Cross Stitch Crazy - UK (2020-01)

GET HYGGE WITH IT

Grab a cuppa, light some candles

and soak up the hygge vibes with

this welcome addition to your

winter project list. Download the

Hygge chart for £5.34 from http://www.

mylovelycrossstitch.etsy.com

HOME COMFORTS

Make yourself right at home with

this round-up of all things cosy.

The Hygge pattern by Fuzzy Fox

Designs costs £5.33 and comes

as an instant download from

http://www.fuzzyfoxdesigns.etsy.com

HEART AND SOUL

With its soothing palette and

gorgeous Scandi motifs, the

sampler-style Hygge Heart is like

a warm stitchy hug. The kit costs

£14.95 from http://www.riverdrift

needlework.com

3 of the best... Hygge projects

Snuggle up with these

welcoming designs

Short and sweet

Q

What are petite needles?

When I was buying my

latest pack of tapestry needles,

I spotted petites and wondered

if I should be using them.

Laura Payne, via email

A

These useful little needles

are, as far as we know, only

made by John James Needles at

http://www.jjneedles.com, where they

cost £1.42 for a pack of five. Petites

come in four sizes including 22, 24,

26 and 28 – they’re exactly the

same diameter as their traditional

counterparts and have a blunt,

round point. We recommend size

24 for stitching on 14-count aida.

The eye is also the same size, so

you’re unlikely to have any

problems when

it comes to

threading them.

The only real

difference is

the length.

Because

they’re shorter

than ordinary

tapestry

needles by

around

0.75cm (¼in),

petites allow

for quicker,

nimbler stitching

and more precise finishing. And if

you like the idea of saving money,

you’ll be happy to hear that petites

allow you to work nearer to the end

of your thread, so you’ll get more

stitches out of it than you would

with a standard needle.

Open and shut case

Q

I’d like to make a purse and

recall that you featured

some lovely designs on black aida

several issues ago. Where can I get

the metal fasteners from and how

do I attach them, Angels?

Juliet Malory, via email

A

We adore the boho chic

purse designs that

appeared in issue 227 of Crazy, too!

There are several online stores that

sell purse frames – Bag Clasps has

a huge range of glue-in, sew-in or

screw-in versions on its website at

http://www.bag-clasps.co.uk. An 11cm

(4¼in) Silver Sew In Frame costs

£1.88. To make the purse using

a sew-in clasp, download the

template on http://www.cross-stitching.

com by searching ‘purse template’.

Back your stitched fabric with

medium-weight iron-on interfacing

and, along with a backing fabric,

cut out your purse shapes using the

template. Once you’ve stitched

your fabrics together to create your

purse, insert one side of the top

into the open clasp, centre and tack

in place. Stitch through the holes in

the frame to attach. Remove the

tacking and repeat on the other

side to finish. For speedier results,

use a glue-in clasp, which you can

affix with fabric adhesive.

Waste not

Q

I’d like to personalise a gift

for my sister’s new baby,

but as a stitching newbie I’m

worried about using waste canvas.

Is there any alternative, Angels?

Bethany Mills, London

A

Waste canvas can be a bit

daunting – especially if

you’re new to stitching, Bethany.

Happily, there is an alternative!

DMC sells a range of baby items

that have integral aida panels, so

you can stitch your chosen design

straight onto the item without the

need for any extra materials or

54 http://www.cross-stitching.com

S These needles

allow you to work

closer to the end

of your thread

S You can sew, glue or

screw on a purse frame

Send your stitching problems to Crazy’s Angels and watch them leap into action!

Crazy’s

Angels