check the key carefully for the thread shade and number of strands required…