Innholdsfortegnelse for Mar-22 i The World of Cross Stitching

This month, we’re offering a fabulous selection of projects to stitch and display when the flowers start to bloom in the spring months. Our new four-part Stitch-A-Long (p22) is just perfect for this – you’ll capture the best of nature during the changing seasons in each design. In this issue, you’ll also find a chart for those who love books as much as stitching (p26), world celebration cards (p66), a boho dreamcatcher (84), motifs for Mother’s Day (p47) and more. One of the best things about cross stitching is that it’s for everyone. We are all connected by our love of cross stitch and our shared desire to learn new skills and create designs that bring joy to us and those who receive our work as gifts. This month, you’ll…

I have a good friend that I met through a stitching group on Facebook. In 2020 she’d planned to go to Stonehenge as part of her 50th birthday celebrations but sadly the pandemic meant her trip had to be cancelled. So for her birthday this year I decided Stonehenge should go to her instead and I stitched Lesley Teare’s amazing pattern from Cross Stitch Crazy. After four weeks of stitching, I wanted to do something different with it so I made it into a cushion. We video called on her birthday so I was able to share her joy, and tears, as she opened it. Dawn O’Keeffe, via email Lynne: This is such a beautiful gift, Dawn. Thanks for sharing your lovely story. The scene makes a gorgeous cushion indeed –…

Shortly after the pandemic started, I impulsively sat down and stitched this ‘This Too Shall Pass’ hoop and hung it on my front door. It felt fitting at the time. Then I saw this ‘Sunny Days Ahead’ design in issue 306 (May 2021) and made that as well. It too is now displayed on my door. It’s certainly time for some sunny days. Lynn Nannariello, New York, USA Hannah E: These are both such lovely designs, Lynn. I bet they make you smile each time you go to open your door. They look great in the hoops too. If you’re interested in more mindful stitches with an uplifting saying and fancy a bit of a challenge I recommend Gail Bussi’s ‘Sweet Birdhouses’ from issue 316 (February 2022). EMAIL US AT: theworldofxstitching@immediate.co.uk…

I wanted to show you how I I finished the Fiona Baker gift tags from issue 308 (July 2021). I thought they were too pretty to use as gift tags and I wanted to show them off in a different way, so I’ve made them into greeting cards. Emma Rhodes, via email Hannah E: This is such a fun way to make use of the tags, Emma. The colourful stripy paper coordinates brilliantly and these will be so handy to have on hand to give for lots of occasions. Keep an eye out for issue 321 (July 2022) for another fun stitchy tags kit.…

Fun facts about crossbreed dogs • Mixed breed dogs can be more flexible and easier to train because they are not as strongly programmed as their purebred parents. • You’ll never know for certain exactly what your dog will look like until he or she is fully grown. So prepare to be surprised! • Some mixed breed dogs can live longer than purebreds, sometimes up to 18 or 20 years. This is because they have a diverse genetic make up. Design my pet! Q My name is Zoe and I’ve been stitching on and off for 10 years. I’ve recently spent a lot of time making things for friends and family but I’ve never made anything for myself. I would love to cross stitch my dog. She’s a one-year-old German shepherd-cocker…

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…

Speedy stitchers Q What’s the best way to speed up stitching and how can I improve my overall efficiency with a project? Bloss Robbins, via Facebook A Laura says: As a skilled model stitcher for WOXS, I tend to use the sewing method of stitching in hand (rather than using a hoop or frame). For this reason I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners, as it’s easy to lose your fabric tension, but with practice it will effectively halve the time it takes to make one stitch. Good needle size is important here, so pick the one that works best for you and not necessarily the one listed (I frequently use size 28). My next tip is to make sure your threads are super-organised – I store mine numerically in handy little…

Q Any advice on using evenweave rather than aida? I think the end product looks nicer but I like the ease of aida with easy holes for stitching. Thank you! Sally O’Neill, via Facebook A Hannah F: Evenweave is lovely to work with – the only real difference to aida is the method of counting the threads. The fibres aren’t woven in ‘blocks’ as with aida, so you need to count the threads as you stitch, meaning it requires a little more attention. A single cross stitch is usually worked over two threads of the fabric, so it has the equivalent design size to aida (28-count evenweave = 14-count aida). One of the good things about evenweave is that you don’t need to split the block for fractionals, as you do with…

Q Is there a right and wrong side of aida? Jennifer Moville, via Facebook Heather: Both sides of aida are exactly the same for standard colours from manufacturers such as Zweigart* and DMC*. The only exception might be over-dyed fabrics or those with printed patterns, such as Fabric Flair (available from Sewit-All*). These fabrics will be visibly different on one side so should be easily distinguishable which side to stitch on, for example this striking Stormy Night aida we used in issue 284 (September 2019). Q Why don’t patterns list threads in numerical order? Jo-Netta J Fox, via Facebook Hannah F: All of the keys to our patterns list the threads in numerical order for the thread brand we stitched it in (the left-most column) and we then provide close match conversions in the…

Jewels of the sky FLYING HIGH Get a look at these new designs from Hawthorn Handmade’s* latest collection as they swoop into view, and admire the colour, vitality and brightness of these extraordinary birds. ‘Puffin’, ‘Hummingbird’, ‘Green Woodpecker’ and ‘Rainbow Finch’ use just simple whole stitch, there are no fractionals to be found and they are backstitch-free, plus the blocks of colour and simple lines make these charts super-easy to follow. Couple this with quality materials, pre-sorted DMC threads and a wooden embroidery hoop all presented in a beautiful gift box and these kits are sure to catch the eye of anyone thinking of taking up cross stitch as a hobby.…

If you’re a fan of botanical studies of the floral variety, imagine how wonderful it would be to recreate this elegant study of an iris in watercolour in stitch. A gorgeous mix of elegant backstitch, delicately placed stitches and 30 beautiful thread colours make this a fantastic choice for intermediate stitchers. Since the flower is a symbol of friendship, reliability, sincerity and purity, ‘Watercolour Iris’ (C-7265) from PANNA* would make a wonderful gift for a loved one. The stitch measures 16.5x26cm (6 x10 in) usingvibrant threads in cross stitch, backstitch and half stitch.…

Gardens can be a hive of activity when there’s an abundance of wildlife and flowers for everyone to enjoy. It looks like this cute cat has found themselves the perfect spot to sit and watch the birds and bees in this design, as he hides behind the pretty flowers to observe all the garden visitors. The colourful birdhouses and ring of florals make this an eye-catching piece to display in your home all year round. Stitch on evenweave to make the fractionals easier to place, or if you prefer aida use a sharp needle to help pierce the centre of the blocks. This circular design looks great displayed in an 8in wooden embroidery hoop, or get your finish professionally framed with a round mount to enhance the shape. You’re sure…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY ☎ 03330 162 137 × Issue February You’ll go wild for Hannah Dale’s majestic leopard! Stitch a golden tiger for Chinese New Year, celebrate adoption with Lucie Heaton’s special sampler, and lose yourself in Maria Diaz’s delightful tailor’s shop. Make cards and gifts for your Valentine and smile at the fun-packed circus-themed Design Library. Plus, find expert stitchy advice, prizes to win and more! EXCLUSIVE GIFT: Romantic wall hanging kit × Issue 315, Jan Peter RabbitTM card, Vintage 1930s couple, majestic geese, ski village sampler, a classic rose, Matryoshka doll, thank you greetings and mini Scandi Arctic creatures × Issue 314, Xmas 3D Christmas elf dec kit, Wallace & GromitTM, winter sampler, festive wall hangings, mosaic tree decs, poinsettia table runner and traditional holiday cards × Issue 313, Dec Forever FriendsTM calendar, Santa…

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.…

LISA REAKES Lisa’s designed a tote-ally awesome typographic design especially for bookworms to enjoy in honour of 25 years of World Book Day (p26). LESLEY TEARE Stitch Lesley’s charming cat on page 56. With all the detail you’d expect from Lesley’s signature style this colourful design is packed full of the joys of spring. POPPY BENNER Bring back memories of your fave childhood toys as you try your hand at Poppy’s vibrant retro sampler-style cushion that’s perfect for kids’ bedrooms (p36).…

I’m about to finish my current job working in nature conservation, and I was desperately looking for a gift for my colleague who’s helped me in so many ways throughout the last year. Imagine my excitement when I saw that the gift in Issue 305 (April 2021) was a pair of moths. My colleague is something of an expert, even recently finding a moth thought to have been extinct in Britain for the last 40 years. I’ve stitched the tiger moth for him, although I took the liberty of changing a few of the colours and details using a photo from Butterfly Conservation for reference, and I added the Latin name underneath as the finishing touch. I’m very pleased with how it turned out. Anna Radvan, Bromley Fiona: This is so…

As the seasons change nature has a way of adapting and surviving, which we see as the flowers grow, birds fly the nest, leaves fall and then the snow arrives before new beginnings emerge all over again. With this new stitched partwork you’ll bring all four elements to life in one brilliant design series over the course of the coming year. Starting with spring, this first part exquisitely captures the very best of the season, with pretty tree blossoms just emerging from their buds, birds building their nests and colourful stems sprouting up among the butterflies in the lush grass below. With lots of fractional stitches throughout we suggest working it on evenweave for the best finish. Framed with a border of stitches it’ll work as a standalone design to…

Q This is Chicken my neighbours’ gorgeous dog who is 17 years old and unfortunately is ailing. I would love to stitch him for them. Could you please design it for me? Thank you in advance. Pauline McDonald, via email A Jenny: It would be my pleasure, Pauline. Chicken is full of personality and has a delightfully fluffy coat. Recreate Chicken’s fur with some accurately placed backstitches and your stitchy portrait will be complete. 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. Chicken the dog This portrait will make a super gift for Chicken’s proud owner Chicken the Dog key STITCH COUNT 27 high x 30 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 5x5.5cm…

This brooding pair of designs are the latest counted cross stitch designs from RIOLIS, both can be stitched on black aida and hung as banners to make striking pictures for any wall. ‘New York at Night’ (R1992) features a moonlit New York skyscraper while ‘London at Night’ (R1993) shows Big Ben and the London skyline by moonlight. Available from Stitcher* each kit contains Zweigart 14-count black aida, Anchor stranded cottons, wooden hanger, needle, a colour chart and instructions.…

Many of you will have seen the ‘dancing duck’ cross stitch animation on Instagram, and if you haven’t viewed it already, you’ll want to after reading this! We spoke to Stéphane and Juliet, the creators of this unique project, to discover how it came about. Stéphane is a driver’s license inspector and lives near Paris and Juliet is a recruiter from the south of France. Stéphane tells us how they became friends: “We would have probably never met – and actually have still not yet [in person] – without Instagram and our common passion for cross stitch, geek and humour.” Stéphane learned to cross stitch when his partner was pregnant with their first daughter and wanted to stitch a design with pink tones. She asked him to find a pattern…

Seed stitch is a series of confetti-like stitches of the same size randomly scattered across the fabric. The stitch itself is easy to do, but the tricky part is handling the back of the work. As each stitch is very small and there are many of them spread across the fabric, it’s not practical to start and end each seed stitch individually. If you run the thread from one stitch to the next, you’ll see the trailing thread through the fabric. These steps provide a simple alternative so follow the handy photos and easy instructions below to achieve a perfect seed stitch and add a sweet confetti look to your stitching. How to… do seed stitch 1 Complete all stitches other than the seed stitches. Before you add them, cut a piece…

× 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 two centre…

Annemarie van Beek is an airline pilot from Hong Kong How did you start stitching? My grandfather has cross stitched for as long as I can remember, and when I wanted to find a new hobby seven years ago I tried cross stitching. I was hooked from day one. The last gift you stitched? A woodland animals height chart as a new baby gift for my best friends in the Netherlands. Little did I know it would match the woodland wallpaper in the baby’s room. What do family and friends think of your hobby? They love it and always enjoy getting stitched gifts. I still have items my grandpa stitched for me when I was young. Fave WOXS design? The ‘Woodland Fawn’ in issue 311 (October 2021). I have to stitch it,…

wanted to share a project with you that I recently I finished. I ordered the kit from a catalogue and was shocked when the pattern turned out to be a book containing 16 pages of charts. I began this stitch in November of 2017 and finished in April 2021. I’d set the project aside numerous times – our three grandbabies needed birth announcements and Christmas stockings and Grandma Beth was happy to make all of them. My husband did a wonderful job framing my waterfall and two of my sons immediately called dibs on it. I love The World of Cross Stitching – keep up the great work! Beth Betts, Wisconsin, USA Sue: This is magnificent, Beth. Maybe you should keep it for yourself so your boys don’t fall out.…

I recently returned to cross stitching and completed ‘Calendar Creatures’ by Margaret Sherry. It was challenging at times because it took lots of backstitch to create each animal. Bothy Threads* originally created this calendar for 2020 so I contacted them and they were very helpful and sent me a new template for 2021. It took me five months to complete and it’s now in my craft room. As you can see I am delighted with the finished calendar, I even created my own frame to finish it off. Kim Smith, via email Lynne: We’re huge Margaret Sherry fans here at WOXS too, Kim. This calendar is so adorable – you’ve done a beautiful job making it up and your custom frame idea is perfect. Each month is packed with cute detail…

Bookmark the date – Thursday 3 March is World Book Day, which means it’s time to plan how to transform you and your little bookworms into Harry Potter complete with eyeliner scar and round glasses, or Angelina Ballerina with pink tutu and face-paint whiskers. It’s an extra special year this year as it’s the 25th anniversary of the annual charity event. To celebrate Lisa Reakes has designed some book-themed word art that can be patched onto a tote bag and used to carry favourite books to and from school, college or the library. You’ll be gripped from the first stitch with this project that features well-known literary phrases such as, ‘Once upon a time’, ‘Just one more page’, and ‘Dream big’. The wordy design offers plenty of twists and turns…

Q I keep reading the term, ‘counted cross stitch’. What is it exactly, and how do I do it? I hope you can help. Kim Hull, via Facebook A Hannah E: Counted cross stitch is what you’ll find in our magazines! We provide the charts and keys for you to follow, with symbols assigned to each thread so you can identify them easily on the chart. These correspond to the key, which lists the thread number, stitch type and strand quantities. Then, using any fabric, just follow the chart to stitch the design by counting the number of stitches as you go. This is opposed to stamped cross stitch, which usually has the design pre-printed on the fabric, meaning you don’t need to refer to a separate chart.…

Q I have aida fabric that is canvas style. How do I find the centre of it? Clara Hughes, via Facebook A Hannah E: We don’t recommend folding canvas as the crease will be difficult to get out, as it’s not possible to iron it the same way as you would fabric, so in these cases you should use a ruler or tape measure to find the centre. Just measure one edge and divide by two, then place a pin or tacking thread at this point. Repeat for the other edge, and where the two middle markers intersect will be your centre point. This is the same method as for plastic canvas and perforated paper too.…

Who could forget their favourite toys from childhood? The wooden blocks in colours that never fade, the teddy bear fiercely loved no matter how scruffy it gets and the beloved doll. Some toys remain popular throughout the years, but as the Toy Story films have taught us, kids do outgrow their nursery companions. That doesn’t mean they fade from memory, however, and Poppy Benner’s cushion is a way of keeping childhood favourites alive. All the charm of retro toys is captured in this cushion, from the wooden dog on wheels with their springy tail to the little family of plastic figures and the wooden toy town in a design that is sure to appeal to children of all ages. A rainbow of thread colours and an eye-catching alphabet will make…

Stretch out your stitching time with the help of Foresight-LED’s* Flexi-Arm Adjustable LED Light. It clips easily onto your hoop, and with two adjustable arms with daylight-quality LEDs in each head you’ll be able to see each and every stitch you make. Foresight-LED is offering 25% off rechargeable battery versions (£24.99). WOXS readers can head on over to www.foresight-LED.co.uk and use the discount code WOXS317 to snap up a great deal.…

× ALISAHANDICRAFTS www.alisahandicrafts.etsy.com × AMANDA GREGORY www.amandagcrossstitch.etsy.com × ARTS AND DESIGNS www.artsanddesigns.com ☎ 0207 100 3509 × BOTHY THREADS www.bothythreads.com ☎ 01900 828844 × CATERPILLAR CROSS STITCH www.caterpillarcrossstitch.com ☎ 01676 530000 × CREATIVE WORLD OF CRAFTS www.creativeworldofcrafts.co.uk ☎ 0116 2713131 × DEBS CROSS STITCH www.debscrossstitch.co.uk × DMC www.dmc.com ☎ 01924 371501 × FORESIGHT-LED www.foresight-led.co.uk ☎ 0800 228 9745 × FRAME DIY www.framediy.etsy.com × HAWTHORN HANDMADE www.hawthornhandmade.com ☎ 01258 863873 × HEART RESEARCH UK www.heartresearch.org.uk × HERITAGE CRAFTS www.hcrafts.com ☎ 01889 575256 × KNIT KNOT CRAFTS www.knitknotkrafts.co.uk × LAKESIDE NEEDLECRAFT www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk ☎ 0161 505 1910 × LILLI VIOLETTE www.lilliviolettecharts.etsy.com × LITTLE BEACH HUT www.littlebeachhut.com × LOVECRAFTS www.lovecrafts.com ☎ 01409 404 010 × MILL HILL Available from Lakeside Needlecraft, as listed PANNA® www.panna-stitch.com × SIESTA FRAMES  www.siestaframes.com ☎ 01202 813363 × STITCH…

EGG CELLENT FUN Create surprise pocket decorations to bring Easter cheer to your home IN BLOOM Add a splash of colour to your décor with these gorgeous wildflowers EASTER BLESSINGS Put a smile on a special friend’s face with these thoughtful seasonal cards INDULGE YOURSELF Grab a cuppa and slice of cake as you stitch this scrumptious sampler Make a dream come true! This enchanting design featuring a little girl and her unicorn friend will add a touch of magic to a child’s bedroom! EXCLUSIVE OH SEW TWEET You’ll fly through this striking blue tit and florals pattern OUT OF THIS WORLD Stitch the complete solar system in this awe-inspiring set from Emma Congdon PLUS MUCH MORE × Spell out a colourful alphabet of emotions for children× Get in touch…

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…

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