Sommaire pour August 2018 de CrossStitcher

Anne Mills is the owner and designer at The Stitch Mill and shares with us her creative process. “I really love the variety of shapes and colours that plants offer, as well as ceramic pots. When I was designing the Botany pattern I knew I could make a really fun to stitch and visually engaging pattern using these elements.” The Stitch Mill has many more patterns available for digital download and kits available in her web shop. www.thestitchmill.com @thestitchmill on instagram “I added in a cup of coffee because, well coffee is the best!”…

Greetings! Another month, another pattern! I love that I make patterns for a living but sometimes I hit a point where nothing seems to work. My design sits, waiting for a burst of creative brilliance from me. But nothing happens. I have ‘designer’s block’. This cursed state affects all of us–whet her you’re creating art, negotiating deals, or working on an equation that will provide the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Sometimes, inspiration skips out on us and doesn’t look back! As someone who creates for a living this is something I need to have a workable solution to. So I will share my failsafe method for getting past this blockade of the mind! It’s safe, works 100% of the time, and requires only your project and yourself!…

Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 163 high x 158 wide Design size: 30.5x29cm (12x11½in) Stitch time: 75 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials Zweigart White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0100; 50x50cm (19½x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Skeins of DMC Light Effects as listed in the key Mill Hill Antique Royal Pearl beads, ref: 3021 Size 24 tapestry needle Wooden quilting hoop; 34cm (13½in) diameter For stockist details see page 89 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.…

Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 99 high x 70 wide Design size: 19x12.5cm (7½x5in) Stitch time: 24 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials Zweigart Ice Blue 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0550; 24x49.5cm (9½x19¼in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Lining fabric; 24x49.5cm (9½x19¼in) Notebook; 21.5x15cm (8½x6in) For stockist details see page 89 Make a… notebook cover Step 1 START stitching after wrapping your evenweave fabric around the notebook to check the position of the front cover stitching and then mark the design area given above onto the fabric using pins. Make sure you have left at least 1.25cm (½in) at the top and bottom of the fabric for turnings, and 9cm (3½in) on the left and right-hand side for…

Make a… needle case Step 1 STITCH the design on the front of the needle case – to do this first fold the fabric like a book, and then allowing for a 1.25cm (½in) seam allowance on the three outer edges, stitch the design in the centre of the folded fabric. Step 2 POSITION your stitched aida and backing fabric right-sides together, then stitch around the edge with a 1.25cm (½in) seam allowance, but leaving a gap on one edge for turning through. Trim away some of the excess seam allowance, then turn to the right side and press. Use small, neat stitches to close the gap in the seam. Step 3 PLACE the felt centrally on the inside of the needle case. Using a machine or small running stitches,…

“I don’t even refer to my work as sewing. I am simply drawing with thread” An embroidered bottle of brown sauce… Hand-sewn comic book art… Kate Talbot’s work is both incredibly unique and instantly recognisable. A lover of all things vintage and eclectic, Kate let us into her creative secrets – and told us more about life with her husband and two cats Neville and Wilson in a former funeral home. Spooky! Can you tell us about your creative journey so far? I have always been creative, although at school it was known as ‘daydreaming’ and not encouraged. My family emigrated to Canada when I was a teenager and I ended up working in the oil industry. When I returned to the UK in 1987 I met my husband who…

We asked our fans on Facebook, “What is your favourite part of stitching a project – before you start, making progress or finishing and framing?” MELISSA REDDY-TREMBLAY When you’re stitching a large section that is the same colour over and over again. I love the feeling of finally being done and able to use a new colour. NIKI GEORGE I love setting up my floss box with all the colours I’ll be using. LORRAINE BRENNAN Sorting the threads, finding the middle of the fabric and making the first stitch, losing track of time as I do ‘just one more row’, the final backstitch, ironing, framing and giving as a gift. So pretty much everything really (apart from French knots!). DOMINIQUE ADAMOU It’s great to put the first few stitches on…

Welcome to this month’s ‘classic’ project – one that’s a bit bigger and more detailed than our usual designs, for anyone who’s looking for a challenge. Our ‘memory jars’ design has a straightforward layout and is easy to pace, as it features nine completely separate elements that can be worked on in turn. Take care with the backstitch as it’s this that will finish off your sampler in style. Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 172 high x 113 wide Design size: 31x20.5cm (12¼x8in) Stitch time: 40 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials ZweigartWhite 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0100; 50x36cm (19½x14¼in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 34x24cm (13½x9½in) aperture Mount board to fit frame For stockist…

Your projects For all the basic supplies you need to make the projects in this issue… WILLOW FABRICS www.willowfabrics.com For Zweigart evenweave, aida, linen, Cashel, wooden embroidery hoops and all kinds of stitching fabrics COTTON PATCH www.cottonpatch.co.uk 0121 702 2840 For stuffing, wadding, interfacing, Bondaweb, scissors and a range of haberdashery supplies FRED ALDOUS www.fredaldous.co.uk 0161 236 4224 For general craft and haberdashery supplies as well as mount board for framing your work JOHN JAMES NEEDLES www.jjneedles.com 0152 783 0941 For all kinds of needles and needle packs JOHN LEWIS www.johnlewis.com 03456 049 049 For a wide range of stitching and sewing supplies, including cotton printed fabrics SIESTA FRAMES www.siestaframes.com 0120 281 3363 For stitching frames, hoops and lamps CLOUD CRAFT www.cloudcraft.co.uk For 100% wool felt in lots of colours…

HOT, HOT, HOT! THAT’S THE theme of our August issue and we don’t just mean the temperature – though we do expect you to get a little steamed up when you see what we have in store. Our colours are hot and we have the trends that are the hottest thing right now. Start with our cover star, a striking portrait of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The colours in her signature hair band of flowers and the border of blooms are just so powerful. We hope you enjoy stitching this amazing portrait with touches of gold thread for the jewellery. Get started by turning to page 16. The heat continues with a classic summer treat – the ice cream sundae. We have four flavours, sorry designs, to choose…

WINDTHEBOBBINFABRICS Cover a cushion, or back a stitched one with Makower’s pretty Beach Huts 100% Cotton Fabric, available by the half metre. ALLTHINGSNICEYARNS Bring the beach into your kitchen with this dinky Beach Hut Fridge Magnet Cross Stitch Kit designed by Emma Louise Art Stitch. SUNNYBUNNYCRAFT Rustle up a Beach hut Doorstop – this kit includes instructions, templates, (pre-cut) fabric, zip and a small button for the door handle.…

ULTRA MINI CROSS STITCH MAKES SUSAN BATES [Tuva Publishing] You’re spoilt for choice with this compilation of over 100 mini motifs for which Susan Bates was “inspired by the trend for making very small cross stitch items which can be used to adorn jewellery, such as pendants, bracelets and earrings.” Their small size makes these motifs perfect for decorating accessories too, with themes covering flowers, birds and butterflies, seaside, gardens, animals and more. BOHO FELT CRAFTS RACHEL HENDERSON & JAYNE EMERSON [CICO Books] Unleash some felt flower power with this title that shows you how to make fresh faux succulents, cheese plant leaves and needle-felted cacti. Fill your home with hand-crafted wall hangings and mobiles and more, with plenty of great gift ideas to choose from too. If you’ve never…

Giveaways open 17 July – 13 August 2018 Amazing Macramé books If you like the look of our parrot wall-hanging on page 43 and enjoy a new technique, then this macramé book could be your prize. Claire Rougerie guides you through nine lessons accompanied by easy step-by-step instructions and diagrams. There are 29 original and colourful designs to make including jewellery, bags, accessories and various ideas for embellishing your outfits. The designs are both chic and bohemian combining a retro sixties style with a more modern look. It is published by Search Press and available from www.searchpress.com for £10.99. We have three copies to give away. Enter by post to the address below, labelling your entry ‘MACRAMÉ GIVEAWAY XST334’. V&A tickets If you’d like to visit the V&A to see…

Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 180 high x 122 wide Design size: 32.5x22.5cm (12¾x8¾in) Stitch time: 48 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials ZweigartWhite 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0100; 55x50cm (21½x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 34x24cm (13½ x9½in) aperture Mount board to fit frame For stockist details see page 89 Pick out individual beach huts to stitch for summer birthday cards 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…

Designed by: Lucie Heaton Stitch count: 43 high x 43 wide Design size: 12.5x12.5cm (5x5in) Stitch time: 3 hours (each corner) 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 Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle For stockist details see page 89 Stitching your… afghan Step 1 TAKE a look at the 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…

Designed by: Lucie Heaton Stitch count: 87 high x 117 wide Design size: 15x21cm (6x8¼in) Stitch time: 27 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials ZweigartLilac 14 count aida, ref: 3706/5050; 24x29cm (9½x11½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Backing fabric; 24 x29cm (9½x11½in) Toy stuffing Orange pom-pom trim; 1m (39in) For stockist details see page 89 Turn to page 14 to order Zweigart Lilac 14 count aida as part of our special reader offers this month Make a… cushion Step 1 COMPLETE the stitching, then work on the right side and place the pom-pom trim around the edge of the stitched cushion front, with the pom-poms facing inwards and the tape attached to the pom-poms directly on the 1.25cm (½in)…

Welcome to this month’s challenge! We asked our designers to create a picture with the theme of ‘a summer clothes line’ and they had to include at least two mini clothes pegs in their design to complete it. They were also each allowed a mystery item. They all had a lot of fun deciding what to stitch and their results are below. We hope this will inspire you to join in too – turn the page to see what our challenge will be for October – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. DURENE JONES… QUILT “Because of the lovely summery colours specified in this challenge and also because the pegs were quite large, I decided to design a picture of a beautiful and bright summer quilt on a…

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…

INSPIRED BY our sundae cards on page 57, we’re screaming for ice cream with these cool crafty finds… WHO Choose your favourite flavours from the Life’s A Beach collection from Dear Stella’s cotton fabric range, available as fat quarters or a continuous length. www.clothandcandy.co.uk WHAT Get crafty with your kids this summer with this cute ice cream holiday bracelet kit. It comes with a beautiful personalised gift tin containing elastic and beads. www.cottontwist.co.uk HOW Decorate a summer outfit with these whimsical embroidered patches which include an ice cream cone that looks good enough to eat! www.talkingtables.co.uk…

Each of these beautiful Zweigart colours can be used for cards or samplers or put in your stash for future projects. You will receive one FQ in the colour of your choice, (please mark the colour on your coupon or in the margin. If you are ordering more than one colour attach a separate piece of paper). The size of a FQ is 50x55cm (19½x21½in). 14 Count Summer Aida FQ for £5.30, ref: FQSUM01 MORE OFFERS FOR YOU! Pick up more stitching goodies at great prices and with UK postage of just £1.90… NEW DMC THREAD SHADES DMC have added 35 new colours to their range for the first time in 20 years – receive all 35 8M skeins of DMC stranded cotton, numbered 1 to 35, plus 35 cardboard…

MEXICAN PAINTER Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954) is today celebrated as one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. Known for her extraordinary life events and personal style as much as for her vivid artwork, Kahlo has become a cult figure, her image immortalised through the lens of many photographers and appropriated by feminists, artists, and fashion designers alike. Unique, subversive, contradictory, Kahlo’s distinctive life and art were rediscovered in 2004, when her personal time capsule was unveiled 50 years after her death – the wish of her husband, the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. This incredible personal archive was housed, for all those years in Kahlo’s bathroom at La Casa Azul, the home in Mexico City where she was born, lived and died. Since 1957, the house has…

This summer treat yourself or a loved-one to a set of on-trend accessories. The inspirational message on the book cover can be used to cover a plain notebook, where you can keep a diary of your summer holiday adventures. The bag charm can be personalised with an initial, backed with a cotton fabric, stuffed and a ribbon hanger added before attaching to your favorite bag or backpack. Plus, our anklet charms, can be attached to a ready-made anklet, or a length of stranded cotton to make a simple necklace. MAKE A… BOOK COVER A simple, yet effective, way to make backstitch with colour varation. Step 1 LOOK at your threads. Most variegated thread is dipped dyed and so the colour variations repeat. DMC variegated thread (Colour Variations) change every 33cm…

Designed by: Jenny Barton Stitch count: 124 high x 56 wide Design size: 22.5x10.5cm (9x4¼in) Stitch time: 20 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials ZweigartHot Pink 14 count aida, ref: 3706/4 023; 36x16.5cm (14x6½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Lining fabric; 36x16.5cm (14x6½in) 1.25cm (½in) Wooden dowel x 20cm (8in) Anchor Pearl Cotton No 5; Col. 875 (Green) or similar for macramé Large-eyed needle For stockist details see page 89 We have used a simple knot to create our macramé style edging, if you would like to try out a more complicated edging, turn to our book giveaway on page 22 Make a… wall hanging Step 1 STITCH the parrot in the centre of your aida fabric, using two…

Designed by: Emma Congdon Max. stitch count: 55 high x 41 wide Max. design size: 10x7.5cm (4x3in) Stitch time: 5 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials For each card ZweigartAntique White 14 count aida, ref: 3706/0100; 15x12.5cm (6x5in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Card blank with an 11.5x9cm (4½x3½in) rectangular aperture For stockist details see page 89 Give your sundaes extra dimension by adding French knot or seed bead sprinkles! 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…

Feeling festive Iknow that it is not Christmas time yet, however I have just finished stitching my Santa cone which was featured in December 2015 (issue 299). I am so happy with the result that I have already hung it around the living area for me to enjoy… six months early until Christmas! Many thanks for all the lovely projects featured in the magazine. Keep up the good work. Kind regards, Shoe shine Just thought I would share a picture of these lovely baby shoes from the March issue (328). It was a pleasure to stitch and I love how much colour was involved. The picture will be gifted to a close friend of mine who is expecting a girl towards the end of the year! Thank you CrossStitcher for…

Designed by: Kerry Morgan Stitch count: 41 high x 58 wide Design size: 7x10cm (2¾x4in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 28 count evenweave, working each stitch over two threads of fabric Materials ZweigartWhite 28 count Brit tney, ref: 3270/0100; 15x18cm (6x7in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Card blank, with a 7.5x10cm (3x4in) rectangular aperture For stockist details see page 89 Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch and one for the backstitch, leaving a long thread end at one end of bunting, on both the top and bottom row. Use the alphabet provided to personalise your card. Step 2 TRIM the stitched fabric to fit your card, with the design…