Table of contents for March 2019 in CrossStitcher

Christiane is the author of Scandi Christmas and Seasonal Scandi Crafts published by CICO. “Originally, my craft room was in the attic but since starting The Cozy Club, I have moved everything to be near to my kitchen so that I have all to hand for my workshops. I have plenty of drawers and small cupboards to hold all my tools. Old mason and jam jars hold scissors, pencils, paintbrushes and haberdashery items. I have several old trunks that store all my fabrics. I particularly love having a window to gaze out of whilst sewing, as often as it entices me out to sit a spell while creating a new project. I know that wherever I live, I will always carve a space out for creating.” “My most treasure dit…

Hullo! Welcome to the next Stitch People series! For the next year, we'll be exploring a we-inspiring' Women in History' via the noble art of cross stitch. The first woman I've chosen is Marie Curie. As a scientist my seff who has done the research slog in both chemistry and medicine, her successes speak volumes to me. Her work still benefits people every single day. Her success was impossible to ignore despite discrimination at the time against her nationality and her gender. She lived a modest life, focused on her passion for discovery, unaffected by the corruptions of fame. Curie's drive was incessant, and, to me, that makes her the perfect individual to beg in this series with. My time in science wasn't as ground-breaking as Curie's two Nobel prizes,…

Materials • Zweigart White 28 count Cashel, ref: 3281/0100; 14x11.5cm (5½x4½in) x 2 pieces• Size 26 tapestry needle• Toy stuffing• 1cm (?in) ribbon for hanger; 10cm (4in)• Piping cord; 38cm (15in) Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Project Inspiration Cut the stitched fabric and backing fabric to the same size. Between the layers, place a piece of folded ribbon for the hanger, with the cut edges facing out. Sew around the edge with right sides facing, leaving a gap. Turn to the right side through the gap, stuff and sew up the gap. Lay some fine piping cord around the edge of the stitching, and then using small, neat stitches attach the cord to the fabric. THE DAFFODIL One of the UK’s most popular spring flowers, the Daffodil is well-known as the…

Materials • Zweigart Ivor y 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0264; 36x36cm (14x14in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Wooden embroider y hoop; 20.5cm (8in) diameter Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 112 high x 112 wide Design size: 20.5x20.5cm (8x8in) Stitch time: 52 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Stitch the owls in shades of your own choice to use up leftover stranded cotton in your stash How to… frame your work in a hoop Step 1 TRIM your stitching and a fabric piece into a circle slightly larger than your hoop. Place the inside hoop beneath the two pieces and the outer hoop on top. Centre and press over your work. Pull taut and tighten the…

Materials • Zweigar t Sky Glitter 14 count aida, ref: 3706/5169; 9x9cm (3½x3½in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Felt for backing; 9x9cm (3½x3½in)• Ribbon; 12.5cm (5in)• Button• Split ring Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 28 high x 28 wide Design size: 5x5cm (2x2in) Stitch time: 2 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. We used our unicorn keyring as a bag charm and attached some other accessories for extra bling! Make a… unicorn charm Step 1 COMPLETE the stitching, then place the stitching and backing felt right-sides together. Fold the ribbon in half and place it between the layers with the cut ends just over the seam allowance. Pin the layers together, and then stitch around…

Materials Turn over to find your chocolate but ton charts - pick ‘n’ mix your favourites Zweigart Ivory 28 count Brittney, ref: 3270/0264; 17.5x12.5cm (7x5in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle 38mm self-covered but ton blank Card blank with a 11x9cm (4½x3½in) rectangular aperture Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 55 high x 40 wide card; 21 high x 21 wide button Design size: 9.5x7cm (3¾x2¾in); 4x4cm (1½x1½in) Stitch time: 9 hours each card and button These designs were stitched on 28 count evenweave over two threads of fabric. Turn over to find yo ur choc olate but ton charts - pi ck ‘n’ mix your favourites Take extra care when positioning your buttons before attaching as they are designed to fit the spaces on…

Heart to heart So many of you enjoyed stitching our free Cross My Heart brooch from issue 340! Here’s just a small selection of the photos of your brooches we received… FIRST PAST THE POST! Chrissy Brown was the first to send us a pic of her heart brooch design from issue 340 – 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 sausage dog pincushion from this issue to crossstitcher@dennis.co.uk will also win this great prize! Tree-mendous free gift… Dear CrossStitcher, Finally I finished this beautiful free gift from issue 338 in time for Christmas. I enjoyed stitching this Mrs Christmas – she was so magic hanging…

If you would like to take the challenge, post your stitching on our Facebook page and we will then pin it on our Stitching Challenge board on Pinterest… so get designing! May issue 343 challenge: Decorate a large clothes (15cm) peg as available from www.therange.co.uk. Stitch your design on aida and bond to the peg with PVA or Mod Podge. Consider the purpose of the peg in your design – should it hold a photo or be used to close a presentation bag, or have a different purpose? Materials and rules: • White 14 count aida • Six shades of DMC stranded cotton, Medium Cranberry (602), Deep Canary (972), Very Light Topaz (727), Light Parrot Green (907), Light Turquoise (3846) and Platinum Grey (646) • Design size: 82 x 17…

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. EMBROIDERYSCISSORS Embroidery scissors are an absolute must-have. Keep yours sharp by only using them to cut threads. STRANDEDCOTTON 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. HOOPSANDFRAMES Though not absolutely essential, we do recommend using an embroidery hoop or frame to keep an even stitching tension. FABRICS Aida is…

ARE YOUR WALLS a little overcrowded? Ours certainly are – we consider this the sign of a true cross stitcher when there isn’t even space to hang one more stitched scene or sampler For this issue, we aimed to dream up a few things that don’t need to hang on the wall. Our favourite is the cushion waiting to be customised on page 36. This gives you the chance not only to mark out your favourite chair as your own but also create pockets for your evening essentials. We have 11 pocket motifs to choose from – everything from tissues for watching those tearjerker movies to a remote to tell the family they won’t be getting a turn. And of course, there is space for a small stitching project too.…

NEJ37 Buy the 100% cotton Sweet Cafe – Chocolate by Nutex by the fat quarter – it’s perfect for lining bags or for adding a fabric to your cards. LALLEHANDMADE Stitching one of our Mother’s Day cards? Get some real chocs as a gift and use this printed Chocolate Lovers ribbon to wrap them! STITCHNBUTTON Here is a milk chocolate needle minder to keep your chocolate calorie free! Made of plastic, it’s around 1in in size.…

FEMINIST CROSS-STITCH: 40 BOLD & FIERCE PATTERNS STEPHANIE ROHR [Lark Crafts] Feeling like adding a little activism to your cross stitching? This book includes 40 irreverent yet vintagein-spired cross-stitch designs by Stephanie Rohr. Subvert the notion of a woman’s place is in the home by stitching up some edgy slogans in a pretty, floral, traditional style! The book includes a basics section to get you started, with information on materials, tools, techniques and how to frame your finished pieces. SWEET STITCHES ANEELA HOEY [C&T Publishing] Popular designer Aneela Hoey introduces over 100 embroidery designs in this, her latest collection, which includes iron-on transfers, so you can start stitching straight away. Subjects include florals and geometrics and the designs come from her latest book, Stitch & Sew, as well as dozens…

Materials • Zweigart Black 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0310; 50x36cm (20x14¼in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Frame with a 34x24cm (13½x9½in) aperture• Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 180 high x 120 wide Design size: 33x21.5cm (13x8½in) Stitch time: 24 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. When working backstitch, make sure each individual stitch is not pulled too tightly or left too loose, to create a nice, even result 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…

Stitch one, or all, of our Mother’s Day gifts this month, adding pretty pins, gold scissors and special needles to create the ultimate set of presents for a stitcher. Our dragonfly needle book is lined with contrasting fabric, and has felt pages to hold the needles – the pages are easy to attach with a row of backstitch down the spine of the book. The daisy pouch is great for storing bits and bobs, and could even hold a small WIP. Finally, our scissor keeper has a pretty twisted cord that is fun and simple to make! Stitch your keeper design and back with fabric before stuffing and then attach this clever twisted cord MAKE A… SCISSOR KEEPER Use the twisted cord technique to attach your scissors. Step 1 USE…

Self portraits have long been a vital part of art history. But with a mobile phone in our pocket, it’s never been easier to take a simple snap of ourselves. The selfie can be exciting inspiration for some inventive stitching, whether you work from a photograph, a drawing or simply a mirror. We found four artists who are experimenting with self expression. SUE STONE womanwithafish.wordpress.com How did you start stitching self-portraits? My very first self-portrait was made because I don’t have any wedding photos – in 1975 we did not have mobile phones and the best man forgot to bring the camera! When I returned to stitched textiles after many years of being a clothing designer I decided to make a portrait of myself and my husband on our wedding…

Materials Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com • Zweigart Ivory 14 count aida, ref: 3706/264: 36x23cm (14x9in)• Aida offcuts in a selection of colours; 7.5x7. 5cm (3x3in) x 10 pieces• Felt fo r backing bag: 33x23cm (13x9in)• Felt offcuts in a selection of colours; 7. 5x7. 5cm (3x3in) x 10 pieces• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Button Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 109 high x 109 wide – board; 20 high x 20 wide – noughts and crosses Design size: 20.5x20.5cm (8x8in) – board; 3.8x3.8cm (1½x1½in) – noughts and crosses Stitch time: 28 hours – board, 5 hours – noughts and crosses These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. This is the perfect project for using up felt and aida leftovers! Use a button…

WILSON PARKINSON I would love to be able to stitch for long periods of time. With two sets of twins I rarely find time at all. And when I do it’s usually snuck in during a nap time. If my children all fall asleep in the car I’ve been known to park in the driveway and stitch while they nap. DEBBIE HIER I stitch whenever I have free time. I would like it to be much longer sessions but my time is limited. At least an hour a day makes me happy – three or four hours would be fantastic! EMILY GRAUPNER I often put on Netflix so I can binge my favourite shows with my favourite hobby! LINDA VERNON Whatever time takes my fancy – if I’m finishing a…

Materials • Zweigart Natural Silver 32 count Belfast linen, ref: 3609/0017; 50x50cm (20x20 in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Pearl seed beads • Size 26 tapestry needle • Frame with a 32x32cm (12½x12½in) aper ture • Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Welcome to our latest design that’s packed with stitching detail to enjoy. This time we’ve got a gorgeous wedding sampler for you to get stuck into! It's worked on a rustic shade of linen to give a contrast to the blues and pinks within the design, with other areas picked out in red. There are lacy details and beads to add and you can customise it for the happy couple using the alphabet provided. Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 178…

I don’t know if anyone help me but I was a CrossStitcher subscriber for many years. During that time I collected Emily Peacock’s Circus ABC but have mislaid the last four letters (W, X, Y & Z). Is there anyway I can get a copy of these from anyone? Please contact me via my email address below. Yvonne Shuttleworth Email: yshuttleworth@outlook.com Hello, I’m Tricia (62). I enjoy knitting, cross stitch, tapestry, plastic canvas, crochet, Christmas, crosswords, Westie dogs, and cats. I’m looking for female penfriends of any age from the UK and overseas. Tricia Britton, 19 Mill Vale Lodge, Guithavon Street, Withan, Essex CM8 1YH Email: purplemist119@googlemail.com Email your ads to us at crossstitcher@dennis.co.uk or if you’re not online, drop us a note with your ad details and contact information…

Kit round-up… Tuva, publishers of all kinds of crafting books, have entered the cross stitch kit market with a huge new collection of kits in four different sizes. The four collections contain 36 different designs, and each includes pre-sorted DMC thread, instructions, 14 count ai da fabric, full colour chart and needle, plus a cross stitch booklet and high-quality wooden embroidery hoop that can be used as a frame. You’ll find them in the shops from February – for stockists visit www.creativeworldofcrafts.co.uk. TRAVEL TOTE WE’VE FEATURED luggage tags and passport covers you can stitch on, and now you can add to your travel range with a cross stitched canvas bag! Available in navy or cream, they have been printed with a gold map ready to be cross stitched with your…

PRIMROSES WE’VE SOME perfect primroses on page 16, but if you fancy some more floral treats, try these pretty primrose ideas… WHO Liberty are stocking this gorgeous floral monogram embroidery kit, decorated with evening primroses from Miniature Rhino. The personalised DIY pack is simple and easy to use, with an extra piece of fabric included for perfecting your technique. www.libertylondon.com WHAT Inspired are by the English country side and fox gloves, cow slips and primroses-Cloud 9 have this Evening Primrose 100% Organic Cotton Fabric in their range. www.fabrichq.co.uk HOW Keep your sewing accessories, such as bobbins, buttons and threads, in order with this sweet embroidered small useful purse, worked on Soft Sky Blue linen and lined with traditional blue ticking. www.poppytreffry.co.uk…

Materials • Zw eigart Sand 27 count Linda, ref: 1235/0779; 30x30cm (12x 12in)• St randed cotton as listed in the key• Size 26 tapestry needle• Frame with a 14x11.5cm (5½x4½in) aperture• Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Faye Walsh Stitch count: 69 high x 55 wide Design size: 12.5x10.5cm (5x4in) Stitch time: 11 hours This design was stitched on 27 count evenweave over two threads of fabric. TURN TO PAGE 22 TO LEARN HOW TO FRAME YOUR PICTURE Replace the French knots with seed beads in the same colour if you prefer CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch House Proud, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered straight to your…

Materials • Zweigart Platinum 32 count Belfast, ref: 3609/0017; 36x36cm (15x15in)• Zweigart Rose 32 count Belfast, ref: 3609/4034; 23x36cm (9x15in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 26 tapestry needle• Backing fabric; 36x36cm (15x15in)• Cushion pad; 35.5x35.5cm (14x14in) Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 49 high x 96 wide – Mum’s chair motif; 50 high x 48 wide – Pocket motifs (max) Design size: 8x15cm (31?8x6in); 8x8cm (31?8x31?8in) max Stitch time: 15 hours This design was stitched on 32 count linen over two threads of fabric. Why not create a sofa tidy using some of these motifs? Simply hem a length of linen which will tuck in and hang over a sofa arm with some pockets attached Use the alphabet provided above to personalise your…

Materials • Zweigar t Pearl Grey 32 count Murano, ref: 3984/705; 12.5x12.5cm (5x5in) x2 pieces• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Kreinik No.4 braid as listed in the key• Size 26 tapestry needle• Toy stuffing Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 55 high x 54 wide Design size: 8.5x8.5cm (3¼x3¼in) Stitch time: 7 hours This design was stitched on 32 count evenweave over two threads of fabric Use shorter lengths when stitching with Kreinkik braid and let your needle hang to unravel your thread every so often to avoid tangles Make a… pincushion Step 1 STITCH using two strands of stranded cotton or Kreinik 4 braid for the cross stitch, one strand of stranded cotton for the backstitch whiskers, and one of Kreinik for the…

THE CHALLENGE • One piece of rustic linen • Six shades of stranded cotton (shown above) • Ribbon roses • One mystery ingredient of your own choice THE RULES • Create a design for a Wedding card • Only the materials above can be used • The design must be no larger than 42x42 stitches • The challenge is to include ribbon roses • Be creative as possible! Welcome to this month’s challenge! As spring is starting to blossom, we asked three designers to come up with an original wedding card design featuring some ribbon roses. Besides the materials given to them on the left, they were allowed a mystery item of their own choice. Take a look at their stunning results below – we’ve featured a chart for each…

Designed by: Shannon Wasilieff Stitch count: 40 high x 30 wide Design size: 7.5x5cm (3x2in) Stitch time: 4 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. THE KEY ALL THE symbols that appear on the chart are listed in the key with their corresponding thread codes beside them. The key also tells you the different stitches used in the design. The closest column of thread codes listed next to the chart symbols is the thread brand that’s used in the design. Similar colour matches are listed alongside it. Where no close match can be found, you may have to use a different brand of thread for that shade. THE CHART EACH square on the chart represents a single cross stitch. Start from the centre of the design and…