The World of Cross Stitching

We don’t know about you, but we’re putting the longer nights to good use and starting on our summer stitching projects. Pack up your bucket and spade and head to the beach with Wallace and Gromit – our cover stars this month (p10)! The sun-loving poppies on page 36 will add a splash of colour to your home and the set of six sweet cards on page 78 are perfect to stitch and send for summer birthdays. Enter a tropical rainforest with Amanda Butler’s beguiling black panther (p70) and set up camp with Heather Nugent’s pretty caravan sewing machine cover (p60). There are a couple of interesting techniques to try this month too – use just two shades of thread to create a striking linocut print-style effect in Lisa Reakes’ charming…

Caroline Sharp is retired and lives in Caerphilly What’s your fave WOXS design? I adore the ‘Forever Friends’ flowers design in issue 317 (March 2022). I’d like to stitch it for my best friend who lives abroad but will be visiting in the summer. Who are your stitching buddies? I’m a member of a local craft group. It’s lovely and friendly and gives me my own time to work on projects with other crafters. Your idea of stitchy heaven? Cup of tea, favourite radio station on, and stitching my current project. What drives you mad about cross stitching? When I realise I have forgotten to mark off the stitches on a chart! Best compliment for one of your cross-stitch pieces? My husband loves the ‘HMS Victory’ I stitched as a surprise gift for him. He’s a history fan and was really…

Gamer Mouse key STITCH COUNT 31 high x 28 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 5.5x5cm (2¼x2in) Girls game too, y’know, and Lizzie’s intent on going up a level. Headphones on, she’s plugged in to her console ready to beat Monty in the latest Furry Tales gaming challenge. This is a fab tween stitch – change up the colours to suit your own gaming fan. Missed a chart? ISSUE 320 Monty the superhero is ready to swoop to the rescue and save the day. ISSUE 319 Flossie looks enchanting as a mer-mouse with a tail that shimmers in the sea. ISSUE 318 Meet Charlie, a cheerful new addition to the delightful Furry Tales family. For back issues, call ☎ 03330 162 137 or visit http://bit.ly/1NwX3Rv…

Quick-to- stitch Factbox x Stitching Time Approx. 2-3 hours eachx Type of Stitches Cross stitch, fractionals, backstitchx Ease of Stitching Beginner/advanced beginner Fruity Tags key MAXIMUM STITCH COUNT 24 high x 18 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 4.5x3.5cm (1¾x1¼in) DESIGNED BY Cheryl McKinnon STITCHED BY Angela Griffin These designs were stitched using stranded cotton from your coverkit Materials x White 14-count aida measuring 12x20cm (4¾x7¾in) x Stranded cotton as listed in the keyx 8 shaped gift tagsx Ribbon measuring 90cm in length (35½in) Inside your kit… Here are the colours and number of lengths of thread in your tags kit Light green x3 Black x5 Brown x1 Purple x2 Pink x2 Dark green x2 Green x3 Orange x2 Yellow x2 Red x4 Total: 26 lengths TOP TIP Complete all of the cross stitches before starting the backstitch, to make sure the outlines and fruity faces stand out…

Say cheese, Gromit! A trip to the seaside isn’t complete without a spot of sandcastle building, and this impressive attempt is certainly worth showing off for that all-important holiday snap. Wallace and his faithful pooch Gromit look like they’re having a grand old time on the yellow sand, surrounded by white chalk cliffs and lush blue seas. Wonder if they’ll take a dip? Join in the fun by stitching this scene to brighten up your home until you get away on your own holiday. The pattern is easy to follow with big blocks of solid colour and just a few fractionals to watch for in the characters’ eyes. The half-stitch waters add a dynamic twist too, and the blue fabric background sets the scene of a summer’s day perfectly. Display in…

Star Letter FANTASTICAL STITCHES I just finished my masterpiece and picked it up from the framers. The design is ‘Kindred Spirits’ by Anne Stokes from Heaven and Earth Designs*. I began work on this design in January 2016 and finished it in July 2021, spending a total of 816 stitching days on it altogether. The size of the design is 65x85cm (25½x33½in), that’s 84x105cm (33x41¼in) with a frame and a whopping 356,475 stitches. The chart had 81 pages in it, there were 89 thread colours and I worked it on 20-count aida. It was such a joy to stitch this beautiful design. I’ve never worked on such a huge one before and wasn’t sure I would have enough patience and stamina to finish it. Cross stitch is my way to meditate and…