Table of contents for May 2022 in CrossStitcher

Visit the CrossStitcher Digital Downloads group on Facebook at bit.ly/3HTh6ZJ to download your card blank and button from the Files section Make a… card Step 1 TAKE a piece of 10x10cm (4x4in) white 14 count aida and stitch your design in the centre, following the chart and key. Download the card blank and button (see tip) then print them out onto card. Step 2 TRIM the stitched fabric to fit your card front, then fray the fabric edges, removing one square of fabric. Step 3 STITCH the bicycle to the bottom of the aida on the left-hand side. Step 4 ATTACH double-sided tape to the back of the stitching and the bicycle, then place it on the card front – press it down well to attach to the card. Designed…

Hullo! One of my favourite things in the whole world is a sleep in. I am a total night owl and a lazy start to my day is an absolute joy – slowly waking up on your own terms (without the shriek of an alarm), the weight of your blankets cocooning you, the sheets soft against your skin, knowing you have nowhere immediately to be and nothing to do. Bliss. One of the ‘Little Things’ of life that I have found hardest to do is rest. Society often assigns our value based on what we produce without acknowledging that we have inherent value by just existing. Because of this expectation I have had times where I was trying to relax, crossstitch in hand, but that nagging voice in my head…

Materials For the recipe book cover • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 18x33cm (7x13in)• Stranded cot ton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Lining fabric; 18x33cm (7x13in)• Notebook; 15x10.5cm (6x4in) Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 80 high x 57 wide Design size: 15x10.5cm (6x4¼in) Stitch time: 9 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. PATISSERIE PAGES Make a… recipe book cover Step 1 WRAP your aida fabric around the notebook to check the position of the front cover and then mark the design area given opposite onto the fabric using pins. Make sure you have left 1.25cm(½in) at the top and bottom of the fabric for turnings, and 6cm (2¼in) on the left and right-hand side for the flaps,…

Cross stitch has become music to Hayley Hynes’ ears, as she was looking for a way to wind down after her piano teaching day job. Her digital issues of CrossStitcher have allowed her to indulge in her favourite hobby, even without a local stitching scene to support her… Hayley, who lives in Canada, learned to cross stitch on plastic canvas when she was a child, “I started because my mom and my grandmother were cross stitchers and it always intrigued me. I have always been a very crafty person, so it was only natural that when I started cross stitching I fell in love with it. I have since learned to crochet and have dabbled in a bit of sewing – both hobbies that I also share with my mom…

Welcome to the second part of our stunning lighthouse scene. We’ve taken a slice down the middle so you can see inside and this month it’s the top part of the chart that we are revealing. With a half stitched sky, plus tiny little details worked in backstitch and French knots, there are plenty of elements for you to enjoy creating. We’ll also show how to hang your work as a wall hanging… Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 220 high x 120 wide Design size: 40.5x22.5cm (16x9in) Stitch time: 112 hours (complete design) This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. NOTE that the second part of your lighthouse featured in this issue should be stitched at the top of your fabric, above the bottom half which was…

SIMPLY STITCHED WITH PUNCH NEEDLE YUMIKO HIGUCHI Have you discovered punch needle yet? Yumiko Higuchi showcases 11 little projects here to show how to achieve 3D textures and finish all using a punch needle pen and stranded cotton. Get making brooches, pouches, coasters, samplers, pillows and hoop art, with designs featuring fruit, flowers, leaves, gemstones and animals. Modern makers are going to love what’s on offer here, as punch needle is known for being addictive! CROSS STITCH ALPHABETS HÉLÈNE LE BERRE [Search Press] Published this month in paperback, Hélène Le Berre brings you 14 beautiful alphabets to stitch. Each alphabet has been inspired by themes from nature, such as birds, animals and flowers. Follow the detailed instructions, charts for each alphabet and ideas from Hélène on how to use your…

Cross Stittcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Peony Patches, 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: • DMC 14 count aida in Misty Blue• Skeins of DMC stranded cotton•Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 PLEASE NOTE: The chart, backing fabric and cushion pad are not included in this pack. 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. Change the look of your cushion by choosing a different complementary shade of aida to stitch on, such as cream or pale green Designed by: Maria Diaz…

Designed by: Durene Jones Max. stitch count: 54 high x 40 wide Max. design size: 10x7.5cm (4x3in) Stitch time: 8 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Why not change the thread shades for the hair to match your recipient’s hair colour! Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch; one strand for the black backstitch, one for the terrarium and the eyes; and two for the words and arrows at the bottom of the designs. 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…

Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Gone Camping, 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 £23.50, plus P&P. Designed by: Jane Prutton Stitch count: 115 high x 161 wide Design size: 21.5x30cm (8½x11¾in) Stitch time: 73 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 40x50cm (15¾x19½in)• Stranded cot ton as listed…

Stitch the bunny and foliage in advance, ready to add baby’s name once you know it, plus their date of birth Materials • DMC Iridescent White 14 count aida; 23x23cm (9x9in) • Stranded cot ton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Wooden embroidery hoop; 12.5cm (5in) diameter Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com 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 screw. Step 2 TURN your stitching to the reverse and cut a piece of felt to fit inside the inner circle. Place the felt…

THE CHALLENGE • 2in aida band with a silver edge• Seven shades of stranded cotton (shown above)• Metallic silver thread to match the edge of the aida band THE RULES • Create a birthday cake band• The design should fit on a 2in aida band; 20 x 60 stitches• Only the materials above can be used• Becreative as possible! Welcome to this month’s challenge! Putting a band or frill around a cake seems to have gone out of fashion. We would like to bring it back with the help of some aida band! We asked our three designers to come up with a birthday cake band design – their motifs had to fit the front of a 2in aida band with a silver edge. Besides the seven thread shades we…

Welcome to our 2022 Stitch-A-Long! Amanda Butler has created an amazing ‘Dream Destinations; Around the World in 365 days’ SAL – and we will be unveiling a new city around the world each month. In this issue we give you our Cairo scene to stitch. DREAM DESTINATIONS SAL Cairo is the second destination of this year’s Stitch-A-Long design. Over the year we will be bringing you 12 destinations. We have greyed out the border which appeared in the March issue. The grid lines are correct for the complete design, but the centre marks indicate the centre of just this motif. Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 50 high x 50 wide Design size: 9.5x9.5cm (3¾x3¾in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. THE CHART…

Magnetic magic… We are loving the gorgeous range of needleminders coming out of Paraffle Embroidery right now. Each made in Britain, they are constructed from enamel with gold highlights for a really luxury look. These latest designs include a flamingo, hare, elephant and llama – check out their website for the full details and more in the range. They’d all make a beautiful birthday gift for a stitching friend and the magnets are strong enough that they could be used as a fridge magnet or pin instead. Find out more at paraffle-embroidery.com. MY CRAFT ROOM: ANGELA PRESSLEY We get to see a glimpse of a designer’s own craft space… “My studio is in an arts community hub and is bathed in light with a big window and high ceilings giving…

Pro Tip Top designers share their favourite stitching tips Give your hoop frame a super-neat finish" “When framing your work in a hoop, after securing your fabric backing and/or felt in the hoop, trim your remaining aida so there is approx. 1in of fabric left around the hoop. Run a stitch around the outside of the aida trim. Pull the threads gently to gather your fabric, then either sew into position or secure with a small bow.” This design and stitch guide, from the 2022 Cross S titch calendar, was really easy to follow. S uch a lovely project to work on. Michele Packer, North Wales Yay! I finished the wolf from issue 375! The aida I chose is sparkly, so it looks a bit like snow, which makes it…

When Nia Rhind took a career break, her growing love of cross stitch led her to starting a whole new business based on her favourite new hobby. The rest, as they say, is history… Hi Nia, tell what first attracted you to start cross stitching? I spent a great deal of time crafting and creating as a child. My grandmother and my mother were a big influence here as I can recall making clothes for my dolls by hand, sewing, knitting and crocheting. I can remember receiving a gift from a neighbour which was a stamped cross stitch set and it included three skeins of brightly coloured stranded cotton embroidery threads. I loved them. This began my love of needlework which resulted in me studying a Needlework & Textiles A-level…

There are several times in the year when I have a clutch of birthdays packed together in one month, and May is one. With so many cards to stitch, I’ve limited my time to spend on each, but I still want them to be special. This pretty basket of fruit and flowers is quick to stitch and has added detail with beads and long stitch, plus a detachable button which can be used as a needleminder with the addition of a magnet. Make a… needleminder Step 1 REMOVE the shank from a self-cover metal button. Measure it and add 1.25cm (½in) around the edge – cut out this circle size, with your design central. Wrap the design over, adding a thin layer of white fabric or tissue paper under. Push…