Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i The World of Cross Stitching

Often referred to as the festival of light, Diwali is one of India’s most important celebrations. The five-day holiday is generally marked with prayer, feasts, fireworks, family gatherings, and charitable giving. For some, Diwali is also the beginning of a new year and is probably best known for the clay lamps or diyas, which represent the triumph of light over dark. Whether you’re one of more than one billion people worldwide that celebrate Diwali, or one of your nearest and dearest is, you’ll love these vibrant stitches designed by MiRu Makes. To capture the brilliance of the event, this set of six charts make use of 19 lively hues and they’re easy enough for even beginners to tackle. Comprising mostly of full cross stitch, with just a little backstitch for…

Going big Q Where do I start with doing a big project? I’ve never done one before. jadeemma26, via Instagram A Hannah: As Editor of The World of Cross Stitching, I always try to commission a good range of project sizes, so it’s great to learn you’re looking to expand your skills and try a larger design. Stitching a big project is much the same as a small one, but my top tip is to grid your fabric into 10x10 squares. You can do this by tacking with thread, or you can even buy special aida, with temporary lines that dissolve when the fabric is washed, by Zweigart* or DMC*. It’s super handy for keeping track of where you’re up to as you stitch, as it’s much harder to keep your…

KNOW-HOW Make up magnificent masks Q I love your magazine but there were no directions on how to finish the ‘Halloween Masks’ from issue 285 (October 2019). I’m working on the cat, and I’m not sure how to finish the sides and back of it. It mentions felt and iron-on interfacing, but I’m wondering which goes on first and how the felt stays on – please could you advise? Diane Malek, Florida, USA A Fiona: Occasionally making-up instructions can be omitted on projects due to lack of space in the magazine, if similar makes appear in other recent issues, or because the tutorial is available on our website www.gathered.how instead. To make these particular masks, however, we would recommend that you begin by: 1 Affixing the iron-on interfacing to the reverse of…

Bring your A game to party decoration this year with a fur-rightful feline. The intricate design wows with its swirling backstitch on deep black fabric, but that’s not all – a ghostly message and gleaming eyes are hidden within. You’ll work these special areas in glow-in-the-dark thread, so they blend seamlessly with the white stitches in daylight, waiting to surprise. Be sure to follow our tip on page 39 for the finest finish. We made our stitch into a cushion with an orange gingham border, but you might prefer to give your neighbours a fright by making up as a hanging to display in a window or on the front door. No trick or treater will dare play a fiendish trick on you with this gleaming guardian on display. You…

Share your stitches Enjoy a round-up of our fave makes from across our social community “Received my first subs copy yesterday and couldn’t wait to stitch this beautiful bookmark.” Welcome to the family, Dot! Dot Fenwick, via Facebook “Part 8 of the ‘Sweet Treats’ SAL is done.” This is coming together so beautifully. Heaps of thanks for sharing with us. crafty17crafts, via Instagram “Just finished the BFG from The World of Cross Stitching issue 329 (Feb 2023) – I really enjoyed completing it.” Sarah Paterson, via Facebook “Titanic-esque finish from WOXS Design Library issue 334 (July 2023). I tried doing some fancy pants corners.” somerset.stitches, via Instagram Websites you’ll love Next time you log on, check out these amazing stitchy sites If you love all things gothic head on over…

We’re nearly at that time of year when pumpkins rule and you’re getting creative with Halloween costumes, but of course, it’s ever-sew-important to fit in some stitching too! Durene Jones’ fiendishly cute ornaments make the ideal project to get the whole family involved in making. The term pendibule relates to the pendulum motion of the hangings, which can be suspended from the ceiling, a porch or dangle in your windows, letting all those tricksy trick-or-treaters know your house is ready for haunting – and there are sweets at the ready. There’s a cunning witch or a ghostly ghoul to pick from, and both feature all manner of fun Halloween themed motifs to delight all ages. Stitch them on evenweave, then turn to page 60 to learn how to make these…

Although few of us will have appreciated it at the time, we can now look back fondly on our teenage years, with a world of possibilities ahead of us and the joy of weekend lie-ins. It doesn’t come without its challenges, but those years before the pressures of adulting caught up with us were pretty special. To celebrate this magical time Maria Diaz has created six card designs in anime style, so you can honour youngsters’ birthdays with a personal stitch. Hopefully your teen will look away from their phone long enough to appreciate your hard work! Ideally suited to advanced beginners, with a few fractionals for details, you’re likely to find uses for these charts over and over – you can use the number charts included to customise a…

© 2023, David McKee. Licensed by Metrostar for Andersen Press Ltd., London. Published by Andersen Press in 1989, Elmer is still a family favourite and a childhood icon for many. Comprising of more than 50 books, the Elmer series celebrates embracing difference in yourselves and others and here at The World of Cross Stitching we couldn’t be more delighted to bring you everyone’s favourite Patchwork Elephant in stitch! The perfect gift for new arrivals to your herd, the rainbow of shades are sure to put you in the happiest of moods as you settle down to work the colourful patchwork blocks. Complete with a bright alphabet and backstitch numbers, this beginner-friendly project is easy to make your own – simply plot out the little one’s name and the dates important…

Tell us a bit about you both… We are from Selangor, Malaysia. Michelle lives in Petaling Jaya while Ruzanna lives in Cyberjaya. We’re both mothers, with three children between us, so we run MiRu Makes while juggling school runs and family demands. We share lots of interests, such as reading or raving about craft supplies, cookware, accessories or food, and we love jigsaw puzzles too. So, how did MiRu Makes begin? We first met via Ruzanna’s Facebook group ‘Cross Stitch Malaysia’ in 2015. Michelle was searching for a DMC thread colour card and it turned out Ruzanna had a spare. That led to us meeting in person. We got chatting and eventually found out we shared the same goal – to create a Malaysian cross stitch design brand, to keep…

What’s the neatest and best way to tie off your thread? clifftopher, via Instagram Hannah E: Keep ends secure by running your needle through the back of several completed stitches on the reverse of the fabric, then snip the thread off as close to the fabric as you can to prevent loose trailing threads. It can be tempting to knot the ends but we advise against this as it will create bumps in your work, which can ruin the finished piece. This can be especially noticeable if you’re framing your project or making it into cards. I have attended the NEC in Birmingham on many occasions to visit craft shows, but the last one I attended had very little to do with cross stitch. Can you shed any light in this matter?…

36 AUTUMN IDEAS Cosy up with Lisa Reakes’ seasonal design collection and make gorgeous gifts for loved ones in rich jewel colours ×36 quick-and-easy motifs × Lisa Reakes’ design inspiration × Stitches for every skill level × Helpful tips and advice × Unique present ideas for your special someone HARVEST TIME Harvest season isn’t just about giving thanks for a successful crop. Celebrate someone special in your life and all they do for you with this thank you card (33). SATURDAY NIGHT IN Autumn’s about staying in and indulging in our hobbies after a busy summer. This fox (14) and a note (24, 25) look great patched onto a diary, journal or sketchbook. CHANGE IN SEASONS The seasons come around so quick. Patch the heart motif (21) and a message…

Mushroom ABC key MAXIMUM STITCH COUNT 24 high x 25 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 4.5x4.5cm (1¾x1¾in) STITCHED BY Stephanie D’Este These designs were stitched using DMC stranded cotton Shopping list × Zweigart* 14-count white aida measuring 10x10cm (4x4in) for each design × Stranded cotton as listed in the key × Size 24 tapestry needle × Backing fabric, lace trim, medium-weight iron-on interfacing, narrow elastic, and buttons of your choice from local stores *For stockists see page 90 Meet Heather Nugent “ You might have already noticed that whimsical mushroom décor is a huge trend for 2023, so I wanted to create an ABC featuring them in all their various shapes and sizes. I’ve had a lot of fun designing these and I hope you’ll really enjoy…

Inspired by a head scarf spotted on her travels in the Middle East, Elian Aboudi, aka DecoElian, brings us another masterpiece. As you’d expect from tatreez, which is seen as more than mere decorative adornment, this large design speaks a sophisticated language of symbols with an abundance of colour and texture. There’s a nod to the nomadic Bedouin tribes whose motifs are also known for their cultural significance. Using just 13 thread shades, you too can show off your stitching skills to great effect and lose yourself in the exquisite detail of this design. Though it’s an impressive stitch it’s totally achievable even for beginners as it’s created using whole cross stitches only. It’ll be a large investment time wise, but the nature of its composition using individual motifs makes…

CHOOSE YOUR ESSENTIALS… Start with these must-have items FABRICS Most stitchers start off using aida – a block-weave fabric, which is divided into squares by a grid of holes, making it an ideal fabric for beginners. Each cross stitch is worked over one square. Or you may prefer evenweave, which is also woven in a grid but in a finer count. Each cross stitch is usually worked over two threads of the fabric (shown below), making it the equivalent size to stitching on aida (eg. 28-count evenweave would produce the same size finish as 14-count aida). Fractional stitches are easier to work on evenweave, as there’s a central hole spare so you don’t need to split a block as you do for aida. THREADS You’ll need stranded cotton – this…

We can all play a part in making our world a cleaner, greener place. Each small change we make is a step in the right direction, as we explore in our special article on page 55, so we encourage you to share your green values with stitches. This hoop design, from fabric experts, Zweigart, really gets the message across, and makes a great gift for anyone eco-concious. Worked on beautiful white linen with a subtle blue dot pattern that adds to the contemporary feel of the stitch, you’ll get the chance to try your hand at satin stitch. The easily-mastered embroidery technique creates a stunning finish for the leaves and yellow dots, and while sometimes trying a new technique can be a little daunting, we know you’ll be all set…

Magical wizards INSTANT ENJOYMENT SWEET FANTASY Conjure up this friendly fellow in no time, when you order a printed chart, delivered by post, or a PDF chart straight to your computer. Great value and with whole stitches and backstitch only, this is a fun little project for beginners that has a slightly autumnal feel with its fallen leaves. Why not turn it into a gift for someone’s upcoming birthday? If you love a bit of embellishment, you could add some sequins or metallic thread to this design too, to replace the backstitch stars. It’s available exclusively from Lakeside Needlecraft*. Stitch count 52 high by 52 wide, 9.5x9.5cm (3¾x3¾in) on 14-count aida STRETCH GOALS PURE MAGIC If you love a challenge, we recommend this kit created by well-known designer Joan Elliott. Now…

Great reasons to subscribe: • Trial your first 3 issues from as little as £5* • Save up to 41% after your trial period • Delivered straight to your door • Never miss an issue • Perfect summer reading This offer closes on 31st August 2023 and is valid for UK delivery addresses and by Direct Debit only. The discounts shown are savings calculated as a percentage of the full shop price. For overseas rates visit www.buysubscriptions.com. Should the magazine ordered change in frequency; we will honour the number of issues and not the term of the subscription. You are free to cancel your subscription at any time – if you cancel within 2 weeks of receiving your penultimate issue you will pay no more than the trial rate. These…

Solve the clues then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to spell the name of a musical instrument (6) ACROSS 1 List of ingredients with cooking instructions (6) 4 Design made from small pieces of coloured glass or stone (6) 7 Rich powerful businessman (6) 8 Dinner jacket (6) 10 Sound made by a hen (5) 11 Item of lounge furniture (9) 13 Required, essential (9) 15 Incorrect (5) 18 Finger-shaped cream cake (6) 19 Loudness of sound (6) 20 Text of a play or film (6) 21 Give a job to (6) DOWN 1 Schedule of shared duties (4) 2 Bird that lays eggs in the nests of other birds (6) 3 Likely to succeed (9) 4 Butterfly-like insect (4) 5 Wide tree-lined street (6) 6 Plates, bowls,…

Ready, set, shop! Getting started Where to buy your start-up kit – turn to page 86 to see exactly what you’ll need ANCHOR www.lovecrafts.com For Anchor threads www.blacksheepwools.com ☎ 01925 764231 For Anchor cross stitch kits DMC www.dmc.com ☎ 01924 371501 For kits, fabrics, threads & more JOHN JAMES NEEDLES www.jjneedles.com ☎ 01527 830941 For needles & sewing essentials  LAKESIDE NEEDLECRAFT www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk ☎ 0161 505 1910 For kits, accessories, cards & more MADEIRA www.barnyarns.co.uk ☎ 01765 690069 For fabrics, threads & accessories MARIES CROSS STITCH www.mariescrossstitch.co.uk ☎ 01376 777017 For kits, fabrics, threads & accessories www.sewitall.com SEW-IT-ALL ☎ 01280 821777 For a range of unique fabrics & accessories – home of Fabric Flair THE WORLD OF CROSS STITCHING SUBSCRIPTIONS  www.buysubscriptions.com/world ☎ 0333 016 2137 ZWEIGART www.zweigart.de For fabrics, buy in the…