Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2019 i Cross Stitch Crazy

… to the April issue of Crazy! Whenever spring rolls around, I often start to think about new beginnings – which inevitably makes me think of new projects that I can’t wait to start stitching! This issue has plenty of fresh inspiration for you, starting with our pretty floral exclusive on page 10. If you’re starting to plan your Easter projects, check out the trio of cute springtime animals on page 54 and the exquisite Fabergéinspired eggs on page 72. Music fans will adore receiving one of the cool retro cards on page 28, while the heartwarming grandparents pop-up cards on page 62 are great to try with a little stitcher. As for me, I’ve already started on the elegant Art Nouveau alphabet and numbers set on page 47 –…

GIFT AVAILABLE with print edition of issue 253 only CALL 03330 162 133 TO BUY Whether you’re off to a birthday party, getting ready for a baby shower or just want to surprise someone with a thinking-of-you present, Lucie’s teddy bear pals will make your gift giving go the extra mile! You’ll find everything you need to stitch these cuties inside your kit, plus pre-cut tags and ribbon to help you finish them off. These bears are simple to turn into tags, too – once you’ve finished stitching a design, cut it out with a two-square border all around and lightly fray the edges. Mount the stitch onto one of the pre-cut tags using double-sided tape, then add a length of satin ribbon to complete! Once you’ve made the whole set,…

Whether he’s voicing the quick-witted Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy or wowing audiences in A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper has shown he’s got what it takes! This well-established star has received several Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, and has even been named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people! Snuggle up with one of his films as you stitch this blue-eyed boy’s portrait, then gift your finish to a fan of the actor – or hang it on your wall as a treat for yourself. Reader’s pick! Requested by EMMA STEVENS 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:…

ROARSOME KIT Every stitch of this Modern, Pink Dinosaur project is filled with joy! Create a piece to be proud of with this kit, which comes with a 4in hoop, a needle and threader, threads, 16-count aida and felt to back your hoop, all for £14.99. Or, go deluxe for £21.99 and receive a bonus drawstring pouch and needle minder! To buy, visit www.hannahhandmakesshop.etsy.com PRETTY IN PINK Pack some punch into your next stitch with Permin’s Riviera Coral aida! Use it to create a floral spring scene full of cheerful colours, or to stitch a fabulous fairy for a friend. Choose from 14-or 16-count aida or 28-or 32-count linen, with prices starting at £5.85 for 19x25cm of 16-count aida. To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call ☎ 0800 013 0150 FABULOUS…

Previously you’ve been Crazy for… Reader’s pick! Requested by JENNIFER MCKENZIE What are you crazy for? Tell us what you’re mad about stitching! We’ll gather together the most popular requests and ask one of our top designers to create a whole spread of designs – just for you! Name .......................................................................................................... I’m crazy for ................................................................................................ ........................................................................................ ........................... Because ..................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................... Fill in and cut out this coupon (or photocopy it) and send it to: Crazy for… Cross Stitch Crazy, Immediate Media Company Bristol Ltd, 2nd Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN or email your requests to: crazyfor@cross-stitching.com Back issues! Crazy hot line ☎ 03330 162 133…

Relax and let this gorgeous sampler transport you to a tropical island! Discover a cheery toucan among the bright flora, spot a buzzing hummingbird and catch a glimpse of a fluttering butterfly – there’s plenty to enjoy in this colourful design! As this design uses only whole stitches, it’s a great project for anyone who likes to kick back and unwind as they stitch. And best of all, this positive greeting makes for a beautiful sentiment to display on your wall! Need to know Stitch Time 30 hours (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch Shopping List… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 34x41cm (13¼ x16¼ in). To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call ☎ 0800…

Framed in bursts of pretty yellow and purple florals, these three barnyard friends look absolutely irresistable! With a few stitchy challenges including fractionals and French knots, this set makes for an engaging springtime project. Put all three on display in your home, or give them away individually as gifts! Need to know Stitch Time 30 hours for the set (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch, French knots Shopping List… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for the chick, 20x20cm (8x8in) for the bunny and 23x23cm (9x9in) for the pig. To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call ☎ 0800 013 0150 Extras - 3in (EH3), 5in (EH5) and 6in (EH6) wooden embroidery…

FRESH GREENS The folky motifs in the Primavera spring sampler from Satsuma Street are bursting with mood-lifting vibes. Download the chart for £6.89 from www.satsumastreet.etsy.com CREATURE FEATURE Bunnies, chicks and lambs gambol among the flowers in this cute Riverdrift House Spring Mini Sampler design. Download the chart from www.creativepoppypatterns.com for £4.60. BAND AID Welcome springtime with these joyful motifs and borders! Order the Spring Band Sampler chart for £9 or the kit for £19.95 from www.historicalsamplercompany.co.uk, or call ☎ 01268 711 918.…

OVER £1,061 OF PRIZES TO BE WON! Durene Jones charts! We just love these quirky charts by Durene Jones! For more of Durene’s delightful designs, visit www.durenejcrossstitch.etsy.com. We have 27 bundles of both charts to give away this month. To enter for your chance to win, visit www.crossstitching.com to enter for free, or send a postcard labelled ‘Durene Jones 253 giveaway’ to the address listed below. 27 PRIZES worth £259 Mouseloft kits! We have 14 bundles of six Mouseloft card kits to be won, featuring tiny designs that will put smiles on your loved ones’ faces. Visit www.mouseloft.co.uk for more fun designs. To enter for your chance to win, visit www.cross-stitching.com to enter for free, or send a postcard labelled ‘Mouseloft 253 giveaway’ to the address listed below. 14 PRIZES worth £250 Bothy…

Ensure a visit from the Easter Bunny this year with our pick of colourful quick-stitch charts Spring fever £4.05, Bunny by Lucky Star Stitches www.luckystarstitches.etsy.com This bright bunny is full of the joys of spring! Worked in whole stitches, this project is great for all stitching levels. The bow, created using real ribbon, makes for a pretty finishing touch! Plus, you can recreate the hoop here with a frame wrapping tutorial from Lucky Star Stitches. Sew sweet £3.57, Bunny Baby by Animals Cross Stitch www.animalscrossstitch.etsy.com What a cutie! This is the perfect project for Easter, but it also works as new baby celebration. The chart comes on its own as an instant download, or you can pay £6.73 to get it as part of a collection of other woodland animal…

Katie Kegie Art Editor This month… “I love Bradley Cooper, so I can’t wait to stitch his portrait on page 19!” Lou Smith Production Editor This month… “The tropical sampler on page 42 would look fab on my wall at home” Emily Godwin Designer This month… “I’m challenging myself this month with the Fabergé eggs on page 72” Fiona Baker Technical Editor This month… “I’ll be using the spring gift ideas on page 20 to make several presents!” Heather Nugent Charting Editor This month… “The kite cards on page 37 make me smile every time I see them!” Hannah Erskine Charting Assistant This month… “Lucie Heaton’s teddy bear tags on page 8 are an absolute must-stitch for me” Contact crazy www.facebook.com/crossstitchcrazy www.twitter.com/crazy_magazine www.cross-stitching.com ☎ 0117 300 8788 Cross Stitch Crazy…

After the chilly winter months, it’s lovely to welcome the arrival of a new season, and this set of cheerful quick-stitch designs is sure to inspire your springtime stitching this year! Full of dainty motifs and sweet sentiments in a bright and breezy colour palette, these projects are just what you need to make thoughtful presents and cards for birthdays, Easter and much more. Go on – spring into stitchy action today! Need to know Stitch Time 2-6 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch, French knots Shopping List… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring a maximum of 15x15cm (6x6in) for most designs. To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call ☎ 0800 013…

This retro-style set is sure to strike the right chord for the music lovers in your life! Perfect for anyone who enjoys listening to albums on vinyl, or who still has an extensive collection of old cassette tapes, these cool designs use just whole stitches and backstitch to recreate the music machines of the good old days! These cards and tags work well for celebrations and birthdays, but also can be used as greetings cards for any occasion. You’ll find plenty of uses for these classic designs – in fact, we think they’ll go straight to the top of your charts! Need to know Stitch Time 3-8 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch Shopping List… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size…

Need to know Stitch Time 2-4 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch Shopping List… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 12x12cm (4 ¾x4¾ in) for each design. To buy, visit www.sewandso.co.uk or call ☎ 0800 013 0150 Extras - Medium ric rac in vintage lilac, grass green, coral red, golden yellow, pale blue, orange and ocean blue. To buy, visit www.ricketyrose.co.uk or call ☎ 01367 250 034; single fold cards (SF03U) in pale blue (26). To buy, visit www.craftcreations.com or call ☎ 01992 781 900; white card, white paper for clouds and sticky foam pads of your choice from local stores…

Travel back in time to a bygone era and recreate the opulent elegance of turn-of-the-century artwork! Watch as these delicate floral swirls and graceful letters bring the Art Nouveau movement back to stitchy life in all of its colourful wonder. Working with a soft pastel palette, you’ll use whole stitches to fill in the backgrounds of each design, leaving the flowers, leaves, letters and numbers blank. Finer details, like stems and petals, are added with a touch of backstitch in a subtly darker shade. Once you’ve stitched your chosen charts, their shape makes them easy to cut out and use as patches. Or, stitch several to create a beautiful nameplate, pop them onto a chic jewellery box as we did here, make special invitations or treat an art or history…

Stitching on a budget 1 Keep your aida off-cuts when framing a project, or plunder any kits you’ll never stitch for fabric. You can use it for gift tags, cards and other gorgeous mini projects. 2 Shop around when you’re buying online – you’d be surprised how much prices can vary. Also, make full use of any loyalty card discounts and voucher codes. 3 Invest in a book of designs rather than buying a new chart or kit each time you want to make something new. You can find themed books for birthdays, Christmas and more! 4 If you’re part of a stitching group, suggest swapping any unwanted items in your stash – you may find someone else has just what you’re looking for, and vice versa. 5 Buying items…

These opulent little eggs will delight anyone who finds them inside an Easter basket this year! Stitched to look like the traditional Fabergé eggs, these delicate beauties use magnificent purples and metallic gold thread to create a regal look, as well as pretty beading to add a bejewelled effect. Follow the step-by-step guide on page 76 to help you create your eggs, then either display them proudly on your table, add loops at the tops and hang as ornaments, or surprise a special someone with their own Fabergé-style egg! Need to know Stitch Time 16 hours per egg (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, beads Shopping List… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle; beading needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida…

Perfect for beginners Small, quick-to-stitch designs, such as the zip opposite, are ideal to try if you’re new to stitching. For more simple designs, try these: PAGE 8 Teddy bear gift tags PAGE 20 Springtime gift ideas PAGE 34 Elephant motifs PAGE 47 Art Nouveau abc PAGE 61 British sea creatures 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 symbols that represent 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 to start The centre of our…

Joanna Chai Nottingham How would you describe your stitching style? It’s all about finding a small moment of calm in an otherwise hectic day! I get my stitching done in between chasing around two little balls of energy. Which project are you most proud of? An alphabet piece I did for my eldest daughter, who is now four. I taught myself as I went along and my daughter loves it. Who do you most like to stitch for? I like to stitch for family, mainly, as I like to give handmade gifts. I also love to stitch for myself, just because I find it so relaxing! When I’m not stitching, you’ll find me… Playing with my two lovely girls, looking after my pet guinea pigs or spending time indulging in…

Star letter You are a winner! Shahna Thwaites Awesome auntie While I was pregnant, I found this kit at my local C&H Fabrics shop. I wanted to have it ready and framed for when my little girl was born. However, at the end of the nine months I had only managed to stitch half of it. That’s when Auntie Janine saved the day! Being a fanatic of anything arty, she finished it for me – and wow, I love it. Thank you isn’t enough, Auntie Janine. Shahna Thwaites, West Sussex Alison says: Your auntie did a great job with this stitch, Shahna! WIN! Each month our Star letter winner receives a fantastic prize! This month’s Star letter winner will receive the pawesomely adorable Well Fed kit from the Vanessa Wells…

Hobby holiday Currently, I’m on holiday with my family, skiing in the French Alps. We’re staying in Tignes, and here I am at 2,704m enjoying the view of the Grande Motte glacier with my favourite magazine! I adore skiing, but have to say that one of the best things about this holiday is having some time to read Crazy and work on a jungle scene that I’m stitching for my boyfriend’s sister, who’s expecting a baby. I found Crazy and The World of Cross Stitching last year, and I’m so very glad I did! They’re fantastic and so inspiring. I’ve got at least five projects that I want to start from recent issues, and my confidence and skills have increased significantly since I began reading them. If a day goes by…

What’s your role on Crazy? I commission all the projects, edit all the pages, decide what goes where and look for new ways to make Crazy the best magazine it can be! Where do you call home? I live in North Bristol with my husband and two gigantic Alaskan Malamutes. However, I’m originally from Virginia in the US, and I use all my holiday time to nip back and see my family! What do you do for fun? I love stitching the gifts that come with our mag. We put so much work into them that it’s fun to experience the final result! Other than that, I like to listen to podcasts, read and watch terrible reality TV. Favourite thing about Crazy? There’s so much I love about this mag!…

Celebrating the very special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, these adorable designs are full of warmth and charm. Using just whole stitches and backstitch, they’re ideal to work on together if you want to introduce a child – or grandchild! – to stitching. Kids can then have fun turning their completed designs into pop-up cards to give to their beloved gran or grandpa for a birthday, Grandparents’ Day or just to send lots of love! Need to know Stitch Time 5-6 hours each (approx) Stitch Types Whole cross stitch, backstitch Shopping List… 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…

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…