CrossStitcher July 2022

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 56 high x 42 wide Design size: 10x7.5cm (4x3in) Stitch time: 5 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… mini summer banner Step 1 TAKE a 16x12cm (6¼x4¾in) piece of white 14 count aida. Start stitching with the lower blue flag at the bottom of the design, which should be centrally placed on the aida fabric, with the stitch at the point in the 15th hole up from the bottom of the fabric. Step 2 COMPLETE the stitching, then cut the sides of the fabric straight, and then fray the outer edges, removing one aida block at the sides. Step 3 FOLD the bottom of the aida into a point, so that the blue flag at the bottom of the design, is in the centre. Next, press the turnings in…

WE FEEL HONOURED that CrossStitcher is read and enjoyed all over the world. We always try to consider everyone when we put all our ideas together but this month we’ll simply have to apologise to our readers in the southern hemisphere… we can’t resist celebrating summer with hot colours and heaps of sunny stitching! (We’ve handily ignored the fact the UK summers can often be rainy!) For a taste of all things summer, we recommend Faye Walsh’s sampler on page 40. She takes us from garden to beach and back again in style! Talking of tastes, if you have anything you’d like to personalise, our ice creams alphabet on page 49 is the most delicious way to decorate your projects. We’ve also looked for inspiration beyond our shores to bring you some…

Chic Escape If you’re a fan of Escape to the Chateau, you’re going to love the new range of fabrics from Tilda, who say, “Chic Escape is inspired by brave people saving and bringing life and laughter back to old forgotten buildings, and all our shared interests in vintage fabric, pottery and flowers.” With its larger patterns and bolder, deeper colours, Chic Escape is a little different from other Tilda collections as the aim is to maintain a similar level of detail, despite the larger designs. Tilda have recently decided to divide the year into three collections; spring/summer and autumn/winter, with a special edition range in between, with Chic Escape their first Special Edition collection. www.tildasworld.com GIN O’CLOCK! FOLLOWING ON from our fun Gin & Tonic cards in issue 383, here’s another celebration of…

“Born in the UK, I moved to the US in my early twenties. Over 30 years ago my husband built me a beautiful studio on our property. It has become the perfect location of small workshops and classes, as well as to design knitting and embroidery. I use it as my sanctuary of creativity; the outside gardens and farmland, filled with birds and flowers, make this a tranquil place to recharge and make. I love my studio. It’s where I’ve spent many years writing knitting and embroidery books and designing hundreds of works for commissions and magazines.” Drop us a line to crosssstitcher@warnersgroup.co.uk with images of your craft space and a few words about it and our favourites could be featured in a future issue!…

ICE CREAMS LOVE OUR ice cream & lollies alphabet on page 49? We’ve three more deliciously cool crafty finds for you to enjoy… WHO Marvling Bros are the masters of fitting cross cross kits into matchboxes! Keep things cool and cute too, with their Kawaii Ice Cream! inamatchbox.com WHAT Looking good enough to eat, this Ice Lolly Iron-Patch co-ordinates nicely with our ice cream numbers and letters. www.rexlondon.com HOW Make a summer statement and keep your small summer WIPs in this magnificent raffia tote bag that’s in the shape of an ice cream cone. It measures 30x22x12cm. www.takatomo.de…

Hullo! To continue our theme of appreciating the ‘little things’, this week’s small delight are bubbles! A wise person once said ‘there’s no angry way to say bubbles’ and I don’t think it’s humanly possible to stay glum when bubbles are around. Part of the allure and excitement of bubbles is partially held in their transient nature – here one minute then POP! and it’s gone. Humans often try to hold onto good feelings and good times, even when those things may not be so good anymore. While we as a species are amazingly adaptable, we also stubbornly dig our heels in when it comes to change. Change can be scary and with so much having changed in the past few years it’s natural that we would like things to remain…