Indholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2021 i Cross Stitch Favourites

Three cheers for the arrival of spring! A time of hope, new life, lighter days and the start of warmer weather. It's also a time of celebrations – and with so many fun occasions falling at this time of year, it's a really great time to be a cross stitcher. With this in mind, we've packed this issue of Cross Stitch Favourites with gorgeous charts to help you make the most of whatever you are marking, including Mother's Day, Easter, wedding days, new babies, spring birthdays and so much more. We've teamed up with some of the UK's best-loved cross stitch designers to bring you this bumper collection of charts. Stitchers of every skill level will find the perfect project – whether you're a complete beginner, a seasoned pro or…

Shopping list Fabric 14-count white aida measuring 18x12cm (7x4¾in) for each design Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras Oblong aperture cards Pink and blue ribbon Stitcher’s guide Ideal for all your spring occasions, these designs are stitched onto 14-count white aida using 14 different colours of thread. They contain whole cross stitch, backstitch and French knots, and each design will take around four to six hours to complete. We think they’re great for advanced beginners who are looking to take the next step in stitching. How to stitch the card designs 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it half both horizontally and vertically. Follow the arrows on the chart to find its centre and start stitching here, working your…

Shopping list Fabric 14-count white aida measuring 45x45cm (7¾x7¾in) Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras Stretched canvas measuring 30x30cm (11¾x11¾in) Stitcher’s guide Our colourful tulips are stitched onto 14-count white aida in 29 shades of cotton. The cross stitch is worked in two strands of cotton, and there are plenty of fractionals throughout the piece, too. Backstitch is in one strand of cotton, as are the French knots for the butterflies. This is a densely stitched project so is best suited to stitchers with experience, or intermediates who are ready for a challenge. How to stitch the tulips picture 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half both horizontally and vertically; the centre point is where the fold…

Shopping list Fabric 14-count white aida measuring a maximum of 15x15cm (6x6in) for most of the designs 14-count white perforated paper Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras All items either handmade or bought from a local craft shop Stitcher’s guide Our cheery spring motifs are stitched onto 14-count white aida or perforated paper and contain whole cross stitch, backstitch and French knots. Each one takes between two and six hours to complete, so stitchers of all abilities will find the perfect project among this delightful collection. How to stitch the spring motifs 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half horizontally and vertically. (For the perforated paper, use a ruler to find the middle.) Find the centre of…

Reading a chart 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 each of our charts will tell you what colour of stranded cotton each symbol represents, so you know exactly which one to thread your needle with. Where to start The centre of most cross stitch charts is specially marked. This is the best place to start stitching, so the design sits in the middle of the fabric. Use the black arrows at the edges of the chart to find the centre of the chart. To find the centre of your fabric, fold it in half horizontally, then vertically. The centre is where the two fold lines meet…

Shopping list Fabric 14-count white aida measuring a maximum of 15x15cm (6x6in) for most of the designs 14-count 1in-wide white aida band with white trim, cut to length Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras All items either handmade or shop-bought Stitcher’s guide Our quirky motifs are stitched onto 14-count white aida or aida band using whole cross stitch and backstitch only. They’re really quick to work up, with each motif taking just 2-5 hours to complete. We think this makes them ideal for stitchers of all abilities, including complete beginners. How to stitch the birthday motifs 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half horizontally and vertically. Find the centre of the chart and start stitching here, in…

Shopping list Fabric 28-count white evenweave measuring 44x40cm (17¼x17¾in) Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras Frame and mount of your choice with a minimum aperture of 28.5x24.5cm (11¼x9¾in) Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count evenweave over two threads of the fabric. Cross stitch is worked in both one and two strands, while half cross stitch in two strands is used for the sky. Backstitch is worked in two strands for the rabbit’s whiskers, and one strand for the rest of the detail. There are fractional stitches in this design, which is best suited to experienced stitchers, or intermediates who are looking to stretch their skills. How to stitch the spring scene 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding…

Stitcher’s guide This alphabet is worked on 28-count white evenweave over two threads of the fabric in 20 shades of cotton and one of metallic thread. With whole cross stitch, backstitch, French knots and seed beads, we think it’s a great project for experienced stitchers. How to stitch the floral alphabet 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half both horizontally and vertically. Find the centre of the chart and start stitching here, in the centre of the fabric, working outwards. 2 Work the cross stitch over two threads of the evenweave, using two strands of cotton or metallic thread. 3 Once the cross stitch is complete, then add the backstitch; backstitch is worked in both one and three strands of thread for this project, so…

Shopping list Fabric 14-count aida measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for the card, 10x10cm (4x4in) for the poke and 10cm (4in) x your desired length for the napkin Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras 6mm double-sided tape, cloth napkin, patterned paper, hand-cut aperture card and lolly stick Stitcher’s guide Our Mother’s Day butterfly set is stitched onto 14-count white aida using just nine different colours of thread. The designs contain whole cross stitch and backstitch only, so are ideal for stitchers of all abilities, including complete beginners. How to stitch the butterfly designs 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half both horizontally and vertically. The centre is where the two fold lines meet and form a cross. Follow the…

Shopping list Fabric 14-count white aida measuring 10cm (4in) x your desired length Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras Backing fabric and basket Stitcher’s guide This delightful daffodil alphabet is stitched onto 14-count white aida using just eight different colours of thread. It contains whole cross stitch, backstitch and French knots, so is best suited to advanced beginners or intermediate stitchers. How to stitch the daffodil alphabet 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half both horizontally and vertically. Find the centre of the chart and start stitching here, working your way outwards. 2 Work all of the cross stitch first using two strands of cotton. Eight colours are used for the cross stitch, so check the key…

Stitcher’s guide These stylish spring wedding motifs are stitched onto 14-count white aida using 24 different colours of thread, and are worked in whole cross stitch, backstitch and French knots. Each one takes between two and six hours to complete, so stitchers of all abilities can find the perfect project. Shopping list Fabric 14-count white aida measuring a maximum of 15x15cm (6x6in) for most of the designs 14-count 2in-wide white aida band with white trim Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras All items either handmade or shop-bought How to stitch the wedding motifs 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half horizontally and vertically. The centre point is where the two fold lines meet. Find the centre of…

Shopping list Fabric 14-count rustico oatmeal aida measuring 30x76cm (11¾x30in) Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras Backing fabric Cushion pad to fit Stitcher’s guide Packed with wow-factor, this gorgeous tulips design is stitched onto 14-count aida in 25 different thread colours. It contains whole cross stitch, fractionals and backstitch, and will take around 90 hours to complete. We think it’s a great project for intermediate-level stitchers. How to stitch the tulips design 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half both horizontally and vertically. Find the centre of the chart and start stitching here, in the centre of the fabric, working your way outwards. 2 Complete all of the cross stitch first using two strands of cotton. Whenever…

Shopping list Fabric 14-count white aida measuring 35x35cm (13¾x13¾in) Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras Decorative wire hanger White backing fabric Stitcher’s guide Our cute baby sampler is stitched onto 14-count white aida using 19 different colours of thread. It contains whole cross stitches, fractionals, backstitch and French knots, and will take around 50 hours to complete, making it best suited to intermediate stitchers, or beginners who are ready for a challenge. How to stitch the baby sampler 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half vertically and horizontally. The centre point is where the two fold marks cross. Follow the arrows on the chart to find its centre and start stitching here, working your way outwards. 2…