Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i CrossStitcher

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 52 high x 29 wide (each side) Design size: 9.5x5cm (3¾x2in) Stitch time: 12 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. You can download and print out your chimney and roof by visiting our CrossStitcher Digital Downloads page on Facebook Materials • Sampedro 14 count white aida; 27x17cm (10½x6¾in) • White felt; 13x13cm (5¼x5¼in) • Hessian; 13x13cm (5¼x5¼in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Metallic thread as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Seed beads in jewel shades • Black mini buttons x 3 • White sparkly pom-pom; 1cm diameter • Silver-effect teddy charm • Toy stuffing • Card template (see tip) Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Make a… Santa Step 1 FOLD your aida…

Yuletide Nostalgia Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas with Tilda’s new 2025 collection of fabrics and buttons! Perfect for backing cushions, lining bags and purses or for creating Advent calendar backings or pockets, festive bunting and more – this collection will cover all your Christmas stitching needs! Designed to be a soft, nostalgic Christmas collection with a sweet, vintage feel, it includes some Nordic inspiration inspired by one of the designer’s Danish grandmothers’ way of creating Christmas. Shades of red, duck egg blues, creams and greens combine to make an irresistible selection of fabrics for your festive projects. For stockists visit www.tildasworld.com. FIRM FAVOURITES: GRACE WHOWELL Designers share with us their top stitching essentials I sourced these unusual embroidery tools for customers and now they are essential items in my…

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 Feeling festive? If you’re not yet on a personal Christmas countdown, our wrapping paper letter and numbers are sure to put you in a merry mood! Whether you’re creating personalised gift bags or tags or even making a festive sampler or door sign – this collection is one you’ll want to have to hand! Designed by: Fiona Crouch Our Wrapping Paper alphabet letters were mounted in a card, Nurge hoop and a fabric-wrapped hoop. Each was stiched on Cream 14 count aida, and each letter is 30 high x 30 wide. The design for each letter is approx. 6x6cm(2¼x2¼in), and it took our…

Sarah, who lives in Sandhust, Berkshire, has created many personal cross stitch projects over the years. The story behind her red dragon picture from our May 2019 issue is particularly touching… This piece was more than just a beautiful design – it was a tribute to her late father. “It was finally completed in April of this year,” she explains. “It was a labour of love and in memory of my late Dad. “I started this design in July 2019 whilst caring for my dad after he suffered a stroke, as he became more dependent on me due to being diagnosed with Vascular Dementia.” The emotional weight of these circumstances made the project particularly challenging, Sarah admits, “It had to be put away as I could not spend long periods…

LITTLE LIBRARY SAL The third book in our library is Pride and Prejudice, a romantic novel of manners written by Jane Austen in 1813. It is one of the most popular novels in English Literature. Mr Bennet, owner of Longbourn estate, has five daughters. His property can only pass from male heir to male heir, so at least one of his daughters must marry well to support the others, once he dies. His second-eldest daughter, Elizabeth, the protagonist of the book, learns the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness as she overcomes her prejudice, finding true love. Start stitching the top left-hand corner of The Secret Garden, which was in issue, 426 September 2025, 17.5cm (7in) down from the top-left corner of the fabric, and 10cm (4in) in from…

ISSUE 429 DECEMBER 2025 On sale 21 October Inside this month ♥ Fa la-la-la-la: fabulous festive bough picture ♥ Woolly cool: Christmas jumpers alphabet ♥ Gorgeous gifts: Polar bear present tags ♥ Gingerbread joy: Christmas apron design 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 KITS All you need to create a Christmas picture and pincushion! 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 30 to subscribe.…

Hullo! As the year draws to a close (how time flies!), I’ve been taking stock. After my recent attempt at a career pivot didn’t land as hoped, I found myself feeling behind, as though I’d emptied every cup I had, and I ended up slipping into proper burnout. Not a nice place to land, is the old burn-out, but as I’ve paddled my way back to the surface, I’ve noticed pockets of spontaneous kindness arriving from unexpected places. My young neighbour knocked to check in after a parcel sat by my door overnight. A friend randomly made me a beautiful mug in their pottery class. Clients, who had no idea I was depleted, wrote unprompted and touching notes of thanks. The surprise was how many of these landed together, right…

(2) indicates more than one skein is required Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 181 high x 120 wide Design size: 34x22cm (13⅜x8⅝in) Stitch time: 114 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Tackle one house at a time, threading up several needles of each house’s brick colour before you begin stitching Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 50x40cm (19x15¾in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Frame with a 34x24cm (13⅜x9½in) aperture • Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com How to… frame a picture Step 1 CUT a piece of white mount board to fit inside your frame. Place your design centrally over the mount board and pin the fabric around the board to secure,…

Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon Stitch count: 121 high x 91 wide Design size: 22x17cm (8⅝x6⅝in) Stitch time: 23 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Stitch our example sampler as is, or custom create your own using our set of motifs! Materials For the sampler: • Zweigart Pewter 14 count aida, ref: 3706/713; 40x36cm (15¾x14in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Festive trimmings, including charms, beads, bows and buttons • Frame with a 25x20cm (10x8in) aperture • Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com HOW TO CUSTOMISE YOUR SAMPLER SIZING OF YOUR SAMPLER We have given you a border edge on the sampler (page 47), which is 121 high x 91 wide, but this doesn’t have to…

Today I am sitting at a well-scrubbed kitchen table in a Cotswold kitchen, warmed by a Delft blue Rayburn. My hostess offers me a slice of fruitcake baked by her husband – baking is something Bill has very successfully taken up in his retirement. My hostess is none other than Jane Greenoff, cross-stitch designer and founder of the Cross Stitch Guild. As for her own retirement plan, it didn’t quite work out as she had imagined… The dreamy kitchen is a far cry from the setting of Jane’s first steps in cross stitch. Having moved to a new area with her husband and very young son back in the 1980s, Jane found the prospect of returning to her nursing career impractical and not so appealing. Admiring a sampler in progress…

Materials • Zweigart Red 14 count aida, ref: 3706/954; 23x23cm (9x9in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Wooden embroidery hoop; 15cm (6in) diameter • Silver-effect bell charm • 6mm Ivory pom-pom trim; 60cm • Felt circle; 15cm (6in) diameter Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com You could stitch one or two more wreaths on different coloured fabrics to create a display – see page 66 for inspiration! Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 66 high x 66 wide Design size: 12x12cm (4¾x4¾in) Stitch time: 7 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. How to… finish your hoop STITCH your bell charm into the centre of the design using matching cotton thread. Glue pom-pom trim around the edge of the wooden hoop…

These Festive Treat Boxes are just right for getting your Christmas stitching of to a sparkling start, and add a personal touch to your seasonal stitching. Each of the four boxes available contains: ★ a lovely selection of DMC thread and goodies: ★ 8 DMC Shiny Light Effects ★ 2 DMC Twinkling Satins ★ 1 DMC Christmas Coloris ★ 1 DMC Sparkly Étoile PLUS, each box contains beads, bells or sequins, ribbon and a flexi hoop! The DMC threads included in your box are all six-stranded, divisible and can be used for all types of embroidery and cross stitch… DMC Light Effects will add glamour, shine and glitz to your stitching. DMC Satin is silky soft and this elegant thread will make your work shimmer. DMC Coloris is made up…

HARRY POTTER CROSS-STITCH EDITORS OF THUNDER BAY PRESS [Thunder Bay Press] Unleash your inner wizard with Harry Potter Cross-Stitch! This 56-page book offers easy instructions for 12 magical projects, such as house pride patches, Hogwarts ornaments and Butterbeer coasters. With a 6in hoop, aida, 14 shades of stranded cotton and a needle included, you can stitch two designs – Hogwarts at night and the Harry, Ron and Hermione trio. Create spellbinding gifts for fellow fans too! TRISH BURR’S NATURE EMBROIDERY TRANSFERS TRISH BURR [Search Press] Get creative with this guide featuring 75 embroidery designs by artist Trish Burr! Packed with easy-to-use iron-on transfer paper and some gorgeous colour inspiration, this charming book suits all skill levels. Explore nature-inspired motifs like flowers, butterflies and bees from Trish’s best-selling books, plus 40 exclusive…

Designed by: Jane Prutton Max. stitch count: 46 high x 36 wide Max. design size: 9x6.7cm (31⁄2x25⁄8in) Stitch time: 41⁄2 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. We’ ve suggested using sparkly aida as a super-quick and easy way to give your cards an extra-festive finish! Make an… aperture card Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, and one strand for the backstitch 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…

Materials • Zweigart 14 count 5cm (2in) aida band with silver edge Z7107/171; 130x5cm 52x2in) • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 11.5x9cm (4½x3½in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • DMC Light Effects as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Small round magnet (2 part) • Red felt; 11.5x9cm (4½x3½in) • Iron-on Vilene; 11.5x9cm (4½x3½in), stiff • 5mm ribbon; 20cm (8in) Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 645 high x 24 wide ladder; 47 high x 33 wide Santa Design size: 120x4cm (46¼x1⅝in) ladder; 8.5x6cm (4⅜x2⅜in) Santa Stitch time: 58 hours (both) This design was stitched on 14 count aida band. *See ‘The Key’ on page 78. By using a magnet you can move Santa up the ladder each day…

Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon Stitch count: 74 high x 37 wide (each side) Design size: 14x7cm (5½x2¾in) Stitch time: 10 hours (each side) This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. You can use old cereal packets to source the cardboard for this project, if you wish You could use a length of plaited thread or cord to hang your lantern instead if you prefer Materials • DMC Sparkly White 14 count aida; 20x12.5 cm(8x5in)x4 • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • 6mm Gingham ribbon; x 20 cm (8in)for the hanger • Silver charms x 4 • Cardboard for sides and bottom Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Make a… festive lantern decoration Step 1 USE the template provided to cut out four shapes…

Designed by: Jane Greenoff Stitch count: 63 high x 71 wide Design size: 9x11cm (3¾x4⅜in) Stitch time: 11 hours This design was stitched on 16 count aida fabric. Materials • Zweigart 16 count Ivory aida; ref: 3251/264; 20x23cm (8x9in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Frame with a 11.5x12.5cm (4½x5in) aperture • Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com…

Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 245 high x 180 wide (complete design) Design size: 44.5x33cm (17½x13in) Stitch time: 213 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Zweigart Navy 14 count aida, ref: 3706/589; 60x50cm (23½x19½in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • DMC Light Effects as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Seed beads as listed in the key • Frame with a 47x35.5cm (18½x14in) aperture • Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com HOW TO… TAKE YOUR STITCHING TO THE NEXT LEVEL We have included some more advanced stitching techniques in this project to help you to develop your stitching skills, ready for your next challenge… BACKSTITCH FOR DETAIL: To ensure every part of the…

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…

“One of my favourite traditions at Christmas is joining the carol singing trip around the village, which normally ends up in the local pub with a very jolly ‘Caroloke’. As we go from door to door, singing the same wonderful carols that have been sung for hundreds of years, our merry band of singers stroll onward through our normally dark village, which for one night only is full of light! Each house has drawn back its curtains, waiting for us to stand outside their door and blast out our harmonies for Silent Night or Joy To The World! My mini lantern is constructed in the same way as the larger lantern on page 53. (On page 56, you’ll find a template to use to make it, too.) Both are a…