Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2018 i CrossStitcher

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 61 high x 61 wide Design size: 11.5x11.5cm (4½x4½in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make… Mrs Christmas Step 1 STITCH on a 13x13cm (5x5in) piece of white 14 count aida fabric. Use individual backstitches rather than trailing across the aida where you can. Step 2 COMPLETE the stitching, then roll the aida around into a cone shape. Leaving one square of blank fabric either side of the outer red stitched rows at the back of the coat, fold the excess fabric to the wrong side of the stitching. Step 3 CUT away some of the excess fabric from the bottom of the design carefully, leaving 6mm (¼in) of unstitched fabric below the stitching. Fold this inside…

“Coming from a background in graphic design, a great deal of my designs feature my quirky bespoke lettering. The ‘Christmas’ design is a classic, stitched in seasonal colours on a cool ice blue fabric. Fun, Christmas themed, motifs appear among the lettering which features some lovely backstitching to add swirly detailing to the letters. I love replacing a letter with a motif in my designs and in this case the snowman represents the ‘i’, bobble hat included.” www.nia-crossstitch.com…

Hullo! Have you found ‘The Perfect Pattern’, the one that is begging to be stitched and framed and hung on your wall? Except that it feels like it’s out of your reach–it’s huge, it has so many colours, it’s detailed… where do you even start? When I started stitching I was young and naïve; I dove in head first without worrying what my backs looked like or if I was doing it ‘right’. I just made crosses on my fabric and enjoyed the experience. I’d take on huge patterns because it never occurred to me that I shouldn’t. I still approach stitching in the same enthusiastic and naïve way. So, allow me to share my three golden tips for starting (and finishing!) overwhelming patterns: 1: Find your naivety… When children…

Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 87 high x 126 wide Design size: 16x23.5cm (6¼x9¼in) Stitch time: 18 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials Zweigart Navy 14 count aida, ref: 3706/589; 38x50cm (15x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 20x29cm (8x11½in) aperture Mount board to fit frame For stockist details see page 89 Change the look of your design by stitching it on a different shade of aida, such as purple 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 board to secure, starting at the centre of each side and working outwards.…

Designed by: Faye Walsh (Little Dove Designs) Max stitch count: 40 x 40 small; 40 x 86 large Max. design size: 7x7cm (2¾x2¾in) small; 7x15cm (2¾x6in) large Stitch time: 24 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials Zweigart Silver Grey 14 count aida, ref: 3706/7011; 33x36cm (13x14¼in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Printers tray For stockist details see page 89 The individual designs would make great tree decorations, backed and stuffed, with a ribbon hoop to hang them How to… finish your printers tray Step 1 TRIM each design to fit its compartment carefully, making sure the stitching is in the centre, and removing one row of aida squares at a time. Step 2 PLACE each design in the printers…

Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 38 high x 38 wide Design size: 6.5x6.5cm (2½x2½in) Stitch time: 4 hours each These designs were stitched on 28 count linen over two threads of the fabric. Materials For each heart Zweigart Raw Linen 28 count Cashel, ref: 3281/0053; 9x9cm (3½x3½in) x 2 pieces Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle White 3mm ribbon x 25.5cm (10in) Toy stuffing For stockist details see page 89 Any coordinating ribbon from your workbox could be used, making this a great stashbusting project! Make a… hanging heart decoration Step 1 COMPLETE all the cross stitch then transfer the stitching line shown in pink on the chart onto your heart using tacking stitches – this will help you stitch the point of the…

Whether you’re dreaming of a white Christmas or prefer to stay warm indoors in winter, we think you’ll agree – our snow scene letters and numbers are stunning! Enjoy mixing and matching them to create stylish sentiments. Perfect for Christmas makes, they’re also versatile enough to use for winter birthdays, weddings and other occasions. … Designed by: Fiona Crouch Our wintry Snow Scene letters were made into hanging decorations, and were stitched on Zweigart Sky Glitter 14 count aida, ref: 3706/5169. Each letter is approximately 30 high x 25 wide. The design size for each letter is approximately 5.5x4.5cm (2¼x 1¾in), and it took our stitcher 2½ hours to stitch each one. If you substitute the aida you stitch these on, make sure it is still a pale blue colour…

MONIQUE TELEHIN I started Joan Elliott’s Rose Fairy in July for my grandmama’s birthday in October a couple of years ago. I didn’t have it finished in time for her birthday, or that Christmas, or her next birthday, but I got it finished a few days before last Christmas and was able to finally gift it to her. Holding the scroll frame while pregnant was getting a bit hard in the end but I managed it. ISABEL FREEMAN 10 mins before the recipient was due to arrive! Got it wrapped just in time. I try to be organised but life has a habit of scuppering things. PATRICIA BOYLE Christmas Eve two years ago I was finishing off a dreamcatcher present for my niece, was sat in bed nearly three hours…

Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon (Tiny Modernist) Max. stitch count: 45 high x 45 wide Max. design size: 12.5x12.5cm (5x5in) Stitch time: 4 hours (each) These designs were stitched on 18 count Anne cloth, working each stitch over two threads of fabric Materials Zweigart White 18 count Cotton-Anne cloth, ref: 7588/0100-145; 72.5x59cm (28½x23¼in) – Custom Panel Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Christmas fabric; 72.5x59cm (28½x23¼in) 25mm webbing; 15cm (6in) x 4 lengths For stockist details see page 89 Stitching your… afghan TAKE a look at the half panel of Cotton-Anne cloth. Turn it so that you have 12 panels – four high and three wide, and just less than a half panel on all four edges. Before you begin stitching, oversew the edges with a…

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 craft and haberdashery 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 of colours…

GETTING THE DECORATIONS out is always a longed-for moment. So many bring back memories of the Christmas they were hung up for the very first time. You might have inherited decorations, or handmade offerings from now grown-up children. We love adding to the collection too and this year we’re looking forward to reserving a special space for the pretty ‘printers tray’ on our cover (page 30). This wooden frame houses seven mini designs in its deep sections – the dividers form little shelves on which to add extra Christmas trinkets. It’s a really different kind of decoration that requires no special making. (We have a special offer pack that makes things even easier for you – see page 15.) Of course we are all hoping for that perfect present, so we’ll…

SPOONFLOWER Mix crackers with Christmas treats with this Gingerbread Men Holiday Foods Christmas Fabric, available by the yard or fat quarter. PINKINKPATTERNS Treat yourself to a Christmas Cracker Cross Stitch Necklace. It’s hand embroidered and held on a 26in antique bronze-plated chain. THREADABEAD This How to Make a Reuseable Christmas Cracker sewing pattern is available as a download and perfect for our motifs on page 27.…

MINI HOOP EMBROIDERIES SONIA LYNE [Search Press] Founder of Dandelyne, Sonia Lyne, showcases 60 miniature hoop designs. Sonia has included a multitude of options from embroidered flowers and appliqué animals to abstract stitch ‘n’ paint shapes and tasselled creatures. She gives you tips on colour and stitch variations, as well as alternative hoop shapes you could use from her mini hoop packs, to inspire you to get creating your own mini masterpieces. GARDEN STITCH LIFE KAZUKO AOKI [Word Book Media] One of our favourite embroidery designers, Kazuko Aoki, has turned her hand to garden-themed designs, with 50 embroidery motifs in this title. Kazoo shares her creative process with a glimpse at her sketches and how she selects thread colours as well as her stitching tips and techniques. She also gives…

Designed by: Felicity Hall Stitch count: 220 high x 110 wide Design size: 40.5x21cm (16x8¼in) Stitch time: 55 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials Zweigart Ivory 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0264; 50x36cm (19½x14in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Christmas cotton fabric; 50x36cm (19½x14in) Red 10mm ribbon; 46cm (18in) For stockist details see page 89 Customise your stocking as you wish by trimming the top with faux fur or pom-poms in a coordinating colour NOTE: Where backstitch is on top of cross stitch 2 strands have been used Make a… Scandi stocking Step 1 SEW your stocking using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, and one or two strands for the backstitch. Step 2 COMPLETE all the…

Get festive and make a trio of Christmas stockings to decorate your tree and give as gifts. Our pretty band sampler stocking is quick to make, and for those who hate making up, this stocking, once stitched, can be finished in minutes with just one seam and a pair of pinking shears. Our mini gingerbread stocking will make a fab addition to your tree, or give it to a friend who has everything. Plus, our little snowflake can be added to any plain stocking using waste canvas as the perfect finishing touch. MAKE A… GINGERBREAD STOCKING Use this miniature stocking as a decoration to hang from your tree! Step1 PLACE your stitching and a piece of patterned backing fabric right-sides together. Instead of using backing fabric, you may like to…

Designed by: Maria Diaz Max. stitch count: 27 high x 27 wide Max. design size: 5x5cm (2x2in) Stitch time: 3 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count perforated paper. Materials For each character White 14 count perforated paper; 7x7cm (3x3in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Christmas cardboard; 12x9cm (5x3½in) x 2 pieces White paper For stockist details see page 89 If you don’t have any coloured card, you could always use plain covered in some leftover Christmas wrapping paper Make a… place name character Step 1 STITCH your chosen character onto perforated paper with two strands of stranded cotton, using the alphabet provided to add a name. Cut around the character, one square outside the stitching, using sharp paper scissors. Round off…

Designed by: Durene Jones Max. stitch count: 54 high x 40 wide Max. design size: 10x7.5cm (4x3in) Stitch time: 6½ hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials For each card Zweigart Ice Blue 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0550; 17.5x12.5cm (7x5in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle Card blank with an 11.5x9cm (4½x3½in) rectangular aperture For stockist details see page 89 Why not give your cards more festive sparkle by attaching gold seed beads to the Christmas tree as extra baubles? Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch and one and two strands for the backstitch. Step 2 TRIM the stitched fabric to fit your card, with the design centrally placed…

Designed by: Sarah Cookland Stitch count: 25 high x 42 wide (pair of numbers) Design size: 4x6cm (1½x2¼in) (pair of numbers) Stitch time: 2 hours per pair This design was stitched on 14 count aida band. Materials 5cm Zweigart White With Red Edge 14 count aida band, ref: 7107/0019/5; 2m (78in) White 14 count aida; 11x5cm (4½x2in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Christmas cotton fabric; 35.5x35.5cm (14x14in) x 2 pieces White faux fur trim; 7.5cm (3in) x ¾ metre (29.5in) Cushion pad; 33x33cm (13x13in) Black felt; 9x9cm (3½x3½in) For stockist details see page 89 Use this as a guide for how to space your stitching correctly Make a… Santa cushion Step 1 TAKE a look and you’ll see that the numbers need to be…

Welcome to this month’s challenge! It’s December so what better task to give our designers than to come up with a gift tag? As always there is a twist, and this month they must put their thinking caps on and devise a way to feature a 2 and 5 from a glitter numbers set. Besides the materials given to them on the left, they were allowed a mystery item of their own choice. Take a look at their results below – we’ve provided a chart for each so you can stitch your favourite! You can join in too – turn the page to see what our challenge will be for February – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. JANE PRUTTON… FESTIVE BAUBLE “This little design has a lovely…

WHO These tree decorations wrapped up in their felt winter dress make the perfect accompaniment to our Mrs Christmas decoration. www.tch.net WHAT Make your very own nine pennant Christmas string of beautiful red ‘Polar Bear in Woolly Hats Scandi Bunting’, this kit includes everything you need! www.notonthehighstreet.com/thebuntingbasket HOW Get the kids stitching this Christmas with this wooden set of laser-cut sewing discs, stitched with cotton string. The discs each have a different level of difficulty and are suitable from above 11 months. www.bonordic.co.uk…

Designed by: Rebecca Spencer Stitch count: 25 high x 20 wide Design size: 4.5x3.5cm (1¾x1¼in) Stitch time: 1½ hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials White 14 count aida; 20x20cm (8x8in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Blanks to make a 23cm (9in) cracker x 6 Red 7mm double-sided satin ribbon x 3m For stockist details see page 89 Quick to stitch, these designs could also be used to attach as a patch to gift tags to make them special Make a… cracker Step 1 SPACE the designs out on your aida fabric. Once the stitching is complete, cut out each motif with the design in the centre of a 6x5cm (2¼x2in) piece of aida. It is important that you…

Based in Rome with her husband and children, Victoria Johnson has led a successful life in design on both sides of the Atlantic. For 20 years her unique imagery has appeared on textiles, stationery, gifts and homeware. She also runs the online course Creative Christmas to help new designers create successful products. She told us what inspires her every day… Can you tell us about your creative path? My parents are very creative and encouraged me to be. I was given a set of oil paints and a canvas for my eighth birthday – I painted a self portrait! I went on to study Fashion Textiles at Birmingham University – it was more like a Fine Art course – the experimentation and exploration still influence my approach to my work…

£54 of prizes 1960s Lady kits Goldleaf Needlework have a new range of fashion designs by designer Vanessa Wells. The 20th Century Costume Collection kits are priced at £18, but are also available as a chart only. Available from www.goldleafneedlework.co.uk, each kit includes 14 count white aida, DMC threads and a needle. The design size is 11.6x22.3cm (4½x 8¾in). We have three 1960s Lady kits to give away. Enter by post to the address below, labelling your entry ‘1960s LADY GIVEAWAY XST338’. £25 of prizes Christmas 20 To Stitch books Michael Powell’s distinctive cross-stitch style is ideal to use for Christmas cards or samplers to make special gifts for friends and family. The designs in this little book range from festive candle arrangements to vintage winter street scenes, and each…

Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 172 high x 104 wide Design size: 31.5x19.5cm (12½x7¾in) Stitch time: 60 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials Zweigart Snow Glitter 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0011; 50x36cm (19½ x14¼in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 34x24cm (13½x9½in) aperture Mount board to fit frame For stockist details see page 89 Many of you got in touch to say how much you enjoyed stitching our summer memory jars sampler from issue 334, so here we’re pleased to present our festive version. Each jar contains a special seasonal scene designed to evoke nostalgic feelings of Christmases gone by. With backstitch details, French knots and shading, the complete design is great fun to stitch and…