Innholdsfortegnelse for Special 2023 i The World of Cross Stitching

ON SALE NOW! JUST £9.99* inc free UK P&P What’s inside! ✖ 132 pages of cross stitch inspiration✖ Decorations, cards, cushions and more!✖ 22 projects by all your favourite designers Order your copy today! ORDER ONLINE www.buysubscriptions.com/GoldChristmas23 Or CALL 03330 162 138+ and quote ‘Cross Stitch Gold Christmas 2023 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 allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Lines open weekdays 9am to 5pm. Overseas please call +44 (0)1604 973 746. Price. EUR price £11.99, ROW price £12.99. All prices include P&P. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery. Offer subject to availability.…

Hayley Chapman is from Spalding in Lincolnshire How did you start stitching? I started when I was about 10. My nan had always stitched and she brought me a little Winnie the Pooh kit. I stopped for about 20 years, until 2020 when I was handed down my nan’s stash when she sadly passed. A WOXS design you love? I really like the ‘Matilda’ project from issue 333 (June 2023). It would be perfect for my niece as she’s a Matilda fan. What’s your fave occasion to stitch for? I enjoy anything Halloween–whether that’s cute or spooky. I can stitch for Halloween all year round! Autumn and Halloween have always been my favourite time of the year in general and it shows in the projects I pick. What do you…

This cuddly bear has donned some stylish knitwear to help keep them warm as the wintry weather draws in. Their little friend, however, doesn’t have the same problem – penguins are built for this weather, after all. Together, the darling pair are getting ready to celebrate the arrival of the first snowfall of the season. Perfect for cosy nights stitching in your woolies, while dreaming of a white Christmas, this delightful scene will make a top pressie for a Forever Friends fan. Using 27 frosty hues mixed with some bright pops of colour, we’ve worked this pattern on 32-count evenweave (which is the equivalent to 16-count aida), for a finer finish that’ll really make a splash. We’re particularly fond of the soft duck egg blue hues to perfectly coordinate with…

Christmas is everything to so many people right across the world, however you celebrate the season. And, if you love the story of the Nativity, then these jewel-bright cards by Jenny Van De Wiele are just the ticket to send your loving best wishes to all those you hold dear. Featuring traditional Christian greetings such as ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Light of the World’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Joy’, these designs are worked in three strands over two threads of a beautiful dark blue 28-count linen fabric, which makes the rich colours really stand out. With just a few fractionals, backstitch in one strand to give definition, and French knots for the finishing touches, you’ll find each of these cards will take you just a few evenings to stitch up. Once you’ve completed…

Designer Durene Jones really knows how to add the wow factor to her creations at any time of year, but this is especially true of the holiday season. These four super cute characters will undoubtedly spread Christmas cheer, and you’ll also level up your beading skills as you add the twinkly twist. With nine shades of Mill Hill seed beads featured, you’ll need to check the key carefully, as the colours of the bead may not match their appearance on the chart. This is so you can more easily differentiate between them whilst stitching. When your stitches are complete, simply back with double-sided tape, stick onto felt and add a loop of coordinating ribbon. Whether you keep all four to yourself or share with friends, this set is sure to…

Who says Advent is just for the kids? Treat yourself to a spot of stitching just for you with a scene designed by Fiona Baker that's straight out of a winter night’s dream. Featuring icy animal sculptures frozen in time outside the cosiest of cottages with moonlight streaming down around them all, this is a timeless stitch to treasure. We used a 'Snowy Night' aida, created especially for this project by Sew-it-All*, which has a lovely ombré-style transition of colour, from the starry night sky to the snowy ground below. The colour changes of the fabric do most of the work for you, making it a simpler project to complete. Just be sure to position your starting stitch, so the trees cover the colour transition area, referring to our photos…

The UK's No.1 INTO THE WOODS Use just two shades to create a stunning wall hanging designed by Lisa Reakes FRESH STARTS Send custom congratulations car ds with six new charts from Jenny Barton WINTER SUN Capture Emma Louise Art Stitch’s idyllic seascape on a chilly day STYLE YOUR HOME Embrace the Historical Sampler Company’s new year cushion Fantasy artist Anne Stokes exclusive You’ll be enchanted by this majestic Celtic unicorn hoop NEW THREADS Update your wardrobe with Perry Abdel-Hadi’s pretty motifs FOR THE LOVE OF STITCH Get your needle ready, it’s time for our brand-new 2024 Stitch-A-Long! PLUS MUCH MORE ✖ Modern Emma Congdon hoop design with cattitude!✖ Colourful ABC from Durene Jones using Paintbox Threads✖ Enjoy Fair Isle motifs in Maria Diaz’s wintry Design Library✖ Your cross stitching…

MODERN CALLIGRAPHY & LETTERING Give your Christmas cards and gifting the personal touch with this inspiring magazine, 100+ pages featuring workshops and projects for creating your own lettering. PLUS advice from leading calligraphers JUST £9.99! Inc free UK P&P 4 PULL-OUT ART CARDS • EXPERT GUIDES • STEP-BY-STEPS • FESTIVE PROJECTS ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! ORDER ONLINE www.buysubscriptions.com/calligraphy2023 OR CALL 03330 162 138†, quote ‘Modern Calligraphy 2023’ † 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 allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Outside of free call packages call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute. Lines are open Mon – Fri 8am-6pm and Saturday 9am-1pm…

We’re right in the thick of the festive season now and looking forward to cosy evenings, wrapped in a blanket, stitching for ourselves, friends and family. There are some really special designs this issue that you will undoubtedly come back to next year and beyond! As always, the Forever Friends (p10) make an adorable gift, or for something more traditional choose from Amanda Butler’s vintage Santa scene (p20) or Jenny Van De Wiele’s Nativity-themed card set (p26). We have some quick-stitch projects too, including Durene Jones’ sweet beaded decorations (p36) and our cool alpine ski design library (p47). This year could well be the time to invest your evenings in an Advent calendar (p56) that can be brought out for Christmases to come. Fiona Baker’s beautiful, winter landscape features a…

Star Letter PICTURE PERFECT I’m delighted with how this cross stitch photo of my nieces turned out. I started it well before Christmas, but then I turned my attention to my seasonal card stitching and it took a back seat until I picked it back up again in early December. Luckily, as my nieces were not coming over from Holland until just after Christmas, it bought me a bit of extra time and I finally completed my stitch on Christmas Eve. The girls loved it and even posed for me in front of the Christmas tree. It was made using the DMC* Stitch Your Photo service and I’m really impressed with how well it turned out. It was definitely a challenge given the similarity of colours, but I think it…

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 Tinsel town Q I am in love with Fiona Baker’s 3D models and have stitched the Christmas and Halloween ones. I also just started the ‘3D Gingerbread Houses’ from issue 338 (November 2023).…

Gift subscriptions FROM JUST £26.99! CRAFT LIFESTYLE CRAFT SPORT HOMES & GARDENS SCIENCE & NATURE GREAT REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE Gift subscriptions from just £26.99! • Free delivery direct to your door • Fantastic Christmas savings YOUR TWO EASY WAYS TO ORDER Visit ourmediashop.com/xmas23 Call 03300538660 quote code X23OMHA This off er closes on the 31st December 2023 and is valid for UK delivery addresses only. The discounts shown are savings calculated as a percentage of the full shop price. For overseas rates visit www.ourmediashop.com. All Christmas gift subscriptions will start with the first issue available in January 2024. Should the magazine change in frequency, we will honour the number of issues and not the term of the subscription. †UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers…

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…

CAMERON NUNN If, like us, you’re hooked on this year’s The Great British Bake Off then Cameron’s apron set is the perfect gift for all of your fave Star Bakers! (p64). JENNY VAN DE WIELE Jenny’s designed a stunning set of cards based around the Christmas story with seasonal messages for you to stitch up and send to loved ones (p26). AMANDA BUTLER A Victorian vintage Santa is coming to town in this glistening winter scene, designed by Amanda, that you’ll be so proud to hang up year after year (p20).…

3D Snowman key STITCH COUNT 56 high x 56 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 10x10cm (4x4in) DESIGNED BY Heather Nugent STITCHED BY Laura Boyter This design was stitched using stranded cotton from your coverkit Inside your kit… To help you sort your threads, here’s a list of the colours and number of lengths of thread inside your coverkit: Black x3 Brown x2 Red x1 Orange x1 Dark blue x2 Blue x2 White x7 Dark grey x2 Grey x3 Total: 23 lengths How to… make your decoration 1 Use a ruler to find the centre of the plastic aida and start stitching the centre of the design from there. 2 Once you’ve finished stitching, use sharp scissors to cut a border around the edge of the stitched design, following…

Resplendent in his glorious green robe, this kindly gentleman looks like he’s off on a mission with his mysterious sack of toys. Known by many names across the world, the figure of a jolly old man with flying reindeer has become synonymous with Christmas, but this traditional take on the famous fellow draw’s inspiration from across the ages. After all, nobody can say for sure what he actually looks like – unless of course you want to risk ending up on the naughty list by staying up late for a peek! You’ll use 27 shades in a rich array of colours to work this detailed design, that’s bound to be top of your festive to-stitch list. The over-dyed effect fabric adds a frosty blue sky, while metallic threads and twinkly…

If you have a special friend or family member who loves Bake Off and all things pud related, this stripy set of festive kitchen accessories will make the perfect gift to wrap up and tuck under the tree for them. The vibrant candy-cane collection designed by Cameron Nunn, otherwise known as The Craft Xperimentalist, includes an apron, oven gloves and tea towel decorated with traditional motifs like holly, presents, a pudding and baubles. And each has a funny bake-related saying alongside – we think ‘Oh, Christmas treats’ might be our favourite. Stitched on 14 count white aida, these delicious designs have no fractionals – backstitch is used for outlines and adding detail – and no French knots, which means they are suitable for beginners to have a go at. Just…

Though it may be positively freezing outside, there’s an abundance of seasonal foliage to brighten cold winter months. Why not add some extra colour to your day with a sweet mini wreath featuring some of our favourite festive flora you can have hanging up all season. It’s always fun to have a go at stitching on different shaped base and Christmas is the perfect season to try a circular wreath. This one is a compact design at 10.5cm (4in) diameter making it the perfect project to take on over a chilly autumnal weekend. Heather’s stunning seasonal design includes classic festive icons, including holly, poinsettias, yew and Christmas roses on a frosty blue and white background. We love the different shades of green chosen to give the leaves and stems more…

PRIZES worth £1,090! PRIZES WORTH £288 Star attraction We love Durene Jones’* yuletide pendibules and ornaments. Two of our festive faves this year include ‘Santa Star’ and ‘Snowman Star’. These playful decorations are quick to stitch and feature a different design on each side. Mix and match them with Durene’s other star designs, including reindeer and mice, for a tree display that dazzles. We have 30 bundles of the ‘Santa Star’ and ‘Snowman Star’ charts to give away to lucky readers. TO ENTER Visit our website www.gathered.how/woxs PRIZES WORTH £300 Gorgeous gifts Christmas is all about giving so we’re excited to reveal that GeckoRouge* has a fantastic giveaway lined up for 12 lucky winners who’ll each receive a £25 gift card to spend on the GeckoRouge website. What would you…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY 03330 162 137† Issue 339, December 2023 Stitch a Victorian vision and make a showstopping star tree topper. Try something new with snow globe mini hoop designs and get the kids involved with festive activity cards. Plus, don’t miss an enchanting witch, a Christmas Eve set designed especially for the little ones, 3D cards, Santa ABC, fun Design Library and the final instalment of our 2023 Sweet Treats SAL. Your gift: Wrendale Designs calendar + bonus Issue 338, Nov Card, tags + bookmark Meet the Smurfs, 3D gingerbread cottages, Santa cushion, Nutcracker ABC, harvest sampler, winter wreath and cute mice cards Issue 337, Oct Card and bauble kit, Elmer the Elephant, cat cushion, teen cards, Halloween ornaments, Diwali greetings, mushroom ABC, and bright tatreez sampler Issue 336,…