Innehållsförteckning för July 2024 från CrossStitcher

Bright Ideas Fans of the bold and chunky stitch kits from Stitchsperation will be pleased to hear the range has expanded! The range now includes Blah Blah Blah, a Chunky Modern Cross Stitch design featuring overlapping CMYK text and eight beautiful shades of UK-made Appletons tapestry wool. Choose from two delightful colourways, ‘Lights’ and ‘Brights’. There is also Good Vibes Only and Life is Good in the range. Once you’ve finished stitching, the artwork measures approximately 30x30cm and can be framed or turned into a cushion. The packaging they come in makes them great gifts, too! To find out more, visit www.stitchsperation.com. PEAK PRACTICE IF YOU’RE hankering for the great outdoors this summer, this beautiful scenic landscape makes the perfect reminder of holiday adventures, or you could even take it…

Designed by: Maria Diaz Max. stitch count: 47 high x 38 wide Max. design size: 8.5x6.5cm (3¼x25⁄8in) Stitch time: 6 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 strand for the backstitch. Make the animal tails by cutting three lengths of all six strands of stranded cotton for each tail 25cm (10in) long. Use a bodkin or large-eyed needle and make a stitch though the aida so that all the thread ends are on the right side. Use the photographs to help find the correct position. Plait the tail to the desired length and then knot and cut off the remaining thread. Step 2 TRIM the stitched fabric to…

We asked our fans on Facebook, “How often do you experiment with different fabrics – or do you prefer 14 count aida every time?” NICOLA PAALMAN I used to always use aida until a few months back. I had always wanted to give evenweave a try, but it scared me. But then I saw a pattern that said evenweave was the best to use so I gave it go and I will never go back to aida now! JULIE MOORE My experimenting usually comes in the form of colours of cloth rather than type of cloth. I typically use 14 or 16-count aida, but I like to try out patterns in black, navy, oatmeal, shimmery metallic, hand-dyed with variations, and other colours! If I think it will give the final project…

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 Welcome to the coop! Our chirpy chickens are perfect for all sorts of projects. Crow about your love of friends and family with some egg-cellent gifts and cards embellished with their initials or names, or feather your nest with a cushion or other chicken-themed homestyle projects! Designed by: Fiona Crouch Our Chickens alphabet letters were mounted in a card, flexi-hoop and a thread-bound wooden embroidery hoop. Each was stitched on 14 count pale blue 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 hours to…

Best-selling cross stitch designer Emma Congdon is back with a fur-tastic new book, Cross Stitch with Catitude. Known for her vibrant and cheeky designs, Emma has channelled the spirit of your sassiest fur friends into 20 brand new, purr-sonality packed designs. WHAT’S INSIDE? • 20 UNIQUE DESIGNS: Celebrate cats with attitude through bold, irreverent humour only a true cat lover can appreciate. • BEGINNER FRIENDLY: Complete with full-colour charts and step-by-step guidance to get you stitching in no time. • GIFT-READY: A beautifully packaged collection ideal for gifting to the cat enthusiast in your life – or treating yourself! SHOP NOW AT bit.ly/CROSCatitude *This product is subject to availability and priced correctly at the time of publication. Geographic restrictions apply.…

It’s always a good time to treat yourself to new workbox accessories, so we’ve asked three designers this month to come up with a design for a needlecase that has been inspired by the style and colours of old-fashioned samplers. They could only use the materials listed on the left, making sure to include the eight shades of stranded cotton we chose and the other elements needed to create the needlecase. Take a look at their results below – we’ve featured a chart for each one so you can stitch your favourite! We hope this will inspire you to join in too – turn the page to see what our challenge will be for September – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. EMMA CONGDON… PINS AND NEEDLES I…

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…

Below are my top 5 essentials for when I’m creating new cross-stitch designs or simply relaxing stitching. www.tinymodernist.com NEEDLEMINDER To make sure my needles are always where I left them, I like using a needleminder. I picked up this DMC brand one recently, which is super cute and features the colour 995, which is a fun bright blue! GOOD LIGHTING Good lighting is such a key thing to have in your stitching spot. It makes it easier to keep your stitches neat, and to see the fabric holes. I have an overhead arc lamp with a bright daylight bulb installed in it. It provides such great light any time of day. STITCHING FRAME I prefer using square or rectangular frames to hoops, and I’ve found that Q-Snap frames keep my…

Hullo! Not sure if you’ve felt the same, but this year has managed to be very hectic. Perhaps this is just a side effect of getting older – I didn’t believe it would happen, but time does move more swiftly and is more chaotic! Not that I’m mad at the passage of time; every year brings better things. But I do find myself craving more moments of peace and quiet (with a cup of tea and a biscuit). As much as it’s important to carve out some magical downtime in our busy lives, it’s also important to create magical spaces too. Whether you have a favourite chair to stitch in, a whimsical décor theme throughout your home, or a hidden grove in a wooded area you like to visit, finding…

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 (3¼x 3¼in) Stitch time: 3 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Over the year we will be bringing you 12 months to make a Calendar Year. Each month is filled with motifs appropriate for that season Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 14x14cm (5½x5½in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com 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…

*See ‘The Key’ on page 79. Designed by: Emma Congdon Stitch count: 135 high x 135 wide Design size: 25x25cm (97⁄8x97⁄8in) Stitch time: 56 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials • Sampedro white 14 count aida; 46x46cm (18x18in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Wooden embroidery hoop; 25.5cm (10in) diameter Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com This is the fourth and final design in our series of seasonal hoop designs. Our first one, Autumn Fox, featured in issue 401, our second, a Night Owl, featured in issue 405 and a Spring Hare featured in issue 407. Don’t worry if you missed them – simply head to www.crossstitchermag.co.uk to order a back issue How to… frame your work in a hoop Step 1…

Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon Stitch count: 50 high x 36 wide, gable ends; 33 high x 52 wide, sides Design size: 9.2x6.7cm (35⁄8x25⁄8in); 6x9.5cm (23⁄8x33⁄4in) Stitch time: 40 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. If you don't have time to make the complete shed-one of the panel designs would still be ideal to stitch for a birthday card for a gardener! Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 43x33cm (17x13in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Brown felt for the roof• Cardboard Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com Make a… garden shed Step 1 STITCH two shed sides and two gable ends. Leave at least 4cm (1½in) between each section. Use two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch and one for…

Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon  Stitch count: 60 high x 60 wide – case; 15 high x 14 wide – fob Design size: 11.5x11.5cm (4½x4½in); 3x3cm (1¼x1¼in) Stitch time: 14 hours; 2 hours These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… scissor keep & fob Step 1 NOTE that the blue line on the scissor keep chart shows the outer stitching line when assembling your case. You should add on 1.25cm (½in) on all sides for a seam allowance. The aida in the materials list is the correct size to make your case. Fold the fabric to find the centre and start stitching here. Use two strands for the cross stitch and one for the backstitch. The blue line on the chart is a guide line only, and…

72 EXCLUSIVE SUMMER MOTIFS! Welcome to a special selection of summer designs you can use for your seasonal projects! Whether you want a motif for a birthday card, or to create a summer sampler, we’ve got the designs you need! Mix and match your favourites to come up with a whole host of summery makes… Designed by: Maria Diaz GNOME SCISSOR KEEPER Never lose your scissors when stitching in the garden or on the beach; create a fun gnome to keep your scissors safe. Stitch the gnome on pale green aida, then back with a second stitched gnome, or with felt or cotton fabric. Stitch together, catching the cut ends of a folded length of ribbon in the top seam, turn to the right side and then stuff with toy stuffing…

WITH CrossStitcher “The month of July in the UK brings better weather and of course the Wimbledon tennis championships. Now is the time to enjoy your garden and to celebrate some amazing tennis with a cocktail or fruit punch. Why not cross stitch my butterfly on 14 count white aida? Paint it with fabric glue to stop it fraying, before cutting it out and attaching to a drinking straw. Pimm’s anyone?” Susan Penny SHOW OFF WHAT OR WHERE YOU STITCH… WE’D love to see what or where you stitch on your break. Send to crossstitcher@warnersgroup.co.uk with TEA BREAK as the subject. If you’re featured you’ll receive a mystery prize! ISSUE 409’S TEA BREAK WINNER “This is my seat for stitching in the garden – lovely and calming.”Karen Houghton, Isle of…

COTTAGE CROSS-STITCH GAIL BUSSI [Stackpole Books] This book showcases 20 stitching projects, each featuring a beautiful miniature home, from cosy cabins to charming little camper vans. With step-by-step instructions and materials lists, you can create an enchanting home of your own and enjoy the relaxing rituals of cottage life, including baking, gardening and embracing nature’s beauty. Display your work as a constant reminder of your dream home. THREADS OF TREASURE SARA BARNES [Schiffer Craft] This gorgeous book encourages embroidery enthusiasts to cherish the pleasure of creating. It features interviews with 14 stitchers who inspire readers to infuse their own stitching with empowering concepts. The book also offers three projects, teaching readers how to mend and embellish beloved items. It also asks them to savour the small moments of everyday life by incorporating…

*See ‘The Key’ on page 79. Designed by: Emma Congdon  Stitch count: 180 high x 123 wide Design size: 33x22.5cm (13x87⁄8in)  Stitch time: 117 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. ‘Park’ your needle in the fabric instead of cutting your thread and starting a new one each time you need to switch colours Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 50x40cm (19x153⁄4in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Frame with a 34x24cm (133⁄8x9½in) 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, starting at…

We’ve pulled out all the stops with a butterfly design that shows the best of the british countryside, complete with thatched cottage! Blending, half stitches and backstitch give your picture depth and detail. There are a lot of colour changes here, so we recommend the ‘park and stitch’ method, where you park your needle in the fabric with one colour, while working on another area. Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 180 high x 120 wide Design size: 33x22cm (13x85⁄8in) Stitch time: 85 hours Materials • Sampedro White 14 count aida; 50x40cm (19x153⁄4in)• Stranded cotton as listed in the key• Size 24 tapestry needle• Frame with a 40x30cm (153⁄4x113⁄4in) aperture• Mount board to fit frame Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com HOW TO… TAKE YOUR STITCHING TO THE NEXT LEVEL We have…