Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i Cross Stitch Crazy

Look out for these friendly faces inside Crazy – they’re all mad about cross stitch, too! Stacey Black Art Editor This month... “I loved styling the photos for this month’s Gift ideas on page 20” Alison Maney Production Editor This month... “I’ll be stitching the modern chalkboard-style cards from page 28!” Leela Roy Designer This month... “The cute pups on page 49 have inspired me to get a jumper for my own dog!” Fiona Baker Technical Editor This month... “Shannon’s festive house on page 64 looks like so much fun to stitch!” Heather Nugent Charting Assistant This month... “I love the sweet set of gift ideas on page 54 for a baby’s first Christmas” Hannah Erskine Charting Assistant This month... “The bright retro gift ideas on page 20 have inspired…

GIFT AVAILABLE with print edition of issue 236 only GIF T AVAIL ABLE CALL 03330 162 133 TO BUY These woodland creatures are having too much fun to hibernate! Watch these cute hedgehogs get stuck into their favourite winter activities as you stitch them to life with whole stitches, backstitch, fractionals and a few French knots. Though they require quite a variety of stitches to make, they’re nice and small overall – so you’ll have them ice skating and singing Christmas carols in no time! Once stitched, you can send these delightful Margaret Sherry characters zipping away to friends and family this holiday season. Your loved ones are sure to appreciate the thought and intricate detail that’s gone into these stitches. Or, if you prefer, pick up some little hoops and…

From her days as a child actor starring in Beetlejuice to her current role in popular Netflix show Stranger Things, which starts its second season this month, Winona Ryder’s career has been strange and unusual – much like the raven-haired it girl herself! Whether you’re a fan of dark comedy Heathers or the classic Edward Scissorhands, show you’ll love Winona forever by stitching and framing this glamorous portrait! Reader’s pick! Requested by JENNY CHARLTON Who would you like to see as a Crazy Celeb stitch? It might be your favourite actor, a Hollywood icon or even a sporting great! Email your requests to celebstitch@cross-stitching.com or post them to: Celeb stitch, Cross Stitch Crazy, 2nd Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN. If the celebrity you request is picked to…

BEAUTIFUL BURST We love using Rickety Rose Pom Pom Trim on the projects in Crazy. The medium size comes in 23 fab colours! To buy, visit www.ricketyrose.co.uk or call 01367 250 034 CLASS AND SASS This Multi Coloured Pom Pom Trim, sized 15mm, comes with beautiful red, lime, turquoise, pink and yellow pom-poms all in a row. Bold, yet sweet! To buy, visit www.stitchkits.etsy.com POP OF PRETTY More subdued but still a lot of fun, these Duck Egg Jute Rose Pom Poms will add a sophisticated touch. To buy, visit www.susiewatsondesigns.co.uk or call 0844 980 8185…

OVER £1,015 OF PRIZES TO BE WON! 63 PRIZES worth £252 Lucie Heaton charts! En pointe and reaching gracefully for the sky, Lucie Heaton’s ballerina on black linen is the epitome of elegance. We’re thrilled to be giving away PDF charts of this delicate dancer to 63 lucky readers! See more of Lucie’s gorgeous designs at www.lucieheaton.com. For a chance to win, text CSC236BALLET, your name, postal address and email address to 87474 (texts will be charged at 50p plus your standard network rate) or label your postcard ‘Ballerina 236 giveaway’. 25 PRIZES worth £249 Susan Bates books! These fab books by Susan Bates, published by www.tuvapublishing.com, will make you smile! We have 25 books to give away, with each winner receiving one title from a selection of: Nature, Vintage,…

Those Crazy kids! Dear Crazy, I’m sending this letter with enclosed pictures on behalf of the children in a Children’s Home in Medan, a city in the North Sumatra province of Indonesia. My husband and I own three homes in Indonesia and this Medan-based home is one of them. I’ve been teaching the children cross stitch and they’re so talented, picking up the skill despite language barriers in less than a year! It will make the children so happy if their picture is printed in your magazine. Jacey Lee, Indonesia Rachel says: Everyone here was so touched by your letter, Jacey. We’re proud to hear that you used our magazines to teach these children the joy of stitching! I loved looking at your photo and spotting all the designs from…

GLITZY AND GLAM For a luxurious take on festive baubles, stitch these Beaded Christmas Decorations for your tree. The charts are available from Sew and So (www.sewandso.co.uk), and cost £3.99. SMALL WONDERS These eight adorable Gera! Mini Christmas Ornaments from Creative Poppy Patterns (www.creativepoppypatterns.com) are available via chart download, which costs £4.65. ELF HELP Santa’s hard-working assistants deserve space on your tree, so invite a set of six Elves Ornaments into your home! The kit is available from www.stitcher.co.uk for £17.85.…

H ere’s a familiar scene – the children are romping about with excitement in their eyes, the fire is roaring, piles of gifts sit under the tree and there’s the magic of Christmas morning in the air. And, perhaps, the sound of little hooves lifting off from the roof above… This detailed project by Shannon Wasilieff will keep you busy on winter nights, and features a range of different stitches for you to try. Whatever Christmas traditions you hold dear to your heart, you’ll love stitching this cosy family scene, filled with festive colours and fascinating details galore! Need to know Stitch Time 50 hours (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, fractionals, half cross stitch, backstitch, French knots ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle -…

This month: Penguins Penguins are so cute! These fun projects will keep you smiling from the first stitch to the last Placid chap £2.77, Penguin by GentleFeather www.gentlefeather.etsy.com This little sweetie may not have a lot to say for himself, but he’s won us over! Beginners will find him a breeze to stitch from the black and white or colour charts supplied. Be sure to check out the other bird designs at GentleFeather, too. Smile £3.44, Be Happy Penguin by AnnaXStitch www.annaxstitch.etsy.com It’s a good reminder for us all – try to be happy! This chart comes as an instant download to print and stitch. Worked in whole stitches and backstitch, it will fit nicely in a 20x25cm (8x10in) frame when stitched on 14-count aida. Best buds £3.71, Friendship by…

AFGHAN – a woollen blanket or rug with areas for cross stitching AIDA – the most common cross stitching fabric, made up of thread woven in blocks rather than singly AIDA BAND – a thin strip of aida with a decorative edge, used to adorn towels, bookmarks, etc. Comes in various widths APERTURE – the space through which a design is shown (mainly on cards and in frames) BEADING NEEDLE – a long, fine needle that slides easily through seed and bugle beads DESIGN AREA – the measurement of the finished design, depending on the count of fabric used EVENWEAVE – fabric made from evenly-spaced woven threads. It’s softer and more flexible than aida FABRIC COUNT – the number of holes per inch (HPI) on your fabric. The higher the…

... to the December issue of Crazy! Christmas is the perfect time of year for traditions, so I’m hoping you’ll find some new festive favourites with us this month. Start by stitching Margaret Sherry’s cute hedgehogs using your 2-in-1 card kit, or trim your tree in style with our quick and easy folk baubles on page 74. If you’re looking for a more challenging stitch, turn to page 10 to discover our exclusive winter fairy, or create your own Russian doll bunting on page 42. For card inspiration, try the cheerful dogs in jumpers on page 49, or Lucie Heaton’s classic alphabet over on page 37. It’s also time to cast your vote in this year’s prestigious British Craft Awards– turn to page 36 to find out more, or visit…

Have a delightfully kitsch Christmas when you stitch these playful retro designs! Celebrate the season with a vintageinspired colour palette of lime green, punchy pink and fresh turquoise – it’s sure to bring a healthy dose of festive cheer into your home this winter. Filled with cute characters and fun fonts, these quick stitches are the perfect size for making cards, tags and stocking fillers – or turn them into baubles for your tree! Get stitching today and enjoy a Christmas that’s both merry and bright! Need to know Stitch Time 3-6 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch, French knots ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white, black (3706/720), and pearl flecked…

Sometimes a bit of darkness is a good thing, particularly when it offsets bright festive florals like these! Combining modern calligraphy with winter bouquets, these unique card and tag designs manage to achieve a complex look using only whole stitches and plenty of backstitch. You’ll love stitching the simple blocks of colour, and seeing the pattern jump to life once the backstitch lines are added. Stitch the whole set this season – everyone will think they’re bloomin’ fabulous! Need to know Stitch Time 2-5 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count black aida (3706/720) measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for each card and 10x10cm (4x4in) for each tag. To buy,…

W e’re obsessed with folk art here at Crazy, so we’re all going gaga over these cute Russian dolls! Line these pretty ladies up in a row, as we did here, or make them each up separately into baubles for your tree. No matter how you display them, you can use the handy tutorial on page 46 to make them up! These dolls also make for adorable cards, particularly for loved ones with a keen interest in Russian culture – although proper fans may insist you call them ‘Matryoshka’ dolls! They’re adorned with poinsettias, too, so they’ll fit right in on your Christmas must-stitch list. Need to know Stitch Time 2-9 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch, fractionals ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the…

Cut-out&Keep Quick and easy to stitch one a night! Need to know Stitch Time 4-5 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for each design. To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call 0800 013 0150 Extras - Cardstock of your choice from local stores; Pa Rom Pa Pom Pom Paper Pack 6x6in. To buy, visit www.hobbycraft.co.uk or call 0330 026 1400…

Making gifts 1 If you’re making a present to send to a friend or relative abroad, choose something lightweight to stitch, such as a pin cushion or bookmark, to keep down the cost of postage. 2 Customise an existing design by using coloured aida, metallic threads, beads and buttons to make something personal with touches unique to you. 3 Hang on to scraps of aida that you’d usually bin and use them to stitch gift tags to match your Christmas cards for a coordinated look. 4 Invest in a book of Christmas motifs and use them to personalise gifts and cards, Christmas decorations and even festive samplers. 5 Remember to leave enough time to finish off gifts (allowing time for postage if necessary). No one wants achy hands and bleary…

Gather your family round you this Christmas – and teach the little ones how to make their very own ornaments! Stitched in bold teal, red, pink and yellow, these makes will appeal to little stitchers drawn to bright colours. They make for ideal first projects, as they require whole stitches only. Ask a child to pick out their favourite and they’ll be whizzing away with a needle and thread before you can say “Santa Claus!” Stitch them on black aida, or plastic canvas if you prefer. Need to know Stitch Time 3-4 hours each Stitch Types Whole cross stitch ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count black aida (3706/720) measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for each design. To buy,…

Understanding charts and keys Follow the steps below for an introduction to getting started, then use the simple instructions opposite to learn each stitch! Perfect for beginners Small, quick-to-stitch designs, such as the ice skates opposite, are ideal to try if you’re new to stitching. For more simple designs, try these: f PAGE 16 Cute crocodile f PAGE 20 Retro holiday gift ideas f PAGE 34 Office Christmas party f PAGE 37 Classic festive abc f PAGE 74 Tree decorations Reading the chart Our charts are printed with coloured squares containing a symbol that represents squares to be stitched on the fabric. The key alongside the chart will tell you what colour thread each symbol corresponds to, so you know which one to thread your needle with (see right). Where…

Jenna Hookey Hastings How cross stitch crazy are you? I’ve been known to cancel outings at the last minute when trying to finish something. I also stay up late when I’m really in my stride! Who’s your favourite character to stitch? The Gorjuss girls, as I collect all things Gorjuss and they go nicely on the wall above my various tins and ornaments. Which occasion gets your needle twitching? Christmas cross stitch always excites me! The colours are always warm and festive and it’s a great way of counting down to that special time of year. Which project are you most proud of? A few years ago I did a chart of a Christmas scene. It looks very much like something from Downton Abbey! It was my first big project,…

Get those chestnuts roasting on an open fire and start dreaming of a white Christmas – it’s time for some good old-fashioned holiday fun! Stitch your favourite Christmas phrases, all adorned with merry motifs like rocking horses, stockings and winter robins. Each letter looks wonderfully sophisticated but requires only whole stitches and backstitch to create – so even beginners can give these letters a try! Those who want a challenge, however, can try stitching their design onto elegant rustic evenweave instead of aida, like we did here. Use this alphabet to deck your halls with festive signs, or to make place cards for your Christmas guests to take home and keep. You could add a relative’s initial to a Victorianstyle Christmas card for a personal touch, make a set of…

B abies have lots of special Christmas memories ahead of them, so start them off right by stitching an adorable keepsake for their very first year! If you’re expecting a new addition to the family this winter, celebrate their arrival with a cute card – or, if you have a bit more time, make them a customised bib that they can wear with style at Christmas dinner. To make a thoughtful gift, stitch our pretty photo frame – any new parent is bound to be thrilled! Need to know Stitch Time 40 hours for the set Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 30x30cm (11_x11_in) for the frame,…