Índex per May 2020 a CrossStitcher

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 45 high x 36 wide Design size: 8x7cm (3¼x2¾in) Stitch time: 4 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Always stitch your beads last, so they don’t get in the way of your cross stitches or backstitch Make a… butterfly card Step 1 TAKE a 9x9cm (3½x3½in) piece of white 14 count aida and work your cross stitch in two strands and backstitch in one strand. Add mixed coloured seed beads using matching stranded cotton, following the chart for placement. Step 2 CUTthe fabric to fit a 14x10cm (5½x4in) card (or use the download), then fray the outer edge by removing one of the aida blocks on all sides with a needle. Step 3 STICK double-side tape to the white area…

“I've enjoyed many types of crafting as hobbies in the past, but the last few years I've been so focused on cross stitching that my craft room is really a workshop and studio that is full of cross stitching supplies like floss and fabrics, and finishing trims and accessories like ribbon and hoops. The desk area shown here is the creative half – where the planning, sketching and designing happens. The other side is the working half – a craft table where printed charts are sorted and packed for shipping, models are framed or finished as pillows, biscornus, or flat-finishes. There is an ironing board and my mini-photo studio is just out of the image, too.” www.tinymodernist.com…

PLANT LADY EMBROIDERY APPLEMINTS [Quarry Books] If you’re naturally green-fingered, or even if you just love nature – this botanically-themed book is such a treat. Packed with over 300 embroidery motifs, it makes a great companion to some of the floral designs we feature in CrossStitcher – why not whip up a tablecloth or cushion featuring both cross stitch and embroidered embellishments? With basic stitch instructions even beginners can try their hand at flowers, ferns, bees and more. WEAR, REPAIR, REPURPOSE LILY FULOP [Countryman Press] This new title helps stitchers to keep their projects eco-friendly. Getting back to basics, with a reuse first policy, this book shares near-forgotten skills that help avoid fashion waste – such as mend and make do techniques. There are also projects which help to make…

PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Buds of May, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains: Sampedro 14 count aida in White Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £38, plus P&P. Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 120 high x 120 wide Design size: 22x22cm (8¾x8¾in) Stitch time: 68 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. For a 3D effect you could add seed beads to the flower centres, or work them…

Adding a different stitch to cross stitch can give it a new dimension. Rice stitch, which is very simple to master, because the first part is just a cross stitch, will give your work a fresh feel. Our pretty biscornu pincushion, with rice stitch and a woven edge, is an easy way to get started. Next, our summery necklace, which has a single rice stitch at the top, is easy to assemble – attach it to a card for a wedding or birthday gift. Finally, our bracelet has rice stitch between rose motifs, and is easy to finish with the metal crimp ends. MAKE A… BISCORNU Our pretty pincushion makes a great way to learn rice stitch. Step 1 COMPLETE all the stitching for the top of the biscornu following…

Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 66 high x 69 wide Design size: 12x12.5cm (4¾x5in) Stitch time: 18 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Switch up the colours by making the scarf from your favourite stranded cotton shades, or from what’s spare in your stash Make the… trailing scarf Step 1 NOTE there is enough aida fabric around your design to cut off a small piece to stitch the trailing scarf. Once stitched, cut out, leaving one square around the stitching, apart from at the top, where you leave 10 aida squares – this extra fabric will be slipped over the frame to hold the training scarf end in place. Use fray check or fabric glue to stop the fabric fraying. Step 2 FOR the knitting…

Designed by: Faye Walsh Stitch count: 55 high x 122 wide Design size: 10x20cm (4x8in) Stitch time: 20 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… pencil case Step 1 NOTE that the front of the pencil case is made from your aida fabric, and the back from cotton fabric. Once the stitching is complete, fold the top edge of the stitching over onto the wrong side of your work, leaving five blank aida squares above your stitching. Press your seam in place, and repeat for the backing fabric. Step 2 OPEN the zip and pin it to the folded aida and backing fabric edges, working on the right side. Machine stitch close to the zip on both sides. Close your zip to make sure it…

PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Antique Chic, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains: Zweigart 28 count Cashel Linen in White Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 NOTE: Backing fabric and cushion pad not included How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £23, plus P&P. Designed by: Felicity Hall Stitch count: 180 high x 180 wide Design size: 31.5x31.5cm (12½x12½in) Stitch time: 74 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen, over two threads of fabric. With similar thread shades…

Welcome to our giant world map project! Packed with detail and grand in scale, this is a great design if you love to travel – it would make a fab gift for adventurers too. With famous landmarks and buildings featured throughout, you’ll enjoy bringing each continent together. Worked on blue aida, the ocean doesn’t need stitching, save for the prettily designed coastlines. Materials Zweigart Ice Blue 14 count aida, ref: 3706/550; 80x55cm (31½x21½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 43x60cm (17x23½in) aperture Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com WORLD VIEW Designed by: Fiona Crouch titch count: 199 high x 298 wide (complete design) Design size: 36x55cm (14¼x21¼in) Stitch time: 197 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida…

THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING used to be a bit more of a definite thing. You’d know roughly when bulbs would start to sprout and trees and shrubs begin to bud. Now we can never be quite sure what nature might do next, so we’ve taken the decision to stitch spring instead with all the elements that we would like to see! We’re starting with the next in our window view series (page 18) – this time Susan Bates has us pausing for a cuppa (and a biscuit!), gazing past a beautiful vase of blossoms out to a view of a fresh green garden. We are a bit old-fashioned, so we asked her to add a washing line of fresh laundry. There’s nothing like the way clothes and sheets smell when…

MAPS WITH THE first part of our world map featuring on page 75, we were eager to plot out more ways to put our stitching on the map… WHO Hannah Bass is something of a map specialist, with a whole host of needlepoint kits stitched with one strand of chunky 4 ply tapestry wool in half cross stitches colour printed canvas, including this bold, bright London Tube design! hannahbass.com WHAT Suitable for making curtains and cushions, this sturdy Vintage Maps Fabric (Aqua) features an atlas style map print in muted colours. It’s made from a 70% Cotton 20% poly mix. www.justfabrics.co.uk HOW Keep track of all your travels with the clever Stitch Your Own Destinations World Map Cushion. A great gift, it comes embroidered with the name or names of…

FIRST PAST THE POST! Aly Wymark was the first to send us a pic of her finished cupcake card from issue 355 – she wins a selection of DMC stranded cotton skeins in 20 colours of her choice from Willow Fabrics. The first person to stitch and send us a pic of their finished butterfly card from this issue to crossstitcher@warnersgroup.co.uk will also win this great prize! Pro Tip Our designers share their top stitching tips Relax when stitching" “Stitching is meant to be relaxing! Don’t waste time worrying about what the back of your piece looks like, or if you’re doing it ‘right’ – just take your time and enjoy the process and the calm that it brings…” www.hawthornhandmade.com Made a splash! Here’s my project from last July's issue…

Designed by: Durene Jones Max. stitch count: 55 high x 40 wide Max. 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 using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch. Step 2 TRIM the stitched fabric to fit your card, with the design centrally placed behind the card’s aperture. Step 3 ATTACH double-sided tape to the inside of the card around the edge of the aperture. Step 4 PLACE the stitching on the table right-side up, and then place the card on top, pressing down firmly on the tape. Step 5 CHECK which flap will fold onto the back of the stitching, then add strips of double-sided tape and press firmly down…

THE CHALLENGE 14 count white plastic aida Six shades of stranded cotton (shown above) Pair of silver earring hooks Fringe, tassel or plait THE RULES Create a pair of summer party earrings The design area is 28 x 18 stitches each Only the materials above can be used Becreative as possible! Summer is just around the corner, and cross stitch allows us a unique way to accessorise with original pieces such as handmade earrings. We asked three designers to come up with some new earring designs worked on plastic aida, using a fresh pastel colour palette of six shades of stranded cotton. They were also asked to incorporate a fringe, tassel or plait into their designs. We hope their original results will inspire you to join in too – turn…

“Round the neck of the bottle was a paper label, with the words DRINK ME’ beautifully printed on it in large letters.” Welcome to our new stitch-a-long for 2020. Designer Amanda Butler has created an amazing ‘Alice In Wonderland’ SAL - and will be unveiling a new character from this much-loved book and Through The Looking Glass each month. In this issue we give you Alice and the ‘Drink Me’ bottle… THE ADVENTURES OF ALICE SAL This is the fourth part of our stitch-along design. Over the year we will be bringing you 12 Alice in Wonderland character designs. This issue we give you Alice with the drink me bottle which fits into the last space on the top row. Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 36 high x 27…

Soul stitcher… We’re so excited! Emma Congdon, who often designs for us here at CrossStitcher has her very own book of cross stitch projects out in April! Cross Stitch for the Soul is a collection of beautifully designed motivational and inspirational quotes that are easy to stitch and treasure. Emma, who is also known online as Stitchrovia, has a modern style which appeals to all age groups – and these stitches won’t fail to inject some positivity, comfort and motivation into your life. One for every stitcher to put on their birthday wish list! Available from all good book shops and published by David & Charles (davidandcharles.com). SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL IT’S NOT too late to complete some quick stitching for Easter and spring, and if you’re short of time these…

Hullo! This month’s award-winning pattern (see what I did there?) centres on something we can all do to make everyone’s lives better. The more we do this with wild abandon, the better the world is! And I don’t mean spending the evening drinking wine and cross stitching (although that is obviously amazing). I mean doing good for the sake of doing good. In a world that's made space for self-aggrandisement, prejudice towards others and discontent, giving of yourself (in a healthy, sustainable way, of course!) helps to break down social and personal barriers, shrug off biases, and create stronger bonds of community. The best place to start with these things is usually with skills you already have. Cross stitch is a wonderful example as it’s accessible, easy to learn, and…

PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch our Puddles & Paddles cushion, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains: Zweigart 14 count aida in Ivory, FQ Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 NOTE: Backing fabric and cushion pad not included How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £27, plus P&P. Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 179 high x 180 wide Design size: 33x33cm (13x13in) Stitch time: 45 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Customise the look of your…

We asked our fans on Facebook, “What do you like to stitch in spring and summer?” CHARLOTTE WILSON I like to stitch more modern designs for cards and bookmarks, I’m really finding it hard to find lovely bookmark designs! MYNA SINGH I like to stitch floral patterns and small samplers which can be carried easily and do not have too many colour changes CLAIRE BEAR JACKSON I love doing pretty floral and butterfly themes, they make me happy:). OLGA EFIMOVA I usually stitch and sew Easter baskets. KATHARINA-HENRIETTE RASP I like to personalise towels, linen and other things for my family. LAUREN BESCOBY Various gifts for birthdays for family and friends. I’m currently doing a Bothy Threads tapestry to turn into a pillow for my mum’s birthday in June! CINDY…

FOR JUST 3 ISSUES £5! SUBSCRIBER PERKS: SUBSCRIBE NOW 3 ISSUES FOR £5 Regular contributor Susan Bates is an incredible freelance embroidery designer who has no less than 10 books published! Susan has loved textiles from and early age, and now designs for many companies, including creating cross stitch kits! She fills us in on her inspirational journey… Susan explains why a CrossStitcher subscription’s worth is far more than just financial… “CrossStitcher magazine is great value for money, with lots of different designs from top designers in each issue! The designs are fun and contemporary and a pleasure to stitch.” How did you discover your passion for all things cross stitch? I saw the work of the designer Kaffe Fassett and I loved his painterly…

Needlecrafting can often be a solitary hobby – unless you take part in a local sewing group, how can you exchange ideas and share your progress with other stitchers? Instagram and forums make great online platforms for showing off your work – but Janine Vangool wanted her UPPERCASE Circle online group of crafters, with members from across the globe, to enjoy real interaction with each other. Enter the pincushion exchange – a summer project that quickly became a roaring success… UPPERCASE publishing is a one-woman operation run by Janine of Calgary, Canada. She publishes a quarterly print magazine, also called UPPERCASE, that highlights the world of creativity through craft, design, art and illustration. A recent addition is the online UPPERCASE Circle, “It’s a lovely community where readers can connect with…

PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Wedding Belle, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered straight to your door! Your materials pack contains: Zweigart 32 count Belfast linen, ref: 3609/7026 in Slate Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Skein of DMC Metallic Pearl #5 Mill Hill glass seed beads Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £32.50 plus P&P. Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 172 high x 119 wide Design size: 27x19cm (10½x7½in) Stitch time: 45 hours This design was stitched on 32 count linen, over two threads of…

THE ESSENTIAL KIT YOU’LL NEED TO START STITCHING NEEDLES For basic stitching you’ll need a tapestry needle that has a blunt tip and large eye. Use a size 24 needle for most aidas, and a size 26 for evenweaves and linens. Use a sharp embroidery needle for finer details such as backstitch and French knots. EMBROIDERY SCISSORS Embroidery scissors are an absolute must-have. Keep yours sharp by only using them to cut threads. STRANDED COTTON Embroidery thread is also called stranded cotton. Each thread length is made up of six strands of cotton twisted together. The chart key will tell you how many strands you’ll need to stitch with. HOOPS AND FRAMES Though not absolutely essential, we do recommend using an embroidery hoop or frame to keep an even stitching…