Table of contents for August 2015 in CrossStitcher

Design size: 4.5x4.5cm Stitch time: 2.5 hours How to… make your card Step 1 STITCH the design onto a 10cm square of 28HPI evenweave fabric, following the chart and key. Step 2 CUT the stitching out to be the same size as the inside circle of your mini doily. Step 3 STICK your stitched cake circle to the centre of the doily then stick this to the two fold card. Print the card artwork from our Facebook page: facebook.com/CrossStitcherMag NEXT MONTH STITCH OUR BIRDCAGE KEYRING Don’t miss our oh-so-chic birdcage keyring! All whole stitches – just add vintage ribbon to make it yours! You can shop for dainty doilies at www.lovelytape.co.uk…

On the road It’s summer and the great outdoors is calling. We’re daydreaming about going on the road – and this gorgeous vintage caravan is just the thing. One of the stars of Vintage Caravan Style by Lisa Mora – we love the chequerboard foor, pink paint and that cherry bunting, while the piles of cushions look perfect for curling up on with a project. If your budget doesn’t stretch to restoring your own vintage home on wheels, why not try our cute caravan stitch on page 26 ? Bold & Beautiful WE’RE LOVING bold geometrics this month, and these printed cushions would be the perfect finishing touch for a cool yet comfy stitching corner. Made by Izzy Rainey in Norfolk, the bright colours of…

Design size: 30x30cm Stitch time: 44 hours Materials 20 count white evenweave, 50x50cm White cotton fabric: two backing pieces 25x38cm, piping strip 4x150cm Piping cord, 150cm Cushion pad, 40x40cm For stockist details see page 84 Make a… piped cushion Step 1 WRAP your fabric strip around your piping cord and pin the long edges of the strip together. Step 2 SWITCH to a machine zipper foot which allows you to sew closer to the piping cord than a traditional foot. Make sure you sew up to the edge of the piping without sewing over it. The piping should look like the above image once finished. Step 3 TRIM your stitching to 38x38cm. Pin your piping cord in place on the cushion front, cutting notches any excess fabric at the…

Materials Picture 28 count blue evenweave, 45x35cm Wood frame with outside measurement of 26x18cm White mount board Staple gun Double-sided tape For stockist details see page 84 Make a… stretched canvas frame Step 1 START with a basic frame. Cut a piece of mount board to exactly the same size as the outside edge of the frame. Attach using double-sided tape. Step 2 PLACE double-sided tape on the back of the frame. Mark and match up the bottom corners on the frame and fabric edges. Step 3 STRETCH the fabric to the reverse, folding neatly at each corner. Staple the fabric to the back of the frame. Secure the raw edges with tape. Round the edges of the cut plastic canvas slightly for a neater look but take care…

Design size: 7x10cm Stitch time: 3 hours Materials 28 count light rustic linen, 45x25cm Cotton lining fabric, 40x20cm Press fastener White button For stockist details see page 84 Make a… purse Step 1 ADD a 1.5cm seam allowance to the template and trace it out. Place over your work so your stitching is centred on the front section of the purse. Draw round it and cut it out. Cut the lining fabric using the template. Step 2 FOLD the stitched linen right sides together along the line marked, then stitch the curved edges together, leaving the flap at the top unstitched. Repeat with the lining fabric but leaving a small gap along one side for turning. Step 3 PLACE the lining inside the linen outer, right sides together, and…

Design size: 10x7cm Stitch time: 5 hours each Simply print out your chosen greeting and stick it below your stitched design! Materials 28 count white evenweave, 20x20cm Illustrated greetings, printed free from our Facebook page Iron-on interfacing, 15x15cm White card, 18x25cm Double-sided tape For stockist details see page 84 Make a… patch card Step 1 PRESS the iron-on interfacing centrally over the back of your stitching to stop it from fraying. Step 2 TRIM your fabric 1cm outside the oval stitching all the way round. Step 3 FOLD the card in half widthways and stick your fabric to the front section centrally widthways but 2cm from the top and 5cm from the bottom to leave a gap for the greeting. Machine stitch in place all the way round, close…

DOWN GRAPE VINE LANE www.downgrapevine lane.com There’s a delicious mix of projects and ideas here, including their adorable Bunny in a hoop which uses a kaleidoscope of French knots. JAYCOTTS www.jaycotts.co.uk Find all your haberdashery must-haves here – whether you need zips, buttons or stitching accessories, plus they stock Prym’s Julia bag fastening, which we used for the purse. SEW AND SO www.sewandso.co.uk Madeira’s beautifully soft Lana thread is available in a rainbow of colours, making it the perfect excuse to use it in all kinds of cross stitch projects – it’s ideal for creating fluffy textures! OUR PINTEREST BOARD www.pinterest.com/ xstitchmagazine Visit our Pinterest board to find a special board dedicated to The Savvy Stitcher. You can pin all these designs and find inspiration for more!…

Desperately seeking Hi, my name is Linda, I am looking for the instructions from the October 2009 issue of CrossStitcher for an exclusive stitch kit called Beside The Sea. I was given it to do from my mother-in-law’s nursing home and would like to do it and give it back to them when finished. If somebody could help I would be very grateful. Kind regards, Linda. Linda Fuller Email: lcfuller7@yaoo.co.uk Up for grabs! I have a spare issue 291 of CrossStitcher , complete with free Hetty Hedgehog pincushion gift that I’d be happy to give away, as someone bought it for me as a present, not realising I’m already a subscriber. If anyone would like it, I’ll send it to the first person to get in touch with me! Sarah…

“HOW LUCKY I AM TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAKES SAYING GOODBYE SO HARD” I’m not in the habit of quoting the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh but that lovely old bear has just the right words for my final letter to you as Editor. I’m very lucky indeed to have had the privilege of editing Britain’s oldest cross stitch magazine. It’s been a thrill to be a part of your crafting life! Thanks so much for making my job a pleasure for the past two years. Someone familiar will be sitting in the Editor’s chair from next issue – I know you’ll approve. Come back next month for the big reveal! We wanted to fill this issue full of sunshine. What better start than a 70’s-style sun cushion ( page…

SALTYTURQUOISE Preparing for summer party? Put a (pineapple) ring on it with these sterling silver creation from Salty Turquoise. OHONGS DESIGN STUDIO Fancy giving your home an ultra glam makeover? Go for gold with these luxurious pineapple wall decals. LANILOUART Pink pops with this fruity Habotai silk scarf – for sunshine all year round. Perfect for wearing to the beach!…

Design size: 2x20cm each strap Stitch time: 24 hours (4 straps) Materials • 14 count white 1in-wide aida band, 1 metre • Pair of flips flops • Strong glue For stockist details see page 84 How to… customise your fipfops Step 1 CUT the existing straps on your flip flops to pull them out of the holes. Step 2 POKE two of your stitched straps through the hole at the top then tie the two ends in a knot on the flip flop sole then glue securely in place. Step 3 PUSH the other ends of the strap through the other two holes in your flip flop, tie and glue into place. Repeat with the other flip flop. For the best finish, buy a cheap pair of flip flops…

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Materials Bag 28 count light rustic linen, 35x45cm Striped cotton fabric, 60x110cm Interlining, 81x34cm Magnetic bag clasp For stockist details see page 84 HOW TO CUT YOUR FABRIC… STRIPED COTTON Outer and lining front and back, four pieces 27x27cm Outer and lining gussets, six pieces 7x27cm Flap lining, 23x27cm Strap, 70x11cm INTERLINING Front and back, two pieces 27x27cm Gussets, three pieces 7x27cm Use a 1.5cm seam allowance throughout, press seams open as you go. Make a... bag Step 1 CUT your stitching to 23x27cm with the lower edge of the stitching 2.5cm up from the bottom. Curve the bottom corners of this and the flap lining. Step 2 PLACE the interlining on wrong side of the outer bag front and back and the three gusset outers. Stitch together 0.5cm…

MATERIALS Bookmark 28 count white evenweave, 25x15cm Felt, 15x5cm Purple stranded cotton Card 28 count white evenweave, 20x20cm Violet card, 14x28cm For stockist details see page 84 Make a… bookmark Step 1 TRIM your stitched evenweave to 18x8cm. Turn the edges over 1cm to the wrong side and turn the bottom into a point, then press. Step 2 CREATE a simple tassel for your bookmark by using lengths of purple and pink stranded cotton. Wind them round a 6x6cm piece of card then tie it together at the top. Slip it off the card, trim the ends then wrap a length of cotton near the top to bind the head. Step 3 STITCH the tassel to the back of the evenweave at the end of the point. Step 4…

TOOLS OF THE TRADE 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 for stitchers and can be picked up for just a few pounds. Keep yours sharp by only using them to cut threads – that way a decent pair should last you a lifetime. STRANDED COTTON Embroidery thread is also commonly referred to as stranded cotton. Each thread length is made up of six strands of cotton twisted together. The chart key will indicate how many strands you’ll need to stitch your…

Design size: 9x15cm each Stitch time: 5 hours each Materials For one can 28 count white evenweave, 20x40cm White backing fabric, 13.5x27cm Empty food can For stockist details see page 84 Make a… plant pot holder Step 1 TRIM your stitching to the same size as your white backing fabric then place both pieces right sides together. Step 2 STITCH along the top long edge then open out and place the short edges of the evenweave and lining right sides together and stitch to make a tube. Step 3 TURN right sides out then fold the bottom long edges under. Top stitch round the top and bottom edges to neaten. Slip the tube of fabric over your tin to complete. lf you want the pattern to go around a…

Ever since I discovered them, I’ve enjoyed experimenting with variegated threads. Most thread companies have explored this concept, showing off their dying skills with skeins that alternate between two or three colours. When I stitch, I tend to use a typewriter style; stitching bottom stitches first and doubling back on myself for the top stitch. This can cause big differences in the colour of the two stitches when using variegated thread, and so a special approach to taming the colours is needed. I imagine that some people enjoy stitching random designs with variegated thread, letting the colours change with each stitch, producing a jazzy effect across the canvas. But that’s a bit too random for me right now! I’ve done a fair few pieces using the thread, trying to wrangle…

Art meets stitch with the gorgeous makes of POMPOM Design. Helena Ben-Zenou is a fine artist who has turned her hand to designing stylish needlepoint cushion kits. Her cushions have caught the eye of Liberty and Etsy (she appeared in their Christmas TV ad) and we’re a big fan too. We met Helena to chat about her journey from painting to POMPOM. We love POMPOM Designs! How did you go from art and painting to needlepoint? I’ve always liked making things. As a child I liked photography, sewing, art, drama - the whole gamut. My mother and grandmother both used to do tapestry, so I suppose I was always aware of that. But that you could be an artist as a career was a revelation! I did a BA in…

Design size: 19x28cm Stitch time: 39 hours Materials 32 count dark grey linen, 45x55cm Wooden frame Mount board For stockist details see page 84 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. Step 2 PIN around the entire perimeter and check you are happy with the positioning of your design, then turn over to the reverse. Use double-sided tape to secure the fabric excess around all four sides. Step 3 SECURE the fabric edges with masking tape and remove the pins. Position your stitching in the frame and back with a…

Design size: 6x6cm Stitch time: 4 hours Materials 14 count plastic canvas, 15x15cm Two jump rings Pink cord, 2 metres For stockist details see page 84 Make a… necklace Step 1 TRIM around your stitching, leaving one unstitched block all the way round. Step 2 OPEN a jump ring and thread it through a plastic hole at one top corner of your bow then close it. Repeat in the other top corner. Step 3 CUT your cord in half then loop each length through the jump rings and knot the ends together to finish. Open and close your jump ring by gripping it either side of the join using two pairs of pliers. Twist them in opposite directions rather than pulling the ring open…

Different stitches and threads are a fab way of adding texture to your cross stitch, but with so many options it’s hard to know where to start! With this in mind, we’ve three ideas that can be easily incorporated into your work. First up, use Madeira’s Lana thread to create a fun fluffy cloud. Next, work French knots in clusters for a fab textural finish. Finally, use Turkey rug stitch to make this adorable lion with its magnificent mane! Give these a go and once you get a taste for texture, you can start experimenting on your own. MAKE A… FLUFFY CLOUD PURSE Brush the Lana thread used for your cloud for extra fluffness Step 1 STITCH your cloud then brush it to fluff up the Lana threads. To make…