Inhaltsverzeichnis für October 2017 in CrossStitcher

To make a decoration to hang from your tree, leave off the brooch back and then add a hanger made from a plaited length of stranded cotton  Designed by: Susan Penny Max. stitch count: 37 high x 38 wide Max. design size: 7x7cm (2¾x2¾in) Stitch time: 7.5 hours each This design was stitched on 14 count plastic aida. Make a… brooch Step 1 STITCH the design of your choice onto 10x10cm (4x4in) of 14 count plastic aida. Stitch white seed beads randomly onto the design, taking care to finish your thread ends by running them through the back of your stitching. Leave at least three blank squares of plastic aida around the jumper when stitching. Step 2 CUT around the stitching, leaving one blank square of unstitched plastic…

Peter Underhill’s ranges at Heritage Crafts are very well known, and here the versatile and experienced designer talks about his recent kit ‘The Imposter’. “This design is probably the closest I get to meditation. Taking a simple shape and repeating it, fitting it in with what has gone before, rather like roofing tiles, and arriving at a rhythmic pattern. I’ve always enjoyed the simplification of form, to arrive at an essence of a shape with as few marks as possible. “Combining that tile principle with stylised cats seemed a logical progression, though I explored alternatives, seeing how I could break the pattern with variations in scale, angle and curve or even attempt different animal shapes. The dog version with overlaps and overhangs became too stressful. So, I stuck with cats.…

Hooray!!! (I’m so happy, I could use even more exclamation points, but I don’t want to take up too many pages of this magazine!) “Why?” you ask? Because it’s my favourite, favourite, favourite time of the year. I. Love. Halloween. Time. Mind, I love happy Halloween. Not ‘scary’ Halloween. You know – Jack O’ Lanterns, trick or treating, silly skeletons and funny green-faced witches with warts that literally laugh like ‘hee, hee, hee!’ I don’t have time for blood and gore, thank you very much. Life’s too short. That said, I think I love Halloween time especially because it means autumn and autumn is so much. Allow me to explain. By the time Halloween begins to roll around, things are changing. There’s a feeling about this time of year, a…

Love a challenge! Dear Susan and Martin, I would just like to let you know how very much I like the more challenging designs that you have published in CrossStitcher recently. I am halfway through the unicorn tapestry-style project from issue 320 and am very tempted by issue 321’s nostalgic garden scene. I hope you will be able to continue offering these kinds of patterns. I also like ideas for useful items such as this month’s (issue 321) craft room organiser. Best wishes. Sharon Nevill, by email Summer Style Hello, I loved the Celebrate Summer designs in Issue 319. Instead of the denim jacket I stitched the design onto a canvas jacket and trainers. Loved the result! Thank you. Faye Huggins Brackley, Northamptonshire “Place something white under a darker fabric”…

Pick out individual motifs to stitch on gifts and accessories – the fox would look so cute stitched on a t-shirt using waste canvas Materials • Zweigart Platinum 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0770; 50x50cm (19½x19½in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Backing fabric; 39x39cm (15½x15½in) • Cushion pad; 35.5x35.5cm (14x14in) For stockist details see page 89 Designed by: Becky Spencer Stitch count: 140 high x 140 wide Design size: 26x26cm (10¼x10¼in) Stitch time: 25 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… cushion Step 1 COMPLETE all the stitching, then cut the aida to 39x39cm (15½x15½in), with the design in the centre. Step 2 PLACE the cushion front right sides together with the backing fabric.…

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without some glitter and sparkle and what better way to embrace the festivities than by adding a splash of gold to your stitching? We have three ideas for you to try, a glorious reindeer with couched gold antlers, a festive robin sitting on a decorative gold branch, and finally, a twinkling metallic star with gilt metal threadwork. These techniques will add sparkle and we’ll show you just how easy it is to make your stitching shine! HOW TO… DECORATIVE PEKINESE STITCH The branch of our robin uses a special, striking looped stitch. Step 1 WORK the two parts to this stitch making up the branch of this design. The first is to work a simple backstitch over two evenweave threads using a single strand of…

Pick out a bird to make a gift tag for a present to go with your card Materials For each card • Zweigart White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0100; 15x12.5cm (6x5in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Card blank with an 11.5x9cm (4½x3½in) rectangular aperture For stockist details see page 89 Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 55 high x 40 wide Design size: 10x7.5cm (4x3in) Stitch time: 4 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK all the cross stitch in two strands of stranded cotton, with one strand for the backstitch. Step 2 TRIM the stitched fabric to fit your card, with the design centrally placed behind…

Santa stop here! We love the idea that children can hang a sign like this on their door on Christmas Eve so we asked three designers to create a version to be displayed on a wooden door hanger. See left for the limited amount of supplies they were allowed to use. We hope this will inspire you to join in too – turn the page to see what our challenge will be for December – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. THE CHALLENGE • One piece of cream 14 count aida fabric • Five shades of stranded cotton (shown above) • Wooden door sign (painted) • One mystery ingredient of your own choice THE RULES • Create a ‘Santa Stop Here’ sign to go on a wooden door sign • Only the materials above…

SEED BEADS FOR TEXTURE: Beads can make the difference between an ordinary design and one that’s truly special. Here they’ve been scattered across the pumpkin plants and the moon. BLENDING FOR SUBTLE SHADING: Check out the moonlit cats and owls – the glow of the moon creates an atmospheric backdrop, aided by the blending of one Kreinik strand with regular cotton. LONG STITCH FOR A STRIKING EFFECT: The cloud and lightening stand out from the sampler as they are worked in long stitch, in straw thread to create a contrast against the more subtle, cross stitched areas.…

IF YOU’D ASKED US a few years ago what we felt about Halloween, our answer would have been quite different to the one we’d give today. We would probably have reflected on the darker side of the day and the old customs of mischief night. Now the occasion has been transformed into a day of fun to look forward to – and another chance for creativity whether you have little ones to dress in costumes, or you want to stitch something a little more lasting to celebrate the season. Faye of Little Dove Designs has done us proud with our spooky cover sampler (page 77). And we love an excuse to get out the sparkly thread! Talking of sparkle, we want to get you ahead with your Christmas crafting in…

SPOONFLOWER Buy this fabric, Halloween Jack O Lanterns On Dark Grey By Heleen Vd Thillart, by the yard on various cottons, fleece and satin options. CUTECORNWALL Perfect for embellishing tags, bags and more – these oh-so-cute Orange Pumpkin Jack O Lantern bead charms come in packs of 10. PEACOCKINAPEARTREE Ideal for our jam jar lid on page 18 , pumpkins are also ideal as a wrist-worn pincushion – and this design is available as a craft kit.…

MODERN MOTIFS & BORDERS IN CROSS STITCH MARIA DIAZ [Tuva Publishing] Maria regularly designs for CrossStitcher (check out her pumpkin pincushion on page 18) – but if you just can’t get enough of her designs, this is the book for you! Now in paperback, this is a library of her designs influenced by folk art and all are easy and quick to stitch. Some are borders, others detailed flower studies and there are even some with pretty alphabets as well. STITCH PEOPLE: A 20-PROJECT GUIDE TO MODERN EMBROIDERY TECHNIQUES JO DIXEY [Search Press] Professional embroiderer Jo Dixey has created this book with both beginners and current stitchers in mind. Each project introduces new embroidery stitches and techniques, then as you gain confidence you can add in ideas of your own.…

PETER THOMAS Years ago I did a rose with a teardrop of dew. It is still my favourite. MYRA SEDAN I love geisha, the vibrant colours and the intricate design of the flowers, it took me months to finished my latest one. DEBBIE HIER It is so hard to pick just one. I have narrowed it down to two! The first is a DMC Stitch-A-Photo of my daughter and my grandson when he was just one day old. Every stitch was a joy and it came together very quickly. The framed piece hangs on the wall directly across from the place I sit to stitch so I see it every time I look up to take a break from stitching. The second is a Lena Lawson design titled ‘Autumn Fairy’,…

If you would like to stitch our autumn cushion, TAKE A CLOSER LOOK we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching straight away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains: • Zweigart 14 count aida in Platinum • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £24, plus P&P.…

Our heart would also make a lovely shaped cushion for your craft room! Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 152 high x 171 wide Design size: 28x32cm (11x12½in) Stitch time: 54 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Zweigart White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0100; 50x50cm (19½x19½in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle For stockist details see page 89 Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch our Stitcher’s Heart, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching straight away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains : • Zweigart 14 count aida in white • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • Two gold-plated…

Claire Smith hails from the former gold rush town of Yackandandah in southern Australia – where the local wildlife informs her beautiful stitched artworks. A self-confessed Anglophile, she loves all things vintage, upcycled and with a touch of English charm. She tells us about a life in sewing, and her creative dreams for the future… Tell us a bit about the magical ‘Yack’! Yackandandah is a small town in North East Victoria – it was founded on gold which was discovered there in 1852. There is a rich vein of creativity running through this small community, with artists, musicians, writers and many other creative people. In 2013 Yackandandah won the Guinness World record for the longest line of bunting: bunting parties were held on Friday nights and the local radio…

Desperately seeking I am new to cross stitch and recently purchased approximately 20 CrossStitcher magazines from a second-hand store, all dated from 2000 to 2002. I have had such enjoyment reading them and now have many projects I am looking forward to stitching. The magazines were not a complete set, there are many issues missing. In 2000 there was a month by month series of the joys of nature. I have the charts for March, April, May, June, November and December. I was wondering if it is possible to get the missing charts for January, February, July, August, September and October from anyone who may have them? Thank you, Regards. Teresa Wallis Sydney, Australia Email: ddh310@msn.com I’m desperately seeking the Darling duck chart by Wrendale Designs from a cross stitch…

If you would like to stitch our Halloween TAKE A CLOSER LOOK sampler, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching straight away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains: • Zweigart 14 count aida in bright blue • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • Kreinik blending filament • Mill Hill beads • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £32, plus P&P.…

Your projects For all the basic supplies you need to make the projects in this issue… WILLOW FABRICS  www.willowfabrics.com For Zweigart evenweave, aida, linen, Cashel, wooden embroidery hoops and all kinds of stitching fabrics COTTON PATCH  www.cottonpatch.co.uk 0121 702 2840 For stuffing, wadding, interfacing, Bondaweb, scissors and a range of haberdashery supplies FRED ALDOUS  www.fredaldous.co.uk 0161 236 4224 For general craf t and haberdasher y supplies as well as mount board for framing your work JOHN JAMES NEEDLES  www.jjneedles.com 0152 783 0941 For all kinds of needles and needle packs JOHN LEWIS  www.johnlewis.com 03456 049 049 For a wide range of stitching and sewing supplies, including cotton printed fabrics SIESTA FRAMES  www.siestaframes.com 0120 281 3363 For stitching frames, hoops and lamps CLOUD CRAFT  www.cloudcraft.co.uk For 100% wool felt in lots…

Why not attach all three buttons to a rectangle of card and add a tassel to make a cute Christmas bookmark? Materials  For each button: • 14 count white aida; 7.5x7.5cm (3x3in) • Self-cover button blank; 29mm diameter Make a… covered button 1 Stitch your design in the centre of the aida. 2 Cut your fabric so that the design is in the centre of a 6.5cm (2½in) circle of fabric. 3 Pull your fabric around the button front as tight as you can. You can add a small piece of double-sided tape to hold it in place. A 4 Use your fingernail to tighten and smooth any lumpy areas around the perimeter of your button. B 5 Once you are happy, pop the back in place. C…

You can back your tags with card to make them more durable if you wish Materials • 14 count perforated paper; 15x15cm (6x6in) • Baker’s twine Make a… gift tag 1 Stitch your figures onto the perforated paper. 2 Cut out each one, leaving one blank square of paper outside the stitching. If you would like to write a message on your tag, cut thin card to fit the back of the figure, and then use glue to hold in place. 3 Using sharp scissors, make a small hole at the top of the tag in the unstitched area of perforated paper. 4 Thread with a length of baker’s twine.…

You can use a hoop to stabilise your work even when working on waste canvas The Jam Pot Cover is made from 32 count Zweigart natural Belfast linen, ref: 3609/5392, with a brown dot. For the Phone Cover cut two blue felt rectangles big enough to fit your phone, sewn together at the edges with blanket stitch. The silver tree was stitched using waste canvas as a guide. For the Festive Gift Box use a pre-punched Kraft Box, stitched using stranded cotton in two or three strands. The box is assembled after stitching. The Heart is made from patterned Christmas fabric and blue felt cut using the template on page 16. Sew the two full-sized fabric hearts and the smaller felt heart together on the wrong side, turn through, stuff…

LOOKS FOR BOOKS FEELING BOOKISH? We’ve some great gift ideas on page 64, or read about these brilliant buys… WHO Harry Potter fans will be spellbound stitching this clever design featuring all the titles in JK Rowling’s famous wizarding series. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CrossStitchForYou WHAT This gorgeous Voyage Library Books Linen Cotton Fabric in Antique is hardwearing enough for all your homestyle projects. www.the-millshop-online.co.uk HOW Keep your needles safe and sound with a miniature classic or bestseller – with a whole host of book cover designs to choose from! www.pinoystitch.org…

Make a hook out of wire, to hang your bag. Attach to the hoop through the screw, and then wrap the wire hook end around the pole several times to hold in place  Designed by: Lucie Heaton Stitch count: 60 high x 60 wide Design size: 11.5x11.5cm (4½x4½in) Stitch time: 10 hours This design was stitched on 27 count evenweave over two threads of fabric. Materials • Zweigart White 27 count Linda, ref: 1235/100; 35.5x43cm (14x17in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 26 tapestry needle • Wooden embroidery hoop; 12.5cm (5in) diameter • Cotton fabric; 17.5x43cm (7x17in) For stockist details see page 89 Make a… bag Step 1 COMPLETE your stitching, then place the cotton fabric right-sides together with the stitching, matching at…

We mounted our stitching on the lid of a display jar – you can pick up Kilner jars with removable screw top lids in kitchen shops to mount your work Materials • Zweigart Pale Cream 28 count Cashel, ref: 3281/0099; 15x15cm (6x6in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 26 tapestry needle For stockist details see page 89 Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 42 high x 42 wide Design size: 7.5x7.5cm (3x3in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 28 count evenweave over two threads of fabric.…

Why not personalise this as a gift by customising the destination with your child’s name and age, e.g. 7 , Joe’s room’? Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 112 high x 175 wide Design size: 20x31.5cm (8x12½in) Stitch time: 37 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials  Zweigart Silver Grey 14 count aida, ref: 3706/7011; 35.5x46cm (14x18in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Frame with a 25.5x35.5cm (10x14in) aperture • Mount board to fit frame For stockist details see page 89 How to… frame a picture Step 1 CUT a piece of white mount board to fit inside your frame. Place your design centrally over the mount board and pin the fabric around the…

 Designed by: Becky Spencer Stitch count: 51 high x 54 wide Remove the greeting and this would make a super-cute mini picture for a nursery! Design size: 9.5x10cm (3¾x4in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Zweigart White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0100; 15x15cm (6x6in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Card blank; 15x15cm (6x6in) For stockist details see page 89 Make a… patch card Step 1 WORK all the cross stitch in two strands of stranded cotton, the backstitch in one strand and the French knots in one strand. Step 2 CUT around the stitching so that it fits the front of your card, with the frame around the design centrally…

1940s Lady kits This 1940s Lady design is part of the Goldleaf Needlework 20th Century Costume Collection. Designed by Vanessa Wells, the kit is available on 14 count white aida and the design measures 8.3x23.4cm (3¼x9¼in). The kit is priced at £18 or the chart only is £6.50, both available from www.goldleafneedlework.co.uk. We have two kits to give away. Enter by post to the address below, labelling your entry ‘1940S LADY GIVEAWAY XST323’. Highland Heathers kits Featuring a wonderful highland scene from Hannah Dale of Wrendale Designs, this beautiful bull is surrounded by the rich shades of heather. This delightful kit is one of a range worked on speckled 14 count aida, the finished size is 26x26cm and it is available to order from www.bothythreads.com for £27.49. We have two…

Use a half stitch in matching cotton to attach your beads, unless indicated to do otherwise on the chart Welcome to the latest project in our new regular section featuring more in-depth stitching with a different larger, detailed design each month. This time Faye Walsh, from Little Dove Designs, has come up with a beautiful band sampler for you to tackle – packed with detail and different techniques to give your design depth and sparkle. Materials • Zweigart Bright Blue 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0540; 49x35.5cm (19x14in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Krenik blending filament as listed in the key • Mill Hill beads as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle For stockist details see page 89 Designed by: Faye Walsh (Little…

Attach silver seed beads to your cake band for extra decoration if you prefer Make a… cake band 1 Stitch your cake band centrally on the fabric, working as many repeats as you need to cover the distance around the cake plus overlap. 2 Trim your fabric to fit the height of your cake and the circumference plus overlap, with extra for the seam allowance. 3 Cut your backing fabric to the same size, and lay right-sides together. 4 Sew along the long edges. Turn right-side out. Fold in the raw edges at the ends, and catch stitch closed. Wrap baking parchment around your cake, then pin the cake band in place. Materials • 27 count White Zweigart Linda, ref: 1235/0100; 16cm (6in) tall and 20cm (8in) longer than your…