The World of Cross Stitching March 2021
Every issue is packed with the very best cross stitch designs, expert advice and in depth technical features, as well as product news, reader letters and stories, competitions and giveaways.
in this issue
welcome
Spring is just around the corner and we’ve got the perfect selection of fresh, sunny ideas and inspiration for you to escape into. Nothing says spring quite like Susan Bates’ gorgeous garden (p56) – stitch blooms in watering cans, wellies and terracotta pots. Send a little sunshine with Durene Jones’ stained-glass window floral cards (p24). This versatile set can be used for any occasion but I think they’re perfect for Mother’s Day. And if you’ve got a stylish mama then the glamorous silhouetted beauty on page 74 would make a fab Mother’s Day gift, too. I’ve been slowly trying to get my niece into cross stitching. We started with some lace-up cards last year, but I think she’s ready to progress to 11-count fabric. Poppy Benner’s colourful collection of designs (p84) are…
meet our guests
Be on the panel! × Get a sneak preview× Appear in the magazine× Receive a stitchy gift Allana Vincent is a costume maker from Kippax, West Yorkshire How did you start stitching? I learnt to cross stitch at the knee of my granny who is fantastic at all types of needlework. What has been your worst stitching disaster? I decided to create a design as I went along – it was a complete disaster! What is your idea of cross stitch heaven? A roaring fire, big squashy armchair and a whole day of no interruptions. Fave WOXS design? As a costume maker, I regularly sew vintage style dresses so I absolutely adore the retro ladies in issue 300. What drives you mad about cross stitching? Running out of a particular colour thread part way through a project! Do I stop and buy more…
furry tales
Missed a chart? ISSUE 303 Wearing a rainbow cardigan, Flossie Mouse wants to make sure everyone stays safe. ISSUE 302 Monty Mouse is getting the New Year’s Eve party started with balloons and streamers. ISSUE 301 Flossie Mouse can’t resist cuddling up in this cosy Christmas mitten. For back issues, call 03330 162 137 or visit http://bit.ly/1NwX3Rv Stitch Monty Mouse the Medic for a key worker you know. He’ll make a great thank you card for doctors, nurses and care workers, who work so hard to look after us. Smiling Monty will make a cheerful get well card too.…
greet each new dawn
Bedecked in plush plumage and ready to crow, this elegant cockerel is a magnificent stitch you’ll want to savour – but at just 26 by 15 centimetres, it is a small-sized project that is sure to leave you wanting more. So it’s lucky that Hannah’s designs are part of the Bothy Threads range, isn’t it! We’re big fans of her painterly, illustrative style, which is shown off perfectly in this beautiful project. From the cockerel’s characterful expression to the luscious sheen on his colourful feathers, this realistic design makes us feel like we have just stepped out of the farmhouse door. Despite the detailed appearance, just a few fractional stitches are used to bring the quizzical look to his golden eyes. Backstitch in six shades defines the overall shape of this…
hannah dale
Can you tell us a bit about your home life? I’m a ‘country girl’ – I grew up in a village in Lincolnshire and now live just a few miles away from there with my husband Jack, our three children, and a menagerie including Claude the poodle, Tom and Oak the ponies and some very amusing guinea fowl. We live on a small farm and are passionate about conservation, so last year we started the long process of turning the farm into a nature reserve. How did you begin painting? Drawing and painting have always been special to me and I got my first set of watercolours for Christmas when I was around eight years old. I love the quiet concentration and the joy of seeing a character take shape on the paper,…
bothy threads collaboration
How did you begin working with Hannah Dale? A few years ago, I was at the Spring Fair trade exhibition in Birmingham and was delighted to see ‘The Wrendale Collection’. As soon as I spotted Hannah’s paintings, I loved them. They are full of energy and fun. Although they are life-like they are not posed or static. I knew that they’d work really well in cross stitch and couldn’t wait to try! I talked to Hannah about using her work for cross stitch designs and luckily, she agreed. How do you turn Hannah’s paintings into cross stitch? I have to say that they are not the easiest designs to chart! The colours that Hannah uses are very subtle. Obviously with paints you can dilute and blend but to recreate this complexity in threads…
