Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2017 i Cross Stitch Gold

I’ve certainly picked a lovely time of year to return from maternity leave – we’re right in the thick of summer projects and I’ve been loving the bright colours and sumptuous designs that are bursting from the pages of this issue of Gold . Amanda Gregory’s sunflower cushion (p12) is just one example of this – the nature-inspired motifs and cheerful colours are so tempting! The electric blues of Durene Jones’ proud peacock (p44) are similarly appealing, and if you love birds but are seeking something cute rather than opulent, I’d recommend Lucie Heaton’s owl clock (p36) – perfect décor for a little one’s room. With all this, plus a graceful ballerina (p28), chic blackwork cards (p58), glorious Indian elephant (p20) and more, there really is something for everyone in…

“This is a dense but satisfying project to get your teeth into. I tried to give the elephant a realistic but friendly look, and I think my efforts have really paid off. I hope you do, too!” Meet the designer Carol Thornton Watercolour artist Carol sketches and paints her gorgeous works of art before turning them into cross stitch designs. She creates charts for various stitching magazines and has attracted legions of fans who love her distinctive style of artwork, which translates beautifully into cross stitch. “I’m just crazy about the wonderful extravaganza of colours that Carol’s employed in this elephant design – it’s such a cheerful project to work on during those long, golden summer evenings”Abigail Barker, Special Projects Coordinator You will need FABRIC Zweigart 14-count white aida measuring…

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 seven years. She’s an avid stitcher, and is ready and raring to help you with any of your craft or cross stitch dilemmas. BLANKET TIPS Q I’m making a fringed afghan blanket but I’m wondering how to finish it. Should I leave my work unbacked or, if I back it, what should I use?…

“For this design I was inspired by the profusion of colour that you see in summer meadows. I think it works so well in this long, thin shape to create a stylish draught excluder” Meet the designer Amanda Gregory Based in the West Country, Amanda is a talented watercolour artist, cross stitch designer and dressmaker. Her work is suffused with gorgeous colour combinations and a great sense of detail, and her beautiful designs regularly appear in a selection of cross stitching magazines. Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count cream linen over two threads of the fabric, in 24 shades of cotton. Cross stitch is in two strands of thread, and backstitch is in one strand. There are some fractional stitches and this design would be best suited to…

“I’ve chosen a sumptuous and varied colour palette for this design, which helps to offer a contemporary edge to the exotic scene” Meet the designer Lesley Teare Lesley is an experienced cross stitch designer, with a degree in Printed and Woven Textiles, and many years of design experience. She is renowned for creating designs for a wide range of stitching magazines, and has a selection of cross stitch books to her name too. Lesley lives and works in rural Suffolk, where she enjoys gardening and country walks with her labrador. “I especially love the rendering of the blossom in Lesley’s design – it makes a wonderful frame for this pretty scene”Fiona Baker, Technical Editor “What a spectacular project! There’s so much lovely detail, like the shimmering patterns on the…

“Summer meets autumn in my bright floral cushion. I hope you’ll enjoy working on it as much as I loved creating all the elements of it. Do email in a photo when you’ve finished!” Meet the designer Amanda Gregory Based in the West Country, Amanda is a talented watercolour artist, cross stitch designer and dressmaker. Her work is suffused with gorgeous colour combinations and a great sense of detail, and her beautiful designs regularly appear in a selection of cross stitching magazines. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count cream evenweave (3270/264) measuring 45x45cm (173/4x173/4in) THREADS Stranded cotton as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle EXTRAS Backing fabric of your choice and cushion pad to fit from local haberdashery shops FOR STOCKISTS’ DETAILS turn to page 57 Stitcher’s…

Beautiful background I’ve used a light yellow thread to create a subtle but effective backdrop. There are a lot of squares to cover so it will take a little time to complete. To save time, you could try stitching onto a pale yellow fabric instead, but if you do make the time to work these background stitches the finished project will look even better for the effort. Pretty pollies The brightly coloured macaws are one of my favourite elements of this design. If you like them too, why not stitch one of them on its own to create a card – or, even better, a gift tag to accompany the stitched elephant picture if you decide to give it as a gift? There’s a French knot for the eye, for…

“My owls are nice and simple to stitch and make a lovely clock – I hope you know a little one who might appreciate this in their bedroom!” Meet the designer Lucie Heaton Freelance cross stitch designer Lucie has always been a keen crafter with a particular passion for needlecraft. She contributes to a variety of stitching magazines and her work has appeared in various books, too. When she’s not busy designing, Lucie likes walking and exploring new places, finding new inspiration everywhere she goes. Stitcher’s guide This cute owl design is worked on 28-count white evenweave over two threads of the fabric, in 22 shades of stranded cotton. Cross stitch is in two strands of thread, and backstitch is in one strand. This project will suit intermediate stitchers, and…

“I love birds, and relished the chance to create this stylised peacock in cross stitch. The beads and metallics really help to emphasise the majesty of that spectacular tail” Meet the designer Durene Jones Prolific designer Durene Jones creates cross stitch charts for a range of stitching magazines. Her work is well loved for its modern and colourful tone, but she is a versatile designer and can turn her hand to any theme or style. Before starting on her creative cross stitch career Durene worked as a graphic designer. “The rich blue and green shades – not to mention the sparkling metallics – make this an extra-special project. I’m so looking forward to starting on this!”Heather Nugent, Charting Assistant Stitcher’s guide This design is worked on 28-count white evenweave over…

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Brilliant blackwork Blackwork is a popular stitching technique that uses black thread and often depicts geometric shapes like these. I used one strand of thread for the blackwork backstitch on these cards, and added some bright coloured cross stitches in two strands to provide a central focal point that stands out well against the stark background. Keep it clean With blackwork designs like these it’s extra-important to achieve a crisp, clean finish. Fluff left behind on the fabric could end up spoiling the dramatic effect, so make sure you check over your work once you’ve finished, and remove any little bits very carefully using a pair of tweezers.…

Mum in a million I loved the Mother’s Day cards in issue 135 and the mounts were so pretty, too. I decided to stitch the pink flowers for my wonderful mum and, as you can see from this photo, she was delighted with it. I’m planning on stitching some of the other designs in the set to make birthday cards. Jane Bamber, by email Sarah: What lovely stitching, Jane! Do let us know how you get on with the rest of the set. Stitching whizz I really enjoy buying Cross Stitch Gold here in Canada. I bought issue 127 and immediately stitched the ballerina picture for a friend’s daughter. While I was trying to decide what card to make for my sister’s 70th birthday, I came across Faby Reilly’s floral…

Box of tricks If your birthday is coming up, this great crafty box is sure to go straight to the top of your wish list! Stuffed full of lovely stitching-inspired craft supplies, it’s sure to raise a smile and come in handy for turning your stitched creations into wonderful cushions, hangings and more. Contents of the special Stitch Lover Edition Box include a mini Eat, Stitch, Sleep, Repeat kit, ‘sew happy’ ribbon, threads, fabric, blue satin button trim and other delights. What’s not to love? Order for £22.50 from Stitchkits at www.notonthehighstreet.com Feeling fruity If you’re still looking for that perfect kit to take you through the summer (with a super-striking picture to display at the end of the project) you're going to love these marvellous designs from…

“My ballerina design is ideal for ballet fans of all ages, and makes a wonderful present for aspiring dancers” Meet the designer Maria Diaz Maria has always had a passion for needlecraft, since learning to sew as a child on her great-grandmother’s ancient foot-treadled Singer machine. After art college she landed a job as a printer that led to her becoming DMC’s first in-house designer, where she worked for eight years. She is now an independent designer and lives in the Midlands with her two little boys, Lincoln and Hudson. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count cream evenweave (3270/264) measuring 43x38cm (17x15in) THREADS Stranded cotton and metallic thread as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle EXTRAS Frame and mount of your choice with a minimum aperture of…

Little cuties Attention to the facial details of each owl is the key to getting their cute expressions just right. I’d recommend working on these parts of the design at the start of a stitching session, when you’re feeling fresh. Keep an eye on the chart and work your stitches carefully to get those little eyes and beaks looking just perfect. Doing a number As with any clock the numerals are an integral part of this project, and I’ve outlined these in very dark blue backstitch. Keep a nice and even tension for these stitches. This will help to ensure you keep each number neat so that these elements of the design really ‘pop’ and stand out against the blues of the background.…

“These blackwork greeting cards were such a joy to design – I loved coming up with all the different blackwork patterns and creating the colourful motifs that occupy the centre of each one” Meet the designer Fiona Baker Fiona has always had a passion for art and design from an early age, and loves the creativity in her role as Technical Editor for Cross Stitch Gold, as well as our sister magazines Cross Stitch Crazy and The World of Cross Stitching. “I love blackwork, and the bright details at the heart of these designs make them all the more beautiful. I’m planning to start with the butterfly, but I’m hoping to tackle them all at some point”Abigail Barker, Special Projects Coordinator “Fiona’s got such a great eye for design, and…

Where to start stitching Start stitching a chart in the centre of the design – this is the point on the chart where the two black centre lines marked with arrows cross – and work outwards. Refer to the key for the colours to use. To find the centre of your fabric, fold it in half both horizontally and vertically. The centre point will be where these folds intersect. Mark this point with a pin, or run a line of tacking thread along each fold using one strand of a pale colour thread. Bind the raw edges of your fabric to prevent them from fraying while you're stitching by hemming them using a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine, or by folding masking tape over the edges. Backstitch Backstitch outlines…