Table of contents for November 2018 in CrossStitcher

ALLSEWNUPBYSOPHIA This beautiful 100% cotton fabric by MakowerUK is called Jolly Santa Scatter! It’s sold as a Fat Quarter but is also available by the metre. RIBBONRIBBONRIBBON17 We love the fact that this Christmas Santa Ho Ho Ho Grosgrain Ribbon comes in three sizes; 3 in (75mm) and 2in (50mm) and 1in (25mm). PINKINKPATTERNS Make and stitch a decoration. Colour the design, add a ribbon loop and after stitching together, fill with wadding, cloves or rice.…

THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS TO CROSS STITCH VÉRONIQUE ENGINEER [Schiffer Books] If you’re a fan of French homestyle, you’ll love this book which gives you 20 patterns, mixing traditional French style with ‘charming contemporary simplicity’. Mix and match motifs from wintry scenes, Father Christmas, toys, sparkling decorations and more and use the ideas and instructions for how to make a Christmas stocking, Advent calendar, gift cards, and a holiday ABC sampler. EMBROIDERY STITCHING: HANDY POCKET GUIDE CHRISTEN BROWN [C&T Publishing] While you’re putting this year’s Christmas wish list together, you may wish to add this handy paperback as a stocking filler suggestion. The pocket guide is a 64-page mini book that features over 30 essential embroidery stitches inside – making it the perfect resource for adding an extra flourish to…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch On Our Way, 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 Snow Glitter • 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 £26, plus P&P. The fabric used adds instant sparkle, and you could also use sequins to attach a scattering of sparkling snowflakes as well! Stitch count: 179 high x 122 wide Design size: 33x22.5cm (13x8¾in) Stitch time: 18 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. How to……

We asked our fans on Facebook, “Which stitching tools or kits are you putting on your Christmas wish list?” CARA CLARKE A grime guard and matching project bag to keep my WIP clean and tidy. I recently picked up an old one which was covered in dust! JOYCE WURTZ GERTHE A cross stitch frame and DMC new floss. SHEILA SMITH More free time in which to stitch would be good! JADE LAWLEY Thinking it might be a travel bag for me. But a smaller verison like a portable small accessory case. RACHEL JAMES I would love an updated DMC floss card with all 500 colours in real floss:) LEANNE FARLEY John Clayton's Elegant Ladies kits – they are all so classy and subtle! SARAH WINDERS A magnetic needle keep, to…

THE CHALLENGE • One piece of 14 count cream aida fabric • Six shades of stranded cotton (shown above) • A wooden wreath • One mystery ingredient of your own choice THE RULES • Create a design for a Christmas card • Only the materials above can be used • The design must be no larger than 42x42 stitches • The challenge is to include a wooden wreath • Be creative as possible! Welcome to this month’s challenge! Christmas is coming, so we asked our designers to this time create a 3D card embellished with a wooden wreath. Besides the materials given to them on the left, they were allowed a mystery item of their own choice. Take a look at their brilliant results below – we’ve provided a chart…

BACKSTITCH FOR DEPTH: Note how the 'joy' sentiment is looking almost three-dimensional by using two shades of thread for the body of the letters, then outlined for defintion with red backstitching. SOFTER UNBACKSTITCHED AREAS: Areas such as the pine leaves may use backstitching in certain parts to add detail, but sometimes there are no backstitched outlines to create a softer, more natural looking edging. BLENDED METALLIC HIGHLIGHTS: Many of the bells and baubles are worked in gold metallic thread to create shimmering highlights that will transform your finished wreath into a real showstopper! Take extra care when adding your backstitch details as they really bring this design to life CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Christmas Wreath, we have a materials pack with everything you need to…

THIS MONTH it’s all about saying welcome. Welcome to the season with a stitched box (page 27), getting ready to welcome each day closer to Christmas with beautiful Advent makes (page 16) and welcome to your best-ever Christmas of stitching. We’ve even hung a wreath on the cover to welcome you in – turn to page 77 for the full project. Once you are inside this issue, we’d like to offer you a cupcake – or nine! Our daughter Lily was our model on page 75, showing off the best festive apron and cupcake sampler. Stitch the whole picture or choose one cake to make a card for someone special. Our favourite has to be the one with the mini gingerbread man balanced on top! We can’t wait to share…

CHRISTMAS CANDY INSPIRED BY our candy cane collection on page 42 and festive bakes on page 70, here are more crafty accessories that look good enough to eat… WHO This Gingerbread Man Advent Calendar is just the sweetest! A large fabric alternative to the traditional advent calendar, you can fill each pocket of his felt suit with little gifts or crafty treats. www.tch.net WHAT Trim those festive makes on page 42 with this pretty Gingerbread & Candy Ribbon (60mmx9m). www.giselagraham.co.uk HOW Light up your craft room or craft desk with these Christmas Candy Cane Fairy Lights from the Jolly Holidays Collection 2018. www.lights4fun.co.uk…

Each of these beautiful Zweigart colours can be used for cards or samplers or put in your stash for future projects. You will receive one FQ in the colour of your choice, (please mark the colour on your coupon or in the margin. If you are ordering more than one colour attach a separate piece of paper). The size of a FQ is 50x55cm (19½x21½in). 14 Count Autumn Aida FQ for £5.60, ref: FQAUT01 MORE OFFERS FOR YOU! Pick up more stitching goodies at great prices and with UK postage of just £1.90… CHRISTMAS STITCHLETS KITS You’ll love our selection of Christmas Stitchlets. We will send you three different kits, chosen at random from over 30 designs. Each fits a 64cm card. Your kit includes: 14 count aida DMC thread…

Hazel Monte’s online journal Handstories is one of our favourite places to hang out on the web. Hazel blogs about her sewing projects and how they reflect her moods, musings and memories, as well as daily life in her cosy Seattle home. We chatted to her about her sewing journey and what inspires her today… Can you tell us a bit about your home life and whereabouts you live in Seattle? Seattle is full of inspiration, it’s so green, with many beautiful parks and gardens, and I love being close to the water, mountains and forests. We’ve been in our 1909 home, just outside of downtown, for 25 years. In it you’ll find my husband, our 16 – and 20-year-old sons – lots of baseball equipment (theirs), books (ours), plenty…

With the Christmas stitching season underway, it’s nice to have a few easy gifts and decorations in hand for those times when you need a super-quick project. Our Santa matchbox is a great idea for table and tree presents and can be filled with chocs, sweeties or mini gifts. Our pretty holly book corner marker is quick to stitch and is a fab gift for a book lover. Finally, our stitched Santa luggage tag adds a great luxurious touch to any gift – try stitching on gold or silver perforated paper for a really shiny finish… MAKE A… SANTA LUGGAGE TAG Trimming the stitch paper design to make notches creates a ticket effect. Step1 CUT down both long sides and the ends of the stitched tag using sharp scissors and…

Materials Snowman hoop Zweigart White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0100; 18x18cm (7x7in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Green flexi-hoop; 10cm (4in) White felt; 3.5x2cm (1½x¾in) x 2 pieces Red ribbon for hanging For stockist details see page 89 Stitch count: 50 high x 35 wide Design size: 9.5x6.5cm (3¾x2½in) Stitch time: 7 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… snowman hoop Step 1 MOUNT the stitched aida into the flexi-hoop in the usual way. Round off the ends of the two pieces of white felt with sharp scissors to create the snowman’s arms. Using fabric glue or small, neat stitches, attach the top of each felt arm above the unstitched area on the snowman’s body. Step 2 PLACE a candy cane under the…

Why not stitch more of these designs to make bookmarks as gifts? Materials For each card Zweigart Sky Glitter 14 count aida, ref: 3706/5169; 28x10cm (11x4in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Card blank, with a 23x6.5cm (9x2½in) rectangular aper ture For stockist details see page 89 Stitch count: 120 high x 30 wide Design size: 21.5x5.5cm (8½x2¼in) Stitch time: 13 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 and either one or two strands 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…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Festive Frosting, 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 Sky Blue Glitter • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • Skein of DMC Light Effects • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 NOTE: There is enough fabric in this pack to make the cupcake sampler only. Extra fabric and thread can be bought online from www.willowfabrics.com. How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £31, plus P&P. Stitch count: 169 high x 119 wide Design size: 31x21cm (12¼x8¼in) Stitch time: 54 hours This design…

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…

Let’s get festive Rico is pulling out all the stops for the festive season with their new Stitching for Christmas range. With classical embroidery kits for two bags, two wall hangings and a cushion, plus five paper embroidery kits, there’s something for everyone here. Use the paper kits to make a postcard or round pennants embroidered with fine, shiny metallic threads in gold and silver. Llamas decorate the two wall hangings, one embroidered and one cross stitched. The two bags are also traced to be embellished ‘freestyle’ with different accessories – such as a pompom nose and red hat for Santa Claus kit and pompons and tassels for the llama. Celebrate the season further with a modern design with ‘Merry Christmas’ cross stitched in different languages. www.rico-design.de SKETCHBOOK SECRETS: Megan…

Hullo! The main question I get asked regarding designing patterns is – “how did you make it so accurate?” So today I will share my tip for making accurate cross stitch representations of things and people that you can utilise in your own pattern endeavours! Many have had those moments when trying to make a cross stitch pattern where you can’t quite get something to look right – whether it’s the shape of an object, the tilt of a building, or the positioning of a person in a Stitch People portrait. My biggest tip for anyone working with this struggle sounds very obvious but, so often, our brains go into autopilot and we don’t do it (myself included!). The tip is: draw what you see, not what you think you…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch A Season of Surprises, 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 in Raw Linen Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 NOTE: You will have enough fabric in your materials pack to make several small decorations as well. How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £26, plus P&P. To transform this design into a calendar, simply stitch each motif onto an individual evenweave pocket – attach each pocket onto plain fabric, arranged as the chart indicates, and then pop a…

Stitch count: 56 high x 168 wide Design size: 10x30.5cm (4x12in) Stitch time: 18 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Pick out individual trees to stitch on gift tags and mini cards Make a… storage tin wrap Step 1 MEASURE the diameter of your box or tin and then add on a small amount for overlap. Start stitching centrally on the fabric. Step 2 TURN over the top and bottom edges of the stitched aida, twice. Press, then neaten by hand or machine. Step 3 REPEAT for the fabric ends, adding Velcro to the overlap edges to hold the stitching around the box or tin. Materials Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle For stockist details see page 89…

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 Stitching your… afghan Step 1 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 loose machine zig-zag stitch, or bind with masking tape to prevent fraying. Use four strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, working each stitch over two threads of fabric, and two strands for the backstitch. Step 2 STITCH the six designs we have given you…

Welcome to our latest ‘classic’ design that’s packed with stitching detail to enjoy. This month our welcome is very warm indeed – we think you’ll find our stunning Christmas wreath an absolute must-stitch, packed with pretty motifs as it is, coupled with a beautifully designed central sentiment. To top it all, we’ve used gold metallic thread to create sparkling highlights – enjoy! Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 157 high x 160 wide Design size: 29x29cm (11½x11½in) Stitch time: 78 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Why not add more sparkle by stitching the Joy sentiment in red metallic thread? 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…

Inside this month Stitch on dark blue fabric to make a snowy townscape ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas: fun Santa cards Scandi stocking: the perfect gift for all ages Mini crackers to make for your Christmas table ISSUE 338 DECEMBER 2018 On sale 6 November YOUR FREE GIFT! Meet Mrs Christmas, our Scandi-style tree decoration – your free kit includes everything you need to stitch her! MAGAZINE ORDERING SERVICE Did you know that most independent newsagents operate a ‘Shop Save’ service? They will order and reserve your own copy for you to collect and buy, and you are not obliged to purchase. So there’s no problem if you are away, don’t need that issue or simply buy it somewhere else. So don’t miss out – reserve your copy today –…