Every month we showcase the latest high street trends, new ideas and inspiring personalities for today’s stylish cross stitcher
Cosy Comforts
With winter in full swing, what could be more comforting than a slice of toast with jam and a steaming cuppa? Well, these are just some of the treats to be enjoyed in Cotton Clara’s range of mini cross-stitch kits. Super-quick to stitch as a gift or a fun weekend project! Choose from Teacup, Chocolate Spread, Peanut Butter, Jam, Oat Milk and more. Each kit contains an 11cm embroidery hoop, coloured aida, needle, thread, wadding, instructions and backing disc so you can mount your work for display in your hoop when you’re finished. Find out more at cottonclara.com.
FIRM FAVOURITES: SALLY WILSON
Designers share with us their top stitching essentials
Below are my five favourite items I keep to hand when creating or stitching designs for www.caterpillarcrosstitch.com
SPRITZ BOTTLE
(I believe designed for watering plants!) – these cost around £1 and you can get them from any supermarket or online. I fill mine with normal tap water and give my final project a little spritz before ironing. It doesn’t matter how wet it gets because the heat dries it. I find this spritz (if you’re not washing the project) helps remove creases and just helps press the fabric and make stitches look uniform before finishing. I do the front and back. It removes marks from using a frame, hoop or scrunching in your hand!
NEEDLE MINDER
My favourites at the moment have to be Christmas-themed (shown below). I think the Christmas tree looks so cute and festive on my seasonal projects. These ones are made from hard enamel and super smooth and glossy to the touch – they feel like little collectables or jewellery! Sometimes I put mine on my left sleeve while I’m working. I can pop my needle there or pins if I’m finishing off a project onto foam board. The magnets are so strong it’s comforting to know my needle is safe and secure!
CARD THREAD HOLDERS
We recently started selling packs of these after many requests. Having used various methods for winding and storing threads over the past 8 years, I designed something that would fit all uses! You can wind the thread around the main section, and tuck the end in. Put spare strands or pieces you've cut off through the hoops. The ends get tucked into the additional slots so they won’t unwind and fray. You can cut off as much or as little as you'd like to work with.
CLIP-ON LIGHT
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