Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2020 från CrossStitcher

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 38 high x 25 wide Design size: 7x4.5cm (2¾x1¾in) Stitch time:3 hours This design was stitched on 14 count plastic aida. You could also stitch the bouquet design on 14 count aida and mount it in an aperture card to send to a friend this summer! Make a… bouquet brooch Step 1 STITCH the brooch design in the centre of a 9x7cm (3½x2¾in) piece of 14 count plastic aida, using two strands for the Cross Stitch, one for the backstitch and one for the French knots. Step 2 CUT around the design, leaving one unstitched square of plastic aida around the flowers – use small scissors, working one block at a time, and avoid cutting any stitches. Step 3 LAY the stitched plastic aida on…

Hullo! It’s summer! The time of the year where the sun gets in your face, spirits are lifted, and everything seems a little more amazing! I don’t know about you, but once I smell summer on the breeze, I wake up feeling more energised and eager to throw myself into all that life has to offer. I like to use this energy to allow myself the freedom to sometimes do things that make me happy–just because I can! This month we’re all about the free spirit–feeling it, being it, embracing it no matter what anyone else says. We all have that one hobby or habit that makes us really happy but might seem odd to others. For example, I am a grown woman and I love dinosaurs. I used to…

Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Sea View, 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: Zweigart 14 count aida in Light Blue Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Skein of DMC Étoile Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £26, plus P&P. If you missed issue 354 with our spring band sampler, visit www.willowfabrics.com to order a back issue Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon Stitch count: 180 high x 120 wide Design size: 33x22cm (13x8¾in) Stitch time: 52 hours This design was stitched…

Stitch count: 10 high x 49 wide Design size: 8.5x2cm (3¼x¾in) Stitch time: 2 hours This design was stitched on a 14 count aida band. Make a… scissor fob Step 1 STITCH the design twice on the aida band, centring it on the fabric. Use two strands for the cross stitch and one for the backstitch. Step 2 FOLD the ends of the aida band over twice onto the wrong side of the fabric, and catch stitch the ends in place. Step 3 SLIP the stitched aida band through the scissor handle, and then sew the ends together, covering the stitches on either side with a small button. Pop this in a card to send to a stitching friend on their birthday! Materials Zweigart White 14 count 1in aida band…

We have a real treat for you – a beautiful birds design from Anchor. The sparrows in the picture are packed with detail, such as the plumage on their fluffy chests – with plenty of backstitch used to bring out all the different elements. The foliage and grass are created from half stitches for contrast and the light blue aida provides an instant sky. Designed by: Anchor Stitch count: 112 high x 185 wide Design size: 20x34cm (8x13¼in) Stitch time: 90 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. With lots of colour changes, it will save you time to sort your threads on a thread organiser before you begin Materials Zweigart Ice Blue 14 count aida, ref: 3706/550; 50x55cm (19½x21½in) Anchor stranded cotton as listed in the…

“I’m the first to admit my craft room isn’t Pinterest worthy! We don’t have a lot of extra room for a home office so my work area is set up in our spare room, amongst the ironing board and musical instruments. “The limited space means I don’t keep a lot of supplies on hand, or have many projects on the go. But what I do keep on-hand are as many floss colours as I can handle, hoops and frames of different sizes, and various stitching fabrics so I can see in real life what elements will best work together. That way, I can lovingly create patterns that I know will be a joy to stitch and will look fantastic!” www.etsy.com/au/shop/savagexstitch…

THE KEW BOOK OF EMBROIDERED FLOWERS TRISH BURR [Search Press] This book, with reusable iron-on transfers, is written by needlework expert Trish Burr with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The embroideries are re-workings of botanical artworks from Kew’s Art Collection. If you’re not an embroidery expert, you’ll be pleased to know that the designs mainly focus on long-and-short stitch and silk shading. Inside you’ll also find help with all the clearly-illustrated stitches needed, and advice on materials and threads. HOW TO CROSS STITCH SIAN HAMILTON [GMC Publications] If you’re new to cross stitch and want a little more guidance to hold your hand, this easy-to-follow project book takes you through the basic techniques. Each stitch is explained and accompanied by a stylish project to make, with clear step-by-step instructions. The…

Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Secret Garden, 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: DMC 14 count Marble aida in Gold Sand Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £30, plus P&P. With lots of colour changes within the details, keep track by crossing off each stitch on your chart once completed Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 181 high x 120 wide Design size: 34x21.5cm (13½x8½in) Stitch time: 42 hours This design was stitched…

Rainbows have become a cheering sight in the UK during this pandemic, with people putting up colourful pictures in their windows. Our three summer projects are all rainbow themed, bringing kindness and love to people who touch our lives. Our beautiful badge can be given to anyone doing a difficult job. Our ‘Thank You’ card can be given to someone helping you out, whether delivering your groceries or walking your dog. Finally, why not stitch a rainbow to hang in your window? MAKE A… BE KIND BADGE Our quick and easy button badge also makes a great gift. Step 1 CUT a 7.5cm (3in) diameter circle from a clear plastic food container. Place over your stitching, and with the design in the centre, cut out a circle from the fabric,…

POPS MORFITT The rocking horse baby by Lili of the Valley – I’ve done it 12 times and I'm just starting another one today. GILLIE WILLATT I loved your 3D Christmas tree, I’ve had requests to make it for other friends and relatives. PJ KINTOP A bell pull with a Norwegian design I give as a housewarming gift. AMANDA WALTMAN PARKER A rubber duck baby announcement cross stitch. It has a cross stitched ribbon border, so I did it in a different colour for each of my children. CASSIE RUTH A design of Belle and Boo by Bothy Threads, I have stitched it several times for my granddaughters, great granddaughters, for friends, as birth samplers and gifts. It is such a beautiful design and is always received with such love,…

Whether you only love cross stitch or enjoy a wide range of crafts, chances are you have come across Dee Hardwicke’s designs somewhere along the way. During her career Dee’s creations have ranged from tableware and stationery to hand knit designs. She explains how she gains inspiration from the Welsh landscape and nature… Hi Dee! Can you tell us about yourself and your art background? I’ve always been very creative, and some of my earliest memories are of making little outfits for my dolls or painting in the garden. Since making things is a way of life for me, I didn’t initially consider it as being the basis of a career. It was wonderful to study Fine Arts and to discover that I could make a career out of being…

We’ve teamed up with Anchor to bring you this beautiful countryside scene. One of the UK’s best-known stitching brands, Anchor has over 250 years of experience producing high-quality thread and designs for all forms of creative crafts. Anchor can trace its history back to 1866 when the Clarke family adopted the Anchor brand for their embroidery thread manufactured in Paisley, Scotland. In 1896 Coats, another local family specialising in sewing thread, joined forces with the Clark family to operate as J&P Coats, thus becoming the biggest thread manufacturer in the world. Today, the Anchor brand in Europe is manufactured by Metzcrafts in their Nagyatad mill in Hungary to the specifications and standards adopted all those years ago by Coats. Anchor's colourful range features an assortment of vibrant, consistent and bright…

THE ESSENTIAL KIT YOU’LL NEED TO START STITCHING NEEDLES For basic stitching you’ll need a tapestry needle that has a blunt tip and large eye. Use a size 24 needle for most aidas, and a size 26 for evenweaves and linens. Use a sharp embroidery needle for finer details such as backstitch and French knots. EMBROIDERYSCISSORS Embroidery scissors are an absolute must-have. Keep yours sharp by only using them to cut threads. STRANDEDCOTTON Embroidery thread is also called stranded cotton. Each thread length is made up of six strands of cotton twisted together. The chart key will tell you how many strands you’ll need to stitch with. HOOPSANDFRAMES Though not absolutely essential, we do recommend using an embroidery hoop or frame to keep an even stitching tension. FABRICS Aida is…

ISSUE359 JULY2020 On sale 16June Inside this month ❤ Start our stunning sunflowers Italian landscape ❤ Make some waves with our beautiful beach cushion ❤ You’re sure to be bowled over by our cute cricket poster ❤ Stitch up sea creature motifs using our latest alphabet YOUR SUMMER BUMPER PACK! zippursekit Your next kit for our Inside… CrossStitcher Packed with new ideas and designs for you Just stitch it! PLUS Our stitch expert shares three easy rainbow projects to show you care……

WE BET THAT ONE TIME or another a friend has told you off gently for wanting to stay home and stitch. How grateful we all are now for an indoor hobby that requires no more than a few materials and a comfy corner! Perhaps you’re just fed up with that same WIP or unfinished Christmas design – no problem! Materials packs for our summer projects are available – order a pack today and enjoy a fresh new start. The CrossStitcher team are in safe isolation, but still producing your favourite magazine, and Willow Fabrics can always help with any other supplies to keep you stitching. We want all our readers to keep safe, so why not have your copies of CrossStitcher delivered to your door? And if you are comfortable…

SUMMER BOUQUETS WITH OUR free brooch kit featuring on page 2, we’ve searched for the pick of the bunch of beautiful bouquets to stitch with… WHO The Handmade Florist offers DIY felt flower kits such as this stunning Sunshine Bee Bouquet–with materials and instructions to make 15 flowers(Sunflower, Lavender, Fuchsia, Dandelion and Daisy) and a trio of cute bumblebees. thehandmadeflorist.com WHAT This Bright Flower heads Kit from DMC won’t fail to raise a smile. The kit contains 14 count aida, DMC threads on an organiser, needle, embroidery hoop, charts and full instructions. www.dmc.com HOW Brighten up a hand-sewn bag with this Brampton Bunch print fabric, which has a light weight water repellent coating that is both splash proof and stain resistant. www.cathkidston.com…

This Will Pass samplers This mini sampler brings a message of hope as people unite in the face of hardship. We are all in this together, and we will get through it! The kit uses the best quality materials; Zweigart fabric and DMC thread. It is available for RRP £8.95 from www.lifetimesamplers.co.uk. 10% of the price will go the National Emergencies Trust for NHS & Coronavirus. We have five kits to give away. Enter by post to the address below, labelling your entry ‘MINI SAMPLER GIVEAWAY XST358’. Stash organisers Sort your stash! This useful organiser box is 26x17.5cm (10x7in), and comes with 50 cardboard bobbins, plus an extra 56 cardboard bobbins and a packet of 630 DMC number stickers. You also get two useful hinged rings for holding bobbins while…

CrossStitcher is the UK’s longest-established cross stitch magazine, bringing you irresistible projects from top designers. It’s packed with quality content from quick and easy, to classic samplers, from greetings cards to contemporary cushions. We pride ourselves on an upbeat and friendly approach to make every stitcher welcome, whatever their experience and ability. We know how to treat our subscribers well, so make sure you aren’t missing out on a single issue and make sure you subscribe today! Already a subscriber? Well it doesn’t hurt to remind yourself of the amazing benefits we’re giving you each and every issue. Not subscribed yet? You’re missing all this… SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS: Free kit with every issue, sometimes two kits! Help shape our content – we are actively looking for new and talented designers Save…

Max. stitch count: 53 high x 40 wide Max. design size: 10.5x7.5cm (4x3in) Stitch time: 10 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 for the backstitch. 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 stitching, then add strips of double-sided tape and press firmly down…

Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch our Keep in Touch sampler, 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 Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £31.50, plus P&P. Stitch count: 178 high x 112 wide Design size: 33x22cm (13x8¾in) Stitch time: 45 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. How to… frame a picture Step 1 CUT a piece of white mount board to fit inside…

THE CHALLENGE THE RULES With the sun shining and dreams of summer fun in the future, we challenged our three designers to come up with a design for a festival-style bracelet. They were given only seven thread shades and a pre-punched pale green bracelet band to fill with an on-trend design and that was it! The results, as you can see, were bright, bold and fabulously fun. We hope their results will inspire you to join in too – turn the page to see what our challenge will be for August – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. FIONA CROUCH… LET’S GO CAMPING “What do I associate most with the summer festival season? Colourful camping with bunting, tents and caravans. Hopefully this…

“Your hair wants cutting,” said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity Welcome to our new stitch-a-long for 2020. Designer Amanda Butler has created an amazing ‘Alice In Wonderland’ SAL – and will be unveiling a new character from this much-loved book and Through The Looking Glass each month. In this issue we give you the Mad Hatter… THE ADVENTURES OF ALICE SAL This is the sixth part of our stitch-along design. Over the year we will be bringing you 12 Alice in Wonderland character designs. This issue we give you the ‘Mad Hatter’ who fits into the second space on the second row. Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 38 high x 25 wide Design size: 3.8x6.5 cm (1½x2½in) Stitch time: 3…