Cross Stitch Cafe - stitching out of 2012 and into 2013...

elliep_2

Could someone explain what the various dated projects are please? I'd like to join in but don't know what they are or if it's too late?

I'm especially interested in the card exchange at the moment as I don't have anyone who would appreciate a stitched card but am in the mood to stitch something festive and colourful.

tellmeitsfriday

I think it's too late for the card exchange

THe other three are related to an odd selection of dates we're getting this year

1) 12/12/12

2) 10/11/12 - 11/12/13

3) 20/12/2012

I beleive that people are doing things by (within) these dates and celebrating by putting the special date on the finished item

blue_eyed_girl

Laura - great pin cushion idea - useful and decorative at the same time. :T

mrs.baggins - good to hear you are getting your specs sorted. Hopefully it will make things so much easier for you. Just think of all those extra stitches you will be able to do in the time it was taking you to thread the needle. There'll be not stopping you. :rotfl::rotfl:

Off out tonight to Shape and Tone - can you just tell how enthusiastic I am to be doing this.

Catch up with you all later.

b_e_g

Ailsb

Laura - love the teacup pin cushion, I've seen them before and think they are really nice but have no one to stitch anything like this for.

Christmas Card - I have finished my design for the card exchange but it's too big to go in an aperture card. The design measures 12cm x 7cm that's from stitch to stitch without any fabric showing. Unfortunately I miscalculated my fabric so don't have much on either side to play with, just over 1cm on each side, top and bottom isn't an issue.

Ok so here is my stupid question. Do I try to cut my own aperture card or can I mount the design on the outside of a blank card. If I mount on the outside do I fray the edges of the fabric and if so how do I stop it fraying further - is it just a case of adding a row of backstitch around the edge? Also how do I then fix the fabric to the card?

Told you they were stupid questions but I don't really make cards and when I have they have always fitted inside an aperture card without any problems.

tellmeitsfriday

Ailsb wrote: »

Laura - love the teacup pin cushion, I've seen them before and think they are really nice but have no one to stitch anything like this for.

Christmas Card - I have finished my design for the card exchange but it's too big to go in an aperture card. The design measures 12cm x 7cm that's from stitch to stitch without any fabric showing. Unfortunately I miscalculated my fabric so don't have much on either side to play with, just over 1cm on each side, top and bottom isn't an issue.

Ok so here is my stupid question. Do I try to cut my own aperture card or can I mount the design on the outside of a blank card. If I mount on the outside do I fray the edges of the fabric and if so how do I stop it fraying further - is it just a case of adding a row of backstitch around the edge? Also how do I then fix the fabric to the card?

Told you they were stupid questions but I don't really make cards and when I have they have always fitted inside an aperture card without any problems.

Can you either fray it slightly or trim with those zigzag scissors (pinking shears) and stick on a plain card without aperture maybe

Or perhaps stick it on a plain card and stick ribbon over the edges of the fabric to hide the edges... so many solutions

maria_and_the_imps

I would fray the edges and use double sided sticky tape, it shouldn't fray anymore as its a card so won't be touched excessively (like a cushion for example which would he touched and prone to more fraying ) hth and makes sense

laura2481

Ailsb wrote: »

Laura - love the teacup pin cushion, I've seen them before and think they are really nice but have no one to stitch anything like this for.

Christmas Card - I have finished my design for the card exchange but it's too big to go in an aperture card. The design measures 12cm x 7cm that's from stitch to stitch without any fabric showing. Unfortunately I miscalculated my fabric so don't have much on either side to play with, just over 1cm on each side, top and bottom isn't an issue.

Ok so here is my stupid question. Do I try to cut my own aperture card or can I mount the design on the outside of a blank card. If I mount on the outside do I fray the edges of the fabric and if so how do I stop it fraying further - is it just a case of adding a row of backstitch around the edge? Also how do I then fix the fabric to the card?

Told you they were stupid questions but I don't really make cards and when I have they have always fitted inside an aperture card without any problems.

I would cut my own aperture card.. but you would need quite a big piece of card to do the three fold type. A craft knife to cut the apeture and then, to get neat folds, you would need a scorer.. if you were to make your own you would need, I think a piece of card about 50 cm by 25 cm to fold it in three. I think, on the whole, if you don't really make cards as a rule and don't have craft knives and scorers lying around I would go with the mounting it direct on the card. Good double sided tape ought to do it, and as TMIF suggested either the slight fray to make it pretty and the back stitch to limit the fray, or those pinking shears..

Thanks all for nice comments about pincushion. I was rather proud of it, and as I have a teacup left over I might make myself one then I can keep track of my needles.. and my darn scissors!

chickywiggle

laura2481 - the tea-cup pin cushion is FAB.

Ailsb - ditto what everyone has said about fraying or zig zag (pinking) scissors.

laura2481

Thought I might do review of Cross Stitcher issue 258 Oct 2012, if that's ok?

Free Gift Felt Framed Robin. Cute quick stitch, good quality felt frame (very thick) and enough thread to stitch twice if you wanted, although only enough aida and one frame. I enjoyed stitching it and it will be proudly displayed at christmas

Next months free gift- 3x reindeer christmas cards. Cute reindeers with button noses, kit will include polka dot cards, envelopes, aida, thread, buttons and (of course!) a needle

Pantomime Pals Patterns for Red Riding Hood finger puppets: red riding hood, grandma and the wolf. I like them but don't think I'll ever get around to them..

Out there Review other craft and home items on the market not necessarily cross stitch related I quite like the Rag Wreath available from notonthehighstreet.com but would want to make one not buy one..

Season's Greetings Festive charts to stitch on 14count plastic canvas to attach to a wreath, make a robin to attach to cane to perhaps add to a christmas flower gift, or hang from ribbon by mini pegs to make a christmas garland in red, green and white. I like these and tey are on my ever growing 'to do' list. Also- make a recipe book cover with a christmas pudding motif and a mini stocking with a reindeer. Might not do these as requires machine sewing. Oh, and a mitten pattern to mount in a hoop and a snowflake padded sachet. Quite a lot in this section as well as three bonus downloadable charts... which I shall go look at! The three charts are a christmas tree, a bow and a bauble although the bauble is almost identical to the one in the magazine. Only a tiny change to one colour. I have downloaded then anyway

The beginner's guide to craft photography
Haven't really read through this bit closely- tips on photographing your crafts if you want to sell them online and make the pics look professional, or perhaps for blogs. The is readers offer for a book on the subject at a discounted price (save £1 and free p&p)

Cold Hands Warm Heart Sampler
A simple sampler with a heart pattern top and bottom and 'Cold Hands Warm Heart' message. Only uses 2 colours and although they use blue and pink you could use any colours. Also has nice tips on how to frame your own picture.

Sweet Dreams Fox and cub cushion. Cute, but wouldn't stitch it myself.

As the days Go by. Pastel coloured advent calender. Nice snowy scene at top with pastel coloured village and a pink christmas tree. 25 little pockets to put treats. I like it- but as my husband has an advent calender which counts down 1st of november (his birthday) to christmas I think this little one will be a little over shadowed I may just stitch the snowy village scene.

Rockin' Robin Robin and holly pattern with 'the red red robin goes hop hop hopping along' Don't really like the ecru aida/evenweave or the fact that the robin isn't bob bob bobbing along.

Sock it to me. Stocking pattern to be stitched on evenweave or 10/11 count aida if 4 strands for a chucky woolly look. Nice, but won't ever get around to it. Tips on how to make a pom pom to decorate it. First part in a retro gift series by Jacqui Pearce. Next month will be a 'Kisses' cushion

Your Letters Pictures of readers stitching. Anchor threads for every letter worth £20

Reader Gallery More pictures of readers stitching.

Cross Stitch Collection Complete Kits Four kits available from Cross Stitcher's sister magazine. Joan Elliots Season fairies. £58-£63 per kit. I like them, husband hates them.

Snow is Falling Snowflake cushion pattern. Very nice, although I don't think I'll ever get around to it. Instructions on how to sew a cushion envelope.

Subscription Offer- save up to 35%

Horseplay- Swedish Dala Horses. Colourful folksy horses as a cushion, notebook cover, padded sachet or framed. I sort of like them but wouldn't actually stitch them myself as I wouldn't know what to do with them... maybe if I knew some who really liked horses? Instructions on making a book cover and a padded sachet.

The Savvy Stitcher- a regular feature discribing new techniques as well as the basics. This issue- felt tags decorated with motifs using waste canvas. I would consider making these as I have a stash of felt.

Cross Stitcher Materials Packs
Kits for- Cold Hands Warm Heart, Sock it to me, Rockin' Robin, Sweet Dreams and Horseplay cushion- although they all seem overpriced to me

Ho Ho Ho! 4 patterns for cartoon santa christmas cards. I like these a lot but I have so much on to do before christmas this year...maybe next year!

Stitching Basics. Cover basic glossery for newbies, how to read a chart etc but they also covered the loop knot which you had all been talking about and I didn't know! Very useful this time- I usualky skip it, maybe that's why I missed the loop knot for so long :rotfl:

Your Alphabets 2 collectable alphabets. 2 basic designs- one cross stitch, one back stitch.

Stockists- stockists of materials used in the magazine

Cross Stitcher marketplace- people looking for charts, charts and kit for sale and people looking for pen friends

Quite a lot in there!

Also re: copyright. Cross Stitcher magazine says no re-selling, reproduction or distribution of charts without permission of copyright holder, unless single copy for personal use or magnification.

sk00bie1

*Louise* wrote: »

haha you know me too well :rotfl:




I have stitched A Treasured Time and a design like that really needs to b a labour of love! 4 strands ...blended....still gives me nightmares....:eek::rotfl:

Hehe I blame you I first saw it in your picture of all your stitched projects and wanted to stitch it straight away...

The other design I like is 'Holiday Village', also by Dimensions I think and I keep seeing John Clayton's Holiday Cottage in all the magazines... Will I ever decide which to do?

Soulie wrote: »

Wreath Design: Oh man, where do I start with this? It is possibly the worst design I have seen in WOXS in a long time. I have NEVER EVER seen joined up 'r's' written in that way EVER, it looks more like 'Meccy Chcistmas'. Dreadful!

I hadn't noticed this until you pointed it out, but you're right, who ever writes their Rs like that :rotfl:

blue_eyed_girl wrote: »

sk00bie - great work. Don't envy you all those french knots though :eek:. Looking forward to seeing the little angels. Good luck with the to do list. Good idea putting it in the siggy and then it is there as a reminder I suppose.

That's exactly the reason I've done it, I keep buying magazines for the charts, order the materials but never stitch anything! I'm on a mission!!!!

laura2481 wrote: »

Sweet Dreams Fox and cub cushion. Cute, but wouldn't stitch it myself. This has grown on me and would love to find the time to stitch it!

As the days Go by. Pastel coloured advent calender I love this, definately prefer it to the one in WOXS. Not sure if I'll ever make the whole thing but I'll do the design at the top for sure!

*note- had to stop to go eat dinner. Will come back and finish* Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the rest

Thanks for your review Laura I'm definitely thinking about switching one of my subscriptions over to Cross Stitcher, it seems so much better that when it was first published in the new format.

Didn't manage to stitch anything yesterday, was far too sleepy. Going to do a bit now before an early night though.

Oh and before I forget, here are the two angels I made, will probably finish them off at the weekend. And then I've got a table runner, tree skirt and a wall hanging to do so it's not just just cross stitch stash I keep buying, it's just anything crafty!
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:



Oh and hugs to you Ruth_honey if you're reading, hope everything goes OK and you have a lovely time away xx