Love Embroidery

We’re spreading joy one colourful stitch at a time this month, with a magazine that’s filled to the brim with vibrant projects. From a delicious, embroidered ice cream topped with bugle bead sprinkles (resist the temptation to take a bite!), to a brilliant hoop (shown here) featuring the timeless picturebook character Elmer, to a Pridepowered rainbow bucket hat that’ll will see you through festival seasonal and beyond– we’ve got some real goodies lined up. Plus, we’ll be making the most of the summer weather with a chic floral outdoor cushion design, and a cutlery roll decorated with sweet strawberry motifs...…

Brace yourself readers, for another pattern-packed issue of your fave stitching magazine. Team LE has been busy working behind the scenes to bring you some rather special, and exclusive, designs this month... including our stunning Elmer pattern! Follow Georgie Emery’s tutorial on p44 and you’ll be able to bring David McKee’s iconic patchwork pal to life in thread AND swot up on essential stitches as you go. Plus, there’s Jenni Davis’ scrummy ice cream hoop for you to stitch (not lick!) on p14 , Anne Oliver’s thread painting masterclass on p55, our quick-make bee keyring kit on p11 – did we mention it’s the perfect size to pop in your suitcase for holiday stitching? – oh, and a super colourful bucket hat hack by Sam Eldridge (p35) to celebrate Pride…

NEWS PATTERNS PEOPLE HOME BOOKS Textile artist, teacher and founder of Mixed Color, Christi Johnson, is channeling her infectious creativity into a beautiful new podcast called Stitch Wish Radio. As well as covering topics such as stitching for the seasons, reviving the value of textiles and how to return to your process after taking a break, she also talks to well-known embroiderers (don’t miss the one with Tessa Perlow), graphic designers, makers and more. It’s the perfect companion to stitch along to, or take with you on a long sunny walk. You can catch up on the latest episodes via Christi’s website or wherever you listen to your podcasts. www.mixedcolor.net/podcast Stash spotlight Hold onto your hoops, stitchers: Nurge has got your little-and-large project needs sorted with its rectangular embroidery frames.…

MATERIALS Cotton fabric from your kit: 10x10cm, coral Stranded cotton from your kit or: 1 skein each of blue, light blue, brown, yellow Embroidery hoop: 8cm diameter Mini wooden scallop hoop from your kit: 6cm diameter (for displaying) Keychain and ring Strong craft glue Clips or pegs Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, Satin Stitch, Long and Short Stitch NOTES Find the template on p72. Stitch in an 8cm hoop and display your finished embroidery in the smaller 6cm wooden hoop. 01 Transfer the design from the template onto the fabric using your preferred method. We used a heat erasable pen and a light box, but you could use a brightly lit window as a light source. Then, mount your stitching into an 8cm diameter hoop with the design central…

MATERIALS Cotton fabric: 30x25cm, off-white Organza: 15x30cm, baby blue DMC Stranded Cotton: 1 skein each of Blanc (white), 23 (blush), 321 (deep red), 347 (dark pink), 434 (light brown), 600 (deep pink), 603 (pink), 606 (orange), 666 (red), 800 (blue), 818 (light pink), 839 (brown), 915 (maroon), 3833 (ruby pink) DMC Color Variation Stranded Cotton: 1 skein of 4045 (green) Oval embroidery hoop: 20x12.5cm diameter Felt: light colour, 19x11.5cm oval Bondaweb: 15x30cm, 3mm opaque bugle beads: light blue, light pink, purple, turquoise, yellow Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Bullion Knot, Cast-on Stitch, Long and Short Stitch, Padded Satin Stitch, Split Stitch, Stem Stitch, Straight Stitch, Whipped Backstitch Iscream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream! Summer is in full swing, and what better way to celebrate than with this delicious…

When a painter picks up a needle and thread, there is magic to be made. Vancouver-based stitcher Sam Eldridge is making her mark with blooms and vibrant creatures. Don’t be surprised to discover her roses climbing across dresses, and sacred hearts glowing on the shoulders of shirts. “I thought embroidery looked pretty cool and decided to give it a shot on a whim”, Sam says, recalling how she stumbled across the craft on Instagram. “My first self-taught piece was a very wobbly, ombre-coloured mountainscape. After that one project I was absolutely hooked. I loved that I could take my embroidery anywhere and I loved the challenge of creating images in a new medium.” Sam had been painting since early childhood. She leaned into watercolours and mixed media abstracts in her…