Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024 i The World of Cross Stitching

Wow! The chillier days are here and what better way to pass the time than a whole issue’s worth of wonderful designs, large and small, to keep you busy. We’re already looking forward to seeing you share your WIPs of them on our Facebook page – join us on Fridays for Project of the Week! For this issue, we couldn’t be more in love with our cute sledging foxes based on artwork from the ever-popular Wrendale Designs. There’s so much more to shout about this issue too, including a frosty penguin with added sequin sparkle and a stunning folk art stag hoop. Fans of creating home décor will love Fiona Baker’s tree decoration birdhouses and Lesley Teare’s superb ‘Twelve days of Christmas’ clock. For quicker makes, give Maria Diaz’s Nativity…

If you’re trying to find ways on how to elevate your evergreen, then unique, handmade ornaments are the way to go, especially if they’re cross stitched by yourself. Fiona Baker has designed Scandi-inspired 3D birdhouses that will look ever-sew charming displayed on your Christmas tree. Plastic canvas is a versatile medium to use in cross stitching – turn to page 54 to read up on how to get started, alongside finding some more inspiring 3D makes for the wintertime and holidays. While there are three colourways, you can always mix-and-match the designs and colours to create distinctive patterns that will stand out on your tree, or pick your favourite colours to match a specific scheme. 3D makes are a great way to try new stitching skills. However, if you’re a…

PICK OF THE MONTH Christmas kits FEELING FESTIVE? December is without a doubt the most delightful time of year, especially for a stitcher as you’re spoilt for choice with all the fun makes of the season. These Dimensions kits will tickle many people’s fancy, such as ‘Joy Ride’, ‘The Little Gift Shop’, ‘Holiday Tree’ and ‘Christmas Tea’, which you can find on The Happy Cross Stitcher’s* website. Each kit comes with fabric, stranded cottons, needle, chart and instructions, though the frames are not included so you can add your own touch to the finished product – whether for you or a special someone, the designs will definitely delight! CUTE AS A BUTTON These button earrings from Joanna Wakefield Jewellery* will be the perfect addition to any crafter’s stocking this Christmas.…

CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY ☎ 03330 162 137† × Issue 351, November 2024 Spread bunny wishes and mistletoe kisses with Peter Rabbit and Flopsy this festive season. Take on a more traditional Christmas with the story of the magi and add some frosty friends to your wall with Durene Jones’ sparkly snowmen. Send well wishes with Susan Bates’ winter birds cards and make a traditional family sampler by Jenny Van De Wiele to have up every year. Your gift: 2025 Stitchrovia calendar × Issue 350, Oct Christmas chartbook, Halloween Forever Friends, new neighbourhood SAL, Diwali sampler, spooky blackwork cards and bright autumnal wreath × Issue 349, Sept Faye Whittaker charts, Scenic Victorian period piece, bright and bold Smurfs, pretty autumnal sampler, Assisi ABC, dapper doll and painterly mermaid hoop × Issue 348,…

HANNAH DALE Wrendale Designs is a go-to for stitchers who love fun wildlife and nature scenes and we couldn’t resist charting this sweetly brave pair of sledging foxes (p10)! HELZ CUPPLEDITCH Helz is well known in craft circles for her fun and colourful illustrations, and we’re so pleased to be featuring her frosty penguin friend (p20) this issue! PERRY ABDEL-HADI We always love Perry from Stitchora’s imaginative and elegant designs, especially this beautiful pair of stags in a folk art style (p28). A true winter treat!…

Quick-to-stitch Factbox × Stitching Time Approx. 1-6 hours each × Type of Stitches Cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch, half cross stitch, French knots × Ease of Stitching Beginner/Intermediate Bookmark key STITCH COUNT 75 high x 25 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 13.5x4.5cm (5¼x1¾in) ILLUSTRATION CONVERTED BY Fiona Baker STITCHED BY Karen Purnell This design was stitched using stranded cotton from your coverkit Inside your kits… Here are the number of lengths of thread in each kit Bookmark kit: 21 lengths Card kit: 22 lengths Tag kit: 22 lengths Hedgehog Card key STITCH COUNT 30 high x 30 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 5.5x5.5cm (2¼x2¼in) ILLUSTRATION CONVERTED BY Fiona Baker STITCHED BY Laura Boyter This design was stitched using stranded cotton from your coverkit Gifts available with print edition…

It may be chilly outside, but that won’t stop this penguin from preparing the South Pole for Santa’s visit. This little sweetie is all wrapped up in a snuggly scarf amid falling snow, strewing multi-coloured bunting across the sign so Santa knows just where to land. This design is worked on pastel turquoise evenweave to illustrate a picturesque frosty background, coupled with sequins to add some sparkle down in the south. We think this project is best suited for experienced stitchers with the variety of colours and stitch types, but remember to pay careful attention to the backstitch colours on the chart. As this is a large pattern, be sure to stitch this in good time if you’d like to make this for your ‘snow-mate’. This fuzzy friend will look…

Our street is slowly starting to come to life as we've now arrived at the third part. For this house, this homeowner desires their house to be overflowing with greenery and they love their rooftop garden as it’s their sweet escape. Remember to turn to the next page to find the key and I hope you have a wonderful time stitching! Guide to stitching your Stitch-A-Long (SAL) • To start stitching your SAL, make the top left stitch on the chart of the first part 7.5cm (3in) in from the top and left side of the fabric (instead of from the centre of your fabric, as you usually would). • The shopping list has the size of fabric you’ll need if you’re stitching the SAL in full. • The key…

Plastic canvas is a clear, durable material used for many different needlecrafts. It is punched with small, uniform round holes that are arranged in a grid pattern – these holes are what you stitch through, just like aida fabric. You can use stranded cottons, tapestry wool or any threads you like and the best part is it won’t fray. This means you can make amazing 3D projects or easy cut-out decorations that are otherwise impossible on aida or evenweave fabrics. What to stitch using plastic canvas As versatile as it is, not all cross stitch patterns can actually be stitched on plastic canvas. Before you begin your project, check that the chart contains whole or half stitches and non-piercing backstitch only, as you can’t work fractionals or French knots when…

GET IN TOUCH FOR STITCHING HELP Don’t forget to send all your stitchy questions and design requests in to us! Email us at: theworldofxstitching@ourmedia.co.uk Send in queries via Facebook to: @TheWorldofCrossStitching Write to: Ask the Experts, The World of Cross Stitching, Our Media Ltd, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST Stylish greetings for all Q Are there any single colour Christmas designs you recommend? It’s going to be my card theme this year to send special cards to my family. Johnny Ladlow, via email A Fiona: How about these four beautiful festive redwork-style designs, by Durene Jones – the complete set uses just one shade of thread. These cards are a stylish way to send Christmas greetings and could be a great fit for your theme this year. Each design measures a maximum…

Your fave WOXS stitch? The Halloween Forever Friends bear from issue 350 (Oct 2024). I love anything Halloween or Christmas so when I saw this project in the mag I knew it had to be the next one I work on. What’s the best stitching tip you’ve heard? Be yourself! There is no right way or wrong way. I used to be very hung up on the back of my work looking good, or all my stitches being even. While this is nice and makes for a prettier finish, it can also make you lose sight of why you are stitching – for fun. Do you have a stitching technique that you’d eventually like to try? Not a technique but would love to do projects using perforated paper. I’ve seen…

Not only is she a WOXS fan-favourite that everyone enjoys to admire and stitch, Hannah Dale’s stunning wildlife portraits unveil the beauty of nature with animals often doing joyous activities! This adorable parent and cub design is no exception, as they happily go out for a sledge ride. Bring an illustrative touch to your home with your needle and threads as you work on gorgeous shading, such as the foxes’ russet-coloured coats, and details, like their tiny robin friend joining them on the wintry activity. This design is worked on brown speckled aida, which you can purchase from Bothy Threads. However, if you’re feeling quite creative this Christmas then you can always create your own by flicking a paintbrush with fabric paint. We went for a ruby-red frame to complement…

Symmetrical in shape and dazzling in design, Perry Abdel-Hadi’s newest pattern will inspire you to pick up your needle. This mystical scene is brimming with vibrant colours in a modern folk style. The blooming border encircles a pair of elegant stags flaunting their intricately patterned figures. While the design appears to be simple to stitch, it is best suited for intermediate stitchers due to the complexity of techniques, which includes blended stitches, also known as tweeding. If French knots aren’t your thing, substitute them for similar colour beads to add some texture. Gift-giving season is right around the corner, so if you know someone who will appreciate this colourful design, then finish it off in a hoop with an easel for display. Transform their home with this intricate beauty that…

The time has finally come, the 12th and final part of my ‘Stitcher’s Paradise’ SAL. It’s been a wonderful journey watching each part slot together seamlessly, all that’s left to do now is get started on our hoop stand. They’re very handy when we want to do some hands-free stitching! Find everything you need to complete part 12 on these pages, but how you finish your design is up to you – frame or canvas, perhaps? Send us photos of your completed SAL via email or the WOXS socials to inspire others! If you’ve missed some parts, look out for the full chart on the WOXS Etsy store soon. Guide to stitching your Stitch-A-Long (SAL) • To start stitching your SAL, make the top left stitch on the chart of…

Gift subscriptions FROM JUST £22.90 GREAT REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE Gift subscriptions from just £22.90! • Free delivery direct to your door • Fantastic Christmas savings YOUR TWO EASY WAYS TO ORDER Visit ourmediashop.com/x24ha Call 03300538660 quote code x24ha This offer closes on the 31st December 2024 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 2025. 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 (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive…

Q Is it possible to design a gonk with a book for me please? I only have room for 24 stitches wide as its going on a bookmark. I have just looked through all my magazines without any luck. Thank you in advance. Marjorie Holloway, Ireland A Jenny: This was such fun idea to chart and will make a great bookmark! I decided that our bookish little friend needed a lovely cup of tea to keep him going as he reads. Thanks for the sweet idea, Marjorie! 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. Reading Gonk key STITCH COUNT 30 high x 23 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) –…

Contents subject to change. Gift(s) only with print edition, and overseas gift(s) may vary. ELMER™ Elmer is out enjoying a wintry stroll in the snow with his feathered friends. PLUS MUCH MORE × Frosty snowflake ABC by Lisa Reakes on sparkly aida × An exclusive preview of our newest SAL ‘A Year of Joy’ by Durene Jones × Part 4 of the ‘Street SAL’ × Your cross stitching queries answered by our experts × Your stories, inspiration & letters… plus much more NEW 3D GNOME DECORATION KIT! Stitch the latest in our super-cute cone decorations – a friendly, festive gnome! You’ll love stitching this little fella in his traditional Christmas colours, ready to hang on your tree! Your festive gift includes: • Plastic aida • Bakers twine • 33 lengths…