Table of contents for February 2017 in Cross Stitch Gold

Here in the Cross Stitch Gold office, we’re in the mood for sunny days, seaside views and summery blooms. So, while the dregs of winter are still lingering outside, we thought we’d fill this issue with some sunshine scenes, and a dash of retro romance thrown in for good measure, to cheer ourselves... Take a look at Carol Thornton’s ‘Lighthouse View’ (p12), flower-laden farmyard scene by Joanne Aston (p28) and gorgeous, sentimental ‘Celtic Angel’ courtesy of Shannon Wasilieff (p20). We also have a chalkboard ‘Welcome’ design, by Durene Jones, perfect for bringing a warm feel to a home, (p38), Lesley Teare’s Father’s Day cards for dear dads everywhere (p.60), and of course, there is our cover star, Maria Diaz’s stunning 1920s woman, filled with sensational stitched detail and vivid tones…

Get in touch! Email: zeena@cross-stitching.com Write to: Zeena Moolla, Cross Stitch Gold magazine, 2nd Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN Join us at: facebook.com/crossstitchgold Tweet us: @CrossStitchGold WRITE TO WIN! The star letter writer in this issue will receive a traditional Country Cottage sampler kit by Moira Blackburn, worth £27.49. You can buy this kit from www.bothythreads.com  or call 01900 828844. All other letter writers will receive a mystery prize. GOLD STAR LETTER Good times I’m a subscriber from New Delhi, India, and am writing in to show you my latest work – a stitched clock by Lesley Teare. My daughter just finished medical school and I wanted to make something special for her, something she can take with her wherever she goes, and which…

Happily ever after Capture the joy of getting hitched, with this celebratory sampler from Welsh company Nia. This charming pastel picture measures 29x23.5cm and features a jaunty selection of motifs, including a wedding cake, love heart, doves, bunting, a lucky horse shoe, a spray of roses and bottle of Champagne. Each part is a delight to stitch as you watch the design build. Better yet, you can personalise this sampler with the names of the bride and groom and the date of their union. We challenge any happy couple not to adore this slice of romance! Buy the kit (including 14-count aida, stranded cotton, a needle, chart and instructions) for £28.50 from www.past-impressions.co.uk Floral fancy Not that we hoard or anything, but the bag to store our ever-increasing stash must…

Lovely lady You can rely on John Clayton to bring a touch of romance into your life with his beautiful Elegance range, produced for Heritage Crafts. This gorgeous lady in her purple evening dress and stylish home looks ready to entertain! The design is available as a complete kit with Zweigart fabric, DMC stranded cottons sorted on to numbered cards, a needle, and clear charts and instructions. The finished design measures 32x38.5cm. To buy your own kit visit www.hcrafts.com We have five of these exquisite kits, worth £55 each, to give away to lucky readers! The text keyword is GOLD136LADY. See the blue box below for entry details. Summer lovin’ This book containing all the glories of summer will cheer you through the dark nights. Cross Stitch: Floral Summer Days…

UK stockists CHARLES CRAFT For stockists, visit www.dmccreative.co.uk Call 0116 2754000 COATS CRAFTS UK For stockists, visit www.makeitcoats.com Call 01484 681881 CRAFT CREATIONS Visit www.craftcreations.com Call 01992 781900 CRAFT DEPARTMENT Visit www.craftdepartment.com Call 01539 823199 DMC CREATIVE WORLD For stockists, visit www.dmccreative.co.uk Call 0116 2754000 MADEIRA For stockists, visit www.eqsuk.com Call 0116 2710033 SEW AND SO Visit www.sewandso.co.uk Call 0800 0130150 US stockists 123 STITCH Visit www.123stitch.com Call 1-800-996-1230 ABC STITCH THERAPY Visit www.abcstitch.com Call 1-281-205-7507 ARTS CRAFTS USA Visit www.artscraftsusa.com Call 1-866-621-7779 JULIE’S X STITCH Visit www.juliesxstitch.com…

How to read our charts All our charts are printed in both colour and symbols. Each square on a cross stitch chart contains a symbol, and each symbol corresponds with one stitch. The key that accompanies the chart tells you what thread colour each symbol corresponds to, and how many strands to use for each cross stitch, backstitch or French knot. It also gives you the design's dimensions – you'll need these to cut your fabric to size. The thread numbers listed in the first column of the key refer to the brand that we've used to stitch the design. Conversion numbers for two other brands are given, but they're not always exact equivalents. Avoid mixing more than one brand in the same design. Sometimes you'll need more than one…

“The rich colours and prolific use of beads and metallics help to make this a really luxurious project, and I hope you’ll enjoy stitching it!” Meet the designer Shannon Wasilieff Canadian designer Shannon has always been passionate about creative pursuits, but it was when she started designing cross stitch that she truly found her calling. Her talent is evident in her beautiful designs, and her great eye for colour and detail helps to make her unique creations into true masterpieces like this one. “If you stitch this design, do send us a photo of your work – we’d love to see how you get on with this project. Turn to page 11 to find out how to get in touch. We can’t wait to hear from you!”Zeena Moolla, Acting Editor…

Hazy half stitches I’ve used a lot of half stitches for the sky, grass and other vegetation in this design. Where this is used for parts of the lawn and the sky, it’s a device that helps to achieve a subtle variation in colour and adds an almost hazy quality to this summer’s day scene, which is really effective. Brilliant backstitch Black backstitch would be far too harsh for this gentle scene, which is why I’ve used several other shades for the detail and definition. Dark grey works well as it shows up well, but also has a subtle look that suits the style of the scene.…

Getting good coverage When you stitch on a dark fabric like this it can be harder to get the threads to show up as clearly as they would on a pale fabric. This is why this design requires you to use three strands of thread for your cross stitches, and two strands (rather than the more usual one strand of thread) for some of the backstitch. Follow the key and your work will look perfect, with a good, dense coverage. Little details I really enjoyed designing all the bright and beautiful details on this hanging – the colourful butterflies, bees and sunflowers all help to bring this design to life. I think any of these little motifs would make lovely greetings in their own right, if you don’t have time…

Facial features It’s important to get the expression just right, so take extra care when working the stitches around the eyes and mouth. The backstitch definition is what really makes or breaks this, so take a good look at the chart before you start this, and take it slow – maybe setting aside a single stitching session just for this, so you will be fresh to tackle it. Sparkle and shine I think a touch of sparkle is essential to achieve the full effect of this 1920s beauty, so I’ve used plenty of metallic thread in this design. I wanted the frame to shimmer, so I worked it in DMC Light Effects light gold thread, and also used Light Effects light and dark golds to make the jewellery shine, and…

Sunset shades The warm colours in the sky hint at a hazy sunset on a summer’s day, and provide a striking contrast to the pale blues in the sea and the deep blues that are used for the lighthouse. Knot a problem! Don’t worry, as there aren’t many French knots to contend with in this scene. The few that I have included are used to add a little detail and dimension to some of the flora in the foreground. The knots offer these flowers a sense of focus and help to draw the eye.…

THE EXPERTS JO BENNER Jo is an experienced stitcher and crafter, who writes for several cross stitch magazines. She can help with chart queries and stitching know-how, as well as product questions. FIONA BAKER Fiona is the Technical Editor for Cross Stitch Gold and our sister magazines. She is a talented cross stitch designer, too, and can answer any of your stitching queries. SARAH TREVOR Sarah has worked on cross stitching and craft magazines for over six years. She’s an avid stitcher, and is ready and raring to help you with any of your craft or cross stitch dilemmas. TRAVELLING LIGHT Q I stitch when I’m away on business but I find hotel lights are not to be relied on for accuracy! I’ve come to the conclusion that I need…

A long project JAPANESE CULTURE BELLPULL (221.279), Pako, £35.96 What’s in the kit Black and white chart 28-count antique white linen DMC stranded cotton and metallic threads Tapestry needle Size of finished design 15.5x122cm (6x48in) Stitching this kit Bellpulls were traditionally used to sound a call to butlers and maids, but these days they’re generally just intended as decoration, like this one. Measuring over a metre long, this is a breathtaking sight, featuring geishas in gorgeous kimonos, as well as traditional Japanese imagery, such as mountains, and temples. The chart is interesting in this kit, as the symbols are hand-drawn, rather than generated on a computer. It’s still easy to follow and perhaps easier on the eye! The edging on the design is created using half stitches in one strand…

In the frame Although I think this design looks just perfect in a cushion mount, it would also work well in a frame if you’d prefer to display your cyclamens on the wall. Make sure you choose your frame or mount colour carefully to complement the pretty shades in the design. Vibrant detail To give these flowers a really realistic touch, I have worked the base of each bloom in strong pink and purple shades (not to mention a few bright French knots in apricot thread!), which offers a striking contrast to the delicate, pale petals and the dark greens of the cyclamens’ leaves.…