Issue
119 Beautiful pink roses feature on the cover of
this month's magazine with the first part of this delightful
bell pull design. The Masterclass explores blackwork
patterns for flower motifs and there are two delicate
Cross stitch samplers for weddings and anniversary celebrations.
Hardanger fans will enjoy the subtle effects of two
cushion designs in soft shades. Also inside are quick
folk style Cross stitch bands and cards and a picture
inspired by Roman mosaics.
Feature Designs
Blushing
Roses part
1 This beautiful bell pull features a selection
of Old Roses and English Roses, all in shades
of pink. From the top of the design you can
find Chaucer, Zéphirine Drouchin, Mme
Grégoire Staechelin, Bow Bells, St. Celia,
Hermosa, Armosa and Mme Isaac Pereire. Cross
stitched on evenweave with subtle shading and
depth, the whole of this two-part design can
be completed in around two months of evenings.
Golden
Moments These spectacular samplers are perfect
for commemorating a special event, whether it's
an anniversary, birthday, wedding or Christening.
With a myriad of flowers interspersed with metallic
beads and blending filament, they will make
a brilliant, lasting memento of that very special
day. The version with sunshine shades is perfect
for a Golden Wedding anniversary, and the pastel
blues are great for a Silver Wedding. Each sampler
will take around a month of evening stitching
to complete.
Roman
Mosaic This elegant design echoes the mosaic
floors and friezes of ancient Rome. Stitched
in terracotta shades on cream Congress cloth,
the picture shows a classical urn surrounded
by intricately patterned tiled borders. Cross
stitch this rewarding design in a month to six
weeks of evenings.
Ice
and Lemon This pair of Hardanger cushions in contrasting
colours will add real style to your living room.
One is in crisp traditional white, using heart-shaped
Satin stitch blocks, Greek crosses and Dove's
eye filling. The other uses green Oslo fabric
with Caron threads in variegated lemon and lime
shades for a truly striking effect.
Folk
Traditions You will enjoy stitching these bright,
vibrant folk motifs inspired by nature. The stylized
birds and flowers with swirling stems and leaves
combine tradition with a modern flavour. Cross
stitch the cards and coasters in a couple of evenings
each and bookmarks and bands in a week to ten
days each.
Pick a Flower Devotees of Blackwork will long ago have
realised that there are thousands and probably
millions of different patterns that can be devised.
History has its favourites but these days, with
graph paper or computer, it is easier than ever
to make up your own patterns and no two need
ever be quite the same.
It intrigued me that, even though flowers may
be of the same variety and even on the same
plant, no two of them will ever be quite the
same either. They will have a similar shape
and colour, but minute differences will make
each individual. So, in devising an overall
design for the Westerland tablecloth area it
was these similarities and these differences
I wanted to exploit. Blackwork lent itself to
the purpose wonderfully.
