Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i The World of Cross Stitching

How Christmassy are you feeling? This is our second festive issue of the season (just one more to go!) and you’ll just love flicking through and tagging which projects are next on your list. Our cover star, a rocking horse by Faye Whittaker, is gorgeously nostalgic, but there’s so much inside this issue to suit all tastes and levels. Durene Jones has created a stunning set of motifs based on ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, perfect for cards and décor. We’ve also enjoyed a little chat with Durene so grab a cuppa and turn to page 34. Many of you have started on Fiona Baker’s 3D Santa’s workshop last issue, so we hope you’ll be super happy to see that the second part is a mini model of Santa’s house,…

Your Christmas tree can never have too many decorations, so be sure to make room for this set of beaded cottages in a variety of shapes, styles and colours. Durene has designed these welcoming and cosy abodes to look like iced gingerbread houses – wouldn’t it be a dream to live in one of these delicious, sugary homes? For those who haven’t stitched with beads before, especially on plastic canvas, this project will help you feel more confident. Add your beads using a whole cross stitch in two strands of matching colour thread for a neat finish. Secure each bead to the canvas with the bottom arm of the stitch then add the top arm, making sure that one strand falls on either side of the bead to keep it…

Cross stitch with the kids Q What’s the best age for kids to start cross stitching? My four-year-old daughter is keen to try but I feel this is too young to be handling needles and scissors. What do you think? Alice Decker, Berkshire A Hannah: There are some safe stitching options for little ones to use – but they should still be carefully supervised at all times, of course. Look out for children’s safety scissors and also needles made from colourful plastic, which are perfect for small fingers, and no sharp point! Get this pack of two for 85p from DMC* (1763U/1), and let your daughter have a go using wool on tapestry canvas to begin with. This stiff material has large, square holes, which are perfect for helping younger crafters to…

Your two easy ways to order Visit ourmediashop.com/OCT25HAQP Call 0330 053 8660† quote code OCY25HAQP *This offer closes on 31 December 2025 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.ourmediashop.com. 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 to Fri 9am – 5pm.…

There’s not a better way to make your day than when the postman arrives and in your pile of letters you discover a hand-stitched card. While this time of year can be the busiest in terms of getting the stitching done and organised, it’s also a good opportunity to slow down and celebrate the people we’re spending the season with. Jenny’s wreath cards encompass all occasions and add that handmade charm we all love. Quick to stitch, why not make the whole set so you’re prepared for all celebrations? There are some isolated stitches, so we’d recommend backing the linen with iron-on interfacing before stitching to hide trailing threads. Customise the greetings with a previous alphabet set you’ve saved from the magazine. Whichever fruit of the season you choose to…

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PLANNING AHEAD There’s space to fill in all of your important occasions and we’ve included the magazine on sale dates, too – you’ll never miss an issue again! SIX CHARTS TO STITCH! Enjoy stitching this sweet new selection of Margaret’s iconic animal illustrations throughout the year. YOUR BONUS CHART This beautifully nostalgic design by Joan Elliott is an all-time favourite from the archives as your bonus fold-out chart. Bonus sheet available with print edition only. Overseas gift(s) may vary.…

No matter what era you’re born in, when the first frost of the season appears, anticipation grows for what fun the winter will bring. Wrapped up warm in their plush fur-trimmed coats and wool scarves, our skaters are dressed to impress as they glide over the ice in this frosty winter wonderland. Maria Diaz’s design is an ode to the wholesome wintry activity, this time set in the Victorian era as she adds another to her iconic period designs. Worked on crisp blue evenweave for a chilly background, she’s included silver metallic thread for the ice and snow, making the scene even more sparkly. Turkey work has been used for the furry cuffs and edging of the coats, which may sound like a tricky technique but there’s a detailed tutorial…

Q When I was in Tasmania, I found a needlecraft store that sold music boxes playing ‘Edelweiss’ from The Sound of Music. This brought back so many memories for me and my daughter as we love the movie and the flower itself. Could you design a chart of one of these for me? Sunny Johnson, via email A Jenny: I hope you enjoy this design, Sunny! It’ll look wonderful as a keyring using plastic canvas, or into an adoring pin so you and your daughter can match together. 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. Edelweiss key STITCH COUNT 29 high x 30 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 5.5x5.5cm (2x2¼in)…

ISSUE 366 ON SALE 29 OCT FLUFFY AS SNOW Margaret Sherry’s seasonal kitty is wrapped up and ready for winter ALL MAPPED OUT Make a map of Christmas, detailing all the fun bits in the run-up to the day! WINTER WARMERS Bundle up warm with these winter accessories and turn them into cards WOMANLY WISDOM The wise goddess, Athena, is next in our Greek portrait series Contents subject to change. Gift(s) only with print edition, and overseas gift(s) may vary. The Me to You oval, Tatty Teddy Signature and Bear logo are all registered Trade Marks of Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd. © Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd. Getting ready for the holidays Tatty Teddy is back and is dressed up as a Christmas pudding for festive fun! O HOLY NIGHT A…

Carine Wolfenden is a retired school science technician from Southampton Most recent fave WOXS design? I really like Emma Congdon’s ‘Jigsaw Heart’ from issue 359 (June 2025). I’m tempted to make the jigsaw pieces all separate but can’t quite decide. What are you currently working on? A painting called The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, the PDF chart produced by Maria Olveira. I decided I had too many threads and I needed a project to keep me alive. My theory is that I can’t die before this project is finished, so my incurable cancer is just going to have to wait! Have you gotten anyone you know into stitching? Proudest moment of my life was when I received a birthday card from my 26-year-old daughter. Even more amazing…

While Christmas Day in modern times features many more gadgets than yesteryear, we’d like to think that there are still children who will be unwrapping and jumping straight onto a rocking horse this year! Artist Faye Whittaker painted this scene as a nod to last-century nostalgia and we’ve lovingly converted it into a chart for you to stitch this Christmas. This is a fabulous design for beginners to try something a little more challenging, as it’s less densely stitched. You’ll be using whole and half stitches to shape the beautiful scene, adding detail with backstitch and feathering to the edges with more half stitch. There are even a few beads to accent the saddle edge and berries on the reins. For a quicker finish or even a large greetings card,…

For a man who spends the busiest time of the year packing presents, travelling across the world in his robust sleigh and reindeer friends, he too needs a place to kick his legs up comfortably. For the second part of the North Pole instalment, open the door to peek inside Mr and Mrs Claus’ home, dressed to the nines in festive décor with a roaring fire and a reindeer barn fitted next door. Just like the first part, you’ll be working with plastic canvas and building each piece together – turn to page 33 for our handy tutorial on how to construct the Claus abode! While only one of each chart is required, you could stitch as many reindeer your heart desires. If you make the whole gang, they could…

What a year it has been! We have reached the final part of our ‘A Year of Joy’ SAL. I hope you enjoyed each step of the way in crafting your own calendar to use every year – it’ll be a timeless attraction in your home. For December, I designed a frosty friend as this is the ideal time of year to make snowfolk, all the while staying warm with a pair of cosy mittens. You can substitute the thread colours to match your own pair! Send us photos of your finished calendars, hanging in pride of place, either by email or on our social channels – you’ll inspire others too! If you’ve missed some parts, don’t fret as the full chart will make its appearance on the WOXS Etsy…

Magical minis PICK OF THE MONTH A VISIT TO THE VILLAGE We love getting creative with cross stitch and this miniature town with an assortment of buildings from The Nutmeg Company* is at the top of our to-stitch list this winter. The ‘Winter Village’ series has three new additions – ‘St. Nicholas Church’, ‘Yew Tree cottage’ and a ‘Christmas tree’ – ideal for a wintry expansion of a pretty town. There are kits available for individual components, varying in price, yet the contents remain the same as each building comes with 14 and 18-count aida, threads, felt, pre-cut plastic canvas shapes, needle, chart and full instructions. Get ready to make your own mini village to display this Christmas! FURRY FRIENDS Your little ones will absolutely love to have a stocking…