Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2016 i Cross Stitch Gold

We’re gearing up for autumn here in the Cross Stitch Gold office! We love that time of year when the air is a little crisper, the fire starts to crackle with life and the leaves are satisfyingly crunchy! And we love the colours the changing seasons bring about too, so with this in mind, we have an issue packed with autumnal-rich shades for you this month. Over on page 38, we have a beautiful autumn sampler from The Historical Sample Company, Poppy Benner’s folk-inspired Home Sweet Home design (p20), and of course, if you head to page 44, we have our adorable cover star, Carol Thorton’s nut-foraging squirrel. He’s a cutie sure to warm any cold night! You can also recreate a chic French feel with Felicity Hall’s Paris Fashion…

Love my cushion! I just wanted to say thank you to Cross Stitch Gold for this gorgeous ‘love’ design! It’s actually something you featured last year, but was my first project on evenweave – and it now takes pride of place in our bedroom! I spent a while looking for the right fabric to turn the project into a cushion, but it was worth the wait. I also made four heart-shaped pillows featured in the same issue, which I threaded together and hung above our bed. Together, they all make our bedroom really homely! Stephanie Allen, Bristol Zeena: Your cushion looks fantastic, Stephanie – you’ve done a brilliant job! You are gold! While recovering from an operation recently, I found myself getting increasingly bored. So my youngest son, who drops…

Classic roses Botanical designs are brought to life in these new Floragenius cross stitch kits from Creative World of Crafts. These medium-level cross stitch kits contain pre-sorted DMC stranded cotton and use a combination of whole stitch and backstitch. This design, Pink Centifolia Rose & White Unique Rose, is £17.50 and has a finished size of 21.5 x 24cm. The collection boasts 10 stunning designs in total. Available from www.readicut.co.uk Powerful poppies As poppies start to become prominent again over the coming months, this elegant pattern is a superb way to capture the beauty and symbolism of poppy-strewn meadows. This idyllic scene, designed by Thea Gouverneur, is a timeless landscape measuring 22 x 18.5 inches and is stitched on 36-count linen. In between the striking red poppies you'll find little…

Fun with fractionals I normally design in needlepoint, which doesn’t use fractional stitches, but I really enjoy creating a little more shaping when I design in cross stitch. The fractionals in this piece help to create perfectly pointed lipstick, neatly curved suitcase handles, sharp lapels and much more. They’re a great tool when you want your designs to have an extra level of detail, and they’re easier to work on evenweave than on aida. Vintage Paris I loved researching vintage French fashions for this design – you can learn a lot from old French films and copies of Vogue, you know! I hope my design conjures up the oh-so-chic feeling of this romantic city.…

Beaded jewels Shiny seed beads have been scattered across this design to add texture, and they’re a great reflection of the glowing colours we see in nature at this time of year. The little beads in shades of gold, citron and copper work beautifully alongside olive-green leaves and plump, golden pumpkins. Pace yourself Theres a lovely mix of lettering, borders and sampler motifs in this design, so it’s the perfect choice for stitchers who find themselves easily bored or distracted. Variety is the spice of life, so keep yourself motivated by stitching something different each evening. You’ll soon see the design, and your sense of achievement, begin to grow. too.…

Blue & white FLOWER VASE IN BLUE (12-646C), Eva Rosenstand, around £40 What’s in the kit Black and white chart 26-count antique white linen DMC stranded cotton Tapestry needle Size of finished design 40x50cm (15 x19 in) Stitching this kit Blue and white pottery has long been collectable and this striking cross stitch design is reminiscent of these revered ceramics – the design looks like it has been lifted straight from a precious plate or vase. It’s part of Eva Rosenstand’s extensive floral collection, for which she is well known, and is ideal for both intermediate and experienced stitchers. The design is worked in cross stitch and backstitch in both one and two strands, and stitched in delicate hues of blue – these subtle differences in thread shades afford the…

UK stockists CHARLES CRAFT For stockists, visit www.dmccreative.co.uk Call 0116 2754000 COATS CRAFTS UK For stockists, visit www.makeitcoats.com Call 01484 681881 CRAFT CREATIONS Visit www.craftcreations.com Call 01992 781900 CRAFT DEPARTMENT Visit www.craftdepartment.com Call 01539 823199 DMC CREATIVE WORLD For stockists, visit www.dmccreative.co.uk Call 0116 2754000 MADEIRA For stockists, visit www.eqsuk.com Call 0116 2710033 SEW AND SO Visit www.sewandso.co.uk Call 0800 0130150 US stockists 123 STITCH Visit www.123stitch.com Call 1-800-996-1230 ABC STITCH THERAPY Visit www.abcstitch.com Call 1-281-205-7507 ARTS CRAFTS USA Visit www.artscraftsusa.com Call 1-866-621-7779 JULIE’S X STITCH Visit www.juliesxstitch.com…

How to read our charts All our charts are printed in both colour and symbols. Each square on a cross stitch chart contains a symbol, and each symbol corresponds with one stitch. The key that accompanies the chart tells you what thread colour each symbol corresponds to, and how many strands to use for each cross stitch, backstitch or French knot. It also gives you the design's dimensions – you'll need these to cut your fabric to size. The thread numbers listed in the first column of the key refer to the brand that we've used to stitch the design. Conversion numbers for two other brands are given, but they're not always exact equivalents. Avoid mixing more than one brand in the same design. Sometimes you'll need more than one…

Meet the designer Lesley Teare Lesley lives and works in rural Suffolk. She designs for many of the best cross stitch magazines, as well as for cross stitch books For my latest Gold design, I have recreated a beautiful moment in the classic foxtrot – one of my favourite dances to watch. I love how gracefully a pair of professional dancers can glide across the ballroom floor, making it look so effortless, and I wanted to capture that elegance in stitches. There’s plenty of ballroom glitz and glamour in this scene, provided by metallic silver thread as well as pewter seed beads, which really come into their own on the silver flowers cascading down the side of the lady’s ballgown. Finish off your stitching with a mount and frame like…

Flower girl Today I finished my latest project – this sweet Maria Diaz design – and I’m so pleased! It was a lovely piece to stitch and the backstitch really helped to make it pop. I loved stitching it so much that it didn’t take long at all to do – I’d finished it in under a week! I will give it pride of place in my craft room to brighten the place up a bit. I think it would be great if Maria Diaz did a range of girls for each season. Maria is one of my favourite designers and I love stitching her designs. Emma Wright, Devon Zeena: It’s really pretty, Emma! And what a sweet idea – a series to suit each season. Maria, take note!…

Meet the designer Poppy Benner Previously the editor of Gold, Poppy now works as a freelance writer and also designs for her Etsy shop, Tapestry Barn Hearts and florals are often central to my designs, so it’s no surprise that I’ve incorporated a few of these motifs here! From bright red hearts and yellow tulips to tiny pink and purple blossoms, these colours look so striking against the green lettering and black fabric. To me, there’s nothing more important than home sweet home – I’m always thinking of ways to make my house more welcoming, and I feel like this design will certainly add a homely touch. If you’re celebrating a friend or loved one moving into their new home, then the picture would make a really thoughtful gift, or…

THE EXPERTS JO BENNER Jo is an experienced stitcher and crafter, who writes for several cross stitch magazines. She can help with chart queries and stitching know-how, as well as product questions. FIONA BAKER Fiona is the Technical Editor for Cross Stitch Gold and our sister magazines. She is a talented cross stitch designer, too, and can answer any of your stitching queries. SARAH TREVOR Sarah has worked on cross stitching and craft magazines for over six years. She’s an avid stitcher, and is ready and raring to help you with any of your craft or cross stitch dilemmas. VINEGAR RINSE Q I’ve stitched a project on some black fabric and I’ve washed it according to the instructions but it doesn’t look as good as it did before – it’s…

True elegance Add this beautiful portrait of Susannah (JLSS1318) to your collection of John Clayton’s Elegance ladies – she’s a joy to stitch in her stunning red dress, with flowers to match and a subtle shaded background to set the scene. The design measures 30.5x43.5cm (12x17in) and comes with either 14-count aida or 27-count evenweave, plus presorted DMC threads, for £55. For details visit www.hcrafts.com or call 01889 575256. We have five Susannah kits with evenweave to give away. The text keyword is GOLD131LADY. For entry details, see the box below. Super stash We’re delighted to be giving away a pack of assorted Tilda ribbons and fabric buttons in Candy Bloom – they’re perfect for making cross stitch cards and cushions. And as if that wasn’t enough, we’re also throwing…

Meet the designer Durene Jones Durene worked as a graphic designer before becoming a popular cross stitch designer I usually work with quite bright colours, so it was a lovely change to use delicate pastels in this project – I hope you enjoy the change in style, too! With a gentle nod to Native America, where feathers symbolised many things including trust, honour, strength, wisdom, power and freedom, I wanted to create a modern design that would mean something different to each person who stitched it, bringing them closer to their spiritual side. If you’ve never stitched on Polstitches’ gorgeous hand-dyed fabric before, then I thoroughly recommend it! Each piece of fabric is totally unique, and this beautiful colourway, Serenade, is also available in 14-count or 16-count aida if you…

Meet the designer Maria Diaz Maria studied Fine Art at university and previously worked for DMC Creative World, before becoming a freelance cross stitch designer I love stitching designs for little ones, especially a new baby and his or her delighted – but exhausted – parents! There are always so many cards and gifts when you have a new baby, and to see the outpouring of love for your little bundle of joy is such a special time amidst the sleep deprivation. Why not show you care with one of my cute cards, which each use just three shades of cotton for a shaded effect. I’ve added fractionals, French knots and backstitch for extra detail, but I think most people will find these designs straightforward and fun to stitch. They…

Swish and sway The movement of the dancers is obviously one of the important things I wanted to convey in this design. The main area where I’ve done this is in the lady s dress, which uses a range of pretty coral shades and some careful backstitch to create the layered folds of her skirt. I’m really pleased with the effect – it looks as if shes about to be swept away! A bit of bling I’m a big fan of Strictly Come Dancing, and one of my favourite parts of the show is seeing the costumes and hairstyles. I really admire the costume designers and all the beadwork that goes into each dress, so I couldn’t resist introducing some bling of my own to this design. Pewter beads add…

Meet the designer Rosiland Solomon Award-winning artist and illustrator Rosiland Solomon has spent most of her adult life as a commercial painter From cockerels to cardinals, I’ve painted so many different kinds of birds – I just love to capture their beauty, whether they’re in flight, on the water or seated on a fence post! The original painting on which this design is based, is one of four designs in my ‘Peacock Garden’ collection. There’s a great sense of depth to the painting and this has translated well into stitches. I love how half cross stitch and one-stranded cross stitch have been used in the background, bringing the rich detail of the foreground into focus. With his striking feathers of emerald and electric blue, I think the peacock himself will…

Meet the designer Felicity Hall Felicity is passionate about the art of stitching, and loves to create fun designs that will also complement stylish interiors This design is right up my boulevard! A trip to Paris simply wouldn’t be complete without a shopping spree in the very best boutiques (well, in my dreams), so I really enjoyed indulging my shopaholic tendencies in stitches! I couldn’t wait to get started on the fashionable French motifs and elegant lettering, and it was great fun piecing them all together to create the final design – my inner stylist definitely came out at this stage. My sampler is totally adaptable if you want to create smaller gifts and cards as well. Why not pair the vintage luggage motif with the ‘Bon Voyage’ lettering, or…

About the design The Historical Sampler Co. Designers Joanne and Suzanne live and work in rural Essex. Their designs are inspired by modern trends while still maintaining a traditional feel The seasons have long been a favoured subject in needlework and it’s easy to see why – who wouldn’t love the prospect of stitching four gorgeous designs in a row? We’re beginning this series with Autumn, and a delightful collage of motifs and words that sum up this chilly but heartwarming season. Stitch hedgerow fruits and flowers alongside woodland creatures and scenes of a warm and welcoming home. From apple-picking at weekends to kicking leaves on the way to school, those treasured childhood memories will come flooding back with every stitch. And if you’ve ever heard the hymn Autumn Days,…

Meet the designer Carol Thornton Carol is a watercolour artist, who sketches and paints her designs before converting them into cross stitch If you enjoyed my chicken clock from issue 129 of Gold , then I hope you’ll have a soft spot for this little chap as well! He is a very sweet squirrel indeed, with a slightly naughty expression as he looks up to see who’s watching him devour a tasty nut. I’ve limited the use of backstitch to the squirrel’s features and the little nut, but there are lots of fractionals to help bring extra detail. I enjoyed selecting the colours for this design – warm shades of yellow and terracotta for his golden fur, with rich red, fern green and black in the fruity border. They make…

Broken backstitch Feathers are lovely and soft around the edges, so I have softened the whole look of this design by outlining each feather only in some areas, rather than creating a solid outline. This broken backstitch also means less work for you, so it’s a win-win! Dreamcatcher I have so many cross stitch cushions in my home already, there simply isn’t room for another! But while I was designing this piece, I did have the bright idea of stitching one of the feathers on its own and then framing it in an embroidery hoop, to create a piece for my wall in the style of a dreamcatcher. I might even hang some pastel-coloured ribbons and beads from the bottom of the hoop to complete the look!…

Tiny treasures I enjoyed designing the little motifs to illustrate these greetings, from trains and snails to shooting stars. You can use these mini motifs to make a matching gift tag if you fancy. Together with the card, it will tie your whole gift together to make a lovely package for baby. Made to last When I’m designing, I try to create something that will last a long time and be treasured – I hate the throwaway nature of life nowadays. Even stitching a small design shows real effort and love, much more so than buying a card. That s what makes cross stitch so special.…