CrossStitcher subscriber Alison Worthy was a huge fan of our seasonal colour swatch samplers and loves to stitch to relax after a hard term spent teaching…
A lison Worthy lives in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, where she teaches, and the school holidays mean some precious stitching time…
Alison has been stitching since she was at school herself. “I recently found my first cross stitch sampler from primary school. I remember practising different stitches and it was made into a purse. From a very young age, I have always enjoyed doing a variety of crafts, including knitting,sewing, patchwork and making soft toys. One of the first cross stitch kits I bought was of a flower with its Latin name Alstroemeria Aurea about 35 years ago, as well as another kit of children paddling in the sea.”
Reading CrossStitcher came later, but Alison was quickly converted, “I first bought a copy of CrossStitcher at Heathrow airport on my way to Crete in August 2017. I completed the Happy Camper pincushion kit (issue 321) whilst on holiday and sent a photo to the magazine as soon as I completed it. A photo of it appeared in the December 2017 issue. Since then, I have had a subscription to CrossStitcher for my birthday each year.
“I enjoy looking at the latest products and trends as well as the readers’ letters. I particularly enjoy stitching the small projects, especially the cards, as these are more manageable to complete during term time. I always try to have a finished one in stock for birthdays, etc., for friends and family. I’ve also enjoyed stitching a number of Christmas decorations over the years.
“I enjoy the focus and escapism it brings. When I am stitching, I am completely focused on counting the squares, the different patterns and shades of thread. I try to do some cross stitch once a week, on the weekends. However, I am a full-time teacher, and it’s often hard to find the time during term time. I look forward to the holidays when I can stitch more and get a chance to complete a project. Summer holidays are the best time when I am more relaxed and have more opportunities to stitch. I’ve even cross stitched in the car on the journey to/from Cornwall on our annual family holiday.
“I have learned that it is okay to have many projects at the same time! I enjoy the cards and mini projects, especially during term time. However, I have also bought
