Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i The World of Cross Stitching

Don’t miss it! Your selection of must-stitch motifs for a magical Christmas includes 184 festive charts. Let us help you create cards and gifts, decorations and traditional holiday pieces the family will love – this year and for years to come. Get stitching: ❃ Get cosy for the holidays with Margaret Sherry’s cat ❃ Make our advent calendar, Christmas Eve box, and a Christmas stocking ❃ 31 cards for everyone ❃ 32 stylish, Scandi-themed charts – they’re so easy! ❃ Pretty jewellery makes Plus, gorgeous tree decorations, a figgy pudding sampler, sweeties ABC and last-minute quick and easy projects too! ON SALE 28 AUGUST 2025 – ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY ONLINE www.ourmediashop.com/favourites41 CALL 03330 162 138+ and quote ‘Favourites Christmas Print 1’ +UK calls will cost the same as other…

Joanna Timothy is a business development manager from Tamworth Most recent fave WOXS design? I really liked the ‘Beach View Hoop’ in issue 361 (Aug 2025). The use of white backstitching to create the net curtains is really creative and frames the wonderful view. What has been your favourite project? I have done two cross stitch projects of my mum’s dog, Sonny. One I gave to my mum when he was about eight years old, the other I gave to my husband. That one was of Sonny when he was a puppy as they both came in to the family in the same year! Do you have stitching buddies? I was taught to stitch by my aunt but have never had anyone else until I met Imogen at work –…

Everyone, no matter what age, loves waking up to a pile of presents on Christmas Day. Helz Cuppleditch’s magical illustration of Santa in the snow brought us so much joy when we saw it that we had to turn it into a present bag to make this yearly tradition even more special. This is the perfect opportunity to try glittery aida for a sparkly touch, accompanied by metallics for extra twinkle. We recommend using a teal colour to make those icy snowflakes stand out more. While suited for experienced stitchers with the variety of techniques, such as the longstitch for the star pattern on Santa’s outfit, those who are looking to level-up their stitching skills are encouraged to take on the challenge. Just remember to regularly refer to the chart!…

You don’t need to experience the fast-paced busy streets of New York to recognise its breathtaking skyline, with buildings as high as the clouds. Emma Congdon has designed New York City as a magical winter wonderland with the towering One World Trade Centre, Empire State and Chrysler Building. The Statue of Liberty overlooks an ice skating duo by the Brooklyn Bridge with a twinkling Rockefeller tree honouring the spirit of the season. A great place for beginners to start, you’ll be dabbling in metallic threads for the trees’ sparkly lights, which makes this the ideal time to gain experience. To match the others in the series we went for an icy blue aida, or feel free to go for navy instead for a night-time scene. If this city is close…

It can be hard to keep tabs on whose drink is whose, so with this colourful set of holiday coasters in a variety of bright and bold colours there will be no more mistake on which one is your hot chocolate! Lisa Reakes’ assisi-style coasters will make for delightful home décor. These clear acrylic coasters come in packs of 10 from online retailer Stitchtastic, why not stitch five for you and five as a gift for a friend this Christmas? Each design uses three colours, so you could swap in shades from your thread box to make it a truly stash-busting make. There are a lot of fractionals for the shaping of the design motifs, which makes this a great project for beginner stitchers to practise and level-up their current…

Eco Vita 360 is the latest range from the well-known thread specialists, DMC*. A love letter to nature, this 100% organic crewel wool embroidery thread gets its rich colour palette entirely from natural dyes. The infusions of natural ingredients, such as walnut, rhubarb, indigo and juniper, make for some wonderful shades to add to your collection. With 60 shades to choose from, the natural dyes provide a gentle mottled appearance, which adds a touch of organic beauty to your designs. As with all natural dyes, there may be slight colour variation, but its fluffy quality adds softness and a dimensional appearance, which is perfect for shading. How do I use it? Unlike the Mouliné Spécial range, this thread is used whole as a single strand, no need to divide. One…

Can you believe we have finally reached the penultimate part of this beautiful SAL? How the year has flown… This is the time to relish your favourite memories of the year as you cosily curl up on the sofa and pick up your stitching. For November we have a delicious mug of hot chocolate topped with some fluffy cream, finished with a candy cane and chocolate flake – my mouth is watering! And are you remembering to wrap up warm as ‘tis the season for bitter wind? Make sure you have a nice woolly hat on standby, like this little beanie! I have absolutely loved seeing everyone’s work on this SAL and the plethora of pictures of it being filled in. Only one more part to go, who else is…

While we focus on Christmas for three issues of the year, we’re thinking about it all year round! We’ve barely packed the decorations away before it’s time to chat about what WOXS readers will want to stitch for the next wintry season. And you won’t be disappointed, we’ve gathered all your favourite designers to chart some stunning scenes and characters over the next few issues. It’s wonderful to welcome back illustrator Helz Cuppleditch, whose joyful Santa has been stitched for a fabulous present sack. And one of Christmas’ biggest fans, Durene Jones, had a great time creating a beautiful heirloom Advent calendar that you’ll want to bring out year after year. The latest snow globe in our series with Stitchrovia is ready too, and this time we’re in NYC! We…

We can all agree we have spent our childhood daydreaming about Santa’s workshop, imagining his handy helpers make our toys and wrapping them up with gorgeous ribbons and sparkly paper, making our childhood dreams come true on Christmas morning. Known for her 3D villages, Fiona has captured the magic of Santa’s workshop in this interactive model, the first in our mini-series! Built using plastic canvas, we have a handy guide on page 37 walking you through all the steps on how to construct the workshop, alongside how to prop up the sleigh and sign, too. The hinged door reveals a secret scene inside with Santa’s elves busying themselves with the present making, a charming detail that many of you will appreciate. Find yourself bringing out this decoration year after year…

PICK OF THE MONTH Crafty cards SEND WINTER WISHES There’s nothing better than finding a letter on your doorstep addressed to you, especially during the holidays – it’s a way for us to share our love to those who are out of hands’ reach. A handmade card is sentimental in value, so these Derwentwater card kits from The Happy Cross Stitcher* are perfect to send to your favourite people. Choose from ‘Snow Robin’, ‘Christmas Post’, ‘Stained Glass Window’, ‘Warm Welcome’ and ‘Christmas Cat’. Each kit includes 16-count aida, stranded cottons, needle, chart, card mount and envelope. All that’s left to do is to seal it and send it off on its merry way to be posted through your favourite person’s letterbox. WILD WONDER Mesmerised by the enchanting angels decorating this…

Luck with leather Q Any tips for cross stitching onto leather? I thought it would look really cool so I bought a cheap leather jacket in a charity shop but I’m struggling to get the needle through and it’s killing my hands! Mrs D. Hatten, Cumbria A Fiona: What a fantastic idea to customise a secondhand jacket! Leather needles (also known as glovers) are specifically designed for stitching through leather and thick fabrics. They have a triangular point, which cuts through the material without making a large hole. This pack from John James* (JJ18037) contains three needles, ranging from a large size 3 to the finer size 7 and costs £1.75. To keep your stitches evenly spaced, make sure to use soluble or waste canvas when working your cross stitch design onto…

We are The World of Cross Stitching and we want our magazine to reflect the world we live in. We’re committed to creating content that is inclusive and celebrates the diversity of the cross stitch community. Stitching is for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, faith, culture, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We have begun work on a plan to drive meaningful change, but we know it’s a work in progress. We want to listen to you, our readers. If you have any questions or thoughts, get in touch at theworldofxstitching@ourmedia.co.uk…

The excitement always begins on 1 December when you realise you have a treat waiting for you, making the run-up to the big day even more special as you discover what exciting surprise is hiding in your Advent calendar. If you haven’t already, then this year is the time to make your own Advent calendar with bespoke presents. Durene has designed a magically vibrant carousel with Santa and his little helpers taking a well-deserved respite away from packing presents! Around the design are 24 golden rings where you can affix a tiny little gift, whether it be a sliver of chocolate, a miniature gadget or an envelope with a voucher inside. You also don’t have to turn it into an Advent calendar – just leave the numbers and finish it…

Perching on this cake stand with their vibrant plumes, the little birds are making this display of festive desserts and puddings look even more delicious. In this whimsical design, Susan Bates has included iconic winter birds such as the symbolic robin, the colourful blue tit and a majestic goldfinch. Colourful and full of character, this piece is the perfect step up for beginners looking to try something new – look out for fractionals in the berries and cake stand. It may be easier to work on evenweave, but aida is also an option, especially if you have a sharp needle to hand to pierce the blocks. The white backstitch in the birds’ eyes adds twinkle and personality to each of these familiar and friendly British birds. We chose a teal…

Who can resist a good shopping spree, especially during Christmastime? Decorated with bountiful wreaths, festive décor, and the season’s sought-after items, these shop cards encompass the spirit of the holiday. Choose from six classic designs – a sweet shop, post office, toy shop, florist, bookshop and bakery – to send well wishes, each one is a masterpiece by itself! Packed full of detail, you’ll have great fun stitching each chart and personalising it for your recipient. Add sparkles with metallic threads to tree baubles and feel free to substitute the French knots for seed beads for a dimensional look. The best thing about the awnings is not only will they look great when they’re displayed, but they also fold flat in an envelope for easy posting. Turn to page 62…

PRIZES WORTH £255 Spooky stitches Remarked as a spooky guide, Witchy Stitching: 25 Patterns to Haunt Your Home by Meg Black (RRP £16.99) should be your next cross stitching read this autumn. Turn the page to discover bewitching projects well suited for all abilities – whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or total beginner, immerse yourself in designs inspired by gothic art, witchy oddities and more. Inside you’ll also find material lists, easy-to-follow charts and all of Meg’s stitching tricks. Herbert Press* is giving away 15 copies to lucky competition winners, but if you can’t wait to get your hands on it, then purchase a copy from the Bloomsbury website. 15 UP FOR GRABS! TO ENTER Visit our website www.gathered.how/woxs PRIZES WORTH £240 PICTURE PUZZLE 6 UP FOR GRABS! A break from…