Innehållsförteckning för January 2024 från CrossStitcher

PUNCH NEEDLE TATTOO DESIGNS AMY BUCHANAN [Landauer] This book includes 50 beginner-friendly punch needle designs inspired by Tattoo Art with 17 projects to try. Projects range from wall décor and ornaments to coasters, cushion covers, book bags, and more and both traditional and more modern designs are featured. Bold colours are the order of the day and don’t worry if you’re new to punch needle – all the basics you need to know are covered in the opening sections. BEAD EMBROIDERY: CHINESE STYLE YU HAN [Shanghai Press] Popular among the aristocrats in China’s imperial courts, bead embroidery is still used today to embellish modern haute couture, wedding dresses, and other accessories. This book shares 25 embroidery designs to try, with traditional Chinese design elements, including landscape paintings, bird and flower motifs,…

Every month we are giving you a FREE calendar download to print out and attach your stitching to display in your home. Head to our CrossStitcher Facebook Digital Downloads page… Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 46 high x 46 wide Design size: 8.5x8.5cm (3 ¼x 3 ¼in) Stitch time: 3 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. How to… join our Stitch-A-Long We’re unveiling a new monthly calender which will run from January to December 24. Over the year we will be bringing you 12 seasonal designs that can be used for birthday 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.…

Make a… Christmas tree pot cover Step 1 NOTE that our fabric measurements given (right) are for a 13cm diameter (5¼in) pot. You will need to measure your pot and then adjust the fabric size to fit, allowing for a seam allowance. The bottom of your stitching must be 7.5cm (3in) up from the bottom of the fabric, and centrally between the left and right-hand sides. Use two strands for the cross stitch and one strand for the backstitch and French knots. Step 2 COMPLETE all the cross stitch, and bring the two short sides of your fabric together, with the design on the inside. Stitch down the seam with a 1.25cm (½in) seam allowance. Slip the cover over your pot to check the fit. Still working on the wrong…

PAY AS YOU GO! DigitalPlus is a super money-saving, inflation-busting option! ENDLESS STITCHING DELIGHTS: Explore a universe of cross-stitch designs, from elegant florals to charming animals – discover your cross-stitch haven! MASTER YOUR CRAFT: Elevate your skills with expert tips, step-by-step tutorials, and insider secrets. Create stunning masterpieces with the guidance of seasoned stitchers. PERFECT FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, CrossStitcher Magazine caters to all. Find projects that match your skill and style in your stitching paradise. SCAN ME! Enjoy for just £2.66 per month! bit.ly/CROSPOTENTIAL DigitalPlus Subscription Perks: ✓ Instant access to the latest issues ✓ Convenient reading on any device ✓Access to an archive of past issues ✓Exclusive subscriber-only emails…

Nurse Kayleigh Dale has been cross stitching for over 30 years. Usually found with several projects on the go, she is a prolific stitcher, who has read CrossStitcher practically from our very first issue. Like many others, she finds cross stitch a mindful process which helps her to cope with the stresses and strains of her job… Kayleigh lives in Hailsham East Sussex. In her career, she specialises in nursing those living with dementia. Cross stitch has provided a crucial escape from the pressures of her role. “I find my job very stressful both physically and emotionally and cross stitching helps me go to my happy place, especially after a stressful or emotional shift,” she explains. “I learnt to cross stitch at school when I was six years old!” she…

THE CHALLENGE • 14 count white aida fabric • 7 shades of DMC stranded cotton (shown above) • Kraft pillow box THE RULES • Create a design to be a label on the front of a Kraft pillow box • The design should be no larger than 28 x 50 stitches • Only the materials above can be used • Be creative as possible! Looking for a last-minute gift wrap idea? We asked our three designers this month to come up with a personalised festive label for a pillow box. Our designers could only use the seven shades of stranded cotton stipulated and this time the stitching area was particularly small, making this challenge all the trickier! Take a look at their fab results below – we’ve featured a chart…

Materials • White 14 count aida; 12.5 x11cm (5x4 ¼in) • Red gingham cotton fabric; 13.5x16.5cm (5 ½x6 ½in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Why not make an envelope for every child or grandchild in your family? THANK YOU FRIEND CARD PROJECT! Perfect for saying thank you for gifts, we’ll show you show to stitch up our friendly fox, complete with printable card blank. ISSUE 405 FEBRUARY 2024 On sale 28 December…

£10.39 RRP £12.99 What’s Inside? Cross stitch is a traditional craft that allows beginners and experts alike to enjoy the experience of creating something, whether it’s for themselves or a gift for a loved one. As you stitch, you gradually see something pretty come to life and, once it’s finished, you can think, ‘I made that’. Hannah Sturrock loves to stitch and wants you to love it, too. Here she shares over 30 beautiful patterns with you. Make an adorable barnyard scene picture for young ones, or a comic-book style cross-stitched mobile phone case. Add an extra handmade touch to presents with stitched gift tags, and create a Christmas toy sack that will be treasured throughout the years. Bring the beauty of nature into the home with the flower hessian…

OWLS IF YOU liked our owl alphabet in this issue, we’re pretty sure you’ll find these needlecraft-inspired items a real hoot! WHO Abigail Edwards is the creator of this beautiful Owls of the British Isles linen fabric featuring 10 different owls: the barn owl, eagle owl, hawk owl, snowy owl, Tengmalm’s owl, scops owl, little owl, short-eared owl, long-eared owl and tawny owl. www.abigailedwards.com WHAT An adorable woodland owl cross stitch kit, this is a relatively small-scale design, so would be fine for beginners through to experienced crafters. This kit comes with a decorative 5in embroidery hoop and a wooden back. www.notonthehighstreet.com/stitchkits HOW Keep your needles safe with the wisest woodland creature around – this enamel owl will be the perfect stitching companion this winter. www.caterpillarcrossstitch.com…

LIMITED TIME OFFER! This offer ends 27 Dec, or earlier if stock runs out! This month we are bringing you a great selection of Dimensions cross stitch kits at reduced prices. Each kit has all you need to stitch the project, including aida, stranded cotton, needle, and a chart and full instructions. Some kits like the Christmas Village, Holiday Family Truck, Cardinal Joy and Santa’s Truck Stocking have the extras needed to make the stitching into a treasured Christmas decoration. Christmas Village by Dimensions (DM01) – set of 6 decorations. 18 count aida. Finished size 13cm; £37.45 £29.95 Christmas Morning Pets by Dimensions (DM02)– 18 count aida. Finished size 15.2x15.2cm; £18.75 £15 Toy Shoppe by Dimensions (DM03) – 18 count aida, Finished size 15x15cm; £20.30 £16.25 Holiday Family Truck by…

CrossStitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Joy to All, 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 • Printer’s tray How to order: Go to www.willowfabrics.com or turn to page 15 to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £51.50, plus P&P, or £18 for just the Printer’s Tray. Designed by: Susan Bates Max. stitch count: 38 x 38 small; 37 x 80 large Max. design size: 7x7cm (2¾x2¾in) small; 7x14.5cm (2¾x5¾in) large Stitch time: 45 hours This design was stitched on 14…

We asked our fans on Facebook, “If you were to give only one cross stitch tip to others, what would it be?” MICHELLE HASLER Good lighting and a cuppa, plus make sure you have everything you need next to you, so you don’t have to get up and rummage. LAURA COFFING Don’t rush to get it done. Take your time and enjoy the process of creating something beautiful that you and others will love for years. SARAH KEARNEY Count everything twice – saves a lot of unpicking! SUE BARBER I would say do your own thing! For example – it’s not a race, go as slow as you like! Have one project on the go or 10 – it’s up to you! The main thing is to enjoy it! And…

Between balancing books and creating heirloom-quality designs, the master of multitasking, Jeannine McGowan of The Blue Flower, is a busy lady! She took time from her job, Flosstube channel, and her own cross stitch pattern business to sit down with us and share how she makes the magic happen! What is the story of your relationship with needlework? Like so many in this community, I was taught to cross stitch as a child. However, it never held my interest when I was young. As an adult, though, I was fortunate enough to live near a wonderful shop in Port Oregon called ‘Acorns & Threads’ and from the first time I walked in it was like discovering a whole new world. There were amazing designs, fabrics, and threads – it was…

Designed by: Fiona Crouch Stitch time: 25 hours Stitch count: 28 high x 46 wide lid & base; 25 high x 22 wide Mary, Joseph & baby Design size: 5x8.5cm (2x3 ⅜in) lid & base; 4.5x4cm (1 ¾x1 ½in) Mary, Joseph & baby This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. This would make a lovely stocking-filler gift, so why not make several? We have a special pack available for this design. Turn to page 15 to order your fabric and tin pack for just £2.80 plus P&P. Please note: the stranded cotton is not included in this pack. Make a… nativity tin Step 1 STITCH Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, using two strands for the cross stitch and one strand for the backstitch and French knots. Position on…

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…

Would you like to develop your cross stitching techniques with our imaginative tutorials? Yes ☐ No ☐ Would you like to use our simple step-by-step instructions to make thoughtful gifts for your friends and family? Yes ☐ No ☐ Would you like to enjoy a unique and complete stitching gift with every issue? Yes ☐ No ☐ Would you like to embark on a world of inspiration and cross stitching creations? Yes ☐ No ☐ Would you like to save a MASSIVE 50% OFF the cover price? Yes ☐ No ☐ answers: Mostly YES! A CrossStitcher subscription is the perfect solution for you. Take advantage of this FANTASTIC 50% OFF deal today and make sure you never miss an issue of the BEST cross stitching magazine! bit.ly/CROSQuiz Mostly NO! Hmm… maybe…

Cosy Comforts With winter in full swing, what could be more comforting than a slice of toast with jam and a steaming cuppa? Well, these are just some of the treats to be enjoyed in Cotton Clara’s range of mini cross-stitch kits. Super-quick to stitch as a gift or a fun weekend project! Choose from Teacup, Chocolate Spread, Peanut Butter, Jam, Oat Milk and more. Each kit contains an 11cm embroidery hoop, coloured aida, needle, thread, wadding, instructions and backing disc so you can mount your work for display in your hoop when you’re finished. Find out more at cottonclara.com. FESTIVE JOY IN THE new embroidery book No. 182 Christmas Joy from Rico Design you get 14 Christmas designs with Christmas roses, traditional nativity scenes and romantic, wintry houses to…

Hullo! New year, new you! Well, that’s how the saying goes, even though the current you is brilliant just as you are. The beginning of the year is a classic time to re-evaluate where you’ve been and where you’d like to go. But I’ve always found that the best use for a new year has been to reconnect with how I think about myself and solidify the positive way I talk to and about myself. A positive perception of yourself and life can make all the difference during difficult times. Most of us have voices inside our heads that tear us down. They pop up without warning – sometimes without us noticing – adding shadow to how we see ourselves. If we don’t notice those little voices, they can damage…

Our Canterbury house’s story… Canterbury has been a European pilgrimage site of major importance for over 800 years since the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales have stood the test of more than 600 years and are known throughout the world. The pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales followed the Pilgrim’s Way to Canterbury, to worship and make penance at Becket’s tomb. Today it is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in England. The medieval city centre bustles with famous name stores and exclusive boutiques while the picturesque side streets are home to smaller specialist shops, pubs and restaurants. Our house is a Gothic-styled Victorian detached, constructed from distinctive local bricks. Known as Canterbury Multi or Blend, these handmade bricks create an attractive ‘variegated’ look…

Designed by: Jane Prutton Max. stitch count: 47 high x 46 wide Max. design size: 8.5x7.5cm (3 ¼x3in) Stitch time: 6 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials For each card • Zweigart Celedon Green 14 count aida, ref: 3706/611; 15x11cm (6x4 ¼in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle • Card blank, with a 10x8cm (4x3 ¼in) rectangular or oval aperture Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Make an… aperture card 10 Step 1 WORK using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch, and one strand 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…

You can easily shorten or lengthen the tape handles to make a shoulder or hand-held bag. Turn to page 15 to order your fabric and handles pack for just £5.80 plus P&P Designed by: Durene Jones Stitch count: 46 high x 84 wide bag; 4 wide x length of handle Design size: 9x15cm (3 ½x 5 ⅞in); 8mm (⅜in) x length of handle Stitch time: 15 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric and aida band. Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 67x26.5 cm (26 ½x10 ½in) • Zweigart White aida band; 2.5cm (1in) wide x 1.3m (52in) • Stranded cotton as listed in the key • DMC Light Effects as listed in the key • Size 24 tapestry needle Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com How to……

Welcome to our latest project that’s a bit more challenging. We published the first and second parts of our Christmas Town design in issues 402 and 403 – now you can complete the final section, before finishing it as a wall hanging for your home. We've provided full instructions for making the hanging over the page, complete with a colourful tassel trim. PART 3 Make a… wall hanging Step 1 START stitching with your fabric turned landscape. Part 1 of the design, was in issue November 402, this is the left section of the design. Fold your fabric into three, and find the centre point of this section. Follow the key for the number of strands for each stitch. Part 3 is in this issue (issue 404), and should be…

When the planning, buying and cooking for Christmas gets too much maybe it’s time to embrace the fun side! So it is Fa, La, La and a Ho, Ho, Ho from myself Susan Penny, and everyone on the team at CrossStitcher. These cute mini frames are available from Willow Fabrics (turn to page 15 to order), and they make great stocking fillers, or just hang them in your kitchen as a reminder to keep calm and breathe, whatever disaster happens with the turkey! PRIZES FOR YOUR PICS! WE WOULD love to see what you stitch when taking a break from the Christmas preparations. Everyone who is featured will receive a mystery prize! Send your photos to crossstitcher@warnersgroup.co.uk with TEA BREAK as the subject. Win! ISSUE 402’S WINNER Charlotte Willams loves to…