Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i The World of Cross Stitching

Each issue we love to see photos of what you’ve been making – not just via post, but also emails and on social media, like Facebook. (See page 14, plus write to us: letters@cross-stitching.com). It’s so exciting to me that The World of Cross Stitching lives up to it’s name, and inspires stitchers all around the world! For your delight this month… Sweet Belle and Boo make their début in the magazine, on page 10, so head over for this brand-new design starring our fave storybook duo. Also on the subject of exclusives, you’ll love the FREE 5-in-1 gift tags kit by April Rose Illustration. So pretty and super-easy too, to dress up your gifts. It’s a busy time for me (a list of birthday and anniversary makes – cowboys…

We’re thrilled to welcome Belle and Boo the bunny to the pages of The World of Cross Stitching! This darling duo make their début in the loveliest of designs, full of heartwarming nostalgia. Relaxing in the lush grass after playing in the sunshine, backs resting against each other, this touching moment would be perfect for almost any wall. Be it the nursery of a little one who adores their toy bunny, to the home of a family filled with love, this charming project would make a treasured gift. Worked in pretty pastels of just a few thread shades, you’ll use whole cross stitches to build up the design and create clever shading, outlining the characters in backstitch to bring them to life. To finish, French knots add the delicate pattern…

PICK OF THE MONTH Into the woods ANIMAL MAGIC How gorgeous is the new Woodland Collection from Bobo Stitch*? These designs have been created using the Assisi technique, where the motif is left blank, in ‘negative’, and the background is stitched – in this case, in ombré shades, from dark to light. We love how there’s a little gold thread accent in each design, to make it extra-special! There are five kits in the set ('Flying Ducks' and 'Pheasant' as well as these here), plus all are available as separate chart downloads for just £4.74. 'Mouse' fits into a 7.5cm (3in) hoop, 'Squirrel' in a 10cm (4in) hoop and 'Stag' in a 12.5cm (5in) hoop. Hang them individually or group them as a set to make a fantastic display. HEARTFELT…

Ruth Southorn Ruth, our Editor, has been a cross stitcher since she was tiny and is ready to share everything she knows Fiona Baker Fiona B is our Technical Editor so she’s all ready to answer your problems on all things stitch and chart related Jenny Barton Design pro, Jenny has been creating projects for us for years and is ready to take on your design challenges Fiona Smith With her ears to the ground for the hottest stitching merchandise, Fiona’s all set to search out the stash you need Katriel Costello Stitching guru Katriel has worked in the industry for years, so has ample knowledge to answer any queries Plastic, fantastic! Q Do you have a tissue box cover design, or instructions of how to stitch one, on plastic…

x Angela Kirtley: All my charts are in plastic sleeves within folders and my threads are on bobbins and in thread boxes. I have a small cupboard where I keep as much of my stash as possible! x Kathy Koontz: I hang my kits up in a closet using pants holders and I have a standing jewellery chest I use for extra DMC. x Gerda Groeneweg Stellingwerf: All my patterns are kept separate in a box, all my threads are in thread boxes, my kits in a wicker box and my ‘everyday stitching work’ is in a box next to the sofa. x Joan Abnett: I put my stranded cottons onto special cardboard spools, marking the number on each. For storage, I use cutlery dividers! The colours are sorted into…

Design my pet! Q Could you design a very fluffy German shepherd dog in black and tan colours? I have a dog like this, as pictured in my photo, but I can’t find a chart that shows both her fluffiness and her colouring. Anita Holford, Spain My German shepherd Tara means the world to me! I don’t know what I would do without her. She had a hard start in life before I got her so it would be a nice wee tribute if I could cross stitch her. Jacqui Murray, via email A Durene says: It seems we have a lot of German shepherd lovers out there, so I hope this chart is good for you both, Anita and Jacqui, and any other stitchers who own this gorgeous doggy…

1 MARCH National Horse Protection Day: Stitch to raise funds for our equine friends – we love this 'Horse' mosaic-style downloadable pattern, $5.29 (approx. £3.62), by Stitchonomy*. Two charities you can choose to donate proceeds to are www.redwings.org.uk and www.worldhorsewelfare.org. 8 MARCH International Women’s Day: Why not celebrate this global event by stitching to raise funds for charities that help women around the world? Visit www.refuge.org.uk, www.womensaid.org.uk or see www.womankind.org.uk. 11-20 MARCH British Science Week: Celebrate by stitching space-themed motifs and selling them to raise money for your chosen charity. Or stitch your fave scientist to sell off – we love the cheeky ‘Albert Einstein’ pattern by Robin’s Design*, downloadable as a PDF for $5 (approx. £3.42). 23 MARCH World Puppy Day: Contact your local dog’s home or the RSPCA…

This year I’m resolved to make sure more of my finished projects get made up and mounted – I always want to make more cushions, hangings and be more creative with my stitching. It’s all too easy to go on framing them as pictures (or worse, to not get around to finishing off makes at all… Many of us have been guilty of that, I bet!) And I wonder how many crafters were lucky enough to get a new sewing machine for Christmas? Or maybe you have a sewing machine that hardly sees any action (if ever)? That certainly used to apply to me, but now I’m excited to be using up more pretty fabrics from my stash, adding comfy accessories to my home in the shape of those pillows…

Be on the panel! x Get a sneak preview x Appear in the magazine x Receive a stitchy gift Tonya Blust is a legal assistant from Michigan, USA How did you start stitching? I come from a line of crafty women, so I’ve always been handy with a needle and thread. A few years ago, during a cold winter, the idea of cosying up to cross stitch appealed. And the rest is history! Fave design from the mag? As soon as I saw 'Still of the Night' by Heaven and Earth Designs in issues 232 and 233, I knew that I’d be stitching it. I love animals, and the colours are gorgeous – the icing on the cake! Best compliment you’ve got for a project? My husband is sweet, but…

Star Letter TOTES AMAZING! With my niece’s fifth birthday coming up, I was originally going to use a Kiri the Cat design from issue 94 of Cross Stitch Card Shop to make her a birthday card. I then changed my mind and transformed it into this purse, which I made from an old pair of my jeans. I hope she’ll enjoy her new bag! Rita Saitos, Canary Islands Ruth: What a clever way to use a design, Rita! I’m sure your niece’ll love it. Have any other stitchers found creative ways to display their work? Get in touch! A set of samplers Three of my friends all announced they would be having babies, due back in April and May, but they all turned up within two weeks of one another.…

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SARAH HEYS, CHARTING EDITOR Custom charting Q A co-worker of mine will be moving and asked me if I could make a cross stitch design based on a fabric patch he had. I’ve been trying to create a chart but am having problems. Do you have any tips? Pam Sullivan, via email A Sarah says: Have you tried using a computer software charting program to help with this? If so, once you have a scan of the image imported, then it is very easy to adjust scale, change stitch positions and colour palette to ‘tweak’ a design until it is perfect for your requirements. If you’re charting by hand, begin with a printout of the image at the scale you want it to be when stitched. Transfer the image to…

Birdie ideas STITCHING FUN GARDEN BIRDS 1 We love the illustrative style of these birds, by artist Madeleine Floyd for Bothy Threads*. Translated into stitches in this kit (XMF1), the artist’s elegant sketchbook-style will make for pleasurable stitching. The black-and-white chart is easy on the eye, split over two A3 sheets and including a separate chart without any backstitch, so you can happily plough on with the whole stitches. The regular and gold-plated tapestry needles included make stitching a breeze. Stitch count – 133 high x 123 wide, 24x22cm (9½x8¾in) on 14-count white aida GREAT VALUE GARDEN BIRDS Maria Diaz Designs* stunning chart download (WILD0103) is a celebration of some of Britain’s most popular and best-known feathered varieties, including the robin, blue tit and song thrush. It’s a naturalistic design that…

CLUB OF THE MONTH ACTON CRAFT CLUB, NANTWICH A group of like-minded ladies who love to craft meet at 1pm every Thursday at Acton Village Hall in Cheshire. Members take turns to demo different crafts that they’ve learnt over the years, including embroidery, cross stich and papercraft New, enthusiastic recruits always welcome, so get in touch, calling Faye on ☎ 07903 355328 for information. APPLY: Tell us about your club and you could win a goodie bag to share at your next meeting! Write to us (p17) or send an email: letters@cross-stitching.com WHERE AM I? Hello there, this is a photo of my eldest son and I on our annual visit to see our four-legged friends, down in southern England. They definitely got a ‘kick’ out of some of the…

CHOOSE YOUR ESSENTIALS… Start with these must-have items 1. FABRICS Begin with either aida or evenweave. Aida is best for beginners, with regular woven blocks and obvious holes. It’s stiffer than evenweave, but will soften slightly as you work. 14-count aida is the most common. It’s harder to work fractional stitches on aida, as you’ll need to make an extra hole in the fabric, in the centre of the aida block. Evenweave is a lovely fabric to work on when you have a little more experience. The fibres aren’t woven in blocks as with aida, so it’s softer and the fine weave has more threads-per-inch – the most commonly used is 28-count. One stitch is usually worked over two threads of the fabric so it has an equivalent design size…

There’s nothing lovelier than having fresh flowers in your home, with their sweet scent and cheery feel, so you’re sure to love this bright, bold project, created by designer Durene Jones! Pretty purple tulips sitting amongst fuchsia blooms and rich green foliage form a striking statement that instantly catches your eye. Artfully arranged in a country chic-style watering can, the whole design is set off with a colourful border that really finishes it off beautifully, accentuating the showcase centrepiece of the design. With not a single fractional stitch or French knot to be found, it’s perfect for those beginners looking to take on their first bigger project. Create all the lifelike detail using whole cross stitches for clever shading, and backstitch for definition. From the moment you start sorting your…

There’s always a special occasion to stitch for. And while seeing the smile on a friend or family member’s face makes all those hours of stitching worthwhile, it’s fun to make something for yourself every now and then. Quick makes are great, but there’s no denying the satisfaction you get from adding the final stitch to a big, old ‘labour of love’ project! Displayed proudly in your living room or hallway (or maybe if you’re lucky enough to have one, your craft room!), this cotton reels wreath will show everyone your passion for stitching. And it’s the perfect way to add a splash of colour to a plain wall – perfect if your DIY skills aren’t as up-to-scratch as your stitching ones. We’d prefer to while the weekend away with…

Q I’ve seen a finished design of a man and woman kissing – it was done just in black to look like a silhouette of their heads. I’d love to stitch this but can’t find it anywhere. Can you design something for me? Michelle Edwards, via Facebook A Jenny says: I hope this is what you’re looking for, Michelle. I’ve tried to capture the couple just before the big moment! The monochrome silhouettes will make this a fun, quick stitch. 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. STITCH COUNT 26 high x 31 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 5x5.5cm (1¾x2¼in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton…

Q I’m looking for a cross stitch pattern of a decorated Asian elephant. I‘d like something colourful, and ideally a chart, not a kit. Terri Poe, via Facebook A Fiona says: Originally featured in issue 54 of our sister magazine, Cross Stitch Gold, Susan Bates’ beautiful 'Indian Elephant' is available as an downloadable PDF pattern, from her Etsy store, CrossStitchSusie*. Measuring 27x27cm (11x11in) when worked on 14-count fabric, it uses 28 Anchor shades on a full colour chart for £7.50. Q I’ve been given threads which aren’t named or numbered. Where I can buy a stranded cotton colour chart which includes actual stranded cottons? Mrs Rush, via email A Ruth says: Luckily, all the big thread manufacturers, like DMC*, Anchor* and Madeira*, produce shade cards with actual samples of the…

There’s a mouse in the house! Or seven mice, to be precise, all smiling from ear to ear, eager to spread birthday greetings among your friends and family. No doubt you may already be familiar with designer Lucie’s adorable Furry Tales pals from their previous appearances in the mag and regular spot on our Crossword page. But in case you aren’t, prepare to be won over! Monty Mouse, Lizzy and family are a charming bunch, and they deserve centre stage on this colourful set of cards. Whether delivering flowers, carrying pressies or serving up a birthday cake, these cuties sure know how to celebrate in style! Each card can easily be stitched over a few evenings, making this collection the perfect go-to for last minute makes. Or simply to add…

Could you resist walking past a pâtisserie displaying this mouthwatering range of treats? We know we couldn’t, and we certainly can’t resist Helz’s delightful design, either! Stitched on black aida for a contemporary chalkboardstyle effect, this beautiful project is definitely one if you’ve a bit more stitching experience, giving you plenty of chance to show off your skills. Not least the chance to create this piece on black aida (see our tips on page 63!). Plus you’ll love working the different lettering styles, and adding the flourishes that give the background that chic signwritinginspired feel. And of course, no one can forget the pièce de résistance – that decadent display of cakes! Have your threads carefully sorted before you start, and stitch in a good light, for fuss-free progress. We…

HAWKWOOD COLLEGE Learn the skill of exquisite Japanese Embroidery, held four times a year. Hawkwood College, Stroud, Gloucestershire runs a wide variety of courses in arts, crafts and more in beautiful, tranquil surroundings or come to the July Creative Arts Summer School ! www.hawkwoodcollege.co.uk 01453 759034 // info@hawkwoodcollege.co.uk PATCHFINDERS Patchfinders have moved their extensive array of fabrics and notions to delightful new premises in Poynton, Cheshire. The new shop offers one level easy access for browsing and there are two well lit classrooms. A wide range of workshops are held f or all levels of experience, year-round. www.patchfinders.co.uk 01652 262518 ROYAL SCHOOL OF NEEDLEWORK We offer an exciting programme of hand embroidery classes. If you’re a complete beginner or looking to develop existing skills, join us for a day of…

Join us on Facebook Chat 24/7 on our Facebook page – here’s what you’ve missed! OUR FAVOURITE POST Jodie Walters’ long-term stitch: “Finally finished!! My friend asked me to stitch this back in January 2014. Thinking it might only take around six months, I agreed. Various commitments meant sometimes it lay untouched for weeks. Then I injured my left arm so I couldn’t hold my hoop until a couple of weeks ago but I was determined to finish it for her!” YOU LIKED Claire Megson’s Work-In-Progress is 'Patchwork Sewing Machine' by Chartsandstuff*, a blackworkstyle design that got lots of attention. We can definitely see why! And the winner is… We asked you on Facebook: What kind of cross stitcher are you? Whether you’re a total addict or struggle to find…

Afghan – a woollen blanket with areas inset for cross stitching, often used for baby designs Aida band – a narrow strip of aida, available in varying widths, and finished with a decorative edge Aperture – a hole through which a design is seen in cards & frames Backstitch – used to add detail & definition. See how to stitch it in our diagram above! Beading needle – a longer, finer needle than a tapestry needle, used for adding seed beads to a design Counted stitches – embroidery stitches worked on counted, or evenly woven, fabrics like aida & evenweave. Cross stitch is the most basic counted stitch Floss – USA term for stranded cotton Fractional stitches – made from either a quarter or three-quarters of a cross stitch, these…