AskTheAngels
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Designing your
own sampler
1
Look at the structure of
other samplers to find
a style you like – don’t be
afraid to play around with
different themes and layouts,
both modern and traditional.
2
Invest in some books of
small charts or pop to your
local library and borrow
a collection to find inspiration
for all sorts of different motifs,
alphabets and border designs.
3
Map out your sampler
on graph paper or using
online charting software like
4
Pick up a shade card of
your chosen thread brand
so you can double-check what
the different colours will look
like in your finished work.
5
Have fun experimenting
with your design! You get
to choose how your sampler
looks, so don’t feel you need to
include all traditional elements.
Our top
tips...
patterns in bright and cheerful
colours and are available as
a 15¼x15¼cm (6x6in) 48-sheet
pack, which is priced at £4, or a
30½x30½cm (12x12in) 36-sheet
pack for £7. You can buy them both
from Hobbycraft at http://www.hobby
craft.co.uk. If these aren’t quite
what you’re looking for, though,
we recommend checking out
Trimcraft’s wide range of paper
packs at http://www.thecraftblog.com
Simply egg-cellent
Q
I’m looking for Scandi-style
Easter decorations that
I can stitch on perforated paper, as
my friend gave me a whole pack of
the stuff. Can you help, Angels?
Pippa Wooley, via email
A
We love using perforated
paper to make decorations,
Pippa! We’ve found you these
gorgeous Easter Eggs, Scandi Style
designs by Tapestry Barn. They use
whole stitches only, making them
suitable to stitch on perforated
paper. They’re worked in five
vibrant thread shades, but you
could always swap them out for
spare threads from your stash. To
make them into decorations, stitch
each egg on your perforated paper
and then trim around the edges,
taking care not to snip through any
of the holes that contain your
stitching. Use a spot of acid-free
tape to secure a loop of ribbon to
the top-back of the egg and then
cover the back with a matching
piece of cut-to-fit coloured card to
hide the reverse of your stitching.
Download the PDF for £2.83 from
Creative Poppy Patterns at
http://www.creativepoppypatterns.com
In the bag
Q
I’d like to personalise
a denim bag for my sister,
but I can only find cream tote
bags. Do you know anywhere
that stocks them, Angels?
Rose Jeffers, via email
A
You’re right, plain denim
tote bags are quite hard to
come by! But we spotted this Mark
Richards Wear’m bag on the Buddly
Crafts website at http://www.buddly
crafts.com. It costs £4.99 and
measures 34x34cm (13½x13½in),
which means it’s big enough for you
to stitch onto the bag without
undoing the seams – you can easily
reach inside as you stitch. However,
it still might be easier to unpick the
bag’s seams before you start so you
the bag is flat as you stitch. You
would then sew the seams back up
when you’ve finished. Alternatively,
you can work your design on aida,
evenweave or linen as you normally
would and then sew your finished
piece onto the bag using matching,
complementary or invisible thread.
As the denim fabric is quite dark, it’ll
help to back your stitching with white
fabric or felt before you sew it onto
the bag. Good luck with your
thoughtful gift, Rose!
Kit and caboodle
Q
My young daughter enjoys
joining my stitching
sessions, but she’s getting too
advanced for the wooden kits
I started her on. What do you think
I should give her next?
Fiona Silverman, via email
A
It’s exciting that your
daughter is ready to take
on a new stitchy challenge, Fiona!
We suggest seeing how she gets on
with plastic canvas. It’s easier for
little hands to stitch on as it’s stiffer
and therefore easier to hold onto
than fabric. However, if she’d prefer
to stitch on fabric, then let her have
a go with a low-count aida – try
6-count or 8-count for a start. It’s
also best to use a plastic sewing
needle as they’re chunkier and
blunter than normal tapestr y
needles. And if you find she’s really
taking to stitching, she might enjoy
Mouseloft’s wide range of small
and easy kits at http://www.mouseloft.
co.uk – prices start at £1.54 per kit.
We also saw this Beginner’s Cross
Stitch Carry Kit for £22 from http://www.
johnlewis.com. It’d make a great
introduction to stitching on fabric
as it’s packed with threads, fabrics
and ideas to spark youngsters’
imaginations. Here’s to many more
stitching sessions spent together
with your daughter!
48 http://www.gathered.how/CSC
Hello Angels!
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rescue! Make your questions as crazy as you like and send them to the
address listed below.
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S If you’re stitching straight onto dark
fabric, like this denim tote, use three
strands of thread for better coverage
S Use double-sided tape to cover plain
cards with pretty patterned paper
S Gifting a little one their own
stitchy stash is a great way to
get them excited about the craft!
S When stitching on
perforated paper, make sure
your designs use whole
stitches or backstitch only