Innholdsfortegnelse for May-22 i The World of Cross Stitching

In an ideal world, we’d all have a calm, creative space to stitch – a little hideaway with our stash around us, perfect light, and no interruptions! But alas, our daily responsibilities and home set-ups don’t necessarily allow for this. Wherever you stitch in your home, I think Cheryl McKinnon’s stitcher’s clock should hang nearby to help you track those precious stitching hours (p70)! Before the pandemic, I loved to travel and would be jet-setting off on adventures whenever I could. Travel restrictions might have grounded me for a while, but I can be inspired for my next trip with Susan Bates’ collection of iconic landmarks from around the world (p47). I’m excited to introduce you to a new designer this month – Megan Caines of Meloca Designs. Megan is…

Star Letter A HUNDRED HAPPY YEARS This is Marion who celebrated her 100th birthday in early June. My mum wanted to create a unique card for the occasion and she asked me to help. Marion was in The Wrens (Women’s Royal Naval Service) during World War II so mum stitched The Wrens logo (from Elite Designs*) for the front of the card, and I stitched a portrait of Marion in uniform for the inside, using a photo taken in 1944. Marion was thrilled with our efforts, so much so that she showed off our stitched card more than the telegram from the Queen! Once the celebrations were over the card was cut in half so that each piece could be framed. They both now proudly sit on Marion’s mantlepiece. Elizabeth…

I was kindly given a bookmark cross stitch kit by a friend but I wasn’t that keen on the pattern, so I adapted this peacock from a Lesley Teare design, which I think looks stunning. My daughter has also been busy stitching a Durene Jones Friday Freebie from Facebook for her cousin’s birthday. I love this ‘totally whaled it’ design, it’s such a fun message. Kath & Adele, Oxford Hannah F: The peacock design is a great choice for a bookmark, the long tail and those eye-catching feathers look awesome. I’m sure Lesley would be impressed to see her design used in this way. If bookmarks are your thing, then look out for the set of summer designs for kids by Kate Spiridonova in issue 323 (Sept 2022), on sale 7 July.…

It’s always handy to have a card stash so why not stitch one (or more!) of these picture-perfect floral arrangements for your collection – they’re great for Mother’s Day, ‘good luck’, ‘congratulations’ and ‘get well soon’ cards. You’ll never be lost for a special greeting with the handmade touch again. Featuring an array of stunning blooms, this set comprises of four quite different design styles so you can select yours or the recipient’s preferred finish. Perhaps tulips are your thing or you know a keen gardener who has trellises of flowers – you’re sure to find the right match. While designer Mari Richards has picked a stunning selection of bright threads, you could switch them out for a favourite colour range or to use up thread already in your stash.…

Taken from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Butterfly (or Sommerfuglen, in its original Danish text), this noteworthy extract is the perfect choice in Gail Bussi’s signature hand-lettering style. Accompanied by key characters from the tale including, of course, a bewitching butterfly, busy bee, cheerful birds and smiling sun, the folk-art design will brighten your day, come rain or shine. Stitched on evenweave for a soft finish, the sampler’s delightful country cottage vibe will ensure it looks at home in a variety of settings – it could sit on a nursery wall, or take pride of place in your sitting room and you could easily adjust the text colour to suit your décor. There are some French knots to tackle in mauve, grey and apricot to enhance the design, so practise these…

With our beloved Queen celebrating her Platinum Jubilee this year – the first British Monarch to mark an incredible 70 years of service – the release of the stunningly detailed ‘Queen Elizabeth II’ (JRQE1071) by John Clayton at Heritage Crafts* could not be better timed. Available on 14-count aida or 27-count evenweave the design is 30.5x25cm (12x10in) and the kit includes Zweigart fabric, DMC stranded cottons sorted on to numbered cards, a needle, and clear charts as well as instructions. It’ll make a great centre piece for any celebrations or why not keep this back for making a start on over the bank holiday?…

We’re so impressed by the incredibly intricate ‘Lo and Behold’ sampler by Long Dog Samplers*. Created with its own backstory set at the fictional Fame Manor and featuring Dutch brothers Daan and Pim Vandaal, this mono masterpiece is 370 stitches high x 312 wide and depicts their safari park. The PDF chart is 19 pages, which includes the full story as well as suggested materials. It’s available as an instant download so you can get right on with the project. *For stockists see page 90…

What a difference a year makes in the life of a forest – from blankets of bluebells in spring to carpets of snow in winter, Amanda Butler’s incredible landscape has been a joy to see coming alive each season. Now you can complete this partwork with an absolutely breathtaking array of flowers on display during the summer months, as the woodland bursts into vibrant colour! With a foreground of foxgloves and an array of wild flowers beyond, the rich green grass shines in the beaming sun. Of course the sweet little rabbit makes an appearance too. They’ve hopped from season-to-season throughout the series and have been joined by birds here too. The densely stitched design features 28 summery thread colours, which you’ll use to boost your skills and create cross…

Don’t miss it! Start stitching for spring and summer birthdays, weddings, Mother’s Day and Easter – with 185 quick and easy charts for the new season including samplers, gorgeous gifts and 33 thoughtful cards busy stitchers will love. Get stitching: Fun farmyard animals Gifts for gardeners Happy Easter hanging Tropical holiday postcards (OHJDQW EXWWHU \ DOSKDEHW Romantic Eiffel Tower cushion Plus over 100 gift ideas on a spring and summer theme, tropical summer holidays, seasonal samplers and more… ON SALE FRIDAY 4 MARCH 2022 – PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! ONLINE www.buysubscriptions.com/FavouritesSpring22 CALL 03330 162 138+ and quote ‘Favourites Spring 2022 PRINT 1’ + UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (Starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY ☎ 03330 162 137 Issue 318, April You’ll adore our exclusive Belle & Boo design – it’s enchanting! Send Easter greetings and create fun décor for the new season, and bring the outdoors into your living room with a wildflower hoop. Celebrate spring with a vibrant blue tit and flowers design, stitch the stars with a set of solar system charts and tuck into a sweet cake sampler. Plus, expert advice and great prizes to win! EXCLUSIVE GIFT: Gatefold spring card kit Issue 317, March Pretty bookmark kit, Forever Friends design, Regency portrait, Mother’s Day motifs, global spring festivals cards and part 1 of our seasonal Stitch-A-Long Issue 316, Feb Romantic wall hanging, Hannah Dale Leopard, adoption sampler, Valentine’s cards, mini floral stitches to wear, stunning tailor’s cottage…

GAIL BUSSI Enjoy Gail’s homespun sampler with cheery motifs in pastel shades and a classic quote from the Hans Christian Andersen story, The Butterfly (p36). JENNY BARTON Stitch and send a colleague or loved one best wishes for a relaxing retirement with one of Jenny’s cards (p84). Choose from six retirement pastimes. MARI RICHARDS Meet new designer, Mari Richards, and try her set of stunning floral cards in bright shades – perfect for Mother’s Day, birthdays or ‘Just because’ (p20).…

MAKE SPECIAL CARDS & GIFTS You’ll have a whale of a time whipping up these joyful scenes – perfect for presenting in aperture cards to spread summer vibes CHARTS TO STITCH Enjoy stitching typographic designs, a quaint lighthouse, colourful beach huts, a pretty harbour, a message in a bottle and more this summer TOP TIP Attach the charms to your finished stitches using two strands of cream thread through the pre-cut holes and secure to the aida as marked on the charts…

I thought that you might like to see my latest finish. I plotted out the verse onto graph paper to work out the size of the project and used an edging from a Design Library by Maria Diaz in issue 292 (April 2020) of The World of Cross Stitching. My husband made the frame as the stitching is not a standard size and I wanted a rustic look to go with the verse, The Gardeners’ Hymn. Doreen Chinnery, Cornwall Emily: We’re super impressed, Doreen!…

While my daughter was at college she kept a tattered Impressionist poster by Seurat in her dorm room, and then in multiple apartments, so I decided to stitch a version of it for her graduation last year. I began stitching in February 2020 but the pandemic and deciding to go back to work slowed me down a bit as I had only evenings to work on it. I finished stitching the second week of February 2021 and had it framed. When I presented it to my daughter at her graduation, for the first time ever, she was speechless – she loves it! Deanna Austin, USA Lynne: It’s a wonderful gift, Deanna. ’A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’ is from StitchingJulesDesign on Etsy*.…

I thought you might like to see my latest finished project. When I was younger I used to call ladybirds ‘biddybods’ – I still do and I don’t know why – I just think the name suits them! I love their bright red colour and, when I see them in the garden, they make me smile. I had this kit in my stash and knew I had to stitch it ready for the summer. Jennifer Moville, Merseyside Lynne: What a beautiful stitch, Jennifer, and how lovely that it reminds you of your childhood. It proves that it’s always worth reviewing what’s in your stash. The bright red stands out so well against the beige aida. ‘Ladybird on Dandelion’ cross stitch kit is from PANNA stockists*, in case other readers are interested.…

I thought you might like to see my latest finish. Here’s the bookmark gift from issue 304 (March 2021). I personalised it by replacing one of the plants on the lower shelf with another cat in a slightly different shade of white. I’m a proud mum to 10-year-old Maine Coon cats – brothers Nefer and Harri. They’re ginormous boys weighing 28 and 18lbs respectively. They’re my lovely stitching buddies. Nikki Desborough, via email Sue: Cats are the best, Nikki!…

Our relationships with our bodies are complicated. Regardless of our gender, body type or age, many of us experience insecurity and achieving self-love can seem impossible. Recognising ourselves for our abilities and non-physical characteristics over our appearance, however, can allow us to embrace being us and disperse with the notion of our bodies defining our worth. This concept of body neutrality inspired Lisa Reakes’ ‘I Am Me’ design. Using a contemporary palette of 25 shades in cross stitch, fractionals and backstitch, this project will really resonate with many of us and is so easy to customise if you want to swap out skin tones and hair colours to match your own, or even a pal’s if you plan to gift the finished piece. Despite its larger size, it’s totally doable…

Q I was devastated when the Tutankhamun exhibition in London was cancelled because it was the last chance to see the treasures. I’m disabled and unfortunately travelling to Egypt is very unlikely, so I wonder if you would design me one of the baboons which appear on the tomb’s walls? They’re such characters and would make a fantastic stitch to celebrate the centenary of the discovery of the tomb. Nikki Desborough, via email Baboon key STITCH COUNT 30 high x 30 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 fairly small designs and for copyright reasons she is unable to chart logos, or characters from films and TV.…

Fun facts about cats MercuryandPabloPicassowere all cat lovers. James Dean’s cat, Marcus, was a gift from Elizabeth Taylor. WorldRecordstheworlds longest domestic cat is a Maine Coon from Italy called Barivel. He’s 120cm (3ft 11in). mostfamouscatNala (@nala_cat) – she was adopted from a shelter and has an impressive 4.3m followers. Design my pet! Q My name is Kate and I live in Moscow with my husband and our cat, who’s named Richard. We adopted him from a shelter and in June he’ll turn two years old. I’d very much like to stitch a portrait of him to hang in our home. I’ve been stitching since I was 10 years old and I have many stitched pictures, but there’s no Richard among them. I’d be delighted if you could create…

Tell us a bit about yourself I’ve lived in Birmingham my whole life – except for a period of study abroad in Madrid when I was at university. I grew up in a beautiful place called Bournville that’s just a stone’s throw away from Cadbury World and I now live about five minutes away from there with my partner and our cute (but extremely naughty) cat, Layla. Outside of my work I love to try new things, whether that’s making decorations for my home using jesmonite (a lightweight concrete substitute), or practising mixology – piña colada is a speciality! How did you begin stitching? My mum is very creative and she initially got me into cross stitch when I was around seven. My first kit was a Groovy Chick design…

Our friends at Stitchfinity are offering readers a special discount on a bundle of their summer mini kits – ‘Beach Hut’, ‘Seagull’, ‘Ice Cream’, ‘Lobster’ and ‘Campervan’. Buy the full bundle of five kits and pay just £25 when you use the code WOXS319 at checkout (usual price, £35). These mini stitch kits come with all you need to start stitching right away and they’ll keep you busy through the summer. Visit www.stitchfinity.com to shop now. Discount code valid until 31 April 2022. Prices and info correct at time of printing…

Welcome to my May masterclass. This issue we’re going to look at wired stumpwork. This decorative technique uses a wired outline as a base that is filled with long and short stitch (find a tutorial for these stitches at www.fabyreilly.com), to enable us to create fabulous 3D butterfly wings that are raised off the fabric. You will need 30cm (12in) of 26 gauge beading wire (0.5mm thick) and a pair of small wire cutters for this project. Stitch the main floral cross stitch design first, then use a separate piece of evenweave fabric to create the wired stumpwork butterfly wings following the steps over the page. Use this technique to create 3D petals and leaves in your designs too! Butterflies key STITCH COUNT 58 high x 58 wide DESIGN AREA…

Thread colours are arranged in shade ‘families’ – these are groups of colours that create a gradient of shading. It helps to look at a shade card for the full palette when making colour comparisons (available from DMC and Anchor) as these are arranged within the shade families already. You can swap threads like-for-like to equivalent shades of another family, ie. light, medium and dark. You may want to change the hue of an entire pattern, or use up threads already in your stash to save money. You can also alter skin tones to create different ethnicities. We’ve included some examples of skin shade families below, but feel free to experiment with your own. You’ll need to select alternatives for mid-tones, highlights and shadows, depending on how many shades are…

Tammy Nguyen is a pharmacist from the US How did you start stitching? I started to cross stitch when I was nine. I went to the craft store with my mum and she bought me a little kit – I’ve been hooked ever since. What’s your favourite ever cross stitch project? I stitched a series of autumnal projects from patterns by Jenny Van De Wiele that I found in issue 298 (October 2020) of The World of Cross Stitching. I get the most compliments from my friends and family for these. What’s your recent fave WOXS design? I loved the little ‘Modern Florals’ designs from Susan Bates in issue 316 (February 2022). Who are your stitchy buddies? My mum will forever be my favourite stitching buddy. Unfortunately, she lives on the other…

Margaret Sherry’s cats are notorious for their cute-factor and this fluffy creature is no exception! Sat on the lush green spring grass surrounded by pretty daisies, friendship truly blossoms between this moggy and sweet mouse as they enjoy the outdoors. With a clear blue sky and butterflies dancing above, what’s not to love about this sunny stitchy scene? Even beginners can give this project a go with just whole cross stitches and backstitch bringing the design to life. Just watch out for the grey French knots on the butterfly antennae and the cat’s whiskered cheeks – if this is totally daunting as a newbie though, our top tip would be to use similar coloured seed beads here instead of the French knots. We just love to see all your kitty…

BLUEBELL MEMORIES After 18 months of secret stitching, I finished Amanda Butler’s ‘Bluebell Woods’ from issue 255 (June 2017). It was a little difficult to get it framed because of the pandemic. In fact, it was touch and go but Clacton Picture Framing rose to the challenge superbly. My sister and I spent many happy days in the bluebell wood at the end of our road when younger. Mum burst into tears when she saw her present, so I know she appreciates all the hours of work I put in. Cross stitch is so compelling, my next project is ‘Farm Landscape’ by Susan Bates from issue 284 (September 2019), which I’m hoping to complete in time for my daughter’s 21st birthday in May, in between rests! Mrs Sarah Poole, via…

I thought you’d like to see my latest finish. My husband bought me the pattern and threads for Christmas using DMC’s Stitch-A-Photo* website. The picture depicts Gingi our cat and is one of my all-time favourite photos. It took me nearly six months to complete and uses 39 different colours. It’s my biggest project so far and I am so pleased with the finish. Thank you to the whole team for constantly keeping me inspired and entertained! Heather Grace, via email Emily: Ah that’s a gorgeous stitch of a handsome cat, Heather! We love how the photo captures Gingi yawning. You’ve done a great job of stitching it, 39 colours is quite a challenge, and there’s lots of lovely detail in the design. I think you might also like a design…

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 New driver Q I want to stitch a driving test card – can you tell me if you have any patterns and the issue numbers they appear in so I don’t have to look…

× Jodie Walters: I did a wedding sampler for my sister who dyes her hair an auburn colour but the pattern was for blonde hair. I started by picking a medium brown colour from my stash and a reddish brown then a bright red and I kind of improvised. Where the pattern had the lightest blonde tone I used the reddish brown alone but for other areas I used one strand of red and one strand of the medium brown, which had a blending effect. Then I put a few full brown stitches close to the head to break it up and make sure it didn’t look too blocky. The finished stitch looked really great, if I do say so myself! × Melanie Jane Wallwork: I matched thread to Crayola…

CLASSIC ELEGANCE STELLA Meet Stella – a vision of confidence and poise in blue – the newest addition to John Clayton’s ‘Elegance’ collection for Heritage Crafts*. She’s brought to life using various stitches and is largely worked in blended threads to achieve subtle colour variations. We love the silver accents for her jewellery, too. Aimed at advanced stitchers, this kit is available with either aida or evenweave. Stitch count: 91 wide by 217 high, 16.5x40cm (6 x15 in) on 14-count aida ART NOUVEAU AMETHYST BY MUCHA Based on the ‘Precious Stones’ series (also including Topaz, Emerald and Ruby), this design perfectly captures the dreamy, distinctive style of Alphonse Mucha’s original. Following a black and white chart, you’ll cover the whole design area using whole stitches and backstitch in 59 colours and…

Bursting with vibrant colours and simple but effective repeat patterns, we can certainly appreciate the benefits of getting totally absorbed in Megan Caines’ mesmerising elephant design. It’s an ideal project to help you let go of your daily stresses and focus on the now. A summer must-stitch in sunny hues, you can just picture yourself finding a tranquil place to enjoy a stitching session and taking some time out to be mindful with your fave craft. Don’t be deceived by the level of detail – this project uses cross stitch only and it’s suitable for beginners. You’ll love being lost in the repetitive patterns and we recommend you get your vibrant shades, such as magenta, gold, turquoise and apricot, organised with some pre-threaded needles before you get stuck in, so…

PICK OF THE MONTH Ear-resistible SOMEBUNNY TO LOVE We adore these cheerful new Anita Jarem designs from Bothy Threads*. Packed with personality these dear characters are the epitome of spring stitching and the perfect addition to the extensive collection which already includes wedding and birth samplers as well as seasonal cuties. ‘The Best Things’ (XAJ20), ‘Too Young to Stop’ (XAJ21) and ‘I Choose You’ (XAJ22) are all 12x19cm (4x7in) and use full cross stitch, backstitch and some French knots. Each kit comes complete with Zweigart 14-count cream aida, pre-sorted stranded cottons, a needle, stitch diagram and instructions – so hop to it and start stitching today!…

Retirement is one of those milestone events that deserves celebration, don’t you think? As stitchers we often find ourselves looking back through our mags for special stitches, so this set of charts, designed by Jenny Barton, will be a handy one to bookmark. Whether you have a colleague about to retire or a loved one is approaching the date it’ll be reassuring to know you’ve got just the stitch stashed away. As well as featuring well-known retirement pastimes like gardening, Jenny’s set of six includes a couple of general designs as well as a fun caravan pattern for intrepid adventurers. They look so professional in aperture cards and you can easily personalise the messages too. Plot out your own message in pencil on some graph paper until you’re happy with…

× ANCHOR www.anchorcrafts.com × BAKER ROSS www.bakerross.co.uk × BOTHY THREADS www.bothythreads.com ☎ 01900 828844 × CHASING THREADS www.chasingthreads.com × COTTON CLUB CRAFTS www.cottonclubcrafts.com × CRAFT TIME IN ARKHAM www.CraftTimeInArkham.Etsy.com × CREATIVE POPPY PATTERNS www.creativepoppy.com × DMC www.dmc.com ☎ 01924 371501 × ELITE DESIGNS www.elite-designs.co.uk ☎ 01536 721231 × HERITAGE CRAFTS www.hcrafts.com ☎ 01889 575256 × HRISIS’S ART www.hrisisart.co.uk × LAKESIDE NEEDLECRAFT www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk ☎ 0161 505 1910 × LONG DOG SAMPLERS www.longdogsampler.com ☎ 01603 879608 × LOVECRAFTS www.lovecrafts.com ☎ 01409 404 010 × MARIES CROSS STITCH www.mariescrossstitch.co.uk ☎ 01376 777017 × MELOCA DESIGNS www.melocadesigns.com × REX LONDON www.rexlondon.com ☎ 0208 746 2473 × STITCHFINITY www.stitchfinity.com × STITCHING JULES DESIGN www.StitchingJulesDesign.Etsy.com × STITCHTASTIC www.stitchtastic.com ☎ 0114 3830333 × TAYLOR SEVILLE www.taylorseville.com ☎ 0844 858 6749 × TERRA STITCH www.TerraStitch.Etsy.com × THE CREATIVE…

ISSUE ON SALE APRIL SEASONAL SAL Start summer with part two of Debbie Harding’s tree-mendous partwork HAPPILY EVER AFTER Make extra-special custom cards to suit your loved ones on their wedding day VIKING WARRIORS Immerse yourself in history with Maria Diaz’s detailed heirloom stitch SEAS THE DAY Spread the word with Amanda Gregory’s planet-friendly stitch Mark the occasion Commemorate the Platinum Jubilee with a royal sampler by Faby Reilly that’s fit to gift to HRH Queen Elizabeth II herself! EXCLUSIVE BEAUTIFUL BLACKWORK Astrology fans will adore this set of 12 zodiac signs designed by Fiona Baker FARMYARD FUN Create personal projects for little ones with a collection of farm motifs PLUS MUCH MORE AKate Spiridonova design to keep campers happy Useour ABC to stitch a beachy summer wreath Explorelands near…