Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i Cross Stitch Crazy

Stacey Black Art Editor This month... “Mother’s Day is on my radar, so the gift ideas on page 20 will be perfect!” Alison Maney Production Editor This month... “Margaret Sherry’s cute circus on page 10 has got to be my next project” Leela Roy Designer This month... “I can’t wait to stitch jolly old London with Emma’s design on page 42!” Fiona Baker Technical Editor This month... “I’ve already made three cards using the funky fish by Durene on page 37!” Heather Nugent Charting Assistant This month... “Try my galaxy friendship bracelets on page 62 – I loved designing them” Hannah Erskine Charting Assistant This month... “I’m going to make a cool set of cards and tags with the paisley patterns on page 74” Contact Crazy www.facebook.com/crossstitchcrazy www.twitter.com/crazy_magazine www.cross-stitching.com 0117…

GIFT AVAILABLE with print edition of issue 239 only CALL 03330 162 133 TO BUY! PERFECT STITCH FOR MOTHER’S DAY Everybody enjoys a nice cup of tea, even our feathered friends! This sweet bird has returned from a winter down south to the bright blossoms of the British springtime, ready to take centre stage in this pretty card. Stitch this cheerful chick using your free gift this month, which includes 23 thread lengths, an illustrated aperture card, 14-count aida, a needle and an envelope. Worked in whole stitches and backstitch only with satisfying blocks of colour, it won’t take you long, so you’ll soon be able to send this flying off in the post to someone you love. Or, display in your own home to herald the coming of spring!…

Actor, writer, director – whatever Gene Wilder did, he made us smile. With a vibrant and varied career spanning more than 50 years across film, television and stage, his legacy includes classic Mel Brooks films like Young Frankenstein, The Producers and Blazing Saddles, alongside his unforgettable performance in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. There are just so many great films to choose from! Remember Gene at his best with this jolly portrait. Reader’spick! Requested by SHARRON GAILD 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…

HANGING OUT What a clever contraption! This magnifier loops round your neck and hangs right above your stitching so you can craft with both hands. This battery-operated LED Neck Magnifier costs £11.99. To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call 0800 013 0150 SEE CLEARLY NOW Treat yourself to this Halo Table Magnifier by Daylight, a trusted maker of great natural light lamps. At £58, this magnifier contains daylight LEDs and a 2.25X magnification. Visit www.daylightcompany.co.uk to find your local stockist PERFECT ANGLE This magnifier doubles as a 12w daylight lamp and twists into whatever position you desire – handy for angling it over your stitching! This £30 lamp is ideal for stitchers who work at a table. To buy, visit www.hobbycraft.co.uk or call 0330 026 1400…

OVER £1,098 OF PRIZES TO BE WON! Heritage Crafts kits! This magnificent Crane, with the mighty Mount Fuji in the background, is the latest design from Peter Underhill. With its moody blue background and bold white crane, it’s such a striking image! We’ve teamed up with Heritage Crafts to offer nine lucky readers the chance to win the kit. For more of Peter’s head-turning designs go to www.hcrafts.com. To enter for your chance to win, text CSC239CRANE, your name, postal address and email address to 87474 (texts will be charged at 50p plus your standard network rate) or label your postcard ‘Heritage Crafts 239 giveaway’. 9 PRIZES worth £260 Tiny Modernist vouchers! Cheryl McKinnon’s charts are always a big hit here at Crazy, so we’re excited to be offering 10…

Hygge sampler If you need a little more hygge in your life, hang this sampler on your wall and inspire a welcoming atmosphere. This Riverdrift House kit costs £18. To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call 0800 013 0150 Fair Isle reindeer This festive reindeer looks like he’s been snipped straight out of a sweater! For £9.11, Nordic Cross Stitch kit includes a chart, instructions, white aida, embroidery threads, a needle and a needle threader as well! To buy, visit www.stitchonomy.etsy.com Scandi heart This heart of hearts is delightfully simple. The Scandinavian Heart Cross Stitch kit includes a colour chart and photo, instructions, natural linen or white aida, embroidery hoop, needle and thread. To buy, visit www.clementinesneedle.etsy.com Cosy cushion Make a cup of tea, cuddle up with this cosy cushion and…

“It’s getting harder and harder the bigger my stash gets! If I’ve just finished a big project, I’ll go for one or two wee ones before another a larger one. I also like to do a project for myself as a reward after I stitch for others.” Kate Mackay, Edinburgh “I have two lists – things I want to make for myself and things for other people... so it depends on whether I should start a present or if I can work on something pretty for me! The list for myself is longer – I’ve been stashing for a while.” Stephanie Allen, Bristol “I don’t choose my next project – it chooses me! If I see something that jumps out at me, I usually start it before I finish what…

New life £5.70, Tulip by Koekoek www.koekoek.etsy.com It seems only fitting that Amsterdam-based company Koekoek should have a tulip design in its repertoire! This pretty pair of tulips has a subtle hint of Art Nouveau about it – what a great project to celebrate the arrival of spring! Posy for you £2.24, Tulips in Ribbon by Daily Cross Stitch www.dailycrossstitch.com Need to thank a friend, or want to stitch a nice birthday or get well soon card? This design is ideal! It’s quick and easy to recreate in 11 thread shades, and is mini at 12.5x11cm (5x4¼in) on 14-count aida. Brushstrokes FREE, Tulips by Ann Logan www.cross-stitch-patterns.net This artistic design has a watercolour effect that we totally love! You can download the chart for free when you visit bit.ly/2z8BNQQ –…

Perfect for beginners Small, quick-to-stitch designs, such as the leggings opposite, are ideal to try if you’re new to stitching. For more simple designs, try these: • PAGE 8 Teacup bird free gift • PAGE 16 Sweet seahorse • PAGE 20 Mother’s Day gift ideas • PAGE 49 New baby alphabet • PAGE 74 Paisley cards and tags Understanding charts and keys Follow the steps below for an introduction to getting started, then use the simple instructions opposite to learn each stitch! 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…

... to the March issue of Crazy! Inside you’ll find 115 wonderful charts to celebrate the arrival of spring, starting with your sweet bird card kit! Margaret Sherry returns with a terrific troupe of circus mice on page 10, plus we have heaps of colourful ideas for Mother’s Day on page 20. If you know someone who can’t wait to get out in the garden now the warmer weather is here, stitch them a pair of vibrant wellies on page 54 – or, for city dwellers, try Emma Congdon’s striking vintage London scene on page 42. As spring is the season of exciting beginnings, we also have an adorable new baby alphabet on page 49 in pretty pastels and a set of cute teddy bear hoops designed by Lucie Heaton…

Time to give back to the most important woman in your life – your mother! Show your mum just how much you care with a special handmade stitch. Her smile will be as bright as the colours in these fresh springtime projects! Each of these designs require only whole stitches and a bit of backstitch, so you’ll be able to make as many as you please before the big day. Stitch her a charming card, a snazzy badge, a sweet mug cosy – or stitch a few extra to give to the other special mums in your life this Mother’s Day! Need to know Stitch Time 2-8 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24…

So many fun activities, so little time! This team of teddy bears like to keep themselves busy, whether they’re gathering balloons for a birthday party and having a laugh over tea or enjoying a quiet afternoon reading a book and picking flowers. Stitch them all to decorate the room of a busy little bear of your own, or turn one into a large card for a collector of cuddly toys. Or, you can create a sweet friend to fill your own days with joy! Need to know Stitch Time 8-10 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 25x25cm (9¾x9¾in) for each circular hoop design…

Excitement is everywhere in London, from the historic landmarks to the bustling streets! Stitch this vibrant hub of life in chunky blocks of colour and eye-catching shading with this postcard-style design. Explore iconic London sights like Big Ben, red double-decker buses, the London Eye and more in just whole stitches and backstitch. Though the instructions are simple, be sure to leave plenty of time to complete this project, as the entire fabric is covered in stitches. But it will be worth it to show off that London pride! Need to know Stitch Time 60 hours (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 40x33cm (15¾x13in). To buy, visit…

No two babies are alike, so why should any two samplers be the same? We’ve come up with the easiest way for you to make a completely personal stitch for every new baby in your life! Use this charming, gender-neutral abc and set of numbers to spell out the name and birth date of a newborn, making a special project that’s unique to each baby. Or, if samplers aren’t your style, make each of the letters and numbers up into blocks, like we did, for a gift that’s both beautiful and practical. You could even stitch all the letters and numbers together to make an educational wall hanging for a nursery, or patch the letters you need onto a memory book for the young family to treasure. You won’t be…

CREATURE COMFORTS You’ll go wild for this design! The ABC Animals Alphabet Nursery kit costs £26.95 from Sew Inspiring when you visit www.sewinspiring.co.uk or call 01273 401 237. ANIMAL MAGIC Create an eye-catching piece for a nursery with the Animal Alphabet kit. It costs £34.99 and is available from Bothy Threads at www.bothythreads.com or when you call 01900 828 844. WORK OF ARK Stitch this cute ark, afloat on a sea of letters, for the little nipper in your life. The Ark Sampler kit, available from The Stitching Shed at www.thestitchingshed.co.uk, is priced at £17.50.…

Over the bridge My husband Craig, my son Jack and I were lucky enough to be able to walk across the new Queensferry Crossing linking Edinburgh to Fife. The bridge is classed as a motorway, so there will be no way to walk over it in future. But to celebrate the bridge’s opening, they held a competition to allow a select few people to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to walk over the bridge. We entered, not thinking we would be chosen, but ended up being lucky! A fancy invite and lanyards were duly posted out. I took my new magazine on the journey there, as I hadn’t read it yet, and decided to take it with me! My husband took the picture. Lots of people were trying…

Music maven Ooh, I’d love some headphones and musical notes... it would be a lovely little stitch for my Mrs. Michelle Stride, Bedford Here you go, Michelle – some funky red headphones and a flurry of musical notes. I hope your wife loves rocking out with this! Lucie No. 1 The Larch I would love a Larch tree or leaf. I’ve never seen one, and that’s the name of our street, so I would love to make it into a house sign or sampler. Audrey Marshall, Glasgow What a lovely name for a street, Audrey. I bet this would look lovely as a little house number! Lucie Off to Dubai I’d love to do something related to Dubai! Maybe the Burj Al Arab? Zoë Rounding, Shrewsbury Good choice, Zoë! I…

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…

Lisa Edwards USA Which cross stitch designer would be your dream dinner party guest? Durene Jones! I really like her designs, especially the cute animals she does. They seem fun, so I think she’d be fun to chat with, as well. Who do you most like to stitch for? My kids, friends and family. I show them I’m thinking of them with a card or bookmark. How cross stitch crazy are you? Pretty crazy! I’ve got several projects going on at once and stitch most evenings when the kids are settled in for the night. I even sneak in a few stitches on my lunch break! Who taught you to cross stitch? My mum taught me when I was in elementary school. I stitched all the way through school, then…

All tuckered out In a brand new collaboration, Heritage Crafts has teamed up with wildlife photographer Villager Jim to turn his adorable images into kits! The first, After the Walk, costs £38.25. To buy, visit www.hcrafts.com or call 01889 575 256 Crazy loves! Totes fun! Get creative with a Slogan Cross Stitch Jute Bag kit – when you buy the kit, you get to choose between four different slogans and decide which colour you want to use. The kit costs £24 and the bag measures 30x30cm (11¾x11¾in), plus handles. To buy, visit www.bobostitch.co.uk or call 07879 477 253 CRAZY LOVES! Rise again The most inspiring mythical animal must be the phoenix, who bursts into flame only to recreate itself from the ashes! Remind yourself that every ending is a new…

Quick and easy to stitch one a night! Need to know Stitch Time 4-5 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch, sequins ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Sequins - Josy Rose sequins as listed in the key. To buy, visit www.josyrose.com or call 0203 617 0519 Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 12x12cm (4¾x4¾in) for each design. To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call 0800 013 0150 Extras - Triple panel cards measuring 105x146mm with 70mm square apertures (positioned 18mm down, centre on width) in Stardream (26) and Lagoon (48). To buy, visit www.pdacardandcraft.co.uk or call 01773 712 266…

Watch your stitches blossom into a beautiful array of flowers and a cheery pair of turquoise wellies in this delightful celebration of springtime gardening! If your mum loves getting out there with a spade and clippers, use this design make her a charming reminder of her favourite activity for Mother’s Day. With only whole stitches and backstitch needed, this project will be a relaxing stitch to take on as the last of winter fades away. And just think how excited mum will be when she sees this finish! Need to know Stitch Time 20 hours (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 35x35cm (13¾x13¾in). To buy, visit…

Banish creases 1 Invest in a small table-top ironing board if you haven’t got space for a full-sized version – it’s an essential piece of kit for crafters. 2 Iron out any creases in your fabric before you start stitching a project. It’s far easier to do it at this stage than once you’ve finished. 3 Don’t forget to remove your embroidery hoop at the end of a stitching session. This will reduce the chance of creases forming, as well as distortions to your fabric. 4 Use a roller frame for larger projects as they allow you to roll up a section of your completed work to protect it from damage and keep it crease-free. 5 Roll your project gently in a fluffy towel after washing, then place it face…

Write to or email us, or comment on our Weekend Win Facebook posts, and you could be selected for our Stitch and Chat page! Those featured here will receive a copy of Pretty Stitches, with 23 original designs by Crazy designer Jayne Schofield, courtesy of Tuva Publishing. To find out more, visit www.tuvapublishing.com. To be on our Stitch and Chat page, email stitchandchat@crossstitching.com with your photos and comments, or post them to the Crazy address printed on page 3. win with Crazy…

Framed in brilliant pink, purple and gold, these Indian-inspired paisley patterns are sure to turn a few heads! Worked in whole stitches and fractionals with a few flourishes of backstitch, these designs will help you hone your stitchy skills while still only taking a few hours each to create. Keep them handy for birthdays, thank you cards and general occasion gifts – or use the motifs to decorate your home with Eastern elegance! Pair them up with patterned papers or add gold ribbon for a finish your friends will love. Need to know Stitch Time 1-4 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch ShoppingList... Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 15x15cm…