Count down to Christmas with our amazing Advent calendar and decorate your Advent tree throughout December
PROJECT PACK
If you would like to stitch O Christmas Tree, we have a materials pack with everything you need to get you stitching right away, and have it delivered straight to your door!
Your materials pack contains:
• Sampedro 14 count aida in White
• Zweigart aida band in White; with gold edge
• Skeins of DMC stranded cotton
• Iron-on Vilene
• Gold-plated tapestry needles; size 24 and size 26
• Magnetic wooden frame
• Bulb shaped safety pins
How to order: Fill in the form on page 17 or go to www.willowfabrics.com to order your project pack at the CrossStitcher reader price of £49.20, plus P&P.
Designed by: Emma Congdon
Stitch count: 173 high x 117 wide – Advent tree (top); 10 high x 18 wide – each number; 15 high x 16 wide max. – each motif
Design size: 32x21.5cm (12½x8½in); 1.6x3cm (⅝x1¼in); 3x3cm (1¼x1¼in)
Stitch time: 94 hours – complete design (all parts)
These designs were stitched on 14 count aida fabric and aida band.
• Sampedro White 14 count aida; 80x40cm (29 1/2x15 3/4in) (Advent tree); 40x40cm (16x16in) (motifs)
• Zweigart White aida band with gold edge, ref: 7107/181; 5cm (2in) x 3m
• Iron-on Vilene; 40x40cm (16x16in)
• Stranded cotton as listed in the key
• Magnetic frame; 30cm (12in)
• Bulb shaped safety pins x 25
• Size 24 tapestry needle
Materials available from www.willowfabrics.com
You can use the individual motifs for Christmas cards and gift tags too!
Stitching your… Advent Calendar
Step 1 START stitching the Advent calendar top, with the word Christmas central, and on the largest piece of aida fabric, 12.5cm (5in) down from the top. Use two strands for the cross stitch.
Step 2 STITCH the motifs on the smaller piece of aida fabric, spacing them apart on the fabric to allow for cutting out the individual motifs. Once stitched, iron the Vilene onto the back of the aida, (it is easier to iron the Vilene on in one piece than cutting out the motifs first, which can cause them to fray). Carefully cut out each motif, leaving one blank aida square around the stitching. You may want to paint the edges with fabric glue to make sure the fabric doesn't fray. Leave to dry.
Step 3 CUT the aida band into five equal strips. The numbers should be stitched on the band. Divide each band into 5cm (2in) spaces, using a pin to make the edge of each space – you should hav
