Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2020 i Cross Stitch Crazy

Emma Jones Art Editor This month… “I plan to have a go at making the adorable 3D animals on page 42” Lou Smith Production Editor This month… “My fiancé loves to read, so I’ll stitch him the whole book abc from page 49!” Emily Godwin Designer This month… “I’ll make a motivational set of cards using the gym motifs from page 54!” Fiona Baker Technical Editor This month… “The bright colours in the umbrella designs on page 56 are so lovely” Heather Nugent Charting Editor This month… “I can’t wait to stitch and display the hummingbirds on page 34 in little hoops” Hannah Erskine Charting Assistant This month… “Emma Congdon’s punny Easter cards on page 28 had me giggling at work!”…

GIFT AVAILABLE with print edition of issue 266 only CALL 03330 162 133* TO BUY Remember to stay true to yourself with a little help from this fun kit, designed in Emma Congdon’s signature typographical style! Inside, you’ll find everything you need to stitch the phrase ‘follow your heart’, plus a bright blue hoop and cheery pink pom-pom trim to help you finish your project off in style. To add the pom-poms to your hoop, simply run lengths of acid-free double-sided sticky tape around the back of the hoop and gently press your pom-pom trim in place, bit by bit. Snip off the ends to keep them neat and hang your finish using ribbon or twine. Once it’s on display, this positive project is sure to brighten moods and living…

Pick of the pack So many cute pups to stitch, so little time! Mouseloft have added another two classic dog breeds to their popular Paw Prints range of mini kits. Now, you can stitch an adorably scruffy-looking Lurcher and a magnificent Husky for £2.49 each. Both come with all the threads and 14-count aida you need to bring these pooch pals to life, plus a needle and a chart. To buy, visit www.mouseloft.co.uk Coastal retreat From the vibrant thistles in the foreground to the clouds rolling over the mountains behind the crumbling ruins, there are so many details to enjoy in this new design by Karen Carter. As you work your way through the bright palette of colours, you’ll feel like the scene is coming to life beneath your needle.…

Hello! “My first-ever Crazy stitch was a pretty little mermaid bookmark from issue 240. I still have it! It came with me when I moved from New Zealand to the UK.” Jenni Marques, Lincoln “My first time buying Crazy was November last year. I had fun stitching the elves from issue 262. I’m using them to make 20 gift tags, one for each member of my family!” Liz Panter, Sheffield “My first project was bunting from issue 193. Each flag had a letter from my daughter’s name on it. It was a special castle-themed abc that had princesses and knights.” Sarah Clarke, Hadleigh Coming up… How do you store your thread stash and where do you keep it? Email your answer to stitchandchat@cross-stitching.com…

WAKEY-WAKEY! Say goodbye to winter with this vibrant Spring Awakening design. It comes as a kit for £25 or a chart for £8.50. You can stitch the other seasons for the same prices from www.littledovedesigns.co.uk SEW AND SOW Step into a blooming marvellous plot with the Spring Garden Motifs from www.tinymodernist.com. The complete set of charts costs £7.62, or you can find them in issue 243 of Crazy! A WARM RECEPTION Lose yourself in the entwined stems and sweet flowers of the gorgeous Welcome To My Garden by Tempting Tangles. Download the chart for £7.08 from www.creativepoppypatterns.com…

OVER £1,183 IN PRIZES TO BE WON! Win Zweigart packs! We always feel inspired when we look through Zweigart’s design books! One of their latest is called Hello Spring, and it’s bursting with inspiring charts to stitch this season. We have 30 bundles, which include a copy of the book and a piece of 14-count opalescent aida, to be won. To see more stitchy goodies from Zweigart, visit www.zweigart.de. For your chance to win, visit www.gathered.how/CSC to enter for free, or send a note or card labelled ‘Zweigart book and fabric 266 giveaway’ to the address listed below. Lucie Heaton PDF charts! Wedding season is nearly upon us, and Lucie Heaton’s Wedding Mice charts are just the thing to stitch for happy couples this spring. You could even use them…

The weather is warming up, and our beloved woodland friends are starting to wake up from their winter naps, so get outside and see how many you can spot this season – and don’t forget to take this handy field guide with you! Designed in a simple and adorable yet realistic style, these animals are a perfect first project for a little one looking to start their stitching journey. Kids can pick their favourite to stitch – with or without the name below – or stitch the whole gang as a guide for their next adventure! l ShoppingList… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 25x33cm (9 x13in). To buy, visit www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk or call 0161…

Get ahead of the wedding season! These fab charts are full of love and romance, and make perfect gifts for those special days coming up Apple of my eye £4.68, Owl Wedding by StitchCuteDesign www.stitchcutedesign.etsy.com Surprise the happy couple with these adorable owls on the big day. Worked in whole stitches and backstitch in 15 shades, it’s a fairly simple project. It measures 25x17cm (10x6 in) on 14-count aida and is available in four styles. Love’s young dream £4.00, Ever After by Instant Cross Stitch www.instantcrossstitch.etsy.com Send your wishes for a long and happy marriage, fairytale style, with this colourful statement! You’ll only need three shades of thread and the chart comes as an instant download, so you can get started on it today. Loved up £6.86, Kissing Foxes 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 April issue of Crazy! Our spring stitching sessions are in full swing here at the office, and we’re all busily stitching projects to get us ready for the season ahead. I’m starting one of the North American bird hoops from page 72 – I’ve just begun and it already reminds me of home! Lou is currently obsessed with adding stitchy scenes to tote bags, so I’m sure she’ll have a go at our rainbow umbrella-themed charts on page 56. However, I think the finished designs would look just as lovely on canvases or in frames! Emma can’t wait to stitch a few of the kawaii springtime motifs on page 20, as she loves a good mini design. And finally, Emily’s stitching her cousin’s name using the book…

Exclusive to Crazy! Tatty Teddy loves to give thoughtful gifts to special people. That’s why this adorable little bear has hand-picked a stunning collection of posies for you to enjoy stitching! You’ll work through a mix of whole stitches, half stitches, backstitch and French knots to complete this piece. Once you start adding the backstitch, you’ll really see the sweet scene come to life as each individual flower becomes defined and Tatty Teddy’s fuzzy fur appears. Then, show it off in a frame or turn it into a cushion to give to your own special friend! l ShoppingList… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 38x36cm (15x14 in). To buy, visit www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk or call 0161…

Over the past two decades, Bruno Mars has dominated playlists and airwaves with his powerful voice and ever-evolving sound. His music has morphed from romantic pop ballads to funk party anthems to smooth R&B jams and more, but his career hasn’t missed a beat – the singer has sold over 100 million records, making him one of the best-selling musical artists of all time. It’s no wonder he’s become a modern pop legend! So, press play on your favourite Bruno Mars hit and stitch this portrait of the talented singer for a fan – or yourself – today. l Bruno Mars Stitch count 98 (h) x 68 (w) Design area on 14-count fabric 18x12.5cm (7x4 in) Reader’s pick! Requested by LISA HORWOOD STEVENAGEW Who would you like to see as…

Need to know Stitch Time 3-5 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 12x12cm (4 x4 in) foreachdesign. Tobuy, visit www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk or call 0161 505 1910 Extras - Square aperture cards of your choice from local stores or handmade; 6mm Double Sided Super Sticky Tape from Lakeside Needlecraft Happy Passover Stitch count 34 (h) x 33 (w) Design area 14-count fabric 6x6cm (2 x2 in) Easter greetings Stitch count 32 (h) x 31 (w) Design area 14-count fabric 6x5.5cm (2 x2 in) Ramadan Kareem Stitch count 32 (h) x 35 (w) Design area 14-count fabric 6x6.5cm (2 x2 in) Happy Easter Stitch count 33 (h)…

Grab your baskets! These animal friends are ready for heaps of Easter fun – and look, they’ve even brought their own chocolate treats to add to the festivities. Stitch these cuties on perforated paper and turn to page 46 to follow our step-by-step guide for making them up. Then, use them to surprise a special someone – or three – on Easter morning. You can even bring them out again each year as a new tradition! ShoppingList… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - 14-count white perforated paper measuring 18x12cm (7x4 in) for each front and back and 7x9cm (2 x3 in) for each base. To buy, visit www.3dcrossstitch.co.uk or call 01748 884 926 Extras - Matching extra threads for…

Designing your own sampler 1 Look at the structure of other samplers to find a style you like – don’t be afraid to play around with different themes and layouts, both modern and traditional. 2 Invest in some books of small charts or pop to your local library and borrow a collection to find inspiration for all sorts of different motifs, alphabets and border designs. 3 Map out your sampler on graph paper or using online charting software like www.stitchfiddle.com 4 Pick up a shade card of your chosen thread brand so you can double-check what the different colours will look like in your finished work. 5 Have fun experimenting with your design! You get to choose how your sampler looks, so don’t feel you need to include all traditional…

As April showers begin to pour, curl up in your favourite chair and stitch these cheerful brolly-themed designs! Each one features pretty patchwork umbrellas, as well as springtime motifs like flowers, rainbows and wellies. Make them up into bags, as we did, or turn them into fun wall art for your home. With plenty of bright and bold colours, they’ll lift your spirits come rain or shine! l ShoppingList… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring 39x36cm (15 x14 in) for the large design, 28x28cm (11x11in) for the medium design and 22x22cm (8 x8 in) for the small design. To buy, visit www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk or call 0161 505 1910 Extras - Tote bags in small, medium…

Whether they’re chirping in the treetops or visiting their local bird feeders, these feathered friends are a welcome sight in American gardens! Stitch the bright red cardinal, cheeky blue jay, cute chickadee and lovely American goldfinch on dark blue aida, then make their vibrant colours pop by outlining them in bold white backstitch. With so much to love about these pretty birds, you’re sure to soar through all four designs! ShoppingList… Threads - Stranded cotton as listed in the key Needle - Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric - Zweigart 14-count navy (589) aida measuring 23x23cm (9x9in) for each design. To buy, visit www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk or call 0161 5051910 Extras - 6in wooden embroidery hoops (EH6). To buy, visit www.siestaframes.com or call 01202 813 363; paint and felt for backing of your…

Rosie Vian Weston-super-Mare Which cross stitch designer would be your dream dinner party guest? Lucie Heaton! I love her designs and would enjoy talking to her about her designing process. Which project are you most proud of? I made a wreath that took me a couple of years. It’s got all sorts of lovely little motifs in it and I love getting it out every Christmas. How would you describe your stitching style? I love cartoon-style designs – ones where it doesn’t matter if you make a mistake or two! Who do you most like to stitch for? My parents. They love everything I produce! Which celeb would you most like to stitch? The cricket commentator Sir Ian Botham, as my dad is a huge fan of his. Ellie Abeles…

Star letter Fiery finishes Here are two Chinese phoenixes that I stitched and had framed. The one with the black background was designed by Fiona Baker for Crazy issue 243 – I had it framed in gold and black. During the Lunar New Year in February last year, I added greetings in gold Chinese characters to a photo of it to make my own e-cards. The other is from Bewitching Cross Stitch by Joan Elliott, which was borrowed from the library. Monica Chong, Singapore Alison says: Your framed phoenixes are simply stunning, Monica. Thanks for sharing them with us! WIN! This month’s Star Letter winner will receive this Blackwork Cat kit, inspired by the art of CFA Voysey. The kit costs £16 and includes 14-count white aida, DMC black thread,…

Make your springtime as adorable as possible with flowers, gardening tools, Easter eggs and more, all stitched in Mollie Johanson’s signature kawaii style! These friendly characters are super easy and satisfying to stitch, as they’re made up of big colourful blocks of whole stitches with just a hint of backstitch for their smiling mouths. That means you can stitch kawaii cuties for gifts in no time! l ShoppingList… 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.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk or call 0161 505 1910 Extras - All items of your choice from local stores or handmade Need to know Stitch Time 1-7 hours each (approx) Stitch Types…

Liven up your Easter celebrations when you stitch and send these hilarious cards! They’re sure to put a hop in somebody’s step and a smile on their face with fun, bright colours and cracking puns. Plus, the mini matching tags are just the thing to tie around chocolate eggs as tasty treats for the kids! These bold designs are surprisingly easy to stitch, as they’re worked in whole stitches and backstitch only. So go on, share a good yolk with all your loved ones! l 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 card and 10x10cm (4x4in) for each tag. To buy, visit www.lakesideneedlecraft.co.uk or call 0161 505 1910 Extras -…

Wedding wonder Last year, my sister got married on the 30th November. As soon as I heard the news of their upcoming wedding, I got to work on some exciting projects for their big day. Here are a few of the things I made for the wedding! The first project I completed was their wedding gift, which I managed to finish back in the summer – thank goodness! The second project was all the name cards for the wedding breakfast, which doubled up as favours for people to take away. I really enjoyed creating something unique and beautiful for her special day and felt very lucky to be able to contribute in this way. Thank you for all your ongoing inspiration, Crazy. Here’s to another year of exciting projects! Jennifer…

Whether you’re curled up on the sofa, taking the morning train or propped up in bed, the book you’re reading can take you on extraordinary adventures in whole new worlds. That’s why we’re celebrating our love of reading with this book-themed alphabet and numbers set! Each chart is filled with colourful novels, piled high in gravity-defying stacks to create different letters and numbers. Use them to spell out your partner’s name for their desk at work, or make a thoughtful bookmark as a gift for a voracious young reader. Just make sure you leave enough space between each letter or number if you’re stitching multiple charts! For an easier finish, stitch just one letter to put on a thank you card for a teacher, or turn it into a brooch…

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 centres of our cross stitch charts are marked out using small arrows on the edge of each side of a chart. This is the best place to start stitching, so you end up with the design in the middle of the fabric. To find the centre of your fabric, fold it in half horizontally,…