WELCOME TO OUR NEW STITCH-ALONG

This is the fourth part of our new stitch-along design. Over the year we are featuring twelve seasonal designs that together will become a complete sampler, finishing with the December 2017 issue.

THE KEY

ALL THE symbols that appear on the chart are listed in the key with their corresponding thread codes beside them. The key also tells you the different stitches used in the design. The closest column of thread codes listed next to the chart symbols is the thread brand that’s used in the design. Similar colour matches are listed alongside it. Where no close match can be found, you may have to use a different brand of thread for that shade.

THE CHART

EACH square on the chart represents a single cross stitch. Start from the centre of the design and your fabric. The centre of our charts are indicated by arrows at the designs’ edges. To find your fabric’s centre, fold it in half and into quarters.

HOW TO JOIN OUR STITCH-ALONG

STITCH-ALONGS CAN take many different forms – in our case we’re unveiling a new chart in each issue between January and December, with a bonus design in our Summer issue.

To join our stitch-along you will need a 61x41cm (24x16in) piece of platinum 28 count Cashel linen, ref: 3281/770, or 14 count aida to complete the whole design. The finished size is 40x19cm (15¾x7 ½in) which is 221 high x 105 wide. The twelve rectangular designs, one for each month of the year, will all be the same size, and you will be stitching them two columns wide and six rows deep.

Start with the mauve stitch in the top left-hand corner of the April design, leaving one square between this and the corresponding red stitch on the February border above, and also one stitch between this and the blue corresponding stitch on the March design to the left.

Update us on your progress by posting photos on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CrossStitcherMag or you can email us at crossstitcher@dennis.co.uk with your stitch-along photos and we will add them to our new SAL Pinterest board.