Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2025 i CrossStitcher

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 120 high x 27 wide Design size: 22x5.5cm (8½x2¼in) Stitch time: 8 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 8x24cm (3¼x9½in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Pink felt; 8x24cm (3¼x9½in) • White button Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Make a… needle roll Step 1 STITCH the design in the centre of the aida, using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, and one strand for the backstitch and French knots. Step 2 COMPLETE the stitching, then trim the aida, leaving four blank aida squares around the edges of the design. Fray the outer aida block. Step 3 PIN the aida in the centre of…

Poppy Perfection We are loving Emma Horan’s gorgeous new Coastal Poppy collection of cross-stitch kits. They are available all together as a premium Poppy set and also individually as three separate cross stitch kits and matching needleminder. They are also available with the square frames/hoops and red dotty scissors. To check out the full range of options, visit www.emmalouiseartstitch.co.uk. FIRM FAVOURITES: OKSANA SHEVCHENKO Designers share with us their top stitching essentials SCROLL FRAME AND HOOPS I love stitching with both hands, so a scroll frame is my favourite tool. It holds fabric securely, making it perfect for larger or irregularly shaped projects – bookmark stitching is no problem now! I’ve also attached a small magnet to the metal screw on the side, ensuring my needle is always in sight. While…

Based in the quiet village of Gantofta, Helsingborg, Siobhan has made a home filled with creativity and cross-stitching. Living in the southern part of Sweden, she often finds herself having to travel to supply her hobby. “It is a very quiet village, so I travel to neighbouring cities to hunt the tools and materials I need. The cross-stitch scene here is quiet, but active when you know where to look. Sweden has a beautiful history of Nordic cross stitch.” Siobhan’s love for cross stitch began in her childhood. “I first fell in love with the beautiful world of cross stitching when I was about eight or nine,” she recalls. She rediscovered her passion as a teenager, drawn back to it for its relaxing qualities. “It is so therapeutic; I can…

CrossSticher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Flowers & Flutters, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching straight away, and have it delivered to your door! Your materials pack contains: • Sampedro 14 count in White • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • 11cm (4.3in) Nurge frame in Coffee, Pink and Lilac • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 10 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project at the CrossStitcher reader price of £52, or just the frames and aida for £21.90, both plus P&P. Designed by: Susan Bates Stitch count: 50 high x 50 wide (each) Design size: 9x9cm (3½x3½in) Stitch time: 6 hours each Materials This design was…

Hullo! Sometimes life feels like everything is great and you’re kicking every goal. Then there are bouts where not only is the opposite seemingly true, but it’s like some imp is going out of its way to tie your shoelaces together for laughs. My last few months have been chock-full of imps. Despite sprouting good mental health in this column for years, I’m as human as anyone – I give good advice, but can be useless at taking it myself. Things have been changing in fundamental parts of my life and, if I’m perfectly honest, dear reader, I feel quite off kilter. Like I’ve been shaken awake in the middle of a nap: confused and exhausted. Turns out, there’s still been a great deal of progress made. News to me!…

Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 59 high x 35 wide lighthouse; 43 high x 43 wide boat Design size: 11x6.5cm (4⅜x2½in); 8x8cm (3⅛x3⅛in) Stitch time: 9½ hours; 8½ hours These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Sampdero White 14 count aida; 18x13cm (7x5in) – lighthouse; 13x13cm (5x5in) – boat • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Felt;11x6.5cm (4⅜x2½in) – lighthouse; 8x8cm (3⅛x3⅛in) – boat • Quilt batting; 11x6.5cm (4⅜x2½in) – lighthouse; 8x8cm (3⅛x3⅛in) – boat • Baker’s twine; 1m (39in) • Cardboard for the back Make a… hanger Step 1 COMPLETE the stitching, then place a piece of white paper or greaseproof paper over the stitching, and trace over the outer edge of the design. This is your template…

CrossSticher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Wild Charm, 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: • Zweigart Rustico 14 count aida in Flecked Oatmeal • Skeins of DMC stranded cotton • Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 10 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £26.80, plus P&P. Designed by: Faye Walsh Stitch count: 120 high x 180 wide Design size: 22x33.5cm (85⁄8x131⁄8in) Stitch time: 35 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Rustico aida contains 15% linen if you are looking for a more…

Each month we publish a new letter and number set based on a theme, designed for you to cut out and keep for when you need it For green-fingered inspiration, look no further than our alphabet filled with allotment motifs! Our letter and numbers are perfect for for all your plant-inspired projects! Whether you’re decorating a tote bags or crafting decorations for a gardener’s birthday party, these motifs are too blooming cute! Designed by: Fiona Crouch Our Allotment alphabet letters were mounted in a card, plastic hoop and a bound wooden embroidery hoop. Each was stitched on Blue 14 count aida, and each letter is approximately 30 high x 30 wide. The design size for each letter is approx. 6x6cm (2¼x2¼in), and it took our stitcher three and a half…

Trips to the beach over summer wouldn’t be complete without an ice cream cone or two! Our Mr Whippy icecream van is sure to bring back treasured childhood memories of seaside holidays and makes a brilliant summer stitch. Those looking for a challenge will enjoy the fact that blending, half stitching and French knots are all included to help bring this classic nostalgic scene to life! Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 117 high x 178 wide Design size: 22.5x33cm (83⁄4x13in) Stitch time: 87 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. TURN TO PAGE 30 TO LEARN HOW TO FRAME YOUR PICTURE Materials: • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 50x45cm (19½x17¾in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Frame with a…

ISSUE 426 SEPTEMBER 2025 On sale 5 August Inside this month ♥ On Your Mind: ‘stitcher’s brain’ silhouette poster ♥ Cute Cuddles: teddy bear collection cushion ♥ On Pointe: make a beautiful ballet bag ♥ Move It!: Cute New Home cards set STOCKISTS WANTED! If you are an independent stitching shop, and would like to stock CrossStitcher magazine, please email NikkiM@warnersgroup.co.uk for more details. YOUR EXCLUSIVE KIT! Your kit contains all you need to make a seaside card with bicycle button! SECURE YOUR STITCHING INSPIRATION! Subscribing to CrossStitcher has never been easier! Enjoy the convenience of subscribing using your local currency and secure your monthly stitching inspiration – plus SAVE BIG ON THE SHOP PRICES! Turn to page 24 to subscribe.…

For August we have a great NEW product that will help you stitch quicker, keeping your fabric taut, and is lightweight, comes in four sizes, and can be used to both stitch and also display your work as we have done on page 44 for the pretty butterfly and bugs project. Manufactured in Europe by Nurge, the frames, made from ABS plastic, are very light but rigid. Easy to transport with round corners, as no sharp corners to puncture your project bag. Plus, the way they are constructed means not only can you stitch right up to the edge of the fabric, but you’ll not need to keep tightening the nut – there is a notch in one hoop that fits into a groove on the other that keeps the…

EMBROIDERING ANIMALS WITH COLOUR AND TEXTURE JESSICA LONG [Fox Chapel Publishing] Discover a collection of imaginative and inventive embroidery ideas! Featuring 25 projects showcasing a variety of popular animal motifs, along with exclusive designs, it offers accessible info on essential stitches, tools and methods. With comprehensive instructions and vibrant diagrams, embroiderers of all skill levels will find fresh techniques to give depth and character to their projects. WITCHY STITCHING MEG BLACK [Herbert Press] Time to get some spooky stitching started, ready for October 31st! The Witchy Stitcher invites you to explore the mysterious side of stitching with Meg Black, featuring patterns inspired by gothic art, Halloween delights and whimsical oddities. With 25 projects suitable for all skill levels, you can create spooky decor and festive designs too. Discover the materials you…

Materials • Zweigart Antique White 28 count Brittney, ref: 3270/100; 15x10cm(6x4in) x 4 • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Gold DMC Light Effects for theplaited hanger • Cardboard for sides and bottom Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon Stitch count: 56 high x 36 wide (each side) Design size: 9.5x6.3cm (3¾x2½in) Stitch time: 6 hours (each side) This design was stitched on 28 count evenweave, working over two threads of fabric. You could use a length of ribbon or cord to hang your birdcage instead if you prefer Any of the birdcage designs would also make a lovely card or mini picture Template Use your template at 100% Make a… bird cage decoration Step 1 USE the template provided to…

For Dutch designer Iris Kleinbussink, cross stitch is more than a craft, it’s a stitched portal into a playful, pixel-perfect world filled with frogs in Halloween costumes, three-headed cats, and the occasional dragon teapot. Her brand, NeedleLot Designs, is a haven for stitchers seeking designs that are as imaginative as they are technically satisfying. Iris first picked up a needle as a teenager, thanks to her mum. “She showed me a few designers, and from that moment on I was completely and utterly SOLD!” It wasn’t long before the urge to create her own patterns took hold. She began experimenting with design through patterns such as mandalas (a far cry from her current style) and, while it was a steep learning curve, the creative spark was lit. These days, Iris’s…

THE CHALLENGE • Mini calico bag • 7 shades of DMC stranded cotton (shown above) THE RULES • Create a ‘doggy bag’ on a mini calico bag, add the design as a patch or use waste canvas to stitch directly on the bag • The design must be no larger than 60 x 60 stitches • Only the materials above can be used • Be creative as possible! We know many of our readers are pet owners, so we’ve come up with a delightful doggy-themed design for this month’s challenge. We asked three designers to create a design that’s suitable to go on the front of a small tote bag, that a dog-lover would be happy to use. They also had to stick to only the seven shades of stranded…

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…