Inhaltsverzeichnis für January 2020 in CrossStitcher

Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 38 high x 28 wide Design size: 7x5cm (2¾x2in) Stitch time: 6 hours (each) Using… your calendar IT’S A DOGS LIFE! For 2020 our free gift features twelve different doggies, one for each month of the year. Here we are giving you the stitch details for the designs, worked on 14 count aida, and a copy of the January chart and key, which would make a super-cute Christmas card. If you would like to stitch the designs as a sampler with the name of each month backstitched below, you can send for our project pack which includes a layout guide and a chart for the lettering only – turn to page 15 to order. All the designs in It’s a Dogs Life! use two…

“My lovely light airy studio at the end of the garden is now a music come games room! Growing boys, what can I say? So, I have commandeered the front room which is a delight in the winter with its glorious open fire. “Tucked away in the corner I have a tidy li? le student bureau into which I stuff all sewing accessories, button and ribbons. The old Singer sewing machine was bought by my great grandmother from the Ideal Home exhibition in the 1920’s. The old round chair was also hers.And then you have my desk where all the hard work happens. I tend to sketch, scan, then colour using specialist software, picking fabrics and threads as I go.” www.mariadiazdesigns.com…

LEARN TO SEW IN 30 MINUTES: MACHINE SEWING DEBBIE VON GRABLER_ CROZIER [Search Press] Learn how to machine sew in simple 30 minute-lessons via a series of mini projects, which are all usable, to make great gifts for friends and family which are brilliant for using up scraps of fabric. Once you’ve finished your projects you can easily customise them with some cross stitch motifs – our monthly alphabets make a great way to add a monogram or two! THE MODERN EMBROIDERY STUDIO LAUREN HOLTON [Octopus Publishing] Lauren Holton has packed this title with on-trend motifs, patterns and projects, that are perfect for beginners through to experienced embroiderers. The book includes easy-to-follow instructions for each motif, plus her tips and guidance on how to get creative and customise them as…

Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch our Have An Ice Day cushion, 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: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £29, plus P&P. Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 160 high x 158 wide Design size: 29x29cm (11½x11½in) Stitch time: 29 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Keep a close eye on which skater you’re working on, by crossing off the squares on the chart…

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK There’s tons of fun detail packed into this design – can you spot our sweet little robin, mouse and toy train? Designed by: Fiona Crouch Stitch count: 85 high x 117 wide Design size: 15x21.5cm (6x8½in) Stitch time: 31 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Wrap your stitching around a piece of cardboard, taping it in place on the back. Back with felt, stitched in place, and prop against your Christmas tree, or kid's bedroom door Materials Zweigart Sky Glitter 14 count aida, ref: 3706/5169; 30x36cm (12x14in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com…

FIRST PAST THE POST! Jenna Browning was the first to send us a pic of her finished Festive Flurry novelty card from issue 351 – 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 their finished January design from this issue’s calendar to crossstitcher@warnersgroup.co.uk will also win this fab prize! Pro Tip Our designers share their top stitching tips “Use whipped backstitch” “Use whipped backstitch to make your outlines stand out and get your curves to look smooth–once you get to the end of a line go back along the stitches weaving your thread in and out of the stitches on top of the fabric.” www.hawthornhandmade.com Wedded bliss I just…

PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch our Heart of Winter cushion, 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 32 count Belfast Linen in Natural/Gold Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 NOTE: Your pack does not contain the backing fabric or cushion pad. How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £28, plus P&P. Designed by: Faye Walsh Stitch count: 135 high x 141 wide Design size: 21x22cm (8¼x8½in) Stitch time: 49 hours This design was stitched on 32 count linen worked over two threads of fabric. Materials Zweigart Natural/Gold 32…

Welcome to the final part of our very special Stitch-a-long! In this issue we give you Tiny Tim’s Toys – the ultimate gift shop to visit for your Christmas shopping! To join the SAL you will need to buy a 40x120cm (16x47in) piece of 14 count white aida, and the stranded cotton colours listed in the key. The complete design will be 116 stitches high x 540 stitches wide, which gives you a finished size of 21x100cm (8¼x39in) Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 116 high x 90 wide Design size: 20.5x16.5cm (8x6½in) Stitch time: 42 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Before displaying your finished SAL, press it carefully using an iron on a cool setting, with a teatowel protecting your stitching KEEP US POSTED!…

Email us at crossstitcher@warnersgroup.co.uk Editors Susan and Martin Penny Commissioning Editor Jenny Dixon Art Editor Lucille Randall Operations Editor Lucy Evans Editorial Assistant Jenny Jobbins Editorial Assistant Nicole Penny Photography Tony Atkinson at Just Focus and Martin Penny ADVERTISING Sales Manager Jayne Notley Contact: jaynen@warnersgroup.co.uk 01778 391189 Advertising Production Contact: production@warnersgroup.co.uk MARKETING Marketing Executive Loo Loo Rose Contact: looloo.rose@warnersgroup.co.uk 01778 392459 For subscription enquiries call 01778 392080 Or email subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk NEWSAGENTS AND DISTRIBUTION Nikki Munton, Warners Group Publications Plc, West Street, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9PH Contact: nikkim@warnersgroup.co.uk 01778 391171 CrossStitcher is published by Warners Group Publications plc Registered Office: The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire. PE10 9PH Publisher Lucie Dawson Contact: lucie.dawson@warnersgroup.co.uk…

WHAT DO YOU THINK about chunky stitching? By chunky we mean using a fabric with only single figures of stitches to the inch – and using not two strands of stranded cotton but two whole lengths (12 strands!). Does the thought fill you with bad memories of Binca fabrics at primary school? We weren’t all that keen until we tried it out on a new 4-count punched felt fabric. The stitches sit beautifully and we actually created a 12in cushion in eight hours. See the results on page 48. Our girls, who are 14 and 12 years old, were inspired too, one is stitching a handsome fox as a cushion for her bed, and the other is doing her own thing, inspired by a visit to a modern art gallery……

POCKETCRAFTSUPPLIES These Christmas tree shaped wooden buttons measure 18mm – making them ideal for embellishing last-minute stitched cards. ROCKOFFLOOSTERS Keep your projects organised with this wooden Christmas Tree Needleminder which includes a strong magnet on the back. HOLMFIRTHFABRIC Back stuffed hangers with this Scandi 100% cotton fabric – Christmas Trees is available in Red, Green or Multi by the half metre.…

Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Winter Woodland, 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 Kreinik 8 braid Mill Hill beads Two goldplated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 NOTE: Embroidery hoop not included How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £42, plus P&P. If you use sparkly snow glitter fabric or any other sparkly fabric, you will find the shine will appear through the areas stitched in half cross stitch Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 98 high x 98 wide Design…

Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch our Hygge Stocking, 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 NOTE: Your pack does not contain the fabric back or fur trim How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £15, plus P&P or turn to page 15 and use the order form provided. No time to stitch the full stocking? Stitch every other band’ of the design instead - making sure to include the heel and toe stitching as…

Designed by: Ruth Caig Stitch count: 48 high x 48 wide Design size: 29x29cm (11½x11½in) Stitch time: 8 hours This design was stitched on a 4 count punched felt cushion. Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Cold Comfort, 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: Rico Off-White punched felt cushion front and cushion back Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Skeins of DMC Étoile Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 18 NOTE: Your materials pack does not include the cushion pad How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £40, or just the felt cushion for £12.65, both plus…

Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 21 high x 41 wide (each) Design size: 5x7.5cm (2x3in) Stitch time: 2 hours These designs were stitched on 28 count evenweave over two threads of fabric. Make a… place card Step 1 USE the alphabet provided to personalise your place cards. Once you have completed the stitching, cut your design to fit the cardboard rectangle, with the stitching in the centre. Coat the edges of the fabric with Fray Check or fabric glue to stop them fraying. Use double-sided tape to attach the stitching to the cardboard. Step 2 MAKE a place card holder, by holding three candy canes together just above the bent end, using a red rubber band or red hair bobble. Further up, tie the stems together with a small…

Make a… tag Step 1 STITCH your chosen design onto the centre of your fabric. Once the stitching is complete, cut around the design leaving two blank squares of aida. Carefully fray the edges, by remove one square of aida. Step 2 USE double-sided tape to attach the stitched label to the front of a luggage tag. Thread with Christmas ribbon or string to finish. Glam up your tags with a sparkling finish by using red metallic thread for the writing and border on each Materials For each tag DMC Flecked Gold 14 count aida, ref: 5282; 10x7cm (4x2¾in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Luggage tags Christmas ribbon; 1cm(⅜in) widex20cm(8in) Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 42 high x 28 wide…

Missing our Fairytale Favourites SAL? As a Christmas treat, we have created a bonus character for you to use as a Christmas card. Created in the style of Shannon Wasilie’s Characters, we give you the ultimate Christmas Princess… 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. Designed by: Shannon Wasilieff/Susan Penny Stitch count: 54 high x…

WELCOME WE'RE PROUD to present our new calendar for 2020! It's A Dog's Life features a different pup in a seasonal scene for each month of the year. Exclusively designed for us by Maria Diaz, the designs are just 38 high x 28 wide and measure 7x5cm (2¾x2in) when worked on 14 count aida. Whether you intend to stitch every month's chart or not, you can enjoy It's A Dog's Life right away - with a colour photo of each design plus each month's dates. it's the perfect mini calendar for your craft desk. To use the calendar cover as a stand, fold it down and then take it under and towards the back. The calendar pages should be then slotted into the groove at the bottom. Happy 2020! All…

Hullo! The new year is upon us! I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, but I do have a word I’m using as a sort of mini mantra for this year: embrace. Embrace what ‘is’, rather than dwell on how I think things should be, and embrace positivity. I have a bad habit of downplaying my achievements and comparing myself to others “I know I’ve done X, Y, and Z, but what about this thing here? I didn’t achieve this one thing that others have, so let’s all focus on that and ignore the positive things!” What a horrible habit to find myself with! Many of us fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Carefully curated social media posts can make it seem as though all in the…

Christmas has arrived, but there’s still time to add a hand-finished look to your gifts. Our three savvy projects this issue will give you a super-quick result, using Étoile thread and sequins for a bit of glitz! Our pretty tag can be personalised using the alphabet provided, and would be ideal for a baby’s first Christmas or first Christmas married. Our wallet is a great way of presenting a gift card. Finally, fill a few jars with homemade goodies, and decorate with a hoop, ready for that unexpected guest… MAKE A… HOOP GIFT DECORATION Use a mini-flexi hoop wrapped in fabric to frame a mini decoration for a jar. Step 1 COMPLETE the stitching on a piece of hot pink 14 count aida, adding the star sequins to the stitching.…

Designed by: Durene Jones Max. stitch count: 50 high x 36 wide Max. design size: 9x7cm (3½x2¾in) Stitch time: 2.5 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Templates Use your templates at 100% Make a… bauble card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, and one strand for the backstitch. The French knots are worked in one strand. Step 2 COMPLETE the stitching, then iron Vilene onto the back of the stitched aida. Step 3 USE the templates provided to cut a heart or bauble shape from felt. Repeat with the stitching, by drawing around the template placed on the back of the stitched aida. Cut out carefully on the drawn line, making sure there is an equal border around…

Giveaways open 3 – 30 December 2019 Crewel Twists books Embroiderer Hazel Blomkamp uses a wide selection of materials to update the techniques associated with crewel (or Jacobean) embroidery. She shows needle artists how to be creative with fabric, threads, beads and alternative stitches, borrowing techniques from other forms of needlework, and still producing a product that is typical of this style of embroidery. This book is published by Search Press and available from www.searchpress.com for £14.99. We have three copies to give away. Enter by post to the address below, labelling your entry ‘CREWEL TWISTS GIVEAWAY XST352’. Christmas Pudding kits The ever-popular Bebunni range from Bothy Threads includes this super-cute Christmas Pudding design. The kit contains 14 count White Zweigart aida, pre-sorted stranded cottons, Lana (woolly thread), beads, needle,…

When Christmas is over it’s time for those hand-stitched thank you cards! We’ve asked three designers this month to come up with a design for a cute thank you card but they could only use the materials listed on the left, as well as also having to include some white Lana thread – brushed for the full fluff y effect! 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 March – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. THE CHALLENGE THE RULES DURENE JONES…POLAR PALS My…

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…