CrossStitcher February 2022

Designed by: Susan Penny Stitch count: 41 high x 40 wide Design size: 7.5x7cm (3x2¾in) Stitch time: 5 hours This design was stitched on 14 count aida fabric. This chart could be used as a mini card if you prefer – simply use the template to cut a heart aperture from a plain card blank Make a… needlecase Step 1 STITCH the design, following the chart and key, in the centre of a 9x9cm (3½x3½in) piece of white aida fabric. Step 2 CUT a 19x10cm (7½x4in) strip from a 32x10cm (12½x4in) piece of white felt. Fold the felt in half widthways. Cutout a paper template of the heart motif. With the felt folded, place the paper template centrally onto the front of the needlecase. Draw around the edge with a ball point pen, then cut out using sharp scissors. Step 3 PLACE…

WE LOVE A WALK but there are always a few days when we feel like all that lovely frosty landscape might be more comfortably considered from indoors. More precisely from a favourite armchair, while working on a new piece of stitching! Of course, our dogs do need their walks and we are lucky enough to have a new home surrounded by beautiful woodlands. Once we come in from the cold, take off winter layers and get the kettle on, there is nothing better than a few moments considering a new creative project. Even just choosing a design and its thread shades has a feel of excitement and expectation. We don’t do New Year resolutions – we think about new projects instead. This is just enough to lift the spirits after…

Skye High We’ve been a fan of Stitch With Skye’s original embroidery hoop art kits for a while, so we were so excited to hear that designer Jade was branching out into cross stitch kits. There are three designs to choose from: Bloom Your Way, Our Happy Place and No Rain No Flowers, or buy them all as a bundle! All kits are beginnerfriendly and come with a 6in wooden embroidery hoop which can be used for framing after you’ve finished stitching. They are all worked on 14 count aida and make for a calming, relaxing stitch. To find out more, visit www.stitchwithskye.com. SOLID STYLE SPRING CLEANING your craft room soon? Stock up on some solid coloured fabrics for backing your stitched cushions and lining your stitched bags with the gorgeous range of…

“I opened my new studio shop in St Austell, Cornwall last year and love all the extra space I have now. It’s perfect for the combined uses of designing and manufacturing my kits with a shop front, so stitchers and tourists can come visit, shop, workshop and watch me create. I’m a little obsessed with my peg board and use it to hang hoops, kits and accessories for sale. My aim was to create a bright space that makes me happy and inspired to create every day; this feeling in turn will hopefully pass onto any visitors.” www.emmalouiseartstitch.co.uk “I have a ‘Have a Go Wall’ to entice cross stitch newbies and even a separate peg wall for scissors above my fabric cutting table (because you can never have too many scissors,…

HEARTS LOVE OUR heart aperture needlecase? With Valentine’s Day this month, have a heart to heart with these on-trend ideas… WHO Megan Caines designed this simple, yet effective, Heart Of Hearts Cross Stitch Kit, which creates a beautiful rainbow effect to bring the design to life. www.melocadesigns.com WHAT This Leopard Heart Mini Cross Stitch Kit is perfect for beginner stitchers and makes an original take on the classic red heart. www.sewsophiecrafts.co.uk HOW Keep your money safely and stylishly! Whether you give as a Valentine’s gift or treat yourself, this pretty little purse can be stitched in just an hour or two. www.notonthehighstreet.com/chasingthreads…

Hullo! In this series of noticing those little things, that give us joy in everyday life, I’d like to draw our attention to the biggest little things – the stars! For those of us who live in urban centres, light pollution often obscures so much of the beauty above us, but on a clear night we can still see light that was emitted billions of years ago. Head further away from the city and the magnificence of the universe is opened to us! Visiting darker places to go stargazing is one of my favourite things to do – sometimes getting away from civilisation can help me regain perspective and make my problems seem so much smaller. When life gets on top of us, we can lose perspective on how big problems…