Straight Talking

What matters

I make no apologies. This iss ue is

Freedom of Expression

Sharing and exchanging ideas and information are core to society. What if this right no longer existed? It’s a question explored by Alison Carpenter-Hughes

Highland Fling

Emma Wilkinson shares how she intertwines her love for Scotland and its heritage with a passion for embroidery

Fashion Sense

Cotton socks start decomposing in landfill in weeks. A mixed fibre jumper can take over 200 years, while a pair of trainers will last a century! The problems raised by fast fashion are complex. How can we tackle them? And what role can embroidery play?

A Winter Mandala

Colouring therapy in goldwork form! Quiet overflowing minds by focussing on filling in the shimmering couching and chipping detail. Utterly absorbing with sublime results

Call Of The Wild

Meet Luna: a self-assured wolf, comfortable with herself and the Standfirst world around standfirst her. Settle standfirst in to standfirst her crewelwork standfirst detailing standfirst standfirst remind standfirst standfirst yourself standfirst of your standfirst own stitching standfirst prowess. standfirst standfirst

You Need Hands

Cheerful hand warmers fashioned from bits of old clothes, trimmings from a shortened curtain and oddly shaped offcuts too nice to throw Standfirst away. standfirst Even the standfirst embroidery standfirst threads standfirst use up standfirst that small standfirst tangle of standfirst standfirst oddments standfirst standfirst lurking in a drawer!standfirst standfirst

Checkmate!

Become a blackwork grandmaster! The black king plays by the rules. The white queen is a game changer: she reverses the process so her highlights are stitched and the open areas create shadows

Cup O’ Kindness

Celebrate the unifying words and sentiments of the famous song, Auld Lang Syne. Thoughtful, textural glass beading and goldwork with silk thread stitching in rich jewel tones merge and clash to form an uplifting view of the world

Let It Snow!

Be entranced by this delicate, everlasting snowflake. Achieve beautifully intricate results with just the humble buttonhole stitch and some careful construction!

Black Magic

Conjure up a mischievous life-size raven from cotton fabric and wire! He’s bold, beautiful and brilliantly broken down into bite-size steps for you to follow

The Little Mermaid

Immerse yourself in this simple underwater delight. Perfectly executed swirls of back stitch and a sprinkling of French knots breathe life into a magical fairy tale creature

For Your Bookshelf

LACE REIMAGINED By: Elizabeth Healey Publisher: Search Press

STITCH GUIDE

Back Stitch Bring thread through on the stitch

Templates

All the templates, guides and patterns you will need to complete this issue’s projects. Please note the scale before starting. 

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STITCH: MAKING BEAUTIFUL EMBROIDERY EASY