The Crafty (Magazine) Review Thread!

Flat_Eric

Welcome to this review thread. a place to review and talk about your favourite crafty magazine.

Over on the Cross Stitch Cafe thread, we often share our thoughts on the latest stitchy magazine offerings. Looking back these posts are invaluable at reminding us what was published but these posts do tend to get lost amongst the general chit chat so I thought they would be worthy of their very own thread!

This thread isn't limited to just cross stitch magazines - instead all crafty magazines plus kits/charts and the latest gadgets ! Welcome!

Ailsb

Looking forward to getting my first magazine so that I can post a review.

sweetcarer

Good luck with all of this. I only get Cross Stitch Collection - never done a review before. So will give it an attempt when I get my next copy.

sweetcarer

PS Might do a review of my magnifier later

charlie-chan

I do like the Homemaker magazine. I picked up last month's copy and it was full of great ideas including how to upcycle a Lloyd Loom chair and how to cover a pouffe with different fabric. I did buy this month's issue and I have yet to read it!

*Louise*

Thanks for starting this thread FE I get World of Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch Crazy and Cross Stitch Card Shop, I will be back when my next one arrives

Flat_Eric

Cross Stitch Crazy was waiting for me this evening. I do feel sad as this is the last issue of my subscription

Initial thoughts....
Nothing jumps out from the cover. I do like the Margaret Sherry kit that is offered as the subscriber gift (see Welcome page) This is apparently exclusive to Crazy. Fast forward to next month pages and yep, the free kit/gift is a Margaret Sherry themed chart book. Typical.

Free kit

Penguin Card Kit
I'm not keen on this. The penguin cards are sweet and will come in handy for my xmas card stash but I don't think I will be stitching the Merry Xmas message on the aida supplied. I'm not keen on the charting of the Merry Christmas - it doesn't look right.

Gingerbread chart
This had me scratching my head as to what exactly it was? I'm sorry but I would rather spend 60 hours stitching something else. I really don't get this design.

Sweet Sprit, Joan Elliott Sugarplum fairy

This is sweet but there is too much sparkle in the design for me.

to be continued

iammumtoone

oh great thread. I don't subscribe to full price magazines (can't afford them) but often get an introductory offer (3 for £3 kind of thing) and then cancel the direct debit. I am currently waiting for craftseller to arrive, I don't sell anything but hoping it will have some nice things to make inside. I will report back.

*Louise*

Cross Stitch Crazy - Issue 183 / Christmas 2013

Price: £4.99

Free Gift 1 - Penguin Cards
The cards seem okay but they aren't really designed to display cross stitch on them, and the pastelly colour threads aren't very Christmassy.

Free Gift 2 - Gingerbread Cottage Chart
Very pink and girly. Not something I would stitch, I have seen Gingerbread houses I like better but it's pretty cute.

Sugarplum Fairy - Joan Elliot
A fairy in a red/green dress carrying a little Christmas tree. I always love Joan Elliots designs. I will certainly hold on to this one, but not for this year.

Page 15 - There is a beautiful 'Mary and child' Christmas stitch which has been sent in by a reader. It's not normally something I would stitch but it really caught my eye. I might have a google for it - if anyone recognises it please help point me in the right direction :T

Cross Stitch Quickie
Monkey holding presents - this is a definite for me, I have the first 6 charted and stitched up already for my DS2

Celebstitch - Martin Freeman
I'm never keen on these, I don't think they are detailed enough, some can be pretty hit-or-miss :rotfl:

50 Classic Toy Gift Ideas
Some lovely old fashioned Christmas designs here, great for Victorian-style cards

Elliot Wreath
Two elephants cuddling inside a Christmas wreath
Very cute but I would never stitch it, too much foliage I would get bored

Craft Xtra
There are two angels here. The top one is one I would probably stitch for a card. The bottom one is the STRANGEST looking Angel I have ever seen!:eek:

Crazy for....Christmas Birds
Various realistic birds - Swan, Robin, Duck, Dove, Hen, Penguin, Turkey etc. In all honesty, if I send someone a Christmas card with just a duck or a hen on it they might think I have finally gone a bit mental

Christmas Floral ABC
Letters with mistletoe/snowdrops/holly etc in the background
Nice enough but I don't 'do' florals I like the idea about stitching a name on aida and wrapping round a plant pot

Festive Table set
Wreaths in green/pink/purple shades. I like the shades but wouldn't stitch these. There is the added fact that we barely sat down for 2 mins at Christmas last year and my MIL knocked over a glass of wine. If I had stitched the table stuff I think I may have cried :rotfl: Something like that would be 'display only' in my house

Cake toppers
Robin/ reindeer/tree/snowflake. I don't like these, they are very plain and not something that interests me.

Heart Sampler
Two angels flying over a snowy scene within a heart with the words 'Let your heart be glad at christmas'. Well first off, I would be stitching that on cream fabric to save a heck of a lot of backstitch (Lazy - moi?:o) I also feel that the detail in the stitched piece isn't very clear so I would change the backstitch to a darker shade of grey.

Owl Decorations
Cartoon Owls mounted on felt background. Cute but not something I would stitch at all.

Festive Wishes
Various Christmas card designs. There is definitely acouple here which will make my stitch list, I'm doing a lot of cards at the moment

Challenge Lucie
One of my favourite designers. Charts for: Moon bear / French & british flags / brownie and rainbow / tudor rose / karate / pigeonhole.
Nothing there for me, but hopefully the people who requested them like them


Next Month: I hate looking ahead because if I see something I like I know I have to wait a month for it and I am so impatient :rotfl: There is an elves workshop which looks cute, and an angel ABC.

iammumtoone

*Louise* wrote: »

Cross Stitch Quickie
Money holding presents - this is a definite for me, I have the first 6 charted and stitched up already for my DS2

Thats sound interesting, when you say money holding is it like a money pouch you stitch up? I am going to town tomorrow and would ask the page number so I could pop into the shop and take a look but I bet the magazine will be in a cellophane packet hate it when they do that so you can't flick through :mad:

Ailsb

Iammumtoone - Louise meant to say Monkey holding presents. She's stitching the whole series.

I will add me comments to Louises in a different colour.

Ailsb

My comments are below Louise's, NOW IN A BLUE.

*Louise* wrote: »

Cross Stitch Crazy - Issue 183 / istmas 2013

Price: £4.99

Free Gift 1 - Penguin Cards
The cards seem okay but they aren't really designed to display cross stitch on them, and the pastelly colour threads aren't very Christmassy.

Quite liked the cards and would make a quick stitched card but agree that the threads are not Christmassy. Might stitch up with some sparkly thread from my stash.

Free Gift 2 - Gingerbread Cottage Chart
Very pink and girly. Not something I would stitch, I have seen Gingerbread houses I like better but it's pretty cute.

Not one for me, can't see it as a gingerbread house and 60 hours to stitch - no thank you.

Sugarplum Fairy - Joan Elliot
A fairy in a red/green dress carrying a little Christmas tree. I always love Joan Elliots designs. I will certainly hold on to this one, but not for this year.

Not one for me, don't do Angels.

Page 15 - There is a beautiful 'Mary and child' Christmas stitch which has been sent in by a reader. It's not normally something I would stitch but it really caught my eye. I might have a google for it - if anyone recognises it please help point me in the right direction :T

Agree its a nice design but can't help with identifying the chart, sorry. Maybe ask across in the Caf! someone might know.

Cross Stitch Quickie
Money holding presents - this is a definite for me, I have the first 6 charted and stitched up already for my DS2

Like these and keeping charts for the future.

Celebstitch - Martin Freeman
I'm never keen on these, I don't think they are detailed enough, some can be pretty hit-or-miss :rotfl:

Never think these are very good - definitely not one for me. I did see one of Laurel and Hardy stitched on the letters page of a magazine not so long ago and it looked good.

50 Classic Toy Gift Ideas
Some lovely old fashioned Christmas designs here, great for Victorian-style cards

Some nice designs, I particularly like no. 42 the "stacking" santas. This could be turned into a cake band or stitched on a hand towel as a gift.

Elliot Wreath
Two elephants cuddling inside a Christmas wreath
Very cute but I would never stitch it, too much foliage I would get bored

Would be nice for a winter wedding with the couples names and date added. Shame I don't know anyone planning such a wedding. Will keep this one for future.


Craft Xtra
There are two angels here. The top one is one I would probably stitch for a card. The bottom one is the STRANGEST looking Angel I have ever seen!:eek:

Agreed 100% the bottom Angel is just wierd. Took me ages to work it out, its hands are were its wings end and its hair is just everywhere. A definite NO from me.

Crazy for....Christmas Birds
Various realistic birds - Swan, Robin, Duck, Dove, Hen, Penguin, Turkey etc. In all honesty, if I send someone a Christmas card with just a duck or a hen on it they might think I have finally gone a bit mental

I like these but not for Christmas, maybe a birthday card for a bird spotter?

Christmas Floral ABC
Letters with mistletoe/snowdrops/holly etc in the background
Nice enough but I don't 'do' florals I like the idea about stitching a name on aida and rapping round a pant pot.

I dont stitch flowers but could see that some older ladies may like receiving these. May have ago at afew for keyrings for the Christmas fete.

Festive Table set
Wreaths in green/pink/purple shades. I like the shades but wouldn't stitch these. There is the added fact that we barely sat down for 2 mins at Christmas last year and my MIL knocked over a glass of wine. If I had stitched the table stuff I think I may have cried :rotfl: Something like that would be 'display only' in my house

Not for me, too much work (60hours) for it to be used once and potentially ruined - agree about the wine, plus there's gravy and cranberry risks too.

Cake toppers
Robin/ reindeer/tree/snowflake. I don't like these, they are very plain and not something that interests me.

Too simplistic, don't like them at all.


Heart Sampler
Two angels flying over a snowy scene within a heart with the words 'Let your heart be glad at christmas'. Well first off, I would be stitching that on cream fabric to save a heck of a lot of backstitch (Lazy - moi?:o) I also feel that the detail in the stitched piece isn't very clear so I would change the backstitch to a darker shade of grey.

Agree with Louise if I were to stitch this, I won't be stitching it, I would stitch it on cream and save a load of work.

Owl Decorations
Cartoon Owls mounted on felt background. Cute but not something I would stitch at all.

Can't see me ever stitching these.

Festive Wishes
Various Christmas card designs. There is definitely acouple here which will make my stitch list, I'm doing a lot of cards at the moment

Nothing here for me, although they seem very familiar as if they've been in a previous magazine.

Challenge Lucie
One of my favourite designers. Charts for: Moon bear / French & british flags / brownie and rainbow / tudor rose / karate / pigeonhole.
Nothing there for me, but hopefully the people who requested them like them


Like the Moon Bear but wouldn't' stitch it. Agree with Louise that I hope the requesters like their patterns.

Next Month: I hate looking ahead because if I see something I like I know I have to wait a month for it and I am so impatient :rotfl: There is an elves workshop which looks cute, and an angel ABC.

I like the look of the Angel ABC, perhaps something I could do for my elderly Aunt (she's 85). Think this would be suitable for all ages not just someone of this age.