Cross Stitch Crazy

Come and stroll through the beautiful vistas inside this issue; walk under the scented arbours and through the gardens with their vibrant borders, stopping only to arrange a beautiful display in a vase for the windowsill. We all love to give and rece

Intended to reflect a designer’s sketchbook, these country blooms have the style of pencil drawings and watercolours painted in a sketchbook. Designed by Amanda, she says this picture closely resembles her own sketchbook, which is always close at han

The study of flora and fauna has produced some of the most stunning illustrations we’ve seen and for hundreds of years, artists have been painting and sketching perfect replicas of nature’s splendour. So, what better way to carry on this tradition th

Teatime is the most important part of the day. Even if you drink tea all day long, it’s great when a friend pops over unexpectedly and you can take a break from whatever you’re doing to sit down and enjoy a natter over a proper pot for two. A nice te

The story of the dreamcatcher begins with the ancient legend of a tribe who believed that these magical webs, woven onto willow hoops, would filter out bad dreams and allow only good thoughts to enter our minds while we sleep. What better way to weav

Poppies are a welcome reminder of summer and their scarlet papery leaves and intense dotty centres are easy to spot in the long meadow grass. This flower makes a wonderful subject for cross stitch, as Carol’s cushion demonstrates. The flowers are so

Be it savouring the bright sunshine of a glorious spring morning, or just getting away from it all with a relaxing cup of tea, Lesley’s uplifting pattern is a great way to add positivity to your daily routine. Just think – next time you’re rushing ar

Whether it’s a field in full bloom, or just a single red flower on a grassy verge, the splendour of the poppy never fails to turn heads. With its delicate yet striking scarlet petals, this pretty blossom has long inspired artists to capture its liken

There’s nothing like a cheery springtime project to put you in a happy mood. This season is a time of renewal and optimism, and has inspired many a poem or work of art. This lively springtime hanging is just the way to lift your mood and give your ho

The magic of the new season is clear to see in this design, from the sunshine shades of freshly picked daffodils to the soft plumage and inquisitive pose of the little blue tit down below. Tied with gingham ribbon, this beautiful bouquet is just wait

We all love the summer, as the days are longer and brighter, which makes stitching even more of a joy! This charming scene sums up the perfect day for us. In it, the windows have been thrown open to let in plenty of warm, summer air. On the windowsil

It must be said that rabbits are well known for eating their way through tulips, but this one simply looks pleased to be among them. We’re just hoping he’s not hungry yet – we’d hate to spoil the gorgeous display! Most of Lesley’s design is worked in

Threads: Stranded cotton and metallic thread, as listed in the key Needle: Size 24 tapestry needle, beading needle Fabric: 14-count white aida, 36x36cm (14x14in) and 15x15cm (6x6in) for small designs Extras: Mill Hill seed beads, as listed in the key

Nothing beats that feeling of the warm sun against your face while sitting out in the garden with your stitching or reading your favourite book, and maybe even a cheeky glass of wine! We love the way Durene’s sweet scene captures that happy-golucky f

Delightfully dainty and adorned with shimmering sequins, this colourful set of Chinese lanterns is the perfect way to decorate any girly space in a home. The soft pastels are ideal for adding some colour to a wall, and who could resist such subtle sh

When stitching a lot of small motifs, use one bigger piece of aida and trim to size afterwards, as this uses less fabric overall Threads: Stranded cotton, as listed in the key Needle: Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric: 14-count white aida measuring a ma

Threads: Stranded cotton and DMC Color Variations, as listed in the key Needle: Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric: 14-count white aida measuring 15x15cm (6x6in) for each design Extras: Craft Creations square aperture cards (AP53U) in pale yellow, marine

Stained glass is such a fantastic medium and you’ll find stitching in this style very uplifting. Seeing the way that real stained glass glows so beautifully inspired designer Ursula to try to capture that same light in cross stitch. This collection o

You can say anything with flowers, ‘I love you’, ‘I’m sorry’ – and everything in between. Faby’s collection of all-occasion cards feature a pretty floral border, worked in whole stitches and embellished with crystal and golden seed beads. She’s also

Threads: Stranded cotton, as listed in the key Needle: Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric: 14-count white aida measuring 10x10cm (4x4in) for each design Extras: Ribbon and handmade or shop-bought gift tags of your choice Stitching time: Approx 2 hours ea

With Mother’s Day coming up soon, many of us will be getting our needles and threads ready to stitch a heartfelt thank you, be it for your mum, your grandma or even an extra-special auntie. So, we’ve brought you these four gorgeous charts inspired by

If you’ve been busy with holidays, Christmas or the back-to-school rush, why not ease yourself back into your stitching routine with a small, sweet design that won’t take too long? This gorgeous collection of vintage flowers uses beautiful shades of

What better way to treat a deserving friend or celebrate a special birthday than with one of these beautiful gift ideas? You’ll recognise the flowing curves and botanical imagery as typical of the Art Nouveau style, and Lesley draws on her love of na

With over 40 floral motifs to delight gardeners and flower-loving pals alike there are charts here to please all stitchers from beginners to pros. With plenty of easy gift ideas to choose from, you’ll soon be stitching the perfect pressie you know wi

Roses are considered to be one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden, and now you can bring that beauty to life in stitches, with Lucie’s gorgeous set of floral designs. If, like us, you’re already looking forward to the warmer months ahead, th

Threads: Stranded cotton, as listed in the key Needle: Size 24 tapestry needle Fabric: Charles Craft Bright Ideas 14-count aida in Grasshopper and Polar Ice, measuring 36x20cm (14x8in) for each design, from www.sewandso.co.uk Extras: Buttons of your

Make sure you choose the right level for you – you’ll find this information in the Factbox on each of our projects. Absolute beginners should choose a design without fractional stitches. The You Will Need list on each project will tell you what size