7 3 o Theworld’smostbeautifulcrossstitchdesignsinone uniquecollection 1 t £1n,priezewsoOnN!LY G IISSSSUUEE113333££55.9999 G H i b UK * H H G G Festive angel OO P ECCC Santa and his helpers Decorative sequin tree Christmas Cheer! Joyful whitework hoop DON’T MISS: Cute stockings, reviews & prizes Vintage-style greetings Contents Have you got your letter off to Father Christmas yet? Wehave!Andwe’reasking Santathisyearforavery specialChristmasindeed. One that sees children everywhere,whatevertheir background,enjoythesortofsafe,happy festivityeverychilddeserves.We’resureSt Nickwilldohisbest,butinthemeantime, we canallhelpmakeadifference.Andwiththe Home-StartUKSnowflakeAppealchartfree withthisissue,youcanraiseawarenessand moneyforvulnerablechildrenbysimplystitching thisgorgeoushoopdesignaspartofacoffee morning or crafternoon, perhaps? To find out more, take a look here: www.snowflake.org.uk. Andtodonate,visit:www.home-start.org.uk/ cross-stitch-gold-snowflake.Andpleasekeepus 12 Carols at postedwithyourevents!Youcandropusaline Christmas withanylovelyphotosyou’dliketosharewith us,here:[email protected] Projects MerryChristmas!Andthankyouforusing yourcrossstitchtalenttohelpavulnerablechild. 4DearSanta... AsweetChristmasdesigntostitchfor childrenwho’vebeenverygoodthisyear! ZeenaMoolla,ActingEditor 12Festivesing-along JoanneAston’straditionalsceneofVictorian Zeena’s choice carolsingersisatreatforadvanced stitchers 20Folkangel Spreadjoyandlovewithourpretty messengerandherfeatheredfriends 28Floralwreath OurchalkboardhangingisaChristmas decorationthatwilllastforyears to come 38PolarpalsABC Personaliseastockingwiththesecandy canelettersandcutefrostyfriends! 44Whiteworkhoopart Stitchthisstunningpieceonrusticlinen 52Sparklingtree BeadsandspecialitystitchesbringFaby Reilly’sbeautifulChristmastreetolife 52 20 Seasonal Such an 60Vintagegreetings sparkle angel! Fourfabulouscardsfortheholidays 2Cross Stitch Gold 60 4 Season’s Santa and greetings! friends 38 28 44 Polar pals Festive Joy to alphabet florals the world Features Reviews &advice GIFT1 & regulars WORTH 18Newproducts £45.95 Ourpickofthebest new buys 11Yourletters thismonth! Readstitchingstoriesfromaroundtheworld 35 Ask the 26 Subscribe toGoldtoday... experts –andchooseyourbonusgift worth up to £45.99 Whateveryourstitching dilemma, we’lltry to 43Giveaways help! Text,writeorgoonlineforyourchancetowin 50Kitreviews must-stitchkits,booksandshowtickets! WereviewsixChristmas kitsfor GIFT 2 58 Nextissue advancedstitchers! WORTH Seewhat’scomingupinissue134of £30 59Stockists CrossStitchGoldd,onsale22nd November (UK) Findthesuppliesyou’llneed to stitch all 66 GoforGold! theprojectsintheissue 26 Solveourcrosswordpuzzleandyou Win 64Stitchingguidelines Call 0844 2456967 couldwinakitfromBothyThreads! £1,016 in prizes! Helpfulhints,adviceandstep-by-step guides fornewcomerstocross stitch We award CROSSSTITCHGOLDD(USPS021-175)(ISSN1471-3660) this medal ispublishedninetimesayearbyImmediateMedia todesigns CompanyBristolLtd,2ndFloor,TowerHouse,FairfaxSt, BristolBS13BN,UK.DistributedintheUSbyCirculation andproducts Specialists,LLC.,2CorporateDrive,Suite945,SheltonCT asamarkof 06484.PeriodicalpostagepaidatShelton,CTandother mailingoffices.POSTMASTER:Sendaddresschangesto oursealof Cross StitchGoldd,POBOX 37495, Boone, IA 50037-0495. excellence Victorian scene Carols at Christmas Take your place outside this grand abode, glowing from within, and join our Victorian stitch tip Christmas carollers for a very festive tradition! Store your stitching rolled up in a Stitcher’s guide cardboard tube to protect it in between 28-countwhiteevenweaveovertwo stitching sessions threadsofthefabric,using35shade ofstrandedcotton.Thedesignuses crossstitchandfractionalstitchesintwo strandsofcotton,whilebackstitchin onestranddefinesthedesign.Forextra embellishment,Frenchknotsinone strandadddetailtothewreath,garland andChristmastree.Thisdenselystitched piece is suitable for experienced stitchers. How to stitch the Meet the designer Victoriancarollers Joanne Aston 1Findthecentreofyourfabricby foldingitinhalfbothhorizontally Joanne is Design Manager for andvertically.Followthearrowson Coats Crafts and has a degree thecharttofinditscentreandstart in Fashion and Textiles. She stitchingfromhere,workingyour enjoys creating large cross wayoutwards. 2Workthecrossstitchover wo stitch and tapestry designs threadsofthefabricusingtwo strandsofcotton.Foreverytinysymbol As a designer for Coats Crafts, I’m youseeonthechart,workafractional often asked to create traditional stitch. Christmas scenes like this one, 3Addthebackstitchinonestrand and they’ve become a bit of a ofcotton.Eightdifferentshades speciality, so I’m delighted to areused,socheckthekeycarefullyto design this one for Cross Stitch seewhichoneyouneed. Gold. Who doesn’t love the 4WorktheFrenchknotsusing sound of well-loved Christmas onestrandofcotton. carols being sung? There’s 5Checkoveryourstitchingand nothing quite like it, especially prepare for framing. when you’re cosy indoors, wrapping presents on Christmas Eve or adding the finishing Youwillneed touches to the Christmas cake. I can’t remember the last time FABRICZweigart28-countwhiteevenweave measuring40x35cm(15¾x13¾in) carollers came to my door, so perhaps the tradition needs a THREADSStrandedcottonaslistedinthekey bit of a boost – and perhaps my NEEDLESize26tapestryneedle design will help to do just that! EXTRASFrameofyourchoicewithaminimum apertureof27x23.5cm(10½x9¼in) Merry Christmas, everyone. FORSTOCKISTS’DETAILS turn to page 59 4Cross Stitch Gold Victorian scene A red wooden frame complements the door of this impressive house Cross Stitch Gold 5 Victorian scene Carol singers key Crossstitchintwostrands Anchor DMC Madeira Z 1 B5200 2401 white Joanne Aston’s t 9 352 303 lightcoral b 11 350 213 coral Designer Secrets Q 22 815 514 darkred q 47 321 511 red T 72 3685 601 darkcerise All aglow J 235 414 1707 grey A winter scene can too often feel cold if it [ 242 989 1401 lightgreen features lots of snow and icy colours, but this 9 244 987 1403 green one is very warm thanks to the red door, the brickwork, and the golden glow from the ; 292 745 111 lightyellow windows and lamps. I hope you still get the u 297 973 106 yellow impression that it’s a crisp, cold night from Y 304 741 202 orange all that snow, but it was important that this } 360 938 1913 darkbrown scene feels welcoming and warm, too. v 363 3827 2301 ginger h 365 435 2213 lightbrown j 397 3024 1901 verylightgrey 4 398 415 1802 lightgrey A fine tradition k 401 3799 1714 darkgrey Many of the carols that we sing today W 403 310 2400 black originated during Victorian times. The f 878 501 1704 sagegreen Victorians loved music and began to sing old medieval English carols as part 3 885 739 2014 cream of their holiday celebrations. Travelling V 914 3064 2312 beige from door to door and performing in H 936 632 2311 darkbrickred the snow, they would be rewarded with n 944 433 2007 brown mince pies, a warm drink, or money, 2 969 223 808 shellpink which was sometimes given to charity. ` 970 3687 809 lightcerise S 972 3803 2609 cerise e 978 334 1004 blue How to manage this large design 1 1007 3772 2601 brickred Some people prefer to work a colour at a time, while others like to workseveralcoloursalongside F 1036 3750 1005 darkblue eachother,‘parking’theirthreadedneedleswhennotinuse.Eitherway,withlargeanddensely P 1044 895 1405 darkgreen stitcheddesignslikethisone,griddingyourfabricinto10x10squarescanhelptokeeptrackof M 1072 3814 1202 seagreen yourprogressandpreventmistakes.Ifyoudostarttomakeerrors,haveabreakfromyourstitching C 1076 991 1204 darkseagreen asyoumay be suffering from tiredeyes. Using adaylight bulb and magnifier will help with this. m 4146 950 2309 peach c 9046 666 510 light red Cross Stitch Gold Coming soon in Backstitchinonestrand ––––– 1 B5200 2401 white –––––– 11 350 213 coral Stitch yet another –––––– 235 414 1707 grey wonderful winter scene in the next issue of –––––– 360 938 1913 darkbrown Cross Stitch Gold. The –––––– 401 3799 1714 darkgrey first spring blooms are –––––– 403 310 2400 black starting to emerge in –––––– 936 632 2311 darkbrickred this sweet design of –––––– 944 433 2007 brown a cat in the snow by Frenchknotsinonestrand Maria Diaz. You can find O 1 B5200 2401 white the project in issue 134 O 292 745 111 lightyellow of Cross Stitch Gold, on sale 22nd November O 9046 666 510 light red (UK). To subscribe and STITCHCOUNT148highx130wide receive every issue DESIGNAREA14HPI(28-count evenweave) – direct to your door, 27x23.5cm(10½x9¼in) turn to page 26 where SKEINSNEEDED2x1(white) you’ll find our fabulous ThisdesignwasstitchedusingAnchorstrandedcottonon subscription offer. 28-count evenweave over two threadsofthefabric CrossStitchGold9 Completebespokekits forsomeofthemost beautifulandmagical crossstitchdesigns Mirabilia Lavender&Lace YvetteJordan MichelleCampbell FlowerFairies Seeourwebsite forfullrange www.hawkinshobbies.co.uk Cheerful CROSS STITCH From a young age, I have been interested in colour, fabric, and wool. My designs of animals and birds are very well suited to cross stitch as it brings my ideas to life in a simplified and fun manner. Cross stitching with chunky wool is so much fun, because it enhances both I love it! colour and shape... www.cheerfffulcrossstitch.etsy.com 2016 „Christmas“ chart books No. 285/275/265 Quality Made in Germany e 1 8 3 A Z Unique choice of colors Forstockistscontact: SewandsoIwww.sewandso.co.uk WillowFabricsIwww.willowfabrics.com HeritageCraftsITel:01889575256 www.zweigart.com