Ready, steady, stitch!

Here’s an extra idea for sending season’s greetings this year. We asked our three designers this month to come up with a cute Christmas card. Our designers could only use the seven shades of stranded cotton stipulated, and had to include in their design a sweet little gingerbread man button. Take a look at their fab results below – we’ve featured a chart for each one so you can stitch your favourite! We hope this will inspire you to join in too – turn the page to see what our challenge will be for February – we’ve listed everything you need to take part.

THE CHALLENGE

• 14 count white aida fabric

• 7 shades of DMC stranded cotton (shown above)

• Gingerbread button (16x14mm)

THE RULES

• Create a design for a Christmas card featuring a gingerbread button

• The design should be no larger than 48 x 38 stitches

• Only the materials above can be used

• Be creative as possible!

DURENE JONES… FESTIVE BAKING

Although I haven’t done it for a few years I used to love baking and decorating gingerbread men at Christmas time, so this was the first thing I thought of when I saw the cute little gingerbread button. He became a lovely decoration on the box of my hand baked gingerbread Christmas gift.”

CHERYL MCKINNON… CHRISTMAS STOCKING

It’s such a tiny little gingerbread button, I wanted to find a perfect place for him to sit. A Christmas stocking felt right! With little bits of holiday greenery, large teddy bear and a present, the gingerbread man should fit right in!”

JANE PRUTTON… TOMTE TREE

This little Tomte is guarding the family Christmas tree. Nordic mythology believes that every home has a Gonk and if you look after him he will guard the house and keep you safe. However if you neglect him, watch out. He turns into a right little imp!”

Make a… card

Step 1

STITCH your chosen design on white aida, using two strands of stranded cotton for the cross stitch and one for the backstitch, stitching from the c