Cross Stitch Crazy - UK (2020-05)

✁

http://www.dmc.com. To get the best out

of this thread, you need to take care

when stitching with it, so use

shorter lengths to prevent the

thread from getting tangled or

fraying and losing its lustre.

Beady eyes

Q

I want to attach beads to

my project and someone

said I need a special needle. Can

you tell me why, Angels?

Simone Evans, Edinburgh

A

Your friend’s right, Simone

• you’ll need a beading
  needle for this job. They’re long and
  thin with a streamlined eye, so they
  can easily pass through even very
  skinny beads. The most commonly
  used sizes are a 10 or 12, but the
  one you need depends on the size
  of the beads you’re using. Because
  the eyes tend to be smaller, they
  can be
  difficult
  to thread
  and
  standard
  needle
  threaders
  will be
  too large.
  However,
  there are
  special
  threaders
  available.
  Or, try
  Beadalon
  Collapsible Eye
  Beading Needles – as the name
  suggests, the eye can open wide
  for threading, then collapse flat to
  pass through a bead. Hobbycraft
  stocks Milward Beading Needles
  at £2.50 for four, as well as
  Beadalon Collapsible Eye Beading
  Needles and Big Eye Beading
  Needles – all priced at £4.50 for
  four at http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk or
  when you call 0330 026 1400.

Telling tales

Q

I’d like to stitch a series of

fairytale designs to hang

on my little girl’s bedroom wall.

Something a bit out of the ordinary

would be great! Do you have

any recommendations, Angels?

Paula Golding, Dorset

A

We really like the idea of

creating a gallery of

children’s fairytales in stitchy form

that you can add to over the years,

Paula. There are some cute and

colourful collections available for

stitchers. For instance, the kits from

Bothy Threads’ Fairy Tales series

always catch our eye. These unique

designs are stitched mainly in black

on multicoloured aida to recreate

our favourite children’s stories in

silhouette. The kits available

include Hansel and Gretel, Snow

White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty

and Alice in Wonderland, among

others. The finished designs

measure 26x36cm (10¼x14¼in)

and the kits cost £32.99 from

http://www.bothythreads.com, or if you

call 01900 828 844. We also

love Kyoko Maruoka’s quirky

fairytale designs, available from

Creative Poppy Patterns at http://www.

creativepoppypatterns.com, which

include Puss in Boots, The Little

Mermaid and The Giant Turnip and

start at £4.95 each for the chart

PDFs. Have a magical time

choosing which to stitch!

Mad for mandalas

Q

I’ve seen some lovely

mandalas in the magazine,

and would like to create my own.

Could you tell me how to do it?

Zoe Powell, Harrogate

A

Mandalas are easy – and

relaxing – to design. Using

a compass, draw a circle and within

it several concentric circles of

various diameters as a guide. Then,

split the main circle into an even

number of segments – 12 or 16 is

good. Starting from the middle,

draw a pattern in one of the

segments – touching both edges

• and repeat it in each of the slices.
  Work outwards, repeating the
  process and adding colour to build
  up your pattern. Once you’re happy,
  place lightweight gridded paper
  over the top and create your chart
  by filling in the squares with
  coloured pencils. Check out
  mandalas from other designers for
  inspiration – we like Axebe’s Flower
  Mandala, which costs £4.03 from
  http://www.axebe.etsy.com

Stitching large

designs

1

Tr y using a frame rather

than an embroidery hoop

for larger projects. Choose one

that stands on the floor or even

one that will sit on your lap to

give your arms a rest.

2

If you’re wondering if you’ll

meet a deadline, time how

long it takes you to stitch

a block of 30 by 30 stitches,

then calculate how many

blocks there are in the piece

and multiply the two figures.

3

To keep your motivation

going, take a break from

your large project and stitch

something a bit smaller every

once in a while.

4

Grid your fabric with

contrasting thread in

running stitch before you

start your project. It will make

counting stitches and keeping

your place much easier.

5

Larger designs can often

use more than 30 colours.

If the threads aren’t pre-sorted,

cut them to length and arrange

on a sorter before you start

stitching your project.

Our top

tips...

means that you can substitute

them easily for other threads in
your project. This cotton thread is

available in 35 amazing shades,
priced at £1.55 a skein from DMC at

Hello Angels!

Send your stitching problems to Crazy’s Angels and we’ll come to your

rescue! Make your questions as crazy as you like and send them to the

address listed below.

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Fill in and cut out this coupon (or photocopy it) and send it to:

Crazy’s Angels... Cross Stitch Crazy, Immediate Media Company

Bristol Ltd, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST or email

your requests to: [email protected]

S Mouliné Étoile creates

a delicate shimmery effect

S A long, thin

needle is a must

when adding beads

S Mandalas can be

relaxing to stitch

S Create a fairytale bedroom

with designs from Bothy Threads