CrossStitcher

ear Template Use your template at 100% Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 47 high x 38 wide Design size: 8.5x7cm (33/8x23/4in) Stitch time: 6 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… mouse needle case Step 1 STITCH the design on the aida using two strands for the cross stitch and one for the backstitch and one for the French knots. Cut the felt in half down the middle, and then cut just one of the strips in half again, creating a felt square roughly the same size as the aida. Place the stitching on the felt square right-sides together, and following the top line of cross stitch, stitch along the seam. With the aida and the felt still folded, and using the pink outline on the chart as a guide, cut around…

LOOKING OUT OF the office window here at CrossStitcher HQ we’re still hoping for some positive signs of spring, winter gales have brought the usual round of falling and broken trees, twice we’ve been trapped before our son arrived with a chainsaw! Our cover is rather suggestive of spring with the wonderful Scandi style provided by Susan Bates – you can find the design on page 20, though we suspect you won’t be taking it outdoors for comfort just yet. Our sampler sewing set on page 44 may be more in keeping with evenings by the fire on those still-chilly nights of March. If you’re hunting for something to stitch for Mum (Mother’s Day is 19 March in the UK) then our little bear card (page 26) fits the bill, one or…

Bloomin’ Brilliant For a bold, bright blast of springtime joy, look no further than this Bloomin’ Marvellous kit from Hannah Bass. Stitched with one strand of 4 ply tapestry wool in half cross stitch on printed canvas, it measures 30x53.5cm. Each kit contains Zweigart quality colour printed canvas (10 holes per inch), plenty of Appleton's tapestry wool, three tapestry needles, illustration of the design and easy to follow stitching this one. There's a few neons in it, and a ton of bright colours to fight away the winter blues. Do hope you like I backed it in amber velvet with butter yellow pom-pom trim". hannahbass.com SPRING BREAK HEADING TO the coast or abroad for a spring break? This travel sewing kit contains everything essential for sewing on the go. It’ll be perfect if you’re…

“My craft room is in my box spare bedroom and has to fit the occasional guest in it as well as all of my crafting gubbins! I organise most of my bits and bobs using stacked clear storage boxes–which take up an entire wall! This means the rest of the room can be functional and also used to display things that inspire me for one reason or another. I display these on shelves made from reclaimed scaffolding timber and plumbing parts, which give a cosy and industrial feel. My deskis extra-long so that either my computer or my sewing machine can be pushed to the side, depending on what I am doing. My favourite tools for stitching and designing are my computer, stands and my combined headlamp and magnifying glasses.” www.stitch-junkie.com www.facebook.com/StitchJunkieDesigns Drop…

ROSES MAKE OUR rose on pillow design on page 64, then turn your hand to more beautiful rose-filled projects that feature on-trend floral motifs… WHO Cath Kidston’s Antique Rose Cotton Duck Fabric is perfect for cushion backs and other upholstery projects. It’s 100% cotton and the width is 140cm – order by the metre. www.cathkidston.com WHAT Simple yet effective, this beautiful Roses cross-stitch kit from DMC shows them off at their best – growing gracefully in the garden, the perfect substitute until summer blooms arrive. www.dmc.com HOW Celebrate a birth with this Victorian Teddy Bear sampler kit. With a finished size of 15x20cm, the design uses cross stitches, a few fractional stitches, backstitch and one French knot. The chart includes an alphabet and numbers for personalisation. www.bothythreads.com…

Hello! I have been struggling with one of my house plants – no matt er what I did, it never flourished. It wasn’t dying but it certainly wasn’t happy either. I recently moved it into a shady corner of the room while I was doing something and forgot to move it back. A few weeks later, it was flourishing! The location is awful for that kind of plant, it shouldn’t be so happy – yet there it sits as happy as can be, merrily sprouting flowers and new leaves. Looking back, I should have seen the signs, but I’ve been busy, and I wasn’t paying attention. It got me thinking – am I not paying attention and missing signs that I’m not in the best environment? Sometimes things must be put…