Ultimate Cross Stitch Cards

Mums, grans, aunties and best friends love to receive a hand-stitched card and we have the essential collection for you in this issue of Ultimate Cross Stitch Cards. With this special hand-picked selection, you’ll be ready for a year of events, whether it’s a sweet sentiment you want to send, a get well card or a big birthday you want to celebrate. A hand-stitched card is precious and treasured long after it has been taken down from the mantelpiece. The lucky recipient knows every stitch has been lovingly worked and that the design has been carefully picked with them in mind. A cross stitched card stays in the memory. With special sections For Her, For Him, as well as Birthdays, Special Wishes, Christmas and Love, we’ve every occasion covered, from…

There’s no sweeter sound than that of birds singing. Even when they’re hidden way up high in the tree canopy, it’s still a delight to hear their song. Luckily for us, the birds are happy to be seen as they sing in these designs which are worked in vivid pinks and purples to bring them to life, with bright green and yellow highlights. Durene used a raft of different stitches to illustrate the birds, the backgrounds and musical notes, including whole cross stitches, fractionals, backstitch and French knots. You may find yourself whistling all sorts of tunes as you work through these uplifting designs. You will need Threads: Stranded cotton, as listed in the key Needle: Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric: 14-count white aida measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for each design…

No celebration is complete without cake, and these colourful cupcakes couldn’t look any more delicious. They’re each piled high with lashings of buttercream icing and topped with fresh fruit, sweet sprinkles and novelty toppers. And the best thing about these cards? The person you stitch them for gets to have a tasty treat, with none of the calories! These cards use a range of stitches and techniques – with fractionals, French knots and seed beads, they’re best suited to intermediate or advanced stitchers. But if you can’t resist, you’ll find helpful tips at www.gathered.how. You will need Threads: Stranded cotton, as listed in the key Needle: Size 24 tapestry needle, beading needle Fabric: 14-count white aida measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for each design Extras: Mill Hill beads, as listed in the…

These cards aren’t just an ideal way to tell your mum how much you care, they would also make a great greeting for almost any occasion. They’ll be excellent as thank you cards or even birthday cards, if you don’t choose to use them as a Mother’s Day project. Stitched on 28-count white evenweave over two threads of fabric, why not give this specialist fabric a try? It’s softer than aida and, once you’re used to stitching over two threads you’ll find it plain sailing. Whole stitches and fractionals are used in these designs, with backstitch for definition. These cards are suitable for both intermediate and expert stitchers. You will need Threads: Stranded cotton, as listed in the key Needle: Size 26 tapestry needle Fabric: 28-count white evenweave measuring 20x20cm…

Who can resist a good shopping spree? Not us, that’s for sure! This fantastic set features something for everyone, whether they love a stylish boutique or specialist bike shop, a tasty treat from the patisserie, or just stocking up on stash at the local craft store. With six designs to choose from, these all-occasion cards are a must-stitch. Packed full of detail, you’ll have great fun stitching each chart, adding little touches like hanging baskets, not to mention the goodies displayed in each store. There’s a pretty doll’s house in the toy shop window, a variety of bright beautiful blooms inside the florists, and a mouth-watering selection of scrummy cakes displayed in the sweet little bakery. You will need Threads: Stranded cotton, as listed in the key Needle: Size 24…

You will need Threads: Stranded cotton and metallic thread as listed in the key Needle: Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric: 14-count white aida measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for each design Extras: Single-fold cards in white, backing paper of your choice and acid-free double-sided tape from local craft shops Tip Create a sweet gift by mounting your chosen design in a small pine frame Stitching Factbox Stitching time: Approx 5 hours each Type of stitches: Cross stitch, fractionals, backstitch Level: Advanced beginner How to patch your design onto a card 1 Carefully cut out your stitched design, leaving a border of three squares of aida all the way around. 2 Using a pair of tweezers, carefully remove singlethreads from the edges until you have removed a whole row of aida blocks from…