Tabla de contenidos para December 2015 en Cross Stitch Collection

For those of you that hate backstitch, this Christmas celestial messenger or Censing angel might just be the project to turn that hate into love! An angel is a celestial messenger and is seen as God’s way of passing vital pieces of information down to humans. ‘Censing’ is the practice of burning incense during certain church ceremonies and services. The smoke is said to carry the prayers of members of the congregation up to heaven. William Morris designed this angel in 1882, as a window at the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Cattistock, Dorset. Morris created wonderful movement in the folds of the robes and I have used this to create sections for each fold. There is a lot of blending in this design, with different areas…

Songbirds bring a touch of joy to our gardens even during the coldest months of the year. This pretty design from Lesley Teare combines birds, flowers, foliage and berries in one satisfying cross stitch project. It’s also packed with fun stitching details to keep your interest, with lots of colours in the cross stitch, and backstitch and beading to finish off. If you feel daunted by the whole design, you could stitch a smaller section with just one bird to make a sweet card or picture. Meet the designer… Lesley Teare Over the years I have drawn and painted many bird sketches. This time I wanted to create a festive winter wreath with birds from our gardens. I hope I have achieved this as the picture was a joy to…

Getting started Try these three ways to get going, then choose the one that suits you best  Loop start When stitching with two threads Cut a single thread that’s twice as long as you need, and thread both ends through your needle. Come up through the fabric and make a half stitch, then pass the needle through the loop that’s formed at the back to secure it. Loose end start When stitching with any number of threads Bring your needle up through the fabric, and be sure to leave a little piece of thread at the back. Hold this thread underneath the area to be stitched so that you will secure it with your first few cross stitches. Waste knot start When stitching with any number of threads Knot the…

Meet the designer... Durene Jones Real polar bears are not the friendliest of creatures, or so I believe, but they often feature on Christmas designs, looking cute and playful. On this design the idea was to have the polar bear looking a little more realistic, but still friendly and like he would look after you. The story books that I grew up with were the inspiration behind this design, but with a more modern look. It was very important to get the polar bear's features right, so he looked friendly without looking too cartoonish. As there's only really his eyes to work with, it was crucial to get these at the right angle, with the french knots in just the right place, as it will be with the sewing. Taking…

Star letter The writer of our star letter will receive a Heritage Crafts kit from the fabulous Cat’s Rule! Series by Peter Underhill. The kit, I Love Xmas (CRSB1283), is worth £17.25 and features a cute cat getting into the Christmas spirit. It comes as a kit with 27 count evenweave, stranded cotton and a clear chart and instructions. Go to www.hcrafts.com  for more details. Well done Joan Ogborn who will be receiving her kit very soon. Show stopper This was a pattern for a throw – I cross stitched it into a quilt and it has got quite a lot of compliments. Joan Ogborn, United Kingdom Collection says: What a stunning piece of stitching, Joan! You must be so proud. We’d love to know how long…

DAINTY MAKES All is calm, all is bright... This musical vignette with its vibrant stars will have you humming Christmas carols all through December. There's lots of backstitch in this design and you'll want to take particular care over the long straight lines of the stave as you don't want them wobbling! You will need… Zweigart 28 count Brittney beige, ref: 3270/779 15x25cm (6x10in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle For stockist details see page 62 Stitching the design FOLD the fabric in half both ways to find the centre and start stitching at this point. The cross stitch is worked in two strands of stranded cotton. Adding the detail COMPLETE all the cross stitch elements before adding the backstitch in one and two…

Hardanger embroidery sprang up in Norway after seafaring traders bought back luxury embroidered fabrics and lacework from around the world to the area around the Hardanger Fjord in Hordaland. The new embroidery technique, originally known as Norwegian drawn thread work, emerged as people sought to recreate these beautiful fabrics at home. Traditionally, Norwegian stitchers worked on 50 count linen, but you'll be pleased to know our design is worked on 28 count evenweave! You will still want to work slowly and in natural light where possible as your stitches must be perfect. The hardest part is the cutting, so make sure to do this when you are able to concentrate fully. Make it yours You will need… Zweigart 28 count Brittney white, ref: 3270/100, 10x10in (25x25cm) Perle cotton No 8…

DAINTY MAKES People have been giving perfume at Christmas since the wise men brought frankincense and myrrh to a lowly stable. This pretty bag, decorated with a retro atomiser, is the perfect finishing touch for any bottles you are planning to give. Our design is stitched in shades of pink, but you could substitute blues or greens to match the bottle inside! You will need… Zweigart 28 count Brittney cream, ref: 3270/100, 31x19cm (12x7½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle For stockist details see page 62 Stitching the design FOLD the fabric in half both ways to find the centre and start stitching at this point. The cross stitch is worked in two strands of stranded cotton over two threads of fabric. Adding the…

ANN’S ORCHARD www.annsorchard.co.uk 01342 311545 For contemporary and traditional bead and needlework kits, plus handmade frames to display them in BARNYARNS www.barnyarns.co.uk 0176 569 0069 For Anchor, DMC and Madeira threads and all kinds of haberdashery supplies COTTON PATCH www.cottonpatch.co.uk 0121 702 2840 For fabrics, books, wadding, notions, accessories and haberdashery CRAFT LAMPS www.craftlamps.co.uk 01373 454448 Stocking a fantastic array of craft lamps including desk, floor and magnifying lamps, including DaylightTM lamps DKH CREATIONS www.dkhcreations.co.uk For cross stitch kits, threads, aida and essential accessories DP SOFTWARE www.dpsoftware.com 01454 612598 Software for creating charts for cross stitch and tapestry E-FRAME www.eframe.co.uk Bespoke and ready-made picture frames and mounts for displaying your stitching HOBBYCRAFT www.hobbycraft.co.uk 0845 051 6599 For cardstock, paper, paint, glue and crafting supplies JOHN JAMES NEEDLES www.jjneedles.com 0152 783…

This is such a pretty and very traditional little sampler motif. It is made up of rather stylised oak leaves and acorns, which have featured strongly in embroidery designs for centuries. I took the shape from the Martha Townsend sampler illustrated here, although I have re-shaded it using my own palette of colours. Martha created her sampler over 250 years ago, back in 1762. She worked the design in cross stitch with some bold satin stitch additions for the flowers along the bottom. These are of course guarded by lions! I do not know if it was deliberate but poor Martha seems to have run out of fabric so the border only surrounds three sides of the piece. My version of the acorn motif is worked in pure cross stitch…

DAINTY MAKES This quick and satisfying make, worked entirely in one colour, is just the thing to keep your glasses safe from scratches in the bottom of your bag. This glasses cosy would make a great gift as you can personalise it with different colour stitching and fabrics. You will need… Zweigart 28 count Cashel linen black, ref: 3281/720, 12.5x23cm (5x9in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle Fabric backing and lining x 3 pieces 11x19cm (4½x7½in) Wadding For stockist details see page 62 Stitching the design FOLD the fabric in half both ways to find the centre and start stitching at this point. The cross stitch is worked in three strands of stranded cotton. Adding the detail COMPLETE all the cross stitch before adding…

Meet the designer... Maria Diaz I love doing shop front designs and even at my age toy shops are always exciting! I simply cannot walk past the Disney store without going in, even if the kids aren’t with me, in fact it’s more fun when I’m on my own – then I can play with all the stuff myself! I hope this design evokes all the building excitement as Christmas gets nearer, the rose-tinted memories of snow and images of the classic Victorian Christmas. The only thing I have left out is the urchin looking in the window. I hope this design evokes the building excitement as Christmas gets nearer This wonderfully nostalgic toy shop is packed with traditional toys and all dressed up for Christmas with trees and garlands…

Meet the designer... Sheena Rogers Of all the characters in Downton, I think Lady Mary is the one with her finger on the pulse of the latest trends in fashion. So, this design had to reflect her 'up-to-the-minute' hairstyle of that time, but I also wanted to keep a period feel to the piece, so I encased her in a gold picture frame – possibly a Grantham family heirloom! The blue background was used to help complement Mary's delicate porcelain skin colouring, whilst the deep green edging brings out the sumptuous gold pattern on the frame. Downton Abbey might be coming to an end but you can broadcast your love of the show forever with this gorgeous mini cushion. The second of our cross stitch designs inspired by the show…

STITCH & SEND You will need… Zweigart 28 count Cashel blue, ref: 3281/562, 17.5x23cm (7x9in) Stranded cotton and metallic thread as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle Card with 9x14cm (3½x5½in) aperture For stockist details see page 62 Stitching the design FOLD the fabric in half both ways to find the centre and start stitching at this point. The cross stitch is worked in two strands of stranded cotton with light effects white for the snow. Adding the detail COMPLETE all the cross stitch before adding the backstitch details in one strand and the lettering in two strands How to mount in a card 1 TRIM your linen to fit inside your card with the design placed centrally behind the aperture. Place on the table, right-side up.…

Collection 252 • A burst of summer colour with Lesley Teare’s gorgeous bouquet • Carry off first prize at the village show with our preserve covers • Make our special delivery red postbox card • Stitch our fresh kitchen herb collection • Chart of the month - A crafter’s dream! Fashion your ultimate sewing room by Maria Diaz Collection 253 • Stitch up a magical flower fairy by Lesley Teare • Fall in love with Jenny Barton’s Autumn sampler • Make a personalised pencil case using Emma Congden’s fun alphabet • Create a 3D Welsh cottage • Stitch our fresh kitchen herb collection • Chart of the month - Bring a favourite photograph to life with Durene Jones’ vibrant floral frame Collection 254 • Make a folksy patchwork geese cushion…