Cross Stitch Favourites

Welcome to your spring issue of Cross Stitch Favourites! It’s time to embrace longer, lighter days and shake up your to-stitch list with fresh designs to keep you inspired for the new season. There’s so much to choose from this issue, from the spring florals in welly boot planters on the cover, to fun fast finishes such as spring gifts on a botanical theme. There are plenty of motifs here to gift your friends and loved ones, and lots of treats for you too! Indulge in the Parisian-themed charts to add elegant touches of glamour to your home and tame that stash with cute and clever hoop storage ideas to hang in your craft corner. Every year holds special events to stitch for and we have all the big occasions covered, from…

After the bare earth of winter, there’s joy in the sight of new bulbs bursting into life. Keep that anticipation in mind while you work on this gorgeous design, packed with vibrant blooms. Spring will be here soon, so plant up pots, watering cans or even your old wellies to give bulbs the space to launch into life in the next few months! Despite the detailed feel, Susan Bates hasn’t used any fractional stitches. Instead she’s built up depth with clever shading, capturing the areas of light and shadow with 32 stranded cottons. When you’re working a project with lots of colours, it’s helpful to organise your threads before you begin, cutting lengths of 40cm and arranging them on a punched card labelled with the corresponding code. That way, you can…

Stitch Tip Save time by threading several needles with different colours before you begin – just remember to label them There’s some similarities between stitching and gardening, from sowing seeds, tending to a patch (whether it be earth or aida), and charting your progress through the seasons. So why not bring the two hobbies together in a fun allotment alphabet? With letters stitched in four shades of green and motifs such as sunflowers, apples, a robin and a rake, pick out the word you want to stitch and patch! Shopping list Fabric 14-count white aida measuring 10cm (4in) x desired width Threads Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle Size 24 tapestry needle Extras Wooden hanging sign, white paper and acid-free double-sided tape from local stores Stitch Tip Pull the thread away from the skein in the way it has been wound,…

Stitch Tip These little pockets are a fun way to use up any treasured fabric scraps and end pieces of ribbon too! Most stitchy accessories such as threads and needles are so small they often go astray, but we’ve got the perfect fix. Take one handy hoop, a pretty stitched design, a scrap of fabric and voilà – a beautiful storage solution, ready to decorate your wall! They’re a really fun way to clean out your leftovers cupboard and spruce up your craft corner with wall art. Make them up using the guide on page 16. How to make your storage hoops 1 Fold your pocket fabric in half with wrong sides facing, then machine-stitch a hem 1cm (½in) from the fold. Take the inside section of your hoop and lie your stitching face…

After the panic of festive stitching, it’s nice to lighten up a bit and these little stitches are packed with fresh colours. They’re designed to celebrate new beginnings – so, whether you’re looking for a stitch to welcome a new arrival, boost a little one on their first day at school, or settle a friend in their new abode, you’ll find just the card you need right here. There are times when it’s doubly important to show a close friend or relative you are thinking of them – after a break-up or an illness, perhaps. Use these uplifting sentiments and bright cards to send positive messages to those who really need it, and celebrate those new beginnings in stitches. Newcomers to stitching will enjoy these designs too as they contain just whole…

Stitch Tip If you want your work professionally framed for a special occasion, such as a wedding, remember that this can take up to two weeks The only thing we love better than a good wedding is… stitching for that wedding! Looking forward to the big day with a card or gift to stitch is a wonderful way to enjoy the anticipation. Keep the happy couple in your thoughts as you choose a card or gift to stitch for them. Or perhaps use this library of ideas to create a set of wedding stationery – you’re sure to find colours and motifs to fit the theme. Bright ideas If you want to match a particular colour scheme, then you can swap out shades. Find the thread shades closest to the colour scheme and sort…