Cross Stitch Collection - FREE downloadable papers and charts
Our sister magazine Cross Stitch Collection have just featured this striking Christmas alphabet, which they’ve used to make a festive bunting and gift tags in issue 188, which is on sale until the 29th September.
But, as an extra bonus they've created a FREE chart full of the patterns used in the bunting alphabet for you to download and keep. There's 12 squares of patterns altogether - click here to download the chart.
Plus, there's also 12 matching prints (just like the ones above) that you can download, print out and use as wrapping paper! Simply click on the links below to download some for yourself...
Each PDF will print out perfectly on A4 paper, so it’s ideal for wrapping small presents but if you could always stick them together for larger gifts if you wanted to.
- What a perfect excuse to get crafting!
Thursday September 02, 2010
Ooh! - cute printable thread bobbins? Yes please!
It's not often that we bring you things that aren't directly cross stitch related but sometimes we see things that are so irresistible, we just can't... resist!
Case in hand with these cute printable thread bobbins from Mollie Johanson's blog, Wild Olive. Why not pop over and download some for yourself? They would be perfect for storing all your leftover lengths of thread.
That's not all you'll find on her blog though, there's lots of really cute embroidery patterns that have been lovingly designed by Mollie herself that you can download too. What a clever girl...
Psst! Seen a great blog lately? Let us know and you might see it here next week...
Tuesday August 31, 2010
Jan Constantine's striking Olympic 2012 collection - coming soon!
Manufactured under license, Jan Constantine's London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Collection showcases a beautiful selection of hand embroidered textiles that celebrate the Olympics coming to the UK in under two years time!
You'll find a sneak preview on their website but the first collection of cushions won't be available to
purchase until later this year.
If (like us) you can't wait until then simply register your interest on their website and they'll let you know when the products become available so you can make sure you don't miss out!
As usual, all items in this striking collection are hand
embroidered, contemporary and will make iconic heirlooms for the future.
The full collection will include cushions, throws, wall
hangings, tapestry kits,lavender hearts and small zip up cases - all set to be released in stages leading up to
the event.
What a perfect way to mark such a significant event in British history!
Monday August 23, 2010
Download your FREE Margaret Sherry mount!
In issue 230 Margaret Sherry gave us a sweet hedgehog chart complete with this gorgeous matching mount.
Simply click here to download the mount, print it off and cut out the aperture to turn your finished stitching into a cool birthday card.
- Enjoy!
If you don't have issue 230 just yet, don't worry. It's on sale until 9th September!
Friday August 20, 2010
Calling all cross stitching pros!
Hi!
CrossStitcher magazine is looking for home stitchers.
We’re looking for neat stitchers who are able to turn pieces around to tight deadlines but are also comfortable working on a variety of fabrics such as: evenweave, waste canvas
on fabric, perforated paper, plastic canvas and aida.
If you’re interested, please post us 1 - 2 unframed examples
of your work, which we will return by RMSD.
Please also include your name, address, telephone number,
email address and a brief paragraph about yourself, including your stitching
experience and the approximate number of hours you’re available per week.
Joanna Lopianowski-Roberts is clearly a very dedicated lady.
We
all know the art of cross stitching isn’t exactly a speedy craft, but whilst we
think spending over 100 hours on a project is quite an achievement that’s nothing compared to this.
Taking
its intricate detailing one section at a time, Joanna worked this huge masterpiece
over nine years whilst traveling across America and Canada working at software
consultant completing most of the work in hotel rooms.
The BUST Craftacular - by Claire Brown from Miso Funky
"As a professional cross stitcher, one of the downsides is
being stuck in the studio by yourself, stitching away, packing up orders or
doing admin, with no interaction with the outside world or with customers.
"So when events like the BUST Craftactular roll around, it's
a chance to escape the routine and meet customers and fellow makers and
generally have a crafty day out.
"As I live in Glasgow, it meant a long train journey
down to London for me and my giant suitcase full of well-wrapped cross stitch
samplers.
The venue - York Hall, Bethnal Green
"Saturday, the day of the show, dawned bright and fair and we
donned our sunglasses and headed to York Hall, Bethnal Green, to set up in the
beautiful Victorian hall, with lots of other designers.
"We had a little cross stitch enclave, with myself (Miso Funky) and Phil (Urban Cross Stitch)setting up stands near one another!
The Miso Funky stall, set up and ready to go
"We had a great day, meeting lots of great designers and
visitors to the show, including our friend Mr X Stitch and many people
interested in getting started in cross-stitch, as well as introducing people to
cross stitch via a more contemporary route than the traditional charts and
patterns many come to it by.
"All too soon, it was the end of the day and time to pack up
and head back to our hotel with a much lighter suitcase and a spring in our
step, to celebrate a great day with a drink or two!
"The next Craftacular will
be at Christmas time, so make sure you check it out the amazing work on offer from a whole host of independent
designers."
Claire Brown, Miso Funky
Tuesday August 17, 2010
Afternoon tea - a quintessential British tradition
In issue 230 (which is in the shops right now) we've featured a glorious tea-time project with elegant teacups and dainty pattens to revive the age old tradition of 'afternoon tea'.
If you look closely you'll notice we said that we said there would be more exclusive charts online... well, here they are chaps! Click here to download two extra teacup charts to add to your collection.
What's best is that these china beauties won't break so I guess you could say they're 'child-friendly' too... not that we suggest sticky mitts should go anywhere near them.
This set it strictly for ladies of distinction. Enjoy.
Psst! If you haven't yet picked up a copy of issue 230, it's on sale until the 8th September 2010 so don't miss out!
Thursday August 12, 2010
Subscribe to CrossStitcher today and get a free Shruti sewing box!
This stylish mini sewing box from Shruti is both useful and pretty. It's the perfect size for storing your stitching supplies in a handy place without worrying about all your needles and threads messing up your living room zen...
CrossStitcher issue 230
hits the shops on Thursday this week! If you'd like to enter this
month's competitions, here are the links to the
online entry forms. Good luck!
Festival of Quilts 2010 - the biggest show in Europe!
Above: Best in show 2009 - Pat, Holly and Sue Nickels.
The most eagerly anticipated event in the patchwork and quilting calendar The Festival of Quilts 2010is back for its 8th year and is set to be the largest quilt show in Europe.
It's organised with the support of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles and over the last seven years has earned a reputation as 'the most
inspiring quilting event in Europe! boasting a host of gallery exhibitions from leading international
artists and groups.
Above: 'Jaunty Ladies' quilt
But, lets not forget the fabulous selection of over 250 companies selling all those hard-to-find patchwork and
quilting supplies. You'd better bring your shopping bag because this show's hard to beat for variety and style!
This year, they're also offering visitors a trip to The Quilt Academy with a programme of nearly 100 masterclasses, lectures, and Quick & Easy workshops, to choose from.
When? 19th to 22nd August What time? 10.00am to 5.30pm
Our favourite stitchy friends cycle 55 miles - for charity!
Here at CrossStitcher we like to help our friends out, especially our stitchy friends so we thought we'd let you know about a 55 mile cycle (yes, 55 miles!) that a few of our favourite stitching companies are taking part in.
Subscribers - find your Margaret Sherry chart on the Crafts Circle!
If your a subscriber* you may have noticed that in our most recent issue (229) there was a very important element missing from your subscriber-only pages? Your exclusive Margaret Sherry chart!
Well, don't worry. You're not going to miss out because we're not that mean! We've actually given the chart to our friends over at the Crafts Circle. They're going to upload it for you this week, so you won't miss out. Obviously we don't want to totally give the design away so here's a little thumbnail teaser. (Having said that, we're sure you can guess from the picture what kind of puurr-fect pet she's chosen this month...)
Click here to visit the Crafts Circle - just remember you'll need your subscriber number to log in.
If you're a subscriber to CrossStitcher then you're going to love this...
As a special treat Emily Peacock has designed this fabulous Circus ABC, exclusively for subscribers. (That's you!)
It's due to start in issue 230, which goes on sale on Thursday 12th August. Each month after that we'll be bringing you a new letter from her funky alphabet for you to collect and enjoy. Plus, keep a look out for other circus inspired charts we'll be bringing you along the way.
These letters are wonderfully on-trend and super colourful and quite frankly that's enough to win us over but here's what Emily had to say about her new font...
"The love of the circus crosses generations, holding memories and associations for us all. Under the Big Top resides a world of excitement, spectacle and daring. Circus themes translate perfectly into cross stitch and worked in bright and uplifting colours, they are bang on trend.
"These circus font can be used individually or to spell out words and names. Why not explore your own sense of fun and creativity by combining letters and images to create your own show stopper?"
Download your FREE mount for Margaret Sherry's cat in a teacup!
Margaret Sherry has won us over once again and this time it's with a cute cat in a teacup! Who wouldn't want to stitch this design? He's so adorable - we're sure you're all itching to get started.
You'll find this chart in issue 229, which is on sale right now.
Simply print it out (on card if possible), cut our the circle aperture and mount your stitching behind it. Fold it in half and you've got yourself a pretty little card! Or you could easily put the mount in a simple A5 frame and keep it for yourself... we would.
Margaret Sherry has designed this exclusively for CrossStitcher issue 229, which is on sale now so don't miss out!
Hi!
