Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Cross Stitch Gold

“I’ve opted for traditional festive colours for this design, and thrown in a good amount of sparkle to make the project really opulent – the perfect Christmas heirloom piece” Meet the designer Shannon Wasilieff Canadian designer Shannon has always been passionate about creative pursuits, but it was when she started designing cross stitch that she truly found her calling. Her talent is evident in her beautiful designs, and her great eye for colour and detail helps to make her unique creations into true masterpieces like this one. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count Brittney gold flecked white evenweave (3281/118) measuring 42x34cm (16½x13¼in) THREADS Stranded cotton and metallic thread as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle; beading needle BEADS Mill Hill seed beads as listed in the key…

When I saw this sampler from issue 138 of Cross Stitch Gold, I had to start it as soon as possible. Durene Jones is one of my favourite designers and I have stitched lots of her work. I wanted to do this one because of the tea theme as lots of designs have coffee in them. I love a cup of tea, especially if it comes with cake! I think the green and pink work well together, and am very happy with the end result. Linda West, Isle of Man Sarah: I quite agree, Linda… there’s nothing like a spot of tea and piece of cake – and you’ve done a fab job stitching this design.…

All wrapped up If you need the perfect present for a cross stitching friend – or you’re simply seeking inspiration for your own Christmas wish-list, this delightful gift set should fit the bill nicely. The box from StitchKits includes a mini Bauble kit, oval embroidery hoop, holly-edged ribbon, threads and fabric, a bag of buttons and a pair of stork embroidery scissors. It’s small enough to fit through the letterbox, so it’s a great choice if you need a gift to post to faraway friends, and it makes a lovely festive addition to any stitching stash. The kit is available from StitchKits via www.notonthehighstreet.com/stitchkits Cutting edge For the ultimate in luxury, we love these fantastic new scissors from Snipsters. There are various colours and styles in the range,…

“Whether you favour rustic pinecones, pretty blooms or bright baubles, one of my colourful table mat designs should be just right for helping you set your festive table in style” 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 magazines and has attracted legions of fans who love her distinctive style of artwork, which translates beautifully into cross stitch. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count white evenweave measuring 33x25cm (13x9¾in) for each design THREADS Stranded cotton and metallic thread as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle EXTRAS Medium weight iron-on interfacing; 1 metre (39½in) Kona Jade Green (KONA_1183) backing fabric (for set of four) from Plush Addict FOR…

“These tags will take experienced stitchers very little time to complete, so you can stitch and mount the whole collection easily – all ready to add a personalised touch to your wrapping” 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. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count cream cashel linen (3281/222) measuring 12x10cm (4›x4in) for each design THREADS Stranded cotton as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle EXTRAS Kraft cardstock cut to size and baker’s twine…

“If you’re looking for a straightforward project that offers a contemporary take on festive cross stitch, I hope you’ll find my sweet sampler fits the bill perfectly” 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. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count dark cream evenweave (3270/309) measuring 45x45cm (17 3/4x17 3/4in) THREADS Stranded cotton as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle EXTRAS Stiff cardstock and cord of your choice from local craft shops; medium green pom-pom…

“Who doesn’t love a cute Christmas card? I’d love to see how you get on with these sweet greetings – do send in a photo if you stitch any of them!” 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. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count white evenweave measuring 20x20cm (7›x7›in) for each design THREADS Stranded cotton and metallic thread as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle EXTRAS…

Added dimension The wreath has an almost three-dimensional quality and really stands out from the regular stitches, thanks to a generous sprinkling of beads and the use of French knots. The foliage is rendered in several shades of green cotton, so check the chart with extra care to get all these colour changes right. In the frame The gold frame, worked in DMC Light Effects threads, is the ideal finishing touch, and gives an effective focus and depth to the main component of the design. Remember to keep thread lengths shorter than usual when working with metallics, and use a thread conditioner to stop them fraying while you work.…

“I just love using natural foliage in my Christmas decorating. This bright cushion plays tribute to this – and provides festive flowers that will last year after year!” 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 14-count Christmas red aida (3706/954) measuring 45x45cm (17›x17›in) THREADS Stranded cotton and metallic thread as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 24 tapestry needle EXTRAS Fat quarter of red backing fabric; 1.5m (59in) green and gold cord of choice and cushion pad to fit from local craft shops FOR…

“I loved creating this scene of yuletide excitement, taking my inspiration from the fashions of the elegant Victorian era” 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 sons, Lincoln and Hudson. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count white evenweave measuring 40x43cm (15¾x17in) 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 23.5x27.5cm (9¼x10¾in)…

Seasonal sparkle I’ve included varying amounts of metallic thread in each of these designs – in DMC Light Effects silver and light gold shades. It’s subtle enough not to dominate the designs, but it still lends a good glimmer of festive magic and will hopefully sparkle in the candlelight. Even if you don’t much like working with fiddly metallics, there aren’t many stitches to make, and these threads provide a lovely finishing touch. Festive feast If you don’t have the time to stitch all four of these mats, simply choose your favourite design and make it into a special mat for laying out with snacks or drinks at a Christmas get-together. Even 28-count better, hand you could -dyed place a little glass of sherry and a plate of 33 mince…

“I loved creating the silhouette of Santa and his reindeer swooping over a little town. It’s a simple but hugely effective design and I hope you’ll enjoy stitching it for Christmas” Meet the designer Fiona Baker Fiona has always had a passion for art and design from an early age, and loves the creativity as a designer and also 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. You will need FABRIC Zweigart 28-count flax cashel linen (3281/52) measuring 75x50cm (29.5x19½in) and 12x50cm (4¾x19½in) for each row of pockets, or 12x12cm (4¾x4¾in) for individual pockets THREADS Stranded cotton and metallic thread as listed in the key NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle; beading needle BEADS…

Fantastic fairy It is so good to see you are back from your maternity leave and I am sending you my latest in cross stitch. I have finished a project for my great-granddaughter, Georgia, who was one year old on 4th July. I have always tried to stitch something for each grandchild and great-grandchild. When I found out they had painted little Georgia’s nursery in shades of purple, I chose this Wisteria fairy design by Nora Corbett. Jane Salles, New York, USA Sarah: love the fabric on I this design, Jane – a perfect background for your stitching. Roarsome work Here’s a picture of my finished stitching from Lucie Heaton’s design in issue 130. I stitched it for my cousin’s grandson. It was such fun – I loved the bright…

Christmas colours The limited palette of this design makes it a satisfying stitch, but ensure you have all the threads you need before you start (you need two or three skeins of some colours). Also, the bright fabric can be hard on the eyes, especially when working the red stitches, so stitch in natural light or use a daylight lamp to avoid eye strain. Gold leaf I’ve worked the background sprigs of foliage in two shades of metallic thread (DMC Light Effects light gold and white gold). These stand out really well against the crimson fabric and contrast nicely with the reds and greens of the holly and poinsettia – I’ve even added a dash of sparkle in the centre of each poinsettia to make this extra Christmassy!…

Berry and bright The French knots in dark coral and white really stand out as the bright berries in the holly and the mistletoe. I’ve also used French knots for some of the other winter blooms in the design, and think they help make the scene come alive – French knots have that way of adding easy dimension, seeming to ‘pop out’ of a design. Face to face Delicate backstitch offers an easy way to create the facial features of the figures in the foreground. It’s important to make sure you keep your stitches crisp and neat to get the expressions right, but by taking your time and using a good light you should have no trouble at all. I’m particularly pleased with the features on the older lady at…

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. MAKE A MARK Q This may seem like a daft question but how do I finish a bookmark? I’ve only ever made pictures and cards that have a frame but I’ve…

Full bloom A TREE IN BLOSSOM (BL1150/73), DMC, £15 WHAT’S IN THE KIT Black and white chart plus colour chart 16-count white aida band White felt backing DMC stranded cotton Tapestry needle SIZE OF FINISHED DESIGN 16.5x5cm (6½x2in) STITCHING THIS KIT If there’s a bookworm in the family this kit will be well worth stitching for Christmas. It’s a section from the work of art A Tree in Blossom by William Giles (the full design, A Tree in Blossom is also available from DMC stockists). This product is the result of a collaboration between DMC and The British Museum, and there are other stunning designs available in the range, too, but we think this one should appeal to everyone on your present list. It’s stitched on 16-count aida, so you…

UK stockists COATS CRAFTS UK For stockists, visit www.makeitcoats.com Call 01484 681881 DMC CREATIVE WORLD For stockists, visit www.dmccreative.co.uk Call 0116 2754000 MADEIRA For stockists, visit www.eqsuk.com Call 0116 2710033 PDA CARD AND CRAFT Visit www.pdacardandcraft.co.uk PLUSH ADDICT Visit www.plushaddict.co.uk Call 0800 0488787 RICKETY ROSE Visit www.ricketyrose.co.uk Call 01367 250034 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…

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…