Issue
172
This issue is packed with so many irresistible stitching
projects it is difficult to know where to start. The Intricate
Geometry cushion cover looks as if it is glowing and has
so many aspects to recommend it. The clever background shading,
the interlacing lines of unworked fabric and the vibrant
colours that give it a stained window effect. The enigmatic
landscape of Romney Marsh is captured perfectly with this
cross stitch view dotted with sheep and the wonderful reflections
on water. The Masterclass this month will have you all reaching
for your needles to try this type of surface stitchery that
can also be worked on a drawn thread framework that has
a delicate filigree effect. Try your hand too at Crewelwork
with our Jacobean Paisley motif that is worked in traditional
style with a contemporary twist. There is a celebration
of summer in Hardanger with a strawberry sampler panel.
In cross stitch we also have a shimmering seahorse amongst
the coral, a trio of charming cottages and a watchful tawny
owl.
Feature Designs
Intricate
Geometry
This mesemerizing cushion is inspired by the
interlacing and geometric patterns typically
found in Islamic art. The principal lines of
the design weave over each other and are blank
areas of fabric that make the stitches really
stand out. The subtle shading of the blue background
also highlights the intricacies of this captivating
embroidery that will bring a bright and bold
look to your home.
Marsh
View
Romney Marsh is a remote area in Kent that spans
a hundred square miles., renowned for its desolate
beauty. Dotted with villages and windswept farms
it is completely man-made having been reclaimed
from the sea. Flocks of hardy Romney sheep graze
the marshes and have survived for centuries
thanks to their dense fleeces and their hooves
resilient to soggy ground. Stitch a view of
this magical and eerie landscape complete with
its most famous residents.
Charming
Cottages
These charming cottages are fabulous little
projects that can be stitched in their own right
or as a set. You can stitch them as cards to
send extra special wishes or use the cards as
mounts to make postcard sized pictures. Whether
seadide, riveerside or vilage high street, the
scenes are full of detail despite their diminutive
size.
Summer
Sampler
Celebrate summer in stitches with the first
in our collection of seasonal samplers. Inspired
by that quintessential ingredient for the perfect
summer., the embroidery includes a border of
strawberries. With its combination of Hardanger
and counted stitches, this pretty design is
an engaging project to complete over the coming
months.
Ghost Story
known as Ghost stitch, Loop stitch and Point
d'Esprit, there is a pretty filling that can
be used on openwork, netting or on the surface
of a fabric. We seldom know who named a stitch
and I do wonder why this got its ghostly connections:
perhaps because it can appear lightly in the
air, wafting its way across the fabric or space.
Tawny
Owl
The tawny owl is the UK and Europe's most common
owl and it is the tawny that makesthe characteristic
'twit-twoo' call. This sound is not made by
one bird but two as one answers the other. Tawny
owls have a distinctive mottled plumage and
a round full face that sets off their dark,
deep-set eyes. If you often hear their familiar
calls in the dead of night you know you have
a pair in the vicinity, so why not stitch this
charming picture in honour of your feathered
neighbours.
Jacobean
Paisley
Enjoy a contemporary design in an historic technique
with this paisley motif. It features amny stitches
typical of Jacobean embroidery, otherwise known
as Crewelwork, with padded and raised Satin
Stitch, French knots and Lazy daisy stitch.
It is the perfect size for a beginner's piece,
being ideal for getting a feel not only for
the technique, but for the thicker fabric and
coarser thread that is typically used. Crewelwork
converts will aslo enjoy this design too as
a fulfilling diversion from larger projects
or other techniques.
Sparkling
Seahorse
This glistening seahorse gently sparklesamongst
the colourful coral giving the design a real
sense of depth. This dimensional effect is heightened
by the use of a circular frame that makes it
feel as if you are through a porthole at this
rare and beautiful fish. The seahorse is the
perfect choice for a bathroom or anywhere in
the house that has a beach or nautical theme.