Make a… Glad Tidings sampler645

Step 1

ALLOW for the complete sampler to fit onto your fabric. Start stitching Part 1, which was in issue 375 of CrossStitcher, centrally on the fabric, and leaving six blank aida squares above the uppermost green cross stitch. Part 2, in the November issue, fits directly below Part 1, and Part 3 in this issue under Part 2.

Step 2

USE two strands for the cross stitch, one for the backstitch. The beads are stitched to the chandelier in the positions shown on the chart. Use any saved stranded cotton threads you have from the previous issues for the last part of the design in this issue.

Step 3

pape3r.10 TRACE the three bauble shapes onto white

Cut out the shapes and pin them to coloured felt. Cut out the baubles and also some thin strips of red and green felt to place on the baubles, and a small rectangle of yellow felt to attach to the top of each bauble, as shown in the picture. Use fabric glue or small, neat stitches to attach the strips and the tops to each bauble. Use zig-zags, large crosses and French knots to decorate the baubles.

Step 4

NEATEN your finished sampler, leaving a few blank squares of aida outside your design. To hang, make a long plait from the remaining stranded cotton, fold over the top of the sampler, secure with stitches or glue, and then loop the plait through the channel. Alternatively, attach a wooden co ee stirrer to the top and bottom of the sampler using fabric glue, and attach the plait to the wood. Use glue to attach the felt baubles using lengths of stranded cotton.

Step 5

NOTE the finished size of your complete mini-sampler will be 19.5x9cm (7 ⁄ x3 ⁄ in), and the stitch count 104 x 49 stitches.