CrossStitcher August 2021

Make a book-loving friend’s birthday gift extra special by giving them a new book and this bookmark with it! Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 30 high x 37 wide teacup; 16 high x 9 wide teabag Design size: 5.5x7cm (2¼x2¾in); 3x1.5cm (1¼x⅝in) Stitch time: 8 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. Make a… ‘Time For A Cuppa’ bookmark Step 1 START stitching the teacup part of your bookmark on a 10x10cm (4x4in) piece of white 14 count aida, centrally but four squares up from the bottom of your fabric, following the chart and key. Stitch the teabag in the space above the teacup. Step 2 CAREFULLY cut out your teacup and teabag, leaving two blank aida squares around the stitching. Step 3 PLACE the aida cup and teabag onto some beige felt that’s been cut to the…

Stitching your… Summer SAL Step 1 STITCH the final postcard to the right of the Greek Island already stitched, leaving two blank squares between each strip. Once you have worked the three postcard designs, and leaving two aida squares between each of the postcards, the finished size will be 67 high x 79 wide. Use two strands for the cross stitch, with the sky worked in half cross stitch using two strands. The backstitch and French knots are both worked in one strand. Step 2 STITCH three mini black buttons in the centres of the large poppies. Once all the stitching is complete, fold in the edges of the fabric or fray them. We used a 21cm magnetic frame which we cut down to 15.5cm (6in) to fit the top of the design. Check out…

WE ARE SO LUCKY to have moved our family – all three generations – into our dream home. We no longer have a sea view but the upside is that we can step out of the front door without being blown away and, best of all, we can enjoy making a new garden away from the limitations of all that salt spray. It’s a bit overwhelming but we know that we need to do our bit for the bees and select open flowers where they can land and do their job of pollination more easily. Of course it wasn’t long before we thought that a lovely fat bumble bee would make a great CrossStitcher cover star. We hope you love this design and enjoy adding Light Effects threads to the wings…

High flyers Feather your nest with these beautiful bird hoop designs! The kits include aida, a 7in hoop, pre-sorted DMC threads, a needle, a stitching guide and a large pattern in both black and white and full colour. Choose from four fab designs – Green Woodpecker, Hummingbird, Puffin and Rainbow Finch. www.hawthornhandmade.com POSITIVE VIBES WITH SOCIAL media adding more and more pressure for us to look amazing at all times, Sophie Crabb has designed some ‘body positivity’ kits that act to reaffirm each of us and our self-image. The kits contain 14 count aida, size 24 needle, DMC stranded cotton cut to size and pre-sorted on a card, colour chart and 'How to Cross Stitch' guide. There is also an option to include an embroidery hoop with your kit. Choose from Love Your…

“My workspace is just a corner in the room. It is tiny but there is enough space to do most of the things! I love my desk because it is next to the window so that I can have nice natural light for photo shooting and stitching. Also, I can look out of the window when my eyes feel tired! As the space is packed, it’s great to have some good shelves so that I can put different materials in an organised way. When you have too many threads, it is easier to find the right one out by using boxes to keep different kinds of thread shades.” redbeardesign.etsy.com 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…

Hullo! I don’t know about you, but I love love. Not just the love felt for other people, but the love felt for our passions, the love felt when a moment is perfect, or the love felt for ourselves. It’s that last one that many of us struggle with, but there’s no time like the present to cultivate a better relationship with ourselves. Luckily, this month's floriology bloom is the absolutely stunning tulip, representative of endless love. And if there is anyone we should offer endless love to, it’s ourselves! Rather than being egocentric or arrogant, a strong sense of self-love is vital to our being able to flourish. When you fully love yourself, you appreciate your worth, you recognise what you deserve, and you respect yourself by being able to…