Tabla de contenidos para April 2018 en CrossStitcher

Stitch count: 18 high x 19 wide Design size: 5x5cm (2x2in) Stitch time: 2 hours Make a… Spring pendant Step 1 WORK on either a wooden pendant blank or plastic canvas. Complete the cross stitch and backstitch in two strands of stranded cotton. Start with a loop knot and stitch your thread ends through the back of your work for a neat finish. Step 2 TRIM to one square outside of your stitching if using plastic canvas. Attach a jump ring at the top of your pendant, thread a length of blue cord through it, then tie the ends together with a knot. NEXT MONTH BURST INTO BLOOM KEYRING PROJECT Keep your keys safe while creating a stylish accessory at the same time as you stitch our pretty keyring strap…

GINGHAM LOVING OUR gingham card set on page 57? Then try these gorgeous other additions to your stash… WHO What should every Easter bunny wear with pride? This cute Bow With Button makes a sweet touch for personalising any bunny you stitch. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SandyMsCraftSupplies WHAT Can you resist this super-sweet Gingham Heart Ribbon? Perfect for Easter cards or to trim padded heart hangers. www.notonthehighstreet.com/stitchkits/product/gingham-heart-ribbon HOW Add a sweet gingham touch to plain cushions or items of clothing for babies and children with these gingham buttons. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheRibbonQuarter…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Flight of Fancy, 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 Cashel in Smokey Pearl • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 PLEASE NOTE: your pack does not contain backing fabric or stuffing How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £26, plus P&P. Materials • Zweigart Smokey Pearl 28 count Cashel, ref: 3281/0778; 50x50cm (19½x19½in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 26 tapestry needle • Backing fabric; 42x42cm (16½x16½in) • Cushion pad; 37x37cm (14½x14½in) For…

Out of this world Hello CrossStitcher. Just thought I would show you my completed Solar System from issue 326. I did this for my 11-year-old nephew as he had been studying the solar system in college and this made a fabulous Christmas gift for him. He loves it, as do I. I did change up some of the materials like the Kreinik thread for DMC satin S415, as I find it easier to stitch with, but found it gives just as fabulous an effect as the pics in the magazine. I have cross stitched for many years, picking up the odd magazine, but this issue has made me subscribe to receive your magazine for the next year. Thank you for your inspirations. Kind Regards, Emma Hopkins, Devon FIRST PAST THE…

Stitch count: 56 high x 34 wide (body); 10 high x 61 wide (arms) Finished design size: 10x16.5cm (4x6½in) Stitch time: 17 hours (each) This design was stitched on 14 count plastic aida. Materials • 14 count plastic aida; 11x16.5cm (4¼x6½in) for each animal • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Velcro dots For stockist details see page 89 Make a… gift holder Step 1 STITCH your cat or dog body in the centre of a piece of plastic aida. Turn your stitching over and then on the wrong side stitch the arms. The arms should start where the body finishes, but on the reverse side of the aida, and without leaving a gap. Step 2 ADD a Velcro sticky dot to both…

Max. stitch count: 55 high x 40 wide Max. design size: 9.5x7cm (3¾x2¾in) Stitch time: 8 hours each These designs were stitched on 28 count evenweave over two threads of fabric. Make an… aperture card Step 1 STITCH over two threads of fabric, using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch and one strand for the backstitch. 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…

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK This design doesn't feature motifs with solid colours – shades are suggested with scattered stitches for a subtle effect Stitch count: 100 high x 149 wide Design size: 20x30cm (8x11¾in) Stitch time: 30 hours This design was stitched on 25 count evenweave over two threads of fabric. The picture design would also make a great cushion you could give as a gift – simply back with a co-ordinating fabric and stuff Materials Picture • Zweigart 25 count Antique Violet Lugana, ref: 3838/5045; 30x43cm (12x17in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 26 tapestry needle • Frame with a 20x30cm (8x11¾in) aperture • Mount board to fit frame For stockist details see page 89 TURN TO PAGE 20 TO LEARN HOW TO FRAME YOUR…

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…

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…

HERE AT CROSSSTITCHER HQ we’re rather fond of a biscuit or two. We favour the classics like digestives and bourbons and can never resist a party ring! So it seemed only logical that such a treat would make a good subject for our star project. Thanks to designer Emma Congdon, we can offer a whole sampler of retro family favourites (page 16). We promise our biscuits will be as satisfying to stitch as they are to nibble. You can stitch each one in turn with few colour changes, before you move on to the next. Just think of our biscuit sampler as bite-size chunks of stitching! This issue we’re also gearing up for Easter with a fun bunny bag to fill with chocolate (page 21) and some novel little characters…

Hello, my CrossStitcher friends! This month, my penultimatemandala-inspired design is inspired by spring’s beautiful bulb flowers, specifically the ‘Clairette’ iris. I especially admire this iris because of the way the colours fade together. The centres of these flowers tend to be a lighter, cornflower blue. Then the petals graduate outward into a dark, rich blue. What’s interesting about the dark petals is they start off as a creamy white toward the flower and the deep blue drips into the cream colour until it overtakes the outward edge of the petal. The way this flower grows in nature illustrates one of my favourite methods of cross stitching that I recommend using in Stitch People portraits–mixing floss colours, or stitching colour-on-colour. These methods create gradient, ombre and/ or graduated colour effects. There…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Fancy A Biccie?, 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 Antique White • 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 £28, plus P&P. Stitch count: 198 high x 138 wide Design size: 34.5x23.5cm (13¾x9¼in) Stitch time: 75 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Zweigart Antique White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0101; 50x43cm (19½x17in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24…

We asked our fans on Facebook, “What’s your favourite stitching tool or gadget?” DARLENE WARE My magnetic board (I connected two with tool bar magnets) and the scroll frames with velcro strips. CHRISTINE LYNN A highlighter pen. I wouldn’t have a clue where I was up to without it and you can successfully photocopy the chart and keep the copy pattern to use another time. CASSIE RUTH My daylight lamp and my needle threader – couldn’t stitch without them, my eyes are not as good as they used to be. FIONA DICKSON My pencil case. It only cost me $1, but it's the best thing ever. It allows me to take stitching wherever I go. Road trips, holidays, work. It keeps everything in one place, safe and clean. KAREN BINTY…

From her garden shed Kate Buchanan makes beautiful textile art, inspired by the British coast and countryside and popping up everywhere from gallery walls to greetings cards. She also runs Create – workshops which open up art, crafting and upcycling in a nurturing environment. She tells CrossStitcher about the pursuit of beauty – and a duck called Doris… It’s lovely to met you, Kate – please introduce yourself… I live in Hertfordshire with my husband, children and four birds (three chickens and a duck called Doris). I am very fortunate to have a small studio in my garden which is where I work and run workshops. ‘The girls’ as they are affectionately termed are a great source of entertainment and quite often strike a pose worth catching in a picture,…

We love spring here at CrossStitcher HQ – it’s so cheering to see the countryside burst into bloom, with daffodils and tulips among our favourite flowers. Our spring sampler celebrates all the sights of the season, and is the first of four seasonal samplers we’ll be presenting throughout the year. Have fun working through each section to bring your design to life! Stitch count: 179 high x 121 wide Design size: 33x22cm (13x8¾in) Stitch time: 40 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Zweigart Opalescent Yellow 14 count aida, ref: 3706/2089; 50x43cm (19½x17in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Frame with a 37x26cm (14½ x10in) aperture • Mount board to fit frame For stockist details see page…

Stitching treats to try Give your stash a spring clean by indulging in some not only beautiful, but useful, accessories and tools. Hands On Workshop have now added to their range a gorgeous brass ruler, with scale markings etched in laser, available in two sizes, designed by Cohana. Or take your pick from the new handbag-sized measuring tapes,150cm in length and hand-stamped with a patterned leather case with tabs, in five fab colour ways. Last but not least, the spool-shaped small pin and needle containers are made from Hasami earthenware, with a magnetic centre for pins to attach to. www.handsonworkshop.com.au/shop SKETCHBOOK SECRETS: Colleen Carrington We take a peek at a designer’s early ideas for one of their projects Colleen, designer at The World in Stitches, describes her creative process, “First,…

EMBROIDERED WOODLAND CREATURES AIMEE RAY [Lark Crafts] Designs from the colouring book Woodland Creatures have been used here to make embroidery patterns that are a real treat for needlecraft fans. From complex mandalas to animals such as frogs, turtles, deer and owls, there are over 50 designs to choose from. Each are are printed on reusable transfer paper so you can simply just tear out the pages, iron them onto your fabric and start stitching. There’s even a handy pocket envelope in the back of the book to store your cut-out transfers. 50 CROSS STITCH QUICKIES: FLOWERS & FUN [Leisure Arts] This latest addition to the Leisure Arts presents 50 mini designs with a stitch count of around 35 x 35 or less. As the title suggests there are many…

Stitch count: 35 high x 49 wide (face); 49 high x 23 wide (each ear) Design size: 6.5x9cm (2½x3½in) face; 9x4cm (3½x1½in) each ear Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen over two threads of fabric. You could sandwich a layer of card between the front and back fabric pieces of the ears before sewing up if you wish them to remain upright Materials • Zweigar t 28 count Platinum Cashel, ref: 3281/0770; 25x20cm (10x8in) • Zweigart 28 count Rose Cashel, ref: 3281/4 034; 15x10cm (6x4in) x 2 pieces • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 26 tapestry needle • Ribbon; 6mm x 60cm (24in) • Backing and lining cotton fabric; 38x41cm (15x16in) For stockist details see page 89 Make a… bunny…

PRICKLY SUBJECT Basket weave is really easy to stitch on even weave, as you have a ready-made grid to help with the counting. FUN 3D EFFECT Use chain stitch to give your brooch cactus design a prickly effect. PRICKLY PAPER Have pots of fun with our decorative paper cactus, which is so easy to put together! Try some new embroidery techniques with our trio of cactus projects. Our not-soprickly pincushion cactus uses basketweave to create its bumpy surface. Next, perk up a spring or summer dress by adding our on-trend cactus brooch. The chain stitch gives you a new embroidery stitch to try, and adds a 3D feel to the finished design. Finally, our cute cactus pot, which is fun to stitch on perforated paper and even easier to care…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch King of Spring, 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 28 count Cashel in Pale Blue • 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 £34, plus P&P. Stitch count: 184 high x 124 wide Design size: 33x22cm (13x8½in) Stitch time: 64 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen over two threads of fabric. We’ve used a pale blue fabric to help the design elements pull together - a white fabric would look…

game on! Whether you’re a keen chess master, a poker-mad player, or simply love a good board game, this is the alphabet for you! Simple and quick to stitch, our games motifs make these letters and numbers pefect for custom birthday cards, brilliant for bunting if you’re having a party and much more. Take a roll of the dice and start stitching! Our Roll the Dice sign was stitched on Zweigar t Light Blue 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0503, and each letter is approximately 28 high x 28 wide. The design size for each letter is approximately 5x5cm (2x2in), and it to ok our stitcher 1½ hours to stitch each letter. More to make... Mix and match your letters to create a great selection of game-themed projects. Here’s some easy…

Materials • Zweigart Antique White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0101; 18x18cm (7x7in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Card blank; 20x14.5cm (8x5¾in) For stockist details see page 89 Stitch count: 58 high x 38 wide Design size: 10.5x7cm (4¼x2¾in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… patch card Step 1 WORK all the cross stitch in two strands of stranded cotton, the backstitch in one strand and the lettering in two strands. Step 2 CUT a piece of Kraft paper to fit the front of your card, and then the stitched aida smaller than the paper. Step 3 FRAY one block of threads on all sides of the fabric – carefully peeling away the…

THE CHALLENGE • White 14 count aida fabric • Window card with four openings • Six shades of stranded cotton (shown above) • One mystery ingredient of your own choice THE RULES • Create four mini designs to fit a window card • Only the materials above can be used • The design must be no larger than 14x14 stitches • Be creative as possible! We’ve loved this month’s challenge as our four-window card starting point is very flexible! We asked our designers to create motifs on the same theme to fill the windows, but only using the materials we gave them, as listed on the left. Besides our strict rules about the materials they could use, the only other limit was their imagination! We hope this will inspire you…