CrossStitcher 20th Birthday Issue

I have absolutely loved working with CrossStitcher magazine recently (and thank you so much to everybody for all the wonderful feedback on the dragonfly pattern I designed for them) so I am delighted to wish them a happy 20th birthday!

The whole team really is the most friendly bunch you could hope for and they do a brilliant job of showing off the more stylish side of cross stitch. I must admit I have never been a fan of cross stitch magazines before as they are generally full of teddy bears and other not-so-inspiring designs that I would not want to have in my home, but since Charlie introduced me to CrossStitcher last summer it has been winning me over issue by issue (and Harriet's lovely feature certainly didn't hurt either!).

My copy of issue number 250 dropped through my letterbox today and I am completely in love with this project:

Bordering on granny territory, but channeling just enough Cath Kidston to keep it firmly within the realms of the desirable. This little picture really doesn't do it justice, but in the magazine the cluster of floral hoops just looks so beautiful. Normally I am content to appreciate other people's designs from afar and stick to doing my own thing, but for the first time ever I am itching to stitch a design that I didn't make myself - it is so different to what I do, but I think it would make a wonderful change. I just need a gypsy caravan/garden hideaway to hang it in.

I also really like this cushion designed by Emma Bridgewater (whose pottery I adore) for the jubilee:

As part of the birthday celebrations, CrossStitcher are running a competition every day this week, and today you can win this actual cushion for your very own. But even more exciting is Sunday's competition to win £250 worth of Emma Bridgewater pottery! I will definitely be entering that one...

If you haven't seen CrossStitcher before it is well worth a look - the chances are not every design will be for you, but there are always a good few gems and with new designers like me on board there has never been a better time to let is surprise you.

Delilah x

PS - Bonus points if you can spot my cheeky little face peering out of this issue!

Comments

[Jo]

I have to thank you for my first purchase of this magazine - I fairly ran to the nearest newsagent to get the last issue for your dragonfly. And was really very pleasantly surprised by many of the other projects, so much so I have a mental note to pick up the next issue when it's in the shops this coming week. I had made an assumption that it would be full of the kind of projects I was given as a child (a kit called "Cats Love Naps" being a particular hightlight that sticks in my memory). And it isn't! Yes, it's not all my kind of thing, but the hit rate was much higher than I expected.
So, thanks very much!

[Delilah]

Excellent Jo, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Cats Love Naps sounds truly awful!!

[Embroidery Designs]

This is really awesome! Thanks for sharing.