The World of Cross Stitching Christmas 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
We’re so excited to welcome Wallace and Gromit back to The World of Cross Stitching. This lovable pair evoke happy childhood memories and what better time to have feelings of nostalgia than at Christmas (p10)? The robin is a garden favourite for many and brings a welcome splash of colour to the winter months. Fiona Baker has designed a beautiful scene featuring a pair of robins with pom-pom embellishments for the holly berries as a unique finishing touch (p24). If you’re looking to impress your guests this year, then you’ll love Amanda Gregory’s stunning poinsettia table runner (p58). We’ve included simple instructions on making it up ready to dress your table on the big day. Heather Nugent’s vibrant mosaic-style tree decorations will also catch a visitor’s eye (p36). This beginner-friendly project is…
meet our guests
Ruth Dews is a quality assurer from Derbyshire How did you start stitching? In my late teens, a weekly cross stitch chart book came out. It gave me the bug and I kept going from there. Can you tell us about your latest stitch? I’m currently stitching ‘Let’s Sew’ by Ursula Michael for my sister-in-law. I’ve done a few of Ursula’s designs before, including a Christmas tree, snowman, dog, cat and cup of coffee. Let’s talk about your proudest stitchy moment? I completed a large dragon stitch, accompanied by a verse and chorus of the Welsh national anthem, surrounded by a beautiful Celtic border. I’d found it tricky, but I’m very proud of it and it has had pride of place in the dining room for 21 years. Fave WOXS design? I loved the Wallace and Gromit design…
furry tales
Cheese Mouse key STITCH COUNT 39 high x 38 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 7x7cm (2 x2 in) This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton Missed a chart? ISSUE 313 Lizzie’s spreading Christmas cheer this year with her giant red glittering bauble. ISSUE 312 Festive Monty is festooned with holly and wears a big red bow and a Santa hat. ISSUE 311 Celebrate fright night with Flossie dressed in a scary Halloween costume. For back issues, call % 03330 162 137 or visit http://bit.ly/1NwX3Rv Lizzie looks delighted by this giant cheese gift that’s almost as big as she is – did she receive it from Flossie or Monty do you think? Or perhaps this is her pressie to one of them. No one ever became poor by giving after all, so why not stitch and gift this to…
your exclusive gift!
Elf key STITCH COUNT 56 high x 56 wide DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) – 10x10cm (4x4in) DESIGNED BY Heather Nugent STITCHED BY Angela Griffin This design was stitched using stranded cotton from your coverkit Inside your kit… To help you sort your threads, here is a list of the colours and number of lengths inside your free kit: White x3 Pink x2 Yellow x2 Red x2 Brown x3 Light brown x3 Dark green x4 Green x7 Light green x4 Beige x3 Black x3 Total: 36 lengths How to… make your elf decoration 1 Use a ruler to find the centre of the plastic aida and start stitching the centre of the design from there. 2 Once you’ve finished stitching, cut a border around the edge of the stitched design, following the cutting line on the chart as a guide. Round off the bottom in a continuous cut, for a nice…
a cracking christmas!
Our favourite inventor and his loyal canine pal look like they’ve been busy shopping this year as they pose for this festive portrait – you can almost hear Wallace instruct Gromit to “say cheese”. No doubt Wallace had a fantastic contraption up his sleeve to help out with the wrapping of all of these brightly coloured gifts. Just look at the assortment of colours and luxury bows! At least one of them is bound to contain a prized Wensleydale and it looks as if there’s a doggy treat too! With a rich palette of deep festive reds, dark greens, royal blues and golden yellows, plus metallic highlights for added glitz on some of the ribbons, this beginner-friendly scene of the famous duo contains whole stitches and backstitch only. It’s a manageable…
your letters
Star Letter LEARNT FROM THE BEST I thought you would like to see my lovely ‘Jolly Robin’ by Wrendale Designs from Bothy Threads*. My nan taught me how to cross stitch when I was pregnant with my first daughter Madeleine who is now 13 years old. Nan had started this project but had only managed to complete a few stitches before she sadly passed away in March 2019, and she’d asked if I would finish it off as it was a present. I finally finished it in March 2020 and I’m really pleased with it. It’s now ready to be posted to its rightful owner. I’m sure Nan would be very pleased with it – I learnt from the best! I’m thankful that I have found my stitching bug again and cannot…
