Table of contents for June 2022 in CrossStitcher

Hullo! In this series we’ve spoken about slowing down, pausing small moments, and noticing little uplifting things. But let’s look at something big that sits above all of that: perception and choice. Have you noticed that when you’re in a good mood, busy traffic doesn’t annoy you as much or your threads tangling together isn’t quite as frustrating? And it’s the same in reverse – when your mood is less sunny, someone cutting in front of you can become a personal attack and a grumpy greeting from a co-worker gets your back up. This overarching idea of positive perception helps influence us daily. In the same way that we’re told in air safety demonstrations to put our own air mask on before assisting others, to best be able to revel…

CLOVER WONDER CLIPS These packs of small clips have a great holding capacity. No pins needed when making up your projects, just use the clips to hold the fabric layers together before stitching. They open wide to hold layers of fabric and have a flat base for easy feeding through your sewing machine foot. Your pack contains 10 brightly coloured clips. Wonder Clips for £7.60, ref: WONCLP PASTEL RIBBON BAG A fab ribbon pack, packed with 50m of spring ribbon and baker’s twine. which is ideal when you need a softer coloured ribbon on birthday or Easter cards. Great value with 25 designs each 2m in length. The soft colours can be used to finish cross stitch and crafting projects, card making and gift wrap. Pastel Ribbon Pack for £5.90,…

Designed by: Rebecca Spencer Stitch count: 100 high x 67 wide Design size: 19x12.5cm(7½x5in) Stitch time: 11 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… hanger Step 1 CUT away the excess aida so that the design is the same size as your backing fabric. Place the aida right-sides together with your cotton backing fabric. Pin together down both long edges. Stitch the seam following the pins, on both sides of the design. Cut away the excess seam allowance, and turn to the right side. Press flat. Step 2 LEAVE 3cm (1¼in) of unstitched fabric above and below your stitching, then cut away the excess using an aida row as a guide. Step 3 USE a magnetic hanging frame. This has four bars of wood –…

Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 46 high x 36 wide Design size: 8.5x7cm (3¼x2¾in) Stitch time: 8 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric *See ‘The Key’ on page 80. Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch; one strand for the dark grey backstitch around the border edge and some of the lettering, and one for the outlining on the detail. 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…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Sow The Seeds, 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 Iridescent 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 £39.50, plus P&P. ladybird, scissors (2) indicates more than one skein is required TURN TO PAGE 36 TO LEARN HOW TO FRAME YOUR PICTURE Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 178 high x 118 wide Design size: 33x23cm (13x9in) Stitch time: 60 hours This design…

The Summer Solstice (21 June) is the most important day of the year at Stonehenge. Visitors can walk among the stones as thousands watch the sun rise over the heel stone. We’ve captured this amazing sight in stitches, but without the crowds. Instead our scene is completely tranquil and a magnificent project if you’re looking for a challenge, with blended areas for subtle shading… Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 120 high x 180 wide Design size: 23x33.5cm (9x13¾in) Stitch time: 100 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials DMC Sandstorm 14 count aida, ref: 3855; 43x50cm (17x191 ⁄ 2in) St randed cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 27x35cm (10.x13.in) aperture Mount board to fit frame Materials available from…

All kits are just £3.95 plus p&p NB: charts are only available in the relevant issue and do not come with the kits. BERRY HANGER KIT June 2022, issue 383 bit.ly/CSkit383 ESPECIALLY FOR YOU March 2022, issue 380 bit.ly/CSkit380 CHRISTMAS DECORATION December 2021, issue 377 bit.ly/CSkit377 SPRINGTIME CARD KIT May 2022, issue 382 bit.ly/CSkit382 NEEDLECASE February 2022, issue 379 bit.ly/CSkit379 CHRISTMAS CARD KIT November 2021, issue 376 bit.ly/CSkit376 PINCUSHION April 2022, issue 381 bit.ly/CSkit381 2022 CALENDAR January 2022, issue 378 bit.ly/CSkit378 TINSEL TREE KIT October 2021, issue 375 bit.ly/CSkit375 ELEPHANT NEEDLECASE September 2021, issue 374 bit.ly/CSkit374 ZIPPED PURSE KIT Summer 2021, issue 371 bit.ly/CSkit371 COASTER KIT April 2021, issue 368 bit.ly/CSkit368 CALENDAR 2021 January 2021, issue 365 bit.ly/CSkit365 BOOKMARK KIT August 2021, issue 373 bit.ly/CSkit373 HELLO HONEY CARD KIT June…

MYLUSHFABRIC This Peacock Bird Fabric Floral Garden fabric is designed for soft furnishings and ideal for craft projects, bags, cushions and more. KINDERSTICKER Embellish your projects with this bright Blue Toucan Iron-On Patch, that can be used on denim, cotton and non-stretch fabrics. MRSSEWNSEWUK Add a little flamingo flair with this 1in Pink Striped Flamingo Grosgrain Ribbon, available to order by the metre.…

CROSS STITCH CELEBRATIONS: BUNDLE OF JOY! MOLLIE JOHANSON [Walter Foster Publishing] Enjoy over 20 patterns for baby and the nursery. Besides the projects you get a brief introduction to tools and materials, the cross stitch basics, plus fonts, border designs, colour schemes and baby animal motifs. Find out how to create your own design and read tips for framing and displaying. The baby animals include a bear, bunny, dinosaur, duck, and a whale, and motifs include hearts, moons, flowers and rainbows. JOYFUL STITCH COMBINATIONS VALERIE BOTHELL [C&T Publishing] Valerie Bothell showcases over 350 embroidery designs based on seams & samplers. The book is designed as a gentle introduction to embroidery, as you learn over the course of the year. Each day there are new prompts, stitch combinations, hoops and samplers,…

So little time Hello, when the April magazine landed, I just had to stitch the free biscornu kit by Susan Penny. It’s nice and bright, and was a good reminder that spring was on its way. There are plenty of charts in the April issue I want to stitch… but why isn’t there enough time to stitch everything? The Easter cards are so cute, love the garden cushion and the lighthouse too! There’s just not enough time to stitch everything! Thank you, Jo Jones, Northamptonshire FIRST PAST THE POST! Julie Mudd was the first to send us a pic of her finished Spring getaway card from issue 382 – she wins a selection of DMC stranded cotton skeins in 20 colours of her choice from Willow Fabrics. The first person…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Berrylicious, 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 Light Blue 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 £20.95, plus P&P. Designed by: Faye Walsh Stitch count: 178 high x 80 wide Design size: 33x15cm (13x6in) Stitch time: 35 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials Zweigart Light Blue 14 count aida, ref: 3706/503 50; 51x36cm (20x14in) Stranded cotton as listed…

Have you inspired someone you know to try cross stitch? In Rebecca Batley’s case it was her own love of cross stitching which eventually led her 14-year-old son Jem to pull out hoop and thread, before becoming hooked on cross stitch himself. As with so many new stitchers, he first took the plunge during the Covid lockdowns – when needlework became a comfort and a way to relieve boredom… “I have been cross-stitching for about two years and first got into it at the beginning of lockdown by watching my Mama doing it,” explains Jem. “It’s fun and very satisfying to see the design take shape. It is relaxing unless the pattern is very tricky!” FRESH INSPIRATION CrossStitcher has of course formed an important part of Jem’s stitching journey, providing…

Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 43 high x 43 wide Design size: 12x12cm (43/4x43/4in) Stitch time: 8 hours (each) These designs were stitched on 18 count Cotton-Anne cloth, working each stitch over two threads of fabric. Stitching your… afghan Step 1 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 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 NOTE that over the last three issues, we have…

THE CHALLENGE THE RULES Welcome to this month’s challenge! Father’s Day arrives in the UK in June, so this time we asked our three designers to come up with a suitable card for the occasion – something different to the usual Father’s Day fare. They had to stick to only the seven aida shades we stipulated. Take a look at their fun results below – we’ve provided a chart for each 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 July – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. CHERYL McKINNON… BEST DAD “Dads are the best! Here is a modern design for…

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 EACH square on the chart represents a single cross stitch. Start from the centre of the design and your fabric. The centre of our charts are indicated by arrows at the designs’ edges. To find your fabric’s centre, fold it in half and into quarters. THE KEY ALL THE symbols that appear on the chart are listed in the key with their corresponding thread codes beside them. The…

We asked our fans on Facebook, “What excites you the most about a new issue of CrossStitcher?” TARA SHENNAN The new SAL is my favourite part of the magazine. ELAINE LAWLEY I love seeing my daughter’s face light up when she receives a new issue. VICKY PRECIOUS Seeing new projects and having a go at the crossword. EMMA URBANSKI I love the showcasing of different designers' patterns and interviewing various creators and sharing their stories for inspiration! JENNY DRENKHAHN Time and again the patterns in CrossStitcher are more attractive. Clear and easy to follow, there are good ideas for making them up. DONNA PUGLISI All the inspiration and ideas. I also love the sneaky peeks to what’s coming the following month. DIANE BARBER Seeing all the new projects, starting the…

Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon Stitch count: 34 high x 64 wide Design size: 6.5x12.5cm(2½x5in) Stitch time: 10 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials DMC Blue Iridescent 14 count aida; 15x28cm (6x11in) – cup side; 9x7cm (3½x2¾in) – teabag Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Blue felt; 15x14cm (6x5½in) Beige felt: 9x9cm (3½x3½in) White cord; 20cm (8in) Toy stuffing Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com To strengthen the cup handle, you could place a length craft wire within the folded felt before stitching it up Make a… cup pincushion Step 1 STITCH the sewing machine design in the centre of your aida fabric, using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch and one for the backstitch. Step 2 STITCH the outline…

Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon Stitch count: 65 high x 65 wide Design size: 12x12cm (4¾x4¾in) Stitch time: 12 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials Zweigart Pewter 14 count aida, ref: 370 6/7 13; 23 x23cm (9x9in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Wooden embroidery hoop; 12.5cm (5in) diameter Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Use the alphabet provided to add the correct details to your design. We sug gest planning it out on graph paper first Customise yo ur hoop by changing the colour of aida you’ll stitch on 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…

Etsy seems to keep growing and growing – this online platform was set up with individual crafters in mind. A way for designers to sell their work, it can take courage for them to take that first step into turning their hobby into a business, but so rewarding once successful! We asked some friends of CrossStitcher about their own experiences with setting up shop on Etsy… MEGAN CAINES www.etsy.com/shop/MelocaDesigns melocadesigns.com How long have you been selling on Etsy and what made you decide to try selling your products on there? Since mid-2017. I had just finished university and wanted to get back to being creative but also earn some extra money. I decided on cross stitch because I did this as a child. I have always loved drawing, so decided…

ISSUE 384 SUMMER 2022 On sale 17 May Inside this month ♥ Birdspotter’s delight: British Coastal Birds sampler ♥ Man’s best friend: beautiful card set for dog lovers! ♥ Summer garden fun with our gnomes alphabet ♥ Happy campers homestyle: on-trend camping cushion YOUR SUMMER BUMPER PACK! ♥ Totally Tropical card kit ♥ By The Sea supplement with 6 seaside designs! Contents subject to change. Overseas gifts may vary.…