Table of contents for January 2018 in Cross Stitch Gold

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. “I love to look at the history books to find inspiration with designs like this one. I wanted to create an opulent scene, and this lady is certainly majestic with her golden tresses and jewels” Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count white evenweave over two threads of the fabric in 35 shades of cotton and one of metallic thread. Cross stitch is in two strands, and backstitch is in one.…

GOLD STAR BUY Holiday mood If you’re weary of all the endless counting while you stitch, the new range of no-count kits from Needleart World might offer the respite you’ve been looking for. Night Watching is just one of the designs in the range – this evocative scene is sure to get you in the mood if you’re dreaming of your next holiday. It is printed onto 14-count aida, so all you need to do is follow the fabric to complete the design, which measures 55x41cm (22x16in). Order the kit from www.sewandso.co.uk from £36.12, or call 0800 013 0150 Get organised for 2018! Bag it up This storage bag with a rope handle is ideal for keeping your stash both tidy and close at hand. Simply pop the canvas bucket…

Meet the designer Durene Jones Prolific designer Durene Jones creates cross stitch charts for a range of stitching magazines. Her work is well loved for its modern and colourful tone, but she is a versatile designer and can turn her hand to any theme or style. Before starting on her creative cross stitch career, Durene worked as a graphic designer. “There’s something so lovely about designing for an occasion – and I love the romance of a wedding. A simple palette keeps this sampler classic, while intricate backstitch and beading add a special finish” Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count dove grey linen over two threads of the fabric in one shade of cotton. Cross stitch is in two strands of cotton and backstitch is in one or…

Meet the designer Fiona Baker Fiona has always had a passion for art and design from an early age, and loves the creativity in her role as Technical Editor for Cross Stitch Gold, as well as our sister magazines Cross Stitch Crazy and The World of Cross Stitching. “Dreamcatchers have always fascinated me, so I had great fun with this design. Using variegated thread ensures a unique finish every time, and I love the pastel colours, which should be very calming wherever you display this piece.” Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count white evenweave over two threads of the fabric in 19 shades of cotton and one of DMC Color Variations. Cross stitch is in two strands of cotton, and backstitch is in one strand of black or…

UK stockists COATS CRAFTS UK For stockists, visit www.makeitcoats.com Call 01484 681881 CRAFT CREATIONS Visit www.craftcreations.com Call 01992 781900 DMC CREATIVE WORLD For stockists, visit www.dmc.com Call 01924 231669 LAKESIDE NEEDLECRAFT Visit www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk Call 0333 0501184 MADEIRA For stockists, visit www.eqsuk.com Call 0116 2710033 MILL HILL For stockists, visit www.hantex.co.uk/millhill Call 011754 820800 SEW AND SO Visit www.sewandso.co.uk Call 0800 0130150 SIESTA FRAMES Visit www.siestaframes.com Call 01202 813363 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…

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 the fabulous new Cut Thru’ Ballroom kit by Bothy Threads, worth £31.99. You can buy this kit from www.bothythreads.com or call 01900 828844. All other letter writers will receive a mystery prize. Time to stitch I hope you like this picture of my latest project. It’s the owl clock by Lucie Heaton which was published in issue 139 of Cross Stitch Gold. Like a lot of people I love owls, and these are so cute I just had to stitch them. I needed a new clock for my craft…

Meet the designer Carol Thornton Watercolour artist Carol sketches and paints her gorgeous works of art before turning them into cross stitch designs. She creates charts for various magazines and has attracted legions of fans who love her distinctive style of artwork, which translates beautifully into cross stitch. “I hope you’ll enjoy stitching these bright and colourful blooms. Arranged loosely in a pretty blue and white vase, they have a warm, homely feel, just right for a cosy kitchen” Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count trento sky evenweave over two threads of the fabric in 26 shades of cotton. Cross stitch is worked in two strands of cotton, and the backstitch is worked in one strand. There are also fractionals in two strands and French knots in one…

Meet the designer Lucie Heaton Freelance cross stitch designer Lucie has always been a keen crafter with a particular passion for needlecraft. She contributes to a variety of stitching magazines and her work has appeared in various books, too. When she’s not busy designing, Lucie likes walking and exploring new places, finding new inspiration everywhere she goes! “I loved designing these pretty birdhouses. Each little home looks so wellkept and inviting, but my favourite has to be the floral one at the bottom with the pink door!” Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count white evenweave over two threads of the fabric in 19 shades of cotton. Cross stitch is in two strands of cotton and backstitch is in one strand. There are also some French knots in one…

Meet the designer Lesley Teare Lesley is an experienced cross stitch designer, with a degree in Printed and Woven Textiles, and many years of design experience. She is renowned for creating designs for a wide range of stitching magazines, and has a range of cross stitch book to her name, too. Lesley lives and works in rural Suffolk, where she enjoys gardening and country walks with her labrador. “Each card features a different background of delicate blooms, and a boldly coloured butterfly with unique markings. They’d look beautiful all together in a frame” Stitcher’s guide These designs are worked on 28-count white evenweave over two threads of the fabric in 18 shades of cotton. Cross stitch is in two strands of cotton and backstitch is in one strand. There are…

Meet the designer Clare Buswell Clare studied graphic design in art college and is a talented crafter and artist. She lives in a small village in Ireland, surrounded by nature. When she’s not creating in her studio you’ll find her in the garden, where she finds endless inspiration for her creations. “There are lots of spring lambs in the fields where I live, and they are so sweet and full of the joys of life. They always make me smile as I pass by – I hope my design will have the same effect!” Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 14-count white aida in 28 shades of stranded cotton and one shade of Madeira Lana. Cross stitch is in both one and two strands, and backstitch is in one…

Chance to win £1,046 in prizes! £252 in prizes to win! Off to the show! Stalls heaving with stitching supplies, experts around every corner, an extensive programme of talks, workshops, demos, galleries and much more – we adore craft shows! The next date for your diary is The Hobbycrafts Show held in Birmingham from 15th-18th March. We have nine pairs of tickets to give away, and tickets to this show also include entry to the Sewing For Pleasure, Fashion & Embroidery Show! Buy your own tickets at www.ichfevents.co.uk. We have nine pairs of tickets worth £28 per pair to give away. The text keyword is GOLD144SHOW. See the blue box for entry details £260 in prizes to win! Flamingo feathers Flamingo (PUFM1420) is the latest fabulous addition to the Peter…

THE EXPERTS JO BENNER Jo is an experienced stitcher and knitter, who writes for several craft magazines. She can help with chart queries and stitching knowhow, 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 seven years. She’s an avid stitcher, and is ready and raring to help you with any of your craft or cross stitch dilemmas. INCOMING STORM Q My stitching group has decided to stitch designs that are postcard sized. We thought they would look good together when we frame and display them at our local flower…

Meet the designer Maria Diaz Maria has always had a passion for needlecraft, since learning to sew as a child on her greatgrandmother’s ancient foot-treadled Singer machine. After art college she landed a job as a printer which led to her becoming DMC’s first in-house designer, where she worked for eight years. She is now an independent designer and lives in the Midlands with her two sons, Lincoln and Hudson. “Landscapes are a passion of mine. I love that contrast between land and sky, and the feeling of exploring the great outdoors in stitches” Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count white evenweave over two threads of the fabric in 32 shades of stranded cotton. Cross stitch and half cross stitch are in two strands of cotton, and backstitch…

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…