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The world’s most beautiful cross stitch designs in one unique collection
£1priz won ON
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ISSUE 145 £5.99
in be*UK

Teddy bear hugs

START YOUR
Windmill SPRINGTIME
STITCHING
meadow TODAY!

Sweet barnyard sampler

Dragonfly cushion Art nouveau bookmarks Rainy day delight

DON’T MISS: Floral pillowcases, prizes & more!

 New products

Totally
roarsome!
We love this incredible A-Z
of Dinosaurs kit, which takes
us on a prehistoric journey all
the way from the Allosaurus
to the Zuniceratops! Each
dino is rendered in a realistic
style, and the grey shades
of thread used in the design
mean that the finished
piece is truly striking. The kit
contains everything you need
to complete the design, and
it’s great fun to stitch – work
one letter at a time and you’ll
be finished before you know
it. It’s a fantastic gift for
dinosaur fans of all ages.
Buy the kit online for
£22.99 from PurplePanzyXS
at www.etsy.com/uk

No place like home Stunning

detail &
Welcome your guests in style with this vibrant design hung up in
your hall. Home Sweet Home: Beautiful Britain uses a contemporary
palette to create the unique floral map, which also features some cute
colours
mini-beast surprises along the way! Kits include a coloured chart, DMC
threads, 14-count white aida, two tapestry needles, a basic tutorial and a
thread sorter card to help you keep your colours organised while working.
Buy online for £32 from StitchKits at www.notonthehighstreet.com

Perfect
new-home
gift

Eastern promise
The new Queen of Silk design by Design Works Crafts is
worked on 14-count rustic aida and the kit includes beads to
embellish the finished piece. It’s an ornate and unusual design,
and it involves a good deal of exquisite detail in the gown,
the body art and the gorgeous pink blossom that makes up
the exotic backdrop. Any lover of Asian art would be over the
moon to have this bold piece gracing their walls.
Buy for £49.99. Visit www.solocrafts.com for stockist details

Cross Stitch Gold 19

Farmyard hanging

Down on
the farm stitch tip
Made into a beautiful hanging, this countryside Use red cotton to
sampler features all your favourite farmyard animals, grid your fabric into
plus a few baby animals for added cute factor! 10x10 squares – this
will help with placing
the animals
Stitcher’s guide
This design is worked on 28-count
white evenweave over two threads of
the fabric in 38 shades of cotton. Cross
stitch and half cross stitch are worked
in two strands of cotton. Backstitch
and French knots add detail to the
design, both in one strand. There are
also a few fractional stitches. This is a
design for experienced stitchers.

Meet the designer How to stitch the farmyard

Joanne Aston
Cross stitch designer
1 Find the centre of your fabric
and the centre of the chart. Start
stitching here, working outwards.
Joanne has a degree
in Fashion and Textiles
from The Univerity of
2 Work the cross stitch over two
threads of the fabric using two
strands of cotton. For every tiny
Central England. She symbol, work a fractional stitch.
has worked as design
manager at Coats 3 Work the half cross stitch in
two strands of cotton.
Crafts and is now a
freelance designer,
taking on commissions
4 Add the backstitch in one
strand of thread.

for a range of projects. 5 Work the French knots in one

strand of thread.

“I love ambling along 6 Check over your stitching and

prepare for making up.
the country lanes in
springtime and passing
You will need
various farm animals FABRIC Zweigart 28-count white evenweave
on my way. It makes me measuring 50x45cm (19½x17¾in)
THREADS Stranded cotton as listed in the key
laugh when a nosey pig
NEEDLE Size 26 tapestry needle
or curious cow comes EXTRAS Backing fabric, 37cm (14½in) wooden
across the field to greet dowel rod, buttons and ribbon of your choice from
local stores
me over the fence!” FOR STOCKISTS’ DETAILS turn to page 59

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Farmyard hanging

Cross Stitch Gold 21

 Farmyard hanging
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Top left

22 Cross Stitch Gold

 Farmyard hanging
20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Farmyard hanging key
Cross stitch in two strands
DMC Anchor Madeira
B5200 1 2401 white
162 9159 1101 delft blue
164 240 1209 light green
169 1040 1707 grey
223 895 812 dark rose pink
224 894 813 rose pink
225 1020 814 light rose pink
300 352 2304 very dark ginger
304 19 511 dark red
310 403 2400 black
413 236 1713 dark grey
415 398 1802 light grey
611 898 2107 brown
612 832 2108 beige
666 46 210 red
677 886 2207 sand
701 227 1305 dark green
703 238 1307 green
745 300 111 yellow
746 275 2511 cream
762 234 1804 pearl grey
807 168 1108 turquoise
819 271 501 pink
827 160 1013 light blue
919 340 313 terracotta
921 884 310 copper
975 355 2303 dark ginger
976 1001 2010 light ginger
3046 887 2206 straw
3765 169 2505 dark blue
3766 167 1109 blue
3826 1048 2306 ginger
3827 311 2012 very light ginger
3842 164 1010 very dark blue
3853 1003 311 dark orange
3854 313 114 orange
3855 302 2513 light orange
Half cross stitch in two strands
164 240 1209 light green
169 1040 1707 grey
310 403 2400 black
413 236 1713 dark grey
415 398 1802 light grey
Backstitch in one strand
––––– 310 403 2400 black
––––– 413 236 1713 dark grey
––––– 415 398 1802 light grey
––––– 745 300 111 yellow
––––– 938 380 2005 dark brown
French knots in one strand
3826 1048 2306 ginger
STITCH COUNT 194 high x 159 wide
DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) –
35x29cm (13¾x11¼in)
SKEINS NEEDED 3x169 (grey), 2x703 (green)
This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton on
28-count evenweave over two threads of the fabric
Top right

Cross Stitch Gold 23

 Farmyard hanging

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Bottom left

In the detail
Joanne has kept
fractional stitches to
a minimum in this
Joanne Aston’s design. They are

Designer Secrets mainly used for the

animals’ features,
such as here on the
lambs’ eyes and noses.
Pretty primrose Fractionals are shown
There is a sweet little as small triangular
bunch of primroses at the symbols on the chart.
top of this farmyard design
– these delightful pale
yellow flowers are a sure
sign of spring, when they
pop up merrily all along Green green grass
the hedgerows. You could I’ve used half cross stitch for some areas
stitch them as a nice quick of the background, such as the grassy
card or a little scented patches where the animals graze. It helps
hanging for somebody if these areas to blend into the background
you like – ideal for a spring a bit more, giving a less dense covering of
birthday and you only the fabric. Make sure your half stitches all
need a few colours. lie in the same direction for consistency.

24 Cross Stitch Gold

 Farmyard hanging

“I love how Joanne has

spaced out the animals,
giving each one its own
individual area. You could
easily stitch the mini
scenes on their own as
smaller pictures.”
Bottom right
Fiona Baker, Technical Editor
How to make a hanging
Coming soon in Cross Stitch Gold
1 Cut out your stitched piece,
leaving a 1cm (¼in) border. 4 To make a tab, cut a strip
of fabric measuring 7x15cm
(2¾x6in). With right sides
Brunel’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge makes a magnificent

2 Cut out two panels of

backing fabric to 37x5cm
(14½x2in) and pin to either side
facing, fold in half lengthways
and sew around the raw edges
subject for this cross stitch piece by Susan Bates. Capture the
beauty of Bristol on a sunny summer’s day, with hot air balloons
floating on the breeze above this fantastic landmark. You’ll find the
of your stitching, right sides with a 1cm (¼in) seam, leaving chart in issue 146 of Cross Stitch Gold, on sale 27th March (UK).
facing. Sew with a 1cm (¼in) a small gap for turning. Turn
seam allowance. Press seams through to the right side, slip-
open. Cut two more panels stitch the gap closed and press.
of fabric measuring 35x5cm Repeat for second tab.
(13¾x2in) for the top and
bottom. Pin and sew as before. 5 Fold first tab in half over
the top edge of the
hanging and 4cm (1½in) in
3 Cut a piece of backing
fabric the same size as
your entire front panel. Place
from the side. Pin in place.
Repeat for the other tab.
the two pieces together with
right sides facing. Stitch around
the edges using a 1cm (¼in)
6 Take your chosen button
and stitch to the centre
of your tab ensuring you sew
seam, leaving a 5cm (2in) gap through all the layers, securing
at the top edge. Turn through tab in place. Repeat for other
to the right side and press, slip- tab. Insert dowel rod and hang
stitching the gap closed. with your ribbon of choice.

Cross Stitch Gold 25