Índex per Summer 2021 a CrossStitcher

Stitch count: 37 high x 55 wide Design size: 8x10cm (3.x4in) Stitch time: 5 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… zipped purse Step 1 STITCH the design in the centre of 11x14cm (4⅜x5½in) of 14 count aida. Some of the backstitch lines for the flower stems need to split an aida square. Try to split the square equally to create a straight line. Step 2 FOLD over the top of the stitched aida onto the wrong side by 1cm (⅜in) and press. Working from the outside of the purse, place the fold on top of a closed 11cm zip, so the seam is up against the teeth on one side, spaced equally in the fabric centre. Make a row of white machine stitches across,…

Stay in line Anette Eriksson has embraced The Minimal Line Art Trend with her new needlepoint kits worked in half cross stitch on hessian. If you’d like to ‘go large’ with your stitching, these designs would be worthy of any gallery, so will give your home a cool contemporary art vibe in an instant. They come in a choice of eight colours, so you can go for vibrant, bold shades if you prefer. Each kit contains your choice of fabric, your choice of yarn, black and white chart and instructions. Perfect for giving your decor a summer makeover! www.anetteeriksson.com MY CRAFtROOM: HANNAH BASS We get to see a glimpse of a designer’s own craft space… “As my business has grown, my craft storage has spread into every room. I have…

Hullo! Summer is here and, after the crazy times we’ve had over the past year and a half, it’s time to bask in some happiness and sunshine! I don’t know about you, but I live for sunlight, whether I’m outside hiking, sitting at my garden table stitching with a cup of tea, or working at my desk and watching it stream in through the window. But if there’s one thing that loves the sun more than me, it’s this month’s floriology bloom, the gorgeous sunflower! The meaning of this flower is adoration, and it certainly shows its adoration to the sun, turning throughout the day to follow our local star across the sky. Sunny weather always makes me feel happy, which helps me better appreciate all the people I adore.…

A DIFFERENT ROOM FOR EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR! How to… display your stitching WE used a house shaped wooden box frame, which we painted with a grey emulsion match pot and then made a cardboard triangle to fill in the front. The roof and front were then covered in tile paper, normally used for train modelling – both the box and paper are available from online craft and modelling shops. Stitch count: 56 high x 62 wide Design size: 10.5x11cm (41/8x4¼in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen over two threads of fabric. Materials Zweigart Antique White 28 count Cashel, ref: 3281/0101; 20x20cm (8x8in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle Frame with an 11.5x11.5cm (4½x4½in) aperture Materials available from…

Stitch count: 42 high x 34 wide Design size: 8x6.5cm (3¼x3½in) plus space for your buttons Stitch time: 5 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. The aqua card blank we used is available from www.willowfabrics.com in packs of four or in the summer card pack Meterials Sampedro White 14 count aida; 10x15cm (4x6in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Card blank with a 10x8cm (4x3in) rectangular aperture Coloured buttons x 3 Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com…

MICHELLE HANDLEY My friend has a 5-month-old miniature Yorkie (my favourite dog) so I couldn't resist stitching this for her and I made it into a card for her birthday. SUSANNE HOPKINS When my cat died, I stitched the nearest likeness to her and made it into a lavender pillow. On the reverse side I used backstitch to write her name and dates of birth and death. SAM KENNEDY I do cross stitches for other people. This is one of my favourites of my friend’s bulldog. KATIE GEE Frequently! This was originally a pattern featuring a very orange cat but I changed it up a bit so she would look like my kitty Pikachu! ‘Like’ our page on Facebook; facebook.com/CrossStitcherMag and join the conversation!…

PART 1 Stitching your… Summer SAL Step 1 TAKE a 21x16cm (8¼x6⅜in) piece of white 14 count aida and turn it landscape. Position this first postcard so the blue half cross stitch in the top left-hand corner of the design is 14 aida squares down from the top of the fabric, and 14 aida squares in from the left-hand edge. Once you’ve worked the three designs (parts 2 and 3 are in the next two issues of CrossStitcher), and leaving two aida squares between each of the postcards, the finished size will be 67 stitches high x 79 wide. Step 2 ADD lavendar seed beads – the beads should be stitched in the positions marked on the chart with a dark pink dot, over the top of the cross stitches.…

WILDFLOWERANDCOMPANY Use this Seashell Patch with Embroidered Appliqué in Aqua Blue and Pastel to iron onto your projects. It measures 2x1¾in. OOMYGIDDYAUNTPARLOUR Go big and bold with this bright3in wide multi-coloured seashell design grosgrain ribbon, available by the metre. SAPH1RE Made from plastic, these realistic buttons have shanks (loops for sewing) on the back and would look great on stitched cards!…

FLORAL FOLK ART IN CROSS STITCH DURENE JONES [Tuva Publishing] Our very own designer, Durene Jones, here showcases a whole host of folksy cross stitch motifs. The book acts as a library of designs that you can choose how to use as you wish, with motifs, borders, corner flourishes and much more all included. You can easily devise your own folk art-style sampler by putting together items to make one stunning design. Have fun adorning anything from key fobs to cushion covers in bold folk art style! EMBROIDERED ANIMALS: WILD AND WOOLLY CREATURES TO STITCH AND SEW YUMIKO HIGUCHI [Roost Books] Including designs for foxes, cats, owls, zebras and pandas and from elegant birds to adorable rabbits and even sheep, there are 25 motifs and patterns included in this book…

Stitch count: 50 high x 52 wide Design size: 9x9.5cm (3½x3¾in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen over two threads of fabric. Materials Zweigart Pale Cream 28 count Cashel, ref: 3281/99; 23x23cm (9x9in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 26 tapestry needle Wooden embroidery hoop; 13cm (5in) diameter Felt circle; 13cm (5in) diameter Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com How to… frame your work in a hoop Step 1 TRIM your stitching and a fabric piece into a circle slightly larger than your hoop. Place the inside hoop beneath the two pieces and the outer hoop on top. Centre and press over your work. Pull taut and tighten the screw. Step 2 TURN your stitching to the reverse and cut a piece of felt…

Max. stitch count: 42 high x 42 wide Max. design size: 18x18cm (7x7in) Stitch time: 6 hours each These designs were stitched on 6 count Binca. Make a… seashell cushion Step 1 STITCH your chosen shell in the centre of your 6 count Binca, in the same way as aida, using all six strands of stranded cotton. Take care not to trail your thread behind the fabric or your stitches may show through. Step 2 CHECK the edges of the fabric carefully to see if they are straight. If uneven, you will need to cut the fabric so that you have a complete fabric square on each edge. Fray the outer edges by peeling away one square of Binca on all four edges of the fabric. Step 3 PLACE the…

PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch The Secret Garden, 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 Cream Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 17 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £37, plus P&P. With so many green and beige stranded cotton shades in this design, it will pay to thread up several needles of them before you start stitching! Materials Sampedro Cream 14 count aida; 60x50cm (23½x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry…

Summer 2021 means a lot of exciting prospects for every stitcher, from meeting up with friends again to being able to shop for new stash. From staycation stitching to the best inspiration for designs – we chatted to four friends from the stitching industry about what they’re looking forward to and their top summer stitching tips… CHARLIE MANKIN Cross stitch designer www.stitchsperation.com What stitching trends do you see coming up in Summer 2021? There has been such an increase in people taking up crafts during the pandemic, particularly needlecraft which as we all know is great mindfulness practice, hopefully this trend will continue. It’s been amazing to see people finding joy in simple things like cross stitch. I think that this summer we will see more modern and alternative designs…

Welcome to this month’s designer challenge! Summertime makes for a great reason to spruce up our sewing workboxes. A stitcher always needs to keep their embroidery scissors clean and safe, so we asked three designers to come up with a summery scissor case design, using only the materials we gave them. They had to base their designs on just six stranded cotton colours. Read on to see our designers’ pretty results! If you’d like to take on our next challenge, turn to page 75 for details of the challenge for our August issue! THE CHALLENGE THE RULES CHERYL MCKINNON… GILDED BIRDCAGE “The colours reminded me of beautiful late-summer foliage, so I wanted to fit as many lovely blooms as possible. The little bird in…

GIRAFFES IF YOU’VE fallen for our family of giraffes on page 60, it’s time to stick your neck out with these stitching treats too… WHO Gloria is the name of this oh-so-cute felt sewing kit. Make your own Gloria feltie using the kit with traceable embroidery templates and full colour instructions and stitch diagram. www.notonthehighstreet.com/beakind WHAT Sophie Allport's Giraffe fabric is available to buy by the metre. Her gorgeous illustrations of African giraffes are dotted over the mustard/ochre coloured fabric. It is 100% cotton so suitable for cushions and bag linings. www.sophieallport.com HOW Brighten up a corner of your home with this elegant Giraffe Embroidery Kit which comes with a pre-made fair-trade and zip-opening organic cushion cover to stitch onto. www.paraffle-embroidery.com…

What to stitch for a special friend? For Ann Williams, from Devon, the answer was simple – anything that would remind her pal Alan of his feline friend, Eric… Ann Williams, who moved to Devon when she retired, and has always enjoyed sewing, knitting and needlework throughout her life, only got hooked on cross stitch last year. “In January 2020 I visited my younger sister Carol. She had problems with her eyes and so she gave me all her cross stitching equipment including many editions of CrossStitcher, and so began the learning of a new skill at 83 years old,” she recalls. Carol sadly passed away last May, but Ann continued to stitch, “I decided to take out a subscription for CrossStitcher, firstly because it was the magazine Carol had…

Stitch count: 35 high x 56 wide flap; 74 high x 32 wide case Design size: 6.5x9.5cm (2½x3¾in); 12.5 x5.5cm (5x2¼in) Stitch time: 17 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen over two threads of fabric. Make a… scissor case Step 1 COMPLETE the stitching for the flap and the case front, using two strands for the cross stitch and one for the backstitch. The scissors should be stitched on the fabric just below the centre, so that when the flap is added they will be on the front of the case. Step 2 PIN your flap and lining fabric right-sides together. Using the outer edge of the stitching as a guide, machine stitch the two layers together, following the line of stitching to create a curve, but…

Max. stitch count: 52 high x 38 wide Max. design size: 9.5x7.5cm (3.x3in) Stitch time: 4 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. *See ‘The Key’ on page 80. Make an… aperture card 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 around the edge of the aperture. Step 4 PLACE the stitching on the table right-side up, and then place the card on top, pressing down firmly on the tape. Step 5 CHECK which flap will fold onto the back of the stitching, then add…

PART 2 Welcome to part 2 of our tea party! This month you’ll stitch the Duchess and King with gold bead highlights! Plus you will stitch the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle. The Gryphon has the head, talons and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, while the Mock Turtle has the head, hind hooves and tail of a cow and the body, shell and front flippers of a sea turtle! YOUR FINISHED TEA PARTY SCENE In this issue we are giving you the second part of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party – the middle section. Next issue you will receive the right-hand side of the chart, which when stitched will make up into a complete scene. Here’s how the complete scene will look when you’ve finished…

The one thing that stitchers dread is making up their projects. Most people worry that their finishing will not do their hours of meticulous cross stitching justice, and so tend to shy away from anything that looks too complicated. Putting a zip into a purse or cushion looks difficult, but it’s actually quite simple once you know the steps. The cover kit this issue also contains a zip, and so using the instructions opposite I hope you'll be able to assemble your purse with ease and enjoy using it this summer. In issue 361 of CrossStitcher I designed this fruity purse. It is made using the same instructions as opposite, and came with a matching orange shaped bag tag and hand gel bag. If you missed this issue, you can…