Love Embroidery

FRESH IDEAS WITH THREAD Christmas is a time to delight and surprise our loved ones with wintry outings, seasonal activities, festive treats and, of course, homespun gifts. And if you’re looking for extra-special embroidery projects to really wow your friends and family this year, you’ve come to the right place. Heirloom stockings, candy cane-inspired garlands, bespoke baubles – you’ll find tutorials for all of these wonderful projects and more inside. Plus, we’ll show you how to stitch this extremely clever present hoop (p46) by Ria Paramita – its recipients will just love undoing the stylish satin bow to reveal the fun and festive scene that’s hidden beneath the flap!…

At Love Embroidery, we want inclusivity to be at the heart of what we do. We’re committed to creating content that reflects and celebrates the diversity of the stitching community. Embroidery is for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, age, size, ability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We have begun work on a plan to drive meaningful change, but we know it’s a work in progress. We want to listen to you, our readers. Join the conversation on Instagram @loveembroiderymagazine or get in touch at love.embroidery@ourmedia.co.uk…

Get ready to fill your embroidery hoops with festive magic. From colourful stitched stars, satin bows and densely sewn berries, to shimmering beads, rich thread palettes and deliciously dark fabrics…this issue is packed with luxe ideas to kick off your Christmas stitching in style. And speaking of magic, Georgie Emery’s stunning Nutcracker Collection features a whopping 22 festive ballet-inspired motifs for you to stitch. Designs include the story’s leading lady, Clara wearing her iconic blue dress, as well as the Sugarplum Fairy, The Mouse King, and The Nutcracker Prince. Plus, plenty of seasonal treats, toys and Christmas decorations for you to mix and match across hoops, homewares, clothing and more. Which one will you embroider first?…

Folk favourites Listen up stitchers! It’s time for a new Sew Yeah festive pattern drop and it’s a good’un. Christine Leech (the creative behind the brand), is adding two new designs to her ever-growing range of screenprinted decoration kits – a Toy Soldier plus the stunning Dala Horse, shown here. Each has been designed to become a future family heirloom and take pride of place on your Christmas tree year after year. Order your kits now to avoid disappointment! www.sewyeahsocialclub.com Multi-tasker Partial to a little bit of sewing on the sofa? Us too! An opportunity to catch up on our fave series and our embroidery WIPs is what we call a no-brainer… much like these chic striped trays from Meri Meri, which not only look gorgeously festive but will keep…

Templates for digital readers on p85 Dainty gift wrap GIVE PLAIN CALICO POUCHES A SEASONAL LIFT WITH STITCHED CHARACTERS Elegant linens EMBELLISH STRIPED TEA TOWELS WITH NOSTALGIC ROCKING HORSES AND MORE Clara gift bag MATERIALS Your gift — Nutcracker Collection embroidery transfers Small calico pouch Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of blue, dark blue, light blue, brown, gold, pink, rose pink, very light pink Embroidery hoop: 13cm diameter Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED French Knot, Long and Short Stitch, Satin Stitch, Split Stitch, Straight Stitch 01 Fill in the dress using Long and Short Stitch in one strand of blue and light blue, using the image for placement of the thread colours. 02 Use Satin Stitch in dark blue to stitch the bow in the hair and the belt. Then…

MATERIALS Linen fabric: 50x50cm, 35x50cm, white or off-white Cotton fabric: 35x50cm x2, white Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of blanc (white), 223 (shell pink), 336 (dark blue), 347 (dark salmon pink), 368 (sage green), 699 (emerald green), 813 (light blue), 822 (light grey), 963 (very light pink), 3046 (light straw), 3838 (blue), 3852 (old gold) DMC Diamant Thread: 1 spool of D3821 (light gold) Medium-weight fusible interfacing: 42x30cm Embroidery frame (or embroidery hoop if you prefer) Machine thread: white Sewing Machine with standard foot Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Full Knot Stitch, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Satin Stitch, Split Stitch, Straight Stitch When it comes to creating an heirloom stocking you need a timeless design that can be enjoyed for generations, and this starry pattern from Lucy Freeman with its dazzling…