Innholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2025 i Stitch

FIND TEMPLATE FOR THIS PROJECT ON PAGE 60 In my childhood, poppies were a familiar sight in the cornfields. If the fields were awash with red, it was said to be the sign of a good crop. Poppies thrive on disturbed ground, which is why they would spring up after the plough – and also why they often appear on land that has been fought over. After the First World War, they covered the fields of Flanders, and to this day, we wear poppies on 11th November in remembrance. Poppies are also a wonderful flower to embroider, especially when combined with daisies and cow parsley – though I’ve always thought Queen Anne’s Lace is a far more charming name! YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • Appletons wool: o Scarlet, 501a, 501,…

FIND TEMPLATE FOR THIS PROJECT ON PAGE 60 I adore the bright, cheerful colours of the blue-and-gold macaw and wanted to create a pattern that truly celebrates their beauty. Inspired by the parrot’s lush natural habitat, I framed it with vibrant tropical leaves and exotic flowers, finishing the design with a scattering of beads to add a touch of sparkle. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • Quilting cotton in bubblegum pink (I used Kona Cotton) • DMC threads: 3812, 310, 939, 3799, 414, 3371, B5200, 340, 211, 27, 3851, 3818, 906, 3843, 3844, 3845, 907, 550, 3607, 718, 3850, 743, 742 • Beads: Miyuki Delica 11/0 DB1875 (approx 2g) • Nylon beading thread, 0.3 mm EQUIPMENT: • John James embroidery needle, size 10 • John James bead embroidery needle, size 10…

FIND TEMPLATE FOR THIS PROJECT ON PAGE 61 At this time of year, when many of the garden plants are winding down for winter, I love to take in the structural beauty of some of the shrubs and grasses we’ve dispersed throughout our garden to help maintain interest year-round. This reel is a lovely reminder for me of the changing seasons. Maybe it will inspire you to create more to represent spring, summer, and autumn in your own gardens. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • At least 30 used and thoroughly dried teabags – I have used herbal teabags for this project to reflect the winter coolness and generally reduced colour palette, but you could use breakfast teabags if you prefer. Any square teabags are fine. • Fusible Vilene, 64x11cm •…

Dreamy Decor Page 43 August/September 2025 (Issue 156) Autumn Wings Page 7 Scale: 50% Poppy Perfection Page 17 Tropical Beauty Page 25 Winter Companion Page 33 Zodiac Series: Libra Page 45 Seasonal Teabag Reel Page 39 Phenology Wheel: Part 6 Page 49 A WORD ON COPYRIGHT Sharing may be encouraged in many aspects of life, but when it comes to original material, you have to be wary of copyright. By all means, copy the project or demonstration for your OWN PLEASURE, but no part of this magazine may be published, reproduced, copied, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. Even where permission is gained, it’s still courteous to credit the original source and designer. Any activity used to benefit commercially from the…

FIND TEMPLATE FOR THIS PROJECT ON PAGE 59 As the vibrancy of summer fades into the richness of autumn, enchanting fall flowers like chrysanthemums in deep reds, oranges, and golds begin to appear everywhere. Paired with the delicate wings of a butterfly, this piece captures the beauty and transformation that the autumn season brings. I hope that as you stitch this design, you feel the same warmth and cosiness that I experienced – bloom by bloom. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • White cotton fabric, 10x10in • Essex linen in natural, 10x10in • DMC threads: o Mouline Etoile Black, 310 o White/Blanc o Various shades of red, orange, pink, purple, yellow and green EQUIPMENT: • Embroidery hoops – 7in (for the final piece itself) and 6in (for the wired butterfly wings)…

“I’m just really passionate about stitching. It brings me joy, confidence and calm. I want others to feel that too.” Originally from the UK, embroidery artist Becky Dawes now lives in Łódź, Poland, where she juggles her work as an English teacher with a thriving passion for embroidery. Her designs are vibrant, detailed, and full of personality, often focused on animals and nature. What began as a relaxing hobby has grown into a colourful and expressive art practice that she continues to develop and share with the world. “I’ve been embroidering for around seven years,” Becky explains. “And honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else.” A Creative Foundation Becky’s creative roots run deep. “Both my granny and my grandma were very much into crafting and making things, and they passed…

23rd September to 22nd October FIND TEMPLATE FOR THIS PROJECT ON PAGE 60 In the Libra pattern, I’ve used a variety of stitches and combined strong, bold colours with striking golds to bring the design to life with texture and colour. I wanted to reflect the balanced yet artistic nature of this air sign. Ruled by Venus, and known for its love of hamony, Libra is drawn to beauty, creativity, and symmetry. Whether you’re stitching it for yourself or as a thoughtful, starinspired gift, this pattern makes a beautiful piece to display and cherish. YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • White cotton drill fabric, or organic calico with a cotton back 10x10in • Black felt to back your work (before your start your embroidery, trace a circle around the outside of…

HARROGATE CREATIVE STITCHERS – IN THE HOOP Exhibition dates: 11th-12th October Venue: Friends Meeting House, Queen Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5PP Opening hours: Saturday 10:00-16:00, Sunday 13:00-16:00 Tickets: Free The Harrogate Creative Stitchers’ upcoming exhibition, In the Hoop, showcases a striking collection of mixed media and stitched textile art – all beautifully framed within embroidery hoops. Featuring both traditional and contemporary techniques, the work reflects the members’ shared passion for needle and thread. Visitors can also explore a broader selection of textile pieces, enjoy light refreshments, and browse a sales table with handcrafted items. TRAVELS WITH THREAD Exhibition dates: 4th-11th October Venue: Birdwood House, 48 High Street, Totnes, TQ9 5SQ Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-16:30, Sunday 14:00-16:30 Tickets: Free Stranded Together is a collective of seven textile artists presenting Travels with Thread…

Attaching Beads Secure the bead with a single stitch. Back Stitch Bring thread through on the stitch line and take a small backward stitch through the fabric. Bring the needle through again a little in front of the first stitch, take another stitch, inserting the needle at the point where it first came through. Repeat. Bullion Stitch Make a back stitch, the length of the bullion knot required. Bring the needle out where it first entered the fabric, but do not bring it out all the way. Twist the working thread round the needle point, as many times as is necessary to equal the length of the back stitch. Holding the left thumb on the coiled thread, turn the needle back to where it was inserted (see arrow) and insert…

FIND TEMPLATE FOR THIS PROJECT ON PAGE 60 Robins are one of my favourite birds – they hold a lot of sentimental meaning for me and my partner. We always get excited when we spot one, so what could be better than having a little embroidered robin to take with you wherever you go? I hope you wear your robin brooch with pride and enjoy every moment of the making process! YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS: • White silk organza fabric • Red felt • Red kid leather in matte (Golden Hinde) • CXC threads: 3781, 3790, 3862 or stranded cottons in dark brown, medium brown, and beige • Black and white stranded cottons • Gutermann’s thread in yellow and red • Bullion 57 and bullion 4.1 (From Hand & Lock)…

FIND TEMPLATES FOR THIS PROJECT ON PAGE 61 We’ve reached the end of the year – and the end of the series! While we rarely get a white Christmas, the darker skies and rich greens and browns of the pine trees create a beautiful contrast to the foxes darting between them. And of course, it’s time to decorate the Christmas tree – one of my favourite festive traditions! I’ve used a mix of stitches, textures, and materials to give the design a richly layered, lifelike feel. YOU WILL NEED… FOR SECTION 6 ONLY: MATERIALS • Caran D’Ache Neocolor II (watersoluble wax crayon) – 1 of each o 7500-003 Light grey o 7500-001 White • Felt: o Mulled Cider, 10x12cm o Enchanted Forest, 14x13cm o Sandstone, 11x11cm o Havana Gold, 5x6cm…