The Crafty (Magazine) Review Thread!

*Louise*

WORLD OF CROSS STITCHING
ISSUE 213 £4.99

FREE GIFT 1 - Bathtime Bunny (Somebunny) - Good size for a freebie chart.
This one doesn't have the chart included with the kit though, so make sure the mag doesn't go awol. I usually just take the page out and put it straight in with the kit, then if I go to stitch it or give it away I don't have to search

FREE GIFT 2 - Bookmark chart of a dog with a balloon.
Not really something I would stitch.

COUNTRY COMPANIONS - Hedgehog with a single purple flower
Haven't stititched any of this range for years, although I notice this design doesn't have 'tweeding' and very little BABS so not so bad.

LETTERS PAGE - Love the Wizard and Sorceress designs that a lady has stitched (pg16)

PROUD PEACOCK - Simple peacock outline using only 2 colours.
I do like this, as I like Peacocks. It's not as fancy as some designs I have seen but sometimes simple can work as well. I would make one simple change to jazz it up and that would be to use gold metallic and cross stitch around each of the green 'eyes' on the plumage.

MOTHERS DAY CARDS - 6 cards designs, using buttons.
Now THESE are the sort of flowers I like :rotfl:Button ones, and only the stalks are stitched haha. These are simple designs which won't take long to make at all.

FOUR SEASONS STAINED GLASS
Flowers for every season. I wouldn't stitch this, it doesn't appeal at all. Even if I liked stitching flowers, I don't think I would choose this design for anyone.

CRAFT EXTRA -Country Kitchen.
Two shelves on a dresser, blue and white plates/cups etc. I have yet to find an Xtra page that I would bother stitching tbh.

DESIGN LIBRARY - FLORAL FANTASY
If you heard a groan earlier, it was probably me
Actually, some of these are quite nice, and I can see other people would like them. There are a lot of different types, including a couple of blackwork designs.

KIDS STITCHING
Simple designs for boys or girls, includes football, horse and flowery designs.

MUG RUGS - Tea and flower designs.
Although these look really lovely I have to ask why someone would make a 'mug rug'? Would you rest your cup on them, because I would be scared about getting them tea stained and ruining hours of work.

PATCHWORK ABC - Blue letters with 'patches' next to them.
I just don't like this alphabet at all, I would never stitch it and not keen on the patterns.
(The preview of next month's lamb alphabet by JE looks very cute though!)

SPRINGTIME FAIRY (Joan Elliot)
'Rainbow Delight'.....Pretty brunette fairy walking through flowers and carrying a basket of them as well. I am going to forgive this one for being floral and say I really like it, and it's one I would stitch.

CUPCAKE OF THE MONTH
No Comment

FUNNY SAYINGS
'The older you get the better you get. Unless you're a banana!'
'You can't buy happiness but you can buy ice cream, and that's kind of the sae thing!'
I like phrases/sayings and these are very bright and simple designs.

NEXT MONTH
Margaret sherry hedgehog, teddy bears picnic, chick cards, kingfisher chart etc. Nothing jumps out at me immediately

Coxy11

*Louise* wrote: »

WORLD OF CROSS STITCHING
ISSUE 213 £4.99

FREE GIFT 1 - Bathtime Bunny (Somebunny) - Good size for a freebie chart.
This one doesn't have the chart included with the kit though, so make sure the mag doesn't go awol. I usually just take the page out and put it straight in with the kit, then if I go to stitch it or give it away I don't have to search
This is weird as you only stitch the head of the bunny then stick it on the mount

FREE GIFT 2 - Bookmark chart of a dog with a balloon.
Not really something I would stitch.
Strange dog

COUNTRY COMPANIONS - Hedgehog with a single purple flower
Haven't stititched any of this range for years, although I notice this design doesn't have 'tweeding' and very little BABS so not so bad.
Nice design

LETTERS PAGE - Love the Wizard and Sorceress designs that a lady has stitched (pg16)
Weird that two of the letters feature the same pirate ship design. Surely someone has stitched a different design.

PROUD PEACOCK - Simple peacock outline using only 2 colours.
I do like this, as I like Peacocks. It's not as fancy as some designs I have seen but sometimes simple can work as well. I would make one simple change to jazz it up and that would be to use gold metallic and cross stitch around each of the green 'eyes' on the plumage.
Great idea to use metallic threads

MOTHERS DAY CARDS - 6 cards designs, using buttons.
Now THESE are the sort of flowers I like :rotfl:Button ones, and only the stalks are stitched haha. These are simple designs which won't take long to make at all.
Nice

FOUR SEASONS STAINED GLASS
Flowers for every season. I wouldn't stitch this, it doesn't appeal at all. Even if I liked stitching flowers, I don't think I would choose this design for anyone.
Don't mind this design but not sure I'd stitch it

CRAFT EXTRA -Country Kitchen.
Two shelves on a dresser, blue and white plates/cups etc. I have yet to find an Xtra page that I would bother stitching tbh.
I agree

DESIGN LIBRARY - FLORAL FANTASY
If you heard a groan earlier, it was probably me
Actually, some of these are quite nice, and I can see other people would like them. There are a lot of different types, including a couple of blackwork designs.

KIDS STITCHING
Simple designs for boys or girls, includes football, horse and flowery designs.

MUG RUGS - Tea and flower designs.
Although these look really lovely I have to ask why someone would make a 'mug rug'? Would you rest your cup on them, because I would be scared about getting them tea stained and ruining hours of work.
Think mug rugs are an American idea, and like you, I don't know who would use one especially for fear of ruining all that hard work

PATCHWORK ABC - Blue letters with 'patches' next to them.
I just don't like this alphabet at all, I would never stitch it and not keen on the patterns.
(The preview of next month's lamb alphabet by JE looks very cute though!)
Yes quite odd geometric designs, looking forward to JEs alphabet next month

SPRINGTIME FAIRY (Joan Elliot)
'Rainbow Delight'.....Pretty brunette fairy walking through flowers and carrying a basket of them as well. I am going to forgive this one for being floral and say I really like it, and it's one I would stitch.
Love this!

CUPCAKE OF THE MONTH
No Comment
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

FUNNY SAYINGS
'The older you get the better you get. Unless you're a banana!'
'You can't buy happiness but you can buy ice cream, and that's kind of the sae thing!'
I like phrases/sayings and these are very bright and simple designs.

NEXT MONTH
Margaret sherry hedgehog, teddy bears picnic, chick cards, kingfisher chart etc. Nothing jumps out at me immediately

Thanks Louise, my copy turned up today too! I have added my comments in bold italic

Coxy

flowerofscotland

Coxy11 wrote: »

Thanks Louise, my copy turned up today too! I have added my comments in bold italic

Coxy

Thanks Louise and Coxy for doing the reviews

I have had a quick look through and nothing has screamed stitch me although I like the Mother's Day cards (and I've bought from Debbie Cripps store and the service was excellent) and the small floral designs

I thought the kids designs were too complex for beginners

I quite liked the patchwork alphabet A single initial in a coaster would be quite nice for some of my stitching group who mainly do patchwork.

Country companions hedgehog is cute but I stitched quite a few of these years ago

JE fairy is lovely and I adore the fabric but if I was going to stitch one of her designs any time soon I would rather do the historical ladies which ARE on my long to do list

I wouldn't stitch mug rugs either