CrossStitcher

your cross stitcher free gift

Designed by: Maria Diaz Stitch count: 38 high x 28 wide Design size: 7x5cm (2¾x2in) Stitch time: 6 hours (each) Using… your calendar IT’S A DOGS LIFE! For 2020 our free gift features twelve different doggies, one for each month of the year. Here we are giving you the stitch details for the designs, worked on 14 count aida, and a copy of the January chart and key, which would make a super-cute Christmas card. If you would like to stitch the designs as a sampler with the name of each month backstitched below, you can send for our project pack which includes a layout guide and a chart for the lettering only – turn to page 15 to order. All the designs in It’s a Dogs Life! use two strands of stranded cotton for the…

welcome

WHAT DO YOU THINK about chunky stitching? By chunky we mean using a fabric with only single figures of stitches to the inch – and using not two strands of stranded cotton but two whole lengths (12 strands!). Does the thought fill you with bad memories of Binca fabrics at primary school? We weren’t all that keen until we tried it out on a new 4-count punched felt fabric. The stitches sit beautifully and we actually created a 12in cushion in eight hours. See the results on page 48. Our girls, who are 14 and 12 years old, were inspired too, one is stitching a handsome fox as a cushion for her bed, and the other is doing her own thing, inspired by a visit to a modern art gallery……

out there

Winter workshop Still haven’t written your Christmas wish list yet? We think this new Winter Limited Edition range of sewing accessories make perfect stocking fillers or last-minute gift ideas for yourself or crafting friends. From the pretty Magewappa Toolbox, to the handy Mini Scissors Of Seki White – the craftsmanship in these items will make them a joy to work with. We particularly love the Ceramic Thread Spool and Sea marking and Glass Marking Pins and the sweet Hinoki Pincushion! www.handsonworkshop.com. au/shop SPREAD THE JOY LOVERS OF backstitch, rejoice! This oh-so-cute Peace & Joy Embroidery Hoop Kit is super-Christmassy with a modern twist and worked only in backstitches! The hoop measures 20cm diameter and the fabric is ready printed with the design, so you simply follow the instructions and use the gorgeous quality threads…

my craft room: maria diaz

“My lovely light airy studio at the end of the garden is now a music come games room! Growing boys, what can I say? So, I have commandeered the front room which is a delight in the winter with its glorious open fire. “Tucked away in the corner I have a tidy li? le student bureau into which I stuff all sewing accessories, button and ribbons. The old Singer sewing machine was bought by my great grandmother from the Ideal Home exhibition in the 1920’s. The old round chair was also hers.And then you have my desk where all the hard work happens. I tend to sketch, scan, then colour using specialist software, picking fabrics and threads as I go.” www.mariadiazdesigns.com…

stitching with jess

Hullo! The new year is upon us! I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, but I do have a word I’m using as a sort of mini mantra for this year: embrace. Embrace what ‘is’, rather than dwell on how I think things should be, and embrace positivity. I have a bad habit of downplaying my achievements and comparing myself to others “I know I’ve done X, Y, and Z, but what about this thing here? I didn’t achieve this one thing that others have, so let’s all focus on that and ignore the positive things!” What a horrible habit to find myself with! Many of us fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Carefully curated social media posts can make it seem as though all in the world are…

crafty bookshelf

LEARN TO SEW IN 30 MINUTES: MACHINE SEWING DEBBIE VON GRABLER_ CROZIER [Search Press] Learn how to machine sew in simple 30 minute-lessons via a series of mini projects, which are all usable, to make great gifts for friends and family which are brilliant for using up scraps of fabric. Once you’ve finished your projects you can easily customise them with some cross stitch motifs – our monthly alphabets make a great way to add a monogram or two! THE MODERN EMBROIDERY STUDIO LAUREN HOLTON [Octopus Publishing] Lauren Holton has packed this title with on-trend motifs, patterns and projects, that are perfect for beginners through to experienced embroiderers. The book includes easy-to-follow instructions for each motif, plus her tips and guidance on how to get creative and customise them as you wish. There are ideas…