News and views from Cross Stitcher readers around the world

Ever wondered what stitchers like us are up to in different parts of the globe? We’ve asked readers from near and far to become correspondents for us and share with us their cross stitch news…

Katie Clifton, Bagdad, Southern Tasmania Greetings from Tasmania!

Here we are enjoying the last of our long autumn days before daylight savings ends in the southern hemisphere – harvesting the last of our produce before the winter sets in and sorting out the projects that will keep us company in the cold winter nights. My friends and I gather every Thursday night – we call it our ‘Stitch and Bi*ch’ night – to complete all the craft projects that we cram into our lives. We all look forward to it so much; just a little break from regular ordinary life and the chance to learn something new. We all have different skills to bring and enjoy teaching each other as we go. This week we are sewing – making clothes for ourselves and our children, an embroidered gift for a friend, and for me, some zipper pouches that will become project bags.

With the days about to get shorter, I will be spending my time organising my WIP’s and stash into some kind of working order. So using my fabric stash to make the project bags will help me on my way – wish me luck! Capsicum growing in our garden 1 Our machines set up at Stitch & Bi*ch 2 My favourite handmade sewing tools – all made by me 3 My current WIP – Happily Ever After by The Frosted Pumpkin 4 Katie is married with two young girls and loves all crafts. She lives on a farm in Bagdad, Southern Tasmania, with her dog Twinkle Toes and pet sheep Minnie, Spike, Misty and Coco. She is a Medical Receptionist at a local doctor’s surgery. Charlotte McFall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK Happy Easter everyone, the nights are getting lighter and all the spring flowers are starting to sprout. I will be so glad when the trees come back to life and the flowers in their myriad of colours start poking their heads through the soil. I’ve missed Cheeky the bat that flies around our tree, so can’t wait until he comes out of hibernation.

Now is the time where I decide what to stitch for the rest of the year. I’m sure many of you have already chosen what you plan to stitch. There are several charts that I am desperate to get hold of. To the point I would give my Easter eggs away just to get them.

The first is of a Flower Fairy, they always make me think of spring, and of the Cottingley Fairies and Elsie and Frances the two cousins who fooled the world including the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into thinking they found fairies at the bottom of their garden.

The second is Brambly Hedge, I have always loved the artwork in these books and the stories by the late Jill Barklem. The third is a French Patisserie, can you imagine just sitting in that shop and choosing which cakes to eat? This would look great in a kitchen or a living room to remind you of a French holiday.

I’ve shelved doing the Harry Potter large chart from Clouds Factory, I’ve had it for over a year all kitted up and

each time I get it out both my sons want me to do one for each of them. I love them both, I don’t think I’m that crazy just yet.

What are you planning to stitch? Cake Shop from CrossStitcher 303 5 Charlotte writes under the name of Misty Shaw, and pens romance for My Weekly Pocket Novels and Mills and Boon. She was the winner of the Carina Mills and Boon Christmas in July Competition. Lisa Thomas, Lake Michigan, USA Springtime greetings! This winter has been very long and it has been very cold here in Michigan and I’m ready to be outside stitching in the nice, warm weather. My favourite part of springtime stitching is the patterns that feature vibrant flowers and baby animals. It’s such a lovely period of renewal.

I’m ready to start on a new project, but I have made the decision not to start anything new unless I finish a project. My mom recently asked me to finish Dreamscape Carousel by Theresa Wentzler that was started in the early 1990’s. How can you not finish it if your mom asked you?

This project is coming along nicely and I am hoping to complete it soon. I have three more projects for family members that I really need to get done. I’m hoping to get these projects going during the springtime and finish them sometime this year. My WIP Dreamscape Carousel by Theresa Wentzler 6 Lisa is married to a dairy farmer and has three children. She lives close to the wonderful beaches of Lake Michigan, USA. Joy Snouffer, Hagerstown, Maryland, USA I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of anything as wonderful as completing a cross stitch project.

I get such enjoyment and relaxation from my stitching time. I love the colours, the sound of thread through fabric, using a highlighter to mark off my progress on the chart. Thoughts of what I’ll do with the completed piece run through my head. Framed? Wall-hanging? Pillow? Christmas ornament? Keep or give as a gift? Cross stitching is truly a lovely experience.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of anything more frightening than completing a cross-stitch project!

Completing a project means that I must decide on my next one. There are so many to choose from! My stash overflows with magazines, charts, leaflets, books and even a few kits (though they’re not my favourite). Every time I complete a project, I have to start the torturous process again: 1) Look through Every. Single. Pattern. 2) Complain that I have too many charts. 3) Decide which ones are ‘speaking to me’. 4) Wonder how I’ll ever stitch everything I’d like to in just one lifetime. 5) Narrow the field until I (finally) choose ‘The One.’

Why do I torture myself? Why not just grab a chart and start stitching? Why not have a different project for

each day of the week? Well… because then I become overwhelmed and nothing gets finished! If a chart doesn’t suit my general mood and/or the season or have the right colours (that suit my mood and/or the season) or meet some other intangible criteria, I quickly lose interest. After a few days, I will either quit and throw it out or it will take an eternity (and several days after) to complete, causing great moaning and gnashing of teeth.

Love it or hate it, choosing a new cross stitch project is inevitable! I’ll try to make the best of it… and maybe try to work on more than one at a time. August Turtle, a gift for my grandson 7 Easter Bunny was for my mother-in-law who was born on an Easter Sunday 70-some years ago 8 The black & white bunny was a gift for my niece 9 Here’s the stitch I completely lost interest in; I chucked it in the bin so I wouldn’t feel guilty about moving on to another project! 10 Joy is married, a homemaker, with two grandchildren. She lives at the foot of mountains west of Baltimore. Fleur Willis, Lincoln, UK As the new year begins and I go back to my studies at the University of Lincoln, I’ve been sure to make time for my New Year’s resolution – to start finishing off old patterns. Over the years I’ve begun lots of different projects, only to abandon them in favour of newer, more exciting ones, consigning them forever to the bottom of my sewing box. In this spirit I’ve just put the finishing touches to a classic series Harley Quinn pattern I received as a present from a friend last Christmas. As an illustrator and collector of comics, I like transforming panels from my favourite comics and film scenes into cross stitch patterns.

This month isn’t just for finishing off old projects though! I’ve been on the hunt for bright, fresh patterns for a very special occasion, the wedding of one of my partner and I’s old school friends. It’s important to me to give a handmade gift that they can keep in their home, with lots of love and good wishes, to bring them luck for the future. It’s important to my boyfriend that I don’t catch the bouquet! I’m getting the stitching started early with this beautiful pattern from Stitchrovia on Etsy, which is by Emma Congdon, and originally in CrossStitcher. I love the pastel pinks and delicate details – perfect for a spring wedding! Guardians Of The Galaxy bookmark 11 Harley Quinn in cross stitch 12 My current project 13 Fleur is a 22-year-old student studying Illustration at the university of Lincoln. She started cross stitching during a hospital stay in her teens, and now stitches for fun and incorporates her hobby into her illustrations.