Cross Stitch Favourites

welcome

Christmas is just around the corner and, as we all know, it's the busiest time in the stitching calendar. Maybe you have a card list as long as your arm, or are looking for some special gifts to make. Perhaps you want to fill your home with handstitched decorations, or want to embellish shop-bought presents with a cross stitched flourish. Whatever you are looking to create, you'll find plenty of inspiration inside this issue of Cross Stitch Favourites – it's absolutely packed with festive designs! With charts from some of the UK's most talented cross stitch designers, this bumper collection offers something for stitchers old and new. Our motifs sections are bursting with quick and easy designs that will help beginners grow in confidence, before moving on to more technical charts…

bright lights

Stitcher’s guide Our impressive stag is stitched onto 14-count white aida, using 22 shades of cotton. The cross stitch is worked in two strands of thread and the backstitch in one strand. As it is created in just whole stitches and backstitch, and with an approximate stitch time of 25 hours, this is a really great project for a beginner looking for their first large project. How to stitch the festive stag 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half horizontally and vertically. Follow the arrows on the chart to find its centre and start stitching here, working your way outwards. 2 Work the cross stitch using two strands of cotton. Check the key as you stitch to make sure you are always working in the correct thread colours. 3 Add…

moggie mischief

Stitcher’s guide These irresistible kittens are worked on 28-count evenweave, using 25 shades of cotton and one metallic thread. You'll work the cross stitch in two strands of cotton or metallic thread and the backstitch in one strand. The designs contain a few French knots that you'll work in one strand of thread, as well as some fractionals, making them best suited to intermediate stitchers. How to stitch the Christmas kittens 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half horizontally and vertically. Follow the arrows on the chart to find its centre and start stitching here, working your way outwards. 2 Work the cross stitch over two threads of the fabric in two strands of cotton or metallic. Where you see a tiny symbol on the chart, work a fractional…

baublicious!

All items handmade or shop-bought Stitcher’s guide These bauble motifs are stitched onto 14-count aida and aida band, using whole cross stitch, backstitch, fractionals and French knots. With something for stitchers of every skill level included in this collection, we're confident everyone will find a chart they'll love to stitch this Christmas. Stitch Tip Add wow-factor to presents when you add a stitched bauble to a gift bag. We patched ours on using double-sided tape Stitch Tip Add an extra dimension to your greetings by layering your stitched design onto sparkly paper, then the card Stitch Tip Turn your motif into a gift tag by backing it with ironon interfacing, then fixing onto card Bright idea Small motifs like these are perfect for turning into unique cards and, as they're all quick to stitch, you can easily get ahead on…

birds and berries

Stitcher’s guide Our pretty winter cushion is stitched onto 28-count evenweave using just two different shades of stranded cotton. The design contains whole cross stitches only, and is perfect for intermediate stitchers as well as confident beginners who want to have a go at working on evenweave. How to stitch the winter cushion design 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half horizontally and vertically. Follow the arrows on the chart to find its centre and start stitching here, working your way outwards. 2 Work the cross stitch using two strands of cotton. Just two colours of thread are used in this design – red and blue – so check the key as you stitch to make sure you are always working correctly. 3 When you have completed the stitching, then…

glorious glass

Stitcher’s guide These beautiful stained glass designs are stitched onto 14-count white aida and contain whole cross stitch, fractionals and backstitch, making them satisfying projects for advanced beginners or intermediate level stitchers. How to stitch the stained glass designs 1 Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half horizontally and vertically. Follow the arrows on the chart to find its centre and start stitching here, working your way outwards. 2 Work the cross stitch using two strands of cotton. Where you see a tiny symbol on the chart, work a fractional stitch in its place. 3 Add the backstitch using one strand of cotton. Backstitch is worked in black cotton for all these designs. 4 When you have completed the stitching, then carefully check over your finished work and prepare it for making…