Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i CrossStitcher

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 65 high x 41 wide Design size: 12x7.5cm (4¾x3in) Stitch time: 8 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 16x12cm (6½x4¾in)• Gold-effect acorn charm• Wooden dowel; 11cm x 5mm (4⅓x¼in)• Green baker’s twine; 25cm (10in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Make a… family sampler Step 1 DECIDE which names you would like to add to your sampler using the alphabet given. If you need a larger space, then you may have to leave off a leaf to make the names fit. Work using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, and one strand for the backstitch and French knots. Step 2 TURN the sides…

Jeepers Creepers! Whether you’re holding a Halloween party or simply want to decorate your home to celebrate the season, we’ve found some frighteningly fun ideas to stitch! Jody Rice has done all-out for Halloween with no less than four new Halloween ornament kits in her range. These delightful decorations form her Boo’tiques Collection and are stitched on perforated paper and embellished with beads and sequins. Choose from pretty pumpkins and ornamental owls, plus purrfect cats and scary skulls! To find out more or to order, you can visit satsumastreet.com SPOOKY START COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN is a clever project as it’s designed to be stitched from 1st October, stitching one day at a time around the spider web all the way through to All Hallow’s Eve! This kit is worked on…

Hullo! As I write this, the weather outside is wet and windy, which makes me feel rather contemplative. As I stare out my living room windows, part of my contemplation wonders where the leaks are, since the seals were recently replaced, but the weather is sneaking in. This issue’s interview inspires more enjoyable ponderings – Emma Pavier’s move from science to design echoes my own journey, and how important creativity is in all of life. As a quick recap, I was previously a research scientist. I’ve had multiple contrasting careers, a trend I assume will continue (my poor CV does its best), but Emma’s thoughts on creativity spanning industries are something I hold dear. We often assume STEM requires logic and a lack of emotion, but holistic creativity is hugely…

Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 29 high x 29 wide (each) Design size: 5.4x5.4cm (2⅛x2⅛in) Stitch time: 4¼ hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials For each pincushion: • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 9x9cm (3½x3½in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Sewing needle• Felt squares; 5.4x5.4cm (2⅛x2⅛in) x 5• Toy stuffing Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Make a… pincushion Step 1 CUT your five felt squares – to make sure the felt is exactly the same size as your stitching, it is best to measure the actual design before cutting your aida. Step 2 MAKE finger folds right on the edge of the stitching, turning the excess aida at the edge, onto the wrong side. Step 3 PLACE one…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Fabulous Fungi, 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: • Sampedro 14 count aida in White • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 12 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £29.30, plus P&P. Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 47x47cm (18½x18½in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Frame with a 29.25x29.25cm (11¼x11¼in) aperture• Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com We used a natural wood frame…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Bags of Style, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered to your door! Your materials pack contains: • Sampedro 14 count aida in White • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • Grey seed beads • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 12 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £31.75, plus P&P. Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 174 high x 117 wide Design size: 32x21cm (12½x8¼in) Stitch time: 42 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Focus on stitching one bag at a time, taking…

Emma of Ann’s Orchard blends curiosity, storytelling and quiet craft, in her Sussex studio. After trading lab coats for linen, Emma Pavier has spent the past decade shaping Ann’s Orchard into a deeply personal creative studio. Her designs are steeped in memory, symbolism and the rhythm of life, stitched from a corner of Sussex where the trees carry centuries of history and the jackdaws argue loudly at dawn. Before she was known for samplers and kits, Emma was a molecular biologist studying pathways underlying the vitamin content of fruit. But when her second child was born and her husband took a job overseas, the demands became impossible to balance. “Juggling a toddler, a baby, a full-time job that spontaneously took me all over the world, and my husband working overseas…

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble! With Halloween just around the corner, what better celebration could there be than a collection of witch’s potions, ready for a spot of spell-casting? Enjoy working on our amazing Fabric of The Month (see page 15 for a special discount!) and adding some spooky charms for a 3D effect. Sort your thread shades before you start and enjoy every stitch! Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 180 high x 121 wide Design size: 33x22cm (13x8⅝in) Stitch time: 82 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. You can sew your spider charms on the webs or bottles using some matching sewing thread CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch our Halloween Bottles, we have a materials…

ELBESEE EMBROIDERY HOOP I love using wooden embroidery hoops, and the beech hoops by British brand Elbesee are my absolute favourite! They are the perfect balance of quality and affordability, and in addition to keeping my fabric taut whilst I stitch, I often use them for framing the finished piece. Decorating the hoop with paint or washi tape is a fun way to add extra personality. ZWEIGART FABRIC The original, and still the best aida, in my opinion, is by Zweigart. For my personal projects I often use 16 count aida, but the colour range at that count can be a bit limited. Luckily, I know several brilliant independent fabric dyers who use Zweigart aida (and evenweave) as their base fabrics, so I can stitch on unique colours AND support…

100 ESSENTIAL EMBROIDERY MOTIFS SUSIE JOHNS [GMC Publications] Susie Johns has provided a cute design for almost anything you could think to create, from flowers and flamingos to beach huts and bicycles. You will find dozens of ideas to inspire you, whether you are looking for a number of related motifs for a big project like a patchwork quilt or individual designs for personalised gifts or greetings cards. It’s suitable for all skill levels, making it a great addition to your craft library! MONSTERS AND MAYHEM IN CROSS-STITCH NICOLE LABRANCHE [Schiffer Craft] This new book brings mythical creatures to life, one stitch at a time! Featuring 25 engaging patterns suitable for all skill levels, this collection invites crafters to enjoy hours of creative stitching. From iconic beasts like fire-breathing dragons to contemporary…

Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 48 high x 38 wide Design size: 9x7.5cm (3½x3in) Stitch time: 8 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, and one strand for the backstitch and French knots as indicated on the chart. 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 the inside of the card around the edge of the aperture. Step 4 PLACE the stitching on the table right-side up, and then place the card on top, pressing down firmly on the tape. Step 5 CHECK which flap will fold onto the back of the…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch our Catastic tote bags, 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: • Bellana 20 count evenweave in Marble • Twill tape for the handles in Teal or Orange • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 PLEASE NOTE: You will receive one bag (front and back) with either Teal or Orange tape – please mark your coupon with which colour you would like to receive. No stranded cotton is included in this materials pack. How to order: Fill in the form on page 12 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of…

LITTLE LIBRARY SAL The second book in our library is Little Women, a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes, in 1868 and 1869. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. It is loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters. Start stitching the top lefthand corner of The Secret Garden, which was in our last issue, 426 September 2025, 17.5cm (7in) down from the top-left corner of the fabric, and 10cm (4in) in from the left. In this issue, stitch Little Women to the right of The Secret Garden, leaving five blank squares between the two books. THE CHART EACH square on the…

OCTOBER If you’ d like a pack containing the Pewter Grey 14 count aida and the skeins to complete the sampler, turn to page 10, and order for £41, plus P&P Materials • Zweigart Pewter 14 count aida, ref: 3706/713; 14x14cm (5½x5½in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com How to… join our Stitch-A-Long Our Mouse year monthly calendar runs from January 25 to December 25. Over the year, we will be bringing you twelve seasonal designs that can be used for cards and keepsakes for birthdays or anniversaries, one for each month of the year. They can be stitched as individual designs as we have done, or if you prefer, stitch them all together to make a fun calendar. Designed by:…

We asked our fans on Facebook, “What do you like to stitch when you’re feeling ill or a bit down?” CHRISTINE NAYLOR I pick up whichever WIP I have on the go, and if that isn’t bringing me joy or calmness, then I go to another one. VERITY RIGBY I pick up a WIP which I plan to gift someone, working on a project that could one day make a loved one happy, never fails to lift my spirits. JADE LAWLEY Anything vintage like an old chart or kit. Did some little ones when I was poorly six years ago. JOANNE WATSON Something coastal, if I can’t get there I can stitch it. Being by the sea is my happy place. THE PRINCESS BOO COLLECTIVE I stitch cats or the small…

We used a small brush and a paint tester pot to finish our hoop Make a… jar lid Step 1 COMPLETE your stitching, place in your hoop, then cut off the excess unstitched aida around the edge, leaving 1.25cm (½in). Working on the back, push the inner ring down, and slightly away from the outer hoop, creating a ledge where the cardboard disc will sit. Step 2 GLUE the excess aida around the edge to the inside of the wooden hoop. Work slowly, and wait for the glue to dry. Fill the inside of the hoop with toy stuffing, so that design is padded and pushed out slightly at the front. Step 3 CUT a cardboard circle to fit inside the hoop, making sure that it sits on the ledge…

Make a… heart Step 1 WORK the cross stitch in two strands of stranded cotton and the backstitch in one strand. Step 2 HOLD the heart template from page 64 and the stitching up against a window, then pin the template to the back of the stitching. Pin the backing fabric right-sides together on the stitching. Step 3 FOLD a length of string in half and knot the ends together. Place the string between the stitching and the backing fabric, so that the folded end is inside the layers, and the knots are outside the stitching line on the outer edge. Tack the layers together, catching the string in place. Step 4 KEEP the template in position and sew around the edge of the heart template, leaving a gap on…

THE CHALLENGE • 14 count white plastic aida • Seven shades of stranded cotton (shown above) • 2 gold earring findings THE RULES • Create a pair of Halloween earrings • The design should be no larger than 20 x 15 stitches (each earring) • Only the materials above can be used • Be creative as possible! For spooktacular stitching, look no further than this month’s challenge! We asked three designers to create a pair of Halloween earrings, with each earring design to be different but coordinate. They also had to stick to only the seven shades of stranded cotton we selected for them and work their designs on plastic aida. Check out their cute results below – we’ve included a pattern for each design so you can stitch your…

THE ESSENTIAL KIT YOU’LL NEED TO START STITCHING FABRICS Aida is the ideal choice for cross stitch beginners – it is a block-weave fabric, which is divided into squares with a grid of holes. Each cross stitch is worked over one square. Aida comes in a range of sizes which are called counts. So 14 count means that there are 14 squares to the inch and this will make 14 cross stitches. Aida also comes in 16, 18 and 20 count. The larger the number, the more stitches to the inch and so the smaller the design will stitch up. Evenweave is a woven grid of threads in a finer count. Each stitch is usually worked over two threads, so a 28 count evenweave with each stitch worked over two…