http://www.cross-stitching.com The World of Cross Stitching 73Fiona’s focus
MINDFUL STITCHING RESOLUTIONS
Cross stitching can be a fantastic mindful hobby – follow our ten
New Year’s resolutions to take care of your mind as you stitch
café or room to host it in. Or if you’re
looking for an online community,
check out our fantastic Facebook
group: Cross-stitching.comStitching for a charity can be
incredibly rewarding or you can
sell your wares at a local craft fair
in aid of your chosen good cause.
The designs in The World of Cross
Stitching are covered by our Angel
Policy, meaning you can stitch and sell
your own finished pieces, as long as
it’s not mass produced and you don’t
sell the charts themselves.Make sure to stitch in good
natural light to keep your
eyesight sharp, or use a daylight lamp
when that’s not an option. Try to get
your eyes tested regularly, too – why
not mark it on your calendar right
now to remind yourself.A special sampler can make
a beautiful heirloom project
to pass on through your family.
Remember to initial it and add the
date for generations to come to
admire. To make it last, always frame
with an acid-free mount and backing
board and protect behind glass.Keeping your stash tidy is
important for your work
as well as your mental wellbeing- that way you don’t feel so
daunted when searching for a
particular thread colour or spare
needle! Treat yourself to a nice
workbox and create a system of
keeping your threads neat, like
using bobbins or skein holders.
Do you enjoy stitching lots
of cards and love to make
handmade gifts? Plan your stitching
early and mark start times for each
project in your calendar, to avoid last
minute rushes. Add issue and page
numbers with your chosen projects
from The World of Cross Stitching too,
so you can find them again easily.Are you spending time stitching
whilst thinking you should
be doing other things? Go easy on
yourself and don’t feel so guilty – cross
stitching is a great way to unwind, let
go of the stresses and strains of busy
lives. Everyone needs time out, so
make some time to stitch!The start of a new year is a great
chance to expand your skills by
mastering a new or tricky stitch type,
or maybe even getting to grips with
those often troublesome metallic
threads! YouTube is a great source of
tutorial videos to learn from.Got an overflowing drawer
of WIPs? Whilst starting new
projects is exciting, imagine the sense
of achievement and joy in finishing a
long-forgotten project. You may even
feel like a weight has been lifted if it’s
been on your mind for a while, freeing
up your thoughts for new things.What better way to ensure
your hobby is passed onto the
next generation than by sharing your
knowledge and passion with children.
Start them off with larger 11-count
aida and pick a small design, like those
from our alphabet sets – they’re sure
to love stitching their own name!Make new like-minded friends
by joining a local craft club. If
there’s nothing nearby, why not start
up your own! All you need is a quiet1
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Share your skills: Introduce children into
cross stitch by getting them to stitch their name- try this fun ‘Animals ABC’ (282, July 2019)
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Be prepared: Use our adorable Tatty
Teddy Calendar (exclusive gift for 286,
Nov 2019) to plan out your stitchy projectsStay organised: Not only are sorted
threads beautiful to look at, they make
finding colours simple and stress-free