Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2019 från CrossStitcher

Why not use seed beads instead of French knots for a decorative finish? Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 24 high x 32 wide Design size: 4.5x6cm (1½x23?8in) Stitch time: 3 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… zipped purse Step 1 STITCH the sewing machine on 13x10cm (5¼x4in) of 14 count aida fabric, using two strands for the cross stitch and one for the backstitch and French knots. Step 2 FOLD over the top of the stitched aida onto the wrong side by 1cm (3/8in). Press the fold in place. Working from the purse outside of the purse, place the fold on top of a 10cm (4in) length of closed zip, so that the seam is up against the teeth on one side of…

“I’ve been lucky to have whole craft rooms in the past, but I recently realised that a whole room doesn’t suit the season of life I’m in. “So now I have my tidy (most of the time) desk in the corner of my bedroom. This is where I do quiet work like designing patterns or writing and keep all of my pens, notebooks, planners and DMC shade card. “Then I have my messy workspace on the bottom floor which is in a corner of the playroom, so I can hide the mess behind the door and the kids can play next to me while I’m working. “This is where I package orders and store all of my craft supplies. It’s literally overflowing at the minute!” www.hannahhandmakes.com…

Hullo! Of all the women we’ve covered, none hold such wonder and mystery to me as the life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart. She’s best known for her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, but Earhart held many early aviation records, wrote best-selling books on her flying achievements and was instrumental in setting up programs promoting women in aviation. Her disappearance over the Pacific Ocean was a unique end to a unique life; an end that is still speculated upon to this day. The women in this series have stood out from the crowd. In the world of crossstitch, the ability of our projects to stand out from the crowd is often found in the minute details of our art works. At its core, Stitch People focuses on personalised portraits…

Project Inspiration We made our sweet pea into a pretty stuffed heart, which you can back with contrasting cotton fabric or felt. To make it easier when cutting out the fabric shape, make a template from paper first. The heart can be filled with dried petals and hung in your wardrobe using a length of baker’s twine, to bring the scent of summer into your clothes all year. Materials Zweigart White 28 count Cashel, ref: 3281/100; 15x15cm (6x6in) Size 26 tapestry needle Backing fabric; 15x15cm (6x6in) Toy stuffing Baker’s twine for hanger Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com SWEET PEA THE SWEET PEA This pretty climbing plant is a perennial favourite in British gardens up and down the country, with gardeners nicknaming it the ‘Queen of Annuals’. Its scientific name comes from…

Why not personalise your bag by stitching your initial within the heart using a fancy font alphabet chart? Materials Zweigart Pale Cream 28 count Cashel, ref: 3281/0099; 50x50cm (19½x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Cotton floral fabric for back; 40x40cm (15½x15½in) Cotton floral fabric for handles; 11x43cm (4¼x17in) x 2 pieces Butterfly charm Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Rebecca Spencer Stitch count: 169 high x 167 wide Design size: 30x29.5cm (11¾x11½in) Stitch time: 71 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen working over two threads of fabric. Make a… tote bag Step 1 COMPLETE the stitching, then place the bag front right-sides together with your bag back. We chose a floral cotton fabric for the back and handles. Cut the bag front to…

Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 112 high x 114 wide Design size: 20.5x21cm (8x8¼in) Stitch time: 38 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Pick your favourite cups and arrange them in a row of three or square of four to make a smaller picture if you prefer! Materials Zweigart White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/100; 50x50cm (19½x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 25.5x25.5cm (10x10in) aperture Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com 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…

Designed by: Rico Design Stitch count: 153 high x 153 wide Design size: 28x28cm (11x11in) Stitch time: 40 hours This design was stitched on 28 count evenweave working over two threads of fabric. Make a… cushion Step 1 COMPLETE the stitching, then place the cushion front right-sides together with the backing fabric. Make sure the design is in the centre of the cushion and then trim away any unstitched fabric, so that it is the same size as your backing fabric. Pin the front and back of the cushion together at the edges. Step 2 MACHINE stitch around the edge of the cushion with a 1.25cm (½in) seam allowance, and leaving a gap on one side for turning. Step 3 TURN to the right side, insert the cushion pad, and…

Welcome to our latest ‘classic’ design – a project created to be packed with details for anyone looking for a stitching challenge. This time we have such a large design it comes in two parts! The top section of our British Isles map is published in this issue, with part two to come next month. The perfect project to see you through summer and beyond! Designed by: Fiona Crouch Stitch count: 260 high x 182 wide (complete map) Design size: 47x32cm (18½x12½in) Stitch time: 113 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. This is the complete key for the whole map, so you can buy all the stranded cotton colours you need for the design Materials ZweigartIce Blue 14 count aida, ref: 3706/550; 70x55cm (28x21½in) Strandedcotton as…

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…

Inside this month ♥ Head to the beach with our bold & bright bathers scene ♥ Stitch our roarsome dinosaur card collection! ♥ On the map! Part 2 of our British Isles design ♥ Classic kitchen dresser styled for the summer YOUR FREE GIFT! Stitch a postcard-style seagull card, complete with 3D fancy frame and luxury card blank… Contents subject to change. Overseas gifts may vary. 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 –…

WE LOVE IT WHEN you can look at a cross stitch design and think of it as both big and small. What do we mean? It’s all about bite-sized chunks. Often designs look wonderful as a whole but if you look again, you can see that they are made up of a collection of mini designs. This offers so much scope–either you can tackle the whole thing with the satisfaction of completing a whole motif each evening or you can isolate your favourite bits and turn them into mini pictures or special cards. The summer sampler (page 20), starring on our cover this month, is made up of mini scenes brought together to form everything you could want from a dreamy summer. Each scene is satisfying to stitch and would…

LINTEMPOREL Trim cushions or garments with the gorgeous Liberty fabric bias binding in 100% cotton Sweet Pea Wiltshire, which comes in a 4cm width. PEAKPARKEMBROIDERY This kit contains all you need to create a three-dimensional stumpwork embroidery using simple stitches in the correct order. SIERRAPATCHWORKS SweetPea& Lilly cotton fabric by Robin Pickens for Moda would make a perfect backing fabric for our sweetpea design in this issue.…

CROSS STITCH THE GOLDEN GIRLS HALEY PIERSON-COX [Becker & Mayer! Books] Fans of 1980s pop culture will welcome this opportunity to capture the stars of The Golden Girls in cross stitch! There are 12 cute patterns in the book and kit, featuring imagery and quotes from the four leading ladies, plus all you need to make two projects. The book includes instructions and full-colour photos, while the kit has a hoop, needle, skeins of floss and two pieces of cross stitch fabric. EMBROIDERED COUNTRY GARDENS LORNA BATEMAN [Search Press] Now out in paperback, this book features 12 beautiful embroidery projects to try. By learning raised and textured stitches, Lorna Bateman teaches you how to create individual flowers or garden motifs with them. The book also features an A-Z of English…

FOUR SEASONSTO STITCH We featured our spring sampler in issue 343–back issues are available from www.willowfabrics.com. Don’t miss our autumn and winter samplers–keep an eye out in future issues for the next in the series! Designed by: Faye Walsh Stitch count: 180 high x 180 wide Design size: 28x28cm (11x11in) Stitch time: 80 hours This design was stitched on 32 count evenweave working over two threads of fabric. The Turquoise Splash fabric adds extra interest and dimension to make your summer motifs really pop! Materials Zweigart Turquoise Splash 32 count Murano, ref: 3984/5120; 50x50cm (19½x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 32x32cm (12½x12½in) aperture Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com TURN TO PAGE 48 TO LEARN HOW TO FRAME…

Sometimes we want to finish our stitching in a different way, and with a wealth of cheap wooden frames, used for papercraft, readily available, you could send a stitched mini sampler as a special small gift instead of just a card. We have four mini-samplers and a bookmark here, all with a summer theme, that can each be made into unique gifts. Our samplers are quick to stitch, and we used scraps of 18 count aida to fit our frames–you may prefer to use a larger frame and stitch on 14 count instead. Have fun experimenting! MAKE AN… EASEL Show off your mini masterpiece using a simple lolly stick easel stand. Step1 USE four lolly sticks for the easel. Cut one into four rectangles, using the picture as a guide…

Pro Tip Top designers share their favourite stitching tips “Keep your tension relaxed” “Stitch happy – cross stitching can be really therapeutic but if you’re anxiously waiting for exam results or really upset about something, then your thread tension is likely to be tighter than your usual stitches. This will be noticeable because the stitches will appear flatter in those areas and more aida will be showing.” FIRST PAST THE POST! Rhiannon Chappell was the first to send us a pic of her llama card from issue 344 – 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 either their finished purse or their finished scissor keeper from this issue…

Designed by: Durene Jones Max. stitch count: 42 high x 42 wide Max. design size: 11.5x11.5cm (4½x4½in) Stitch time: 8 hours each (large motif); 4 hours each (small motif) These designs were stitched on 18 count evenweave over two threads of fabric. Materials ZweigartWhite 18 count Cotton-Anne cloth, ref: 7588/0100-145; 72.5x115cm (28½x45in) – Half Panel Strandedcotton as listed in the key Size24 tapestry needle Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Please note, our key covers the threads needed for the complete afghan Stitching your… afghan Step 1 TAKE a look at your half panel of Cotton-Anne cloth. It will have 28 small panels – seven high and four 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…

Designed by: Shannon Wasilieff Stitch count: 39 high x 29 wide Design size: 7x5cm (2¾x2in) 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…

Hello, I have a lot of old CrossStitcher magazines at home. I would like to exchange them for thread, aida and needles if anyone is interested. For further information please contact me at my address below. Thank you. Montse Vinals Email: montsevg2@gmail.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 to CrossStitcher magazine, PO Box 172, Northam, Devon EX39 9DY. We regret that we’re unable to print requests from readers who are under 16 years old.…

Makery magic If you’d like to learn a new craft skill, The Makery in Bath and at John Lewis, Oxford St, London, have a whole host of ongoing workshops you can join. Just visit their website and book yourself in, with choices from Freehand Machine Embroidery, Drum Lampshade Making, How to Sew a Cushion, Intro To Dressmaking: PJ Shorts and many, many more. They’re perfect for anyone who wants to feel a little more nifty with their sewing skills! www.themakery.co.uk BEACH BELLES WE’RE LOVING Tilda Fabric’s new Lazy Days fabric and haberdashery range inspired by florals from both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, making it ‘perfect for a sweet yet slightly decadent summer look’. Besides fabric, buttons, ribbons and more, the collection includes this oh-so-cute Beach Belle sewing…

SEA CREATURES ASTHIS is our summer issue, we’re off the the beach to find some colourful creatures we can create in stitches… WHO Emily Peacock has designed several sea creatures in crossstitch, including Tina the crab, who is worked with tapestry wool on the larger 7 count canvas for a beautiful chunky, handmade finish. emilypeacock.squarespace.com WHAT Stitch yourself a little slice of traditional British seaside life with Karen Carter’s Heritage Crafts Fish 'n' Chips Counted CrossStitch Kit, which is worked on evenweave. www.willowfabrics.com HOW Embellish your stitched summer cards with this cute little Starfish Matte Rosaline Embellishment by Mill Hill. www.sewandso.co.uk…

Fans of vintage textiles might find something familiar about Modern Folk Embroidery’s cross stitch patterns. But look closer and each one has a unique, modern twist. Owner and designer Jacob de Graaf told us about his respect for the stitchers of the past, and how he has turned this passion for vintage-style designs into a flourishing business. Hi Jacob! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I grew up in the Netherlands. My mum was a very creative person and encouraged me to be creative as well, [so] I was always drawing and making things. I trained as an artist, and for several years ran an art gallery. Thirteen years ago I moved to the UK, where I now live with my partner and two cats in a…

CAROL ANNE VD WALT I am teaching my granddaughters to stitch. My eldest granddaughter will be 16 in May and she has completed a number of smaller projects and one biggish one. Love passing on this skill and love for cross stitch but also other embroidery and sewing, knitting and crocheting. LIZ DRAPER I got my mother hooked when I went home for a visit and took mine with me. She had Multiple Sclerosis and was having trouble holding her knitting needles for long periods of time, so the change to one needle and a frame was much easier for her. KERRY PICKERING I won tickets to the Creative Craft Show at the NEC and took my friend who is a bit of an all-round crafter. She saw two blackwork…

Designed by: Durene Jones Max. stitch count: 55 high x 40 wide Max. design size: 10x7cm (4x2¾in) Stitch time: 4 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Want to keep these beach scenes to yourse lf? Why not frame them instead and hang in your home as a group? Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK 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…

THE CHALLENGE THE RULES Welcome to this month’s challenge! For summer we’ve challenged our three designers to ‘dress up’ their stitching. Working on plastic canvas, they could only use the materials listed on the left to create a summer dress hung on a mini hanger. Take a look at their results below – we’ve featured a chart for each one so you can stitch your favourite! We hope this will inspire you to join in too – turn the page to see what our challenge will be for August – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. FIONA CROUCH… V NECK DRESS “I wanted to design a cute dress that I would wear, if it was real. This one would be…

The mini charts only take 30 minutes each, so you can easily complete one or more in an evening Designed by: Shannon Wasilieff Max. stitch count: 20 high x 14 wide Max. design size: 3.5x2.5cm (1½x1in) Stitch time: 30 minutes These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric.…