Table of contents for November 2022 in CrossStitcher

Please note, our key covers the thread needed for just the second eight motifs featured in this issue How to… use your calendar kit IN THIS ISSUE we are giving you the second set of eight motifs for your Advent calendar. Next issue we will be featuring the final motifs to complete your calendar. The motifs should be stitched in the positions shown on the chart given to you in issue 388. If you missed it, you can order issue 388 as a back issue, or digi issue, by heading to our website, crossstitchermag.com. You can download and print out the calendar itself by visiting our CrossStitcher Digital Downloads group on Facebook. The blue boxes show the approximate positions of the windows on the calendar – variations in the tension…

REMINDERS TEND TO have a bad reputation… reminders to pay bills, reminders to do something you’d forgotten. We’d like to remind you (sorry…) that reminders can be good. This train of thought started when we commissioned Maria Diaz to create our wonderfully nostalgic Santa and Rudolf design for our Christmas cover. As you can see on page 20, she has pictured the famous reindeer presenting his boss with a very relevant calendar page. The last couple of years have been bad for so many reasons but we need to remind ourselves there are still plenty of good things too. One very good thing is that enforced stays at home gave some of us the time to slow down and try something new. For many that was cross stitch, so we…

“After moving home in 2021, I was lucky to get my own dedicated craft room. I’d started my Etsy business the year before so this was perfect timing. It’s so tranquil, south facing and the ideal haven for being creative. Needle Minders have been my main focus but I’m now also making Scissor Fobs and Stitch Markers. My craft room has space for me to work on multiple craft projects at a time so I can further develop the business and indulge myself in creativity. I just love working from here, especially when my Cavapoo, Ruby, joinsme!”www.etsy.com/uk/shop/WildCornflowerStudio 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!…

CROSS STITCH OR DIE TRYIN’: 30 PATTERNS FOR HIP HOP LOVERS KATE BLANDFORD [Dokument Press] Filled with patterns with a hip hop twist, Cross Stitch or Die Tryin’ is a must for music fans. You’ll find classic hip hop quotes and statements to stitch up as wall art, patches and cushions. Well-known phrases like Drop it Like it’s Hot, Mo Money Mo Problems or Sippin’ on Gin and Juice are included in 30 patterns for hip hop lovers who are also nifty with a needle. Perfect for all ages and skill levels, many designs are beginner friendly and can be completed in a couple of hours. JAPANESE MOTIFS IN STUMPWORK & GOLDWORK JANE NICHOLAS [Search Press] Experienced stitchers who’d like a new challenge, may want this book for Christmas! 12…

Pro Tip Top designers share their favourite stitching tips "Wash iridescent aida with care" “Iridescent aida, as used with our special cards on page 47, can be hand washed in the same way as regular aida and will retain its sparkle. Just remember to use mild soap, to handle the fabric carefully, to not rub or scrub it, and finally to press with a warm or cool iron under a towel.” FIRST PAST THE POST! Sam Moss was the first to send us a pic of her Advent motifs from issue 388 – she wins a selection of DMC stranded cotton skeins in 20 colours of her choice from Willow Fabrics. The first person to stitch and send us a picture of their finished felt framed designs from this issue…

We caught up with Clare from The Steady Thread to ask her about the counted stitching she calls “fascinating and beguiling”. Her favourite technique gets a 14th century mention from Chaucer, and even adorned the clothes of Henry VIII in several famous paintings. Blackwork has been with us for centuries and Clare has given it a bold new look for today. She shares how her passion took hold… Hi Clare, how did you first get the blackwork bug? It was literally love at first sight. While wandering through the haberdashery department in Liberty’s, London, I spotted a small blackwork kit by designer Jane Greenoff. I had never done any kind of embroidery before but was interested in repeating patterns, so it instantly appealed to me. Tell us about designing your…

When Vanessa Timko, who lives in Philadelphia, USA, first spotted our moon landing design in issue, she knew she had to stitch it… The Apollo 11 Moon Landing happened on Vanessa’s father’s 46th birthday, when she was 13 yearsold. “When I saw Maria Diaz’s incredible chart, I was almost keeping up with the Alice in Wonderland SAL, (still have to finish that!), but ‘One Giant Leap’ was a drop everything moment,” Vanessa confesses. She learned a lot from tackling the design. “This was only the second pattern I had gridded; I’m so glad I did, it definitely made keeping track of where I was much easier! I love the half stitches that Maria incorporated, they added so much depth. Admittedly, my back looks pretty crazy with all the traveling threads…

Packed with details, our Christmas Window picture is a masterclass in how to create festive atmosphere in stitches! From the outer window sill and shutters stitched in blues and white, to the colourful Christmas scene within, it’s a true celebration of a traditional yuletide. Work with blended threads, metallics, beads and charms – creating it will be just as enjoyable as the finished result. Designed by: Amanda Butler Stitch count: 179 high x 120 wide Design size: 33x23cm (13x9in) Stitch time: 98 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Materials DMC Iridescent White 14 count aida, ref: 222C/blanc; 55x50cm (211⁄2x191⁄2in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key DMC Light Effects as listed on the key Anchor Metallic 304 embroidery thread Mill Hill seed beads 557 Snowflake charm…

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch time: 7 hours Stitch count: 35 high x 37 wide scene; 17 high x 19 wide bird Design size: 6.5x6.5cm (2½x2½in); 3.5x3.5cm (11/8x11/8) These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Use the templates opposite to cut out a felt front and backing circle in two different sizes Materials Navy 14 count aida; 20x11.5cm (8x4½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Size 24 tapestry needle Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com The designs shown in the frames are suggestions only. You can stitch any small design in your frames. The circles on the chart show the stitching area of the frames as a rough guide How to… use your felt frames Step 1 STITCH the design using 14 count navy aida or a fabric of…

IN YOUR NEXT MONTH’S E-NEWSLETTERS: ✓ DOWNLOAD THE NEXT FREE CROSS STITCH CHART AS PART OF OUR SEASONAL SAL COURTESY OF SUSAN PENNY. ✓ CONTINUE TO DELVE INTO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CROSS STITCH WITH WINTER INSPIRATION! Plus, much more! SCAN ME WITH YOUR CAMERA BIT.LY/CROSSIGNUP FREE DOWNLOAD…

MABELSEWSSHOP This Santa Claus belt Grosgrain Character Ribbon is 0.5in wide. Available in various lengths, it’s ideal for cards and decorations. KAELAMILLS These tactile fabric buttons are covered in a cute Santa fabric. With a metal back, they are lightweight and sturdy and are 2cm wide. STITCHTASTIC Stitch on plastic canvas to make this ornament. The kit includes plastic canvas, sorted threads, needle, chart and instructions.…

Adapt the colours to use up leftover threads in your stash if you prefer Designed by: Faye Walsh Stitch count: 114 high x 47 wide Design size: 20x8cm (8x31/4in) Stitch time: 8 hours This design was stitched on 28 count linen over two threads of fabric. Make a… mini tree Step 1 COMPLETE the stitching, then place it face-down on another piece of Cashel or fabric of your choice. Pin together around the edges. Machine stitch around the edges, leaving 5mm (¼in) of blank fabric outside of the cross stitches. Work slowly following the shape of the tree, and leaving a gap at the bottom to turn to the right side. Step 2 TRIM away any excess seam allowance, leaving you with a tree shape. Clip the corners and around…

THE CHALLENGE THE RULES Christmas is just around the corner! To celebrate we asked three designers to come up with a festive design for a Christmas cake band using only the six shades of stranded cotton we stipulated, working on a red-edged strip of aida band. Take a look at their results below – we’ve featured a chart for each one so you can stitch your favourite! We hope this will inspire you to join in too – turn the page to see what our challenge will be for January – we’ve listed everything you need to take part. CHERYL McKINNON… GINGERBREAD FOREST “The colours reminded me of evergreen trees and the rich browns of gingerbread. So here is a fun gingerbread couple…

This collection features 15 designs varying from pizza to baking tools, and has easy-to-read full colour and symbol charts. Adapt the designs to suit a small or large project, or why not take elements from each chart to create your very own - the possibilities are endless! Shop now: bit.ly/CROSSHOP SCAN ME WITH YOUR CAMERA *This product is subject to availability and priced correctly at the time of publication. Geographic restrictions may apply.…

Fine Pines Scandi style is a real winner throughout the winter season and you can make a striking statement in your home by stitching up this fab new ‘Scandi Pine’ design. Stitched on 12 count natural hessian with half cross stitch in gunmetal grey and sparkly silver, this design is also great for a cushion cover, so the pattern includes a tutorial for that as well. With a finished size of 50x50cm, it will update your decor in an instant! www.anetteeriksson.com PEACE & JOY GET STARTED on our Scandi stocking on page 28, then if you want to tackle a different design for another family member, try Jody Rice’s colourful new ‘Oh What Fun!’ stocking. It’s available as a PDF download chart, which includes alphabet charts so you can add…

CHRISTMAS WREATHS LOVE OUR Christmas wreaths alphabet on page 59? Stitch more warm winter welcomes with these on-trend ideas… WHO Becci Nibelle is the brains behind this bold and bright wreath design, complete with pom-pom trim on the hoop! www.ellbie.co WHAT Go for a modern twist on a traditional wreath with this Let it Snow design with hand painted fabric. You have a choice of 28 count evenweave or 14 count aida fabric with various colour options. stitchsperation.com HOW Use this Christmas Wreath Embroidery Kit to brighten your living room, The unique design includes 10 ten different embroidery stitches with cosy greens, reds, and gold – plus some added jingle bells for a final bit of bling. paraffle-embroidery.com…

Hullo! The end of another year is almost upon us! I swear, the older I get, the faster time moves. While any time of the year is good for reflection and redirection, no time is more popular than the end of it. Famous for gathering with friends and family, giving gifts, and stretchy trousers, it’s also famous for new year’s resolutions, good intentions, and the purchasing of (often neglected) gym memberships. If you’re someone who enjoys making resolutions, perhaps this silly season you could look at making a change that won’t cost you a thing and focusing on cultivating a mental habit that better serves you or bettering one that does you harm. The theme of these articles over the past year has been to notice the little things, so…

Cross Stitcher PROJECT PACK If you would like to stitch Dear Santa, 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: Zweigart 14 count aida in Navy Skeins of DMC stranded cotton Madeira Lana 12 embroidery thread Two gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26 How to order: Fill in the form on page 15 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £47.20, plus P&P. Materials Zweigart Navy 14 count aida, ref: 3706/589; 50x50cm (19½x19½in) Stranded cotton as listed in the key Madeira White Lana no. 12, ref: 3601 Size 24 tapestry needle Frame with a 26x26cm (10¼x 10¼in) aperture Mount board to…

We asked our fans on Facebook, “Who is your favourite cross stitch designer and why?” TAMMY LEMACKS FRANKENFIELD Cross Stitch Obsession from Etsy has beautiful designs of mini masterpieces…. I’ve done over a dozen already… they are fast stitches but look like you've taken forever on them. DAWN GRAY O’KEEFFE I love the simplicity of Durene Jones’ patterns and how quickly they make up for cards and last-minute gifts. SALLIE DATE Durene Jones, Emma Congdon and Joan Elliott are my favourites. I love their use of colour and detail and always enjoy stitching their designs. I also love the Forever Friends and Boofle patterns. KAREN FREEMAN I love Hannah Dale’s artwork converted into beautiful cross stitch designs. I’m currently working on the fabulous Pink Ladies. SARAH COE Durene Jones, Little…

Designed by: Durene Jones Max. stitch count: 47 high x 37 wide Max. design size: 9x7cm (3½x2½in) Stitch time: 6 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. 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 strips of…

Designed by: Cheryl McKinnon Max. stitch count: 50 high x 41 wide Design size: 9.5x7.5cm (3¾x3in) Stitch time: 6 hours each These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric. 10 CARD PACK OFFER A special Christmas card pack containing 10 rectangular cards in the colours shown in the main pictures, with 10 printed Christmas envelopes, is available from www.willowfabrics.com for £7.50 plus P&P, or you can turn to page 15 to order. We used DMC Pink Iridescent 14 count aida for the Nordic cards; DMC White Iridescent aida for the Home for Christmas ones and Animals in the Snow; DMC Blue Iridescent aida for the Nativity pair & DMC Grey 168 aida for the Snow Globes Make an… aperture card Step 1 TRIM the stitched fabric to fit your…