Cross stitch Crazy (Cross Stitch Crazy Magazine)

Member Name: NickyBo

Product:	Cross Stitch Crazy Magazine
Date:	14/09/09 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of different charts, free gifts

Disadvantages: -

Cross Stitch Crazy is a monthly magazine. It costs £3.75.

The magazine features a number of different cross stitch charts each month. They vary in size, from big pictures right down to little tiny motifs that are suitable for gift tags and keyrings. I like to make a lot of cross stitch cards and smaller pictures and I prefer this magazine as it seems to have a lot of smaller sized charts.

The magazine trys to cater for every taste and there is always a wide variety of charts in many different themes and styles. This months magazine (October issue) is Christmas themed. That may seem early to non-cross stitchers, but bear in mind that it can take months to finish a bigger stitching piece or to make lots of Cross stitched cards. However, most months the magazine doesn't follow a particular theme.
To demonstrate the variety, these are just some of the charts featured in the last few months of the magazine:
* a cute panda scene
* Halloween designs
* Jam covers
* The VERY cute Somebunny rabbit
* Autumn cushion design
* Birthday alphabet
* The Rose flower fairy
* Ladybirds
* Flowers
* Donny Osmond photo

The charts are use both colours and symbols to help you see which colour you should be using. There is also a colour key that lists the threads they recommend using. I very rarely use the colours recommended, instead I use whatever I have. I have never found this to be a problem and I sometimes completely change the colours to suit whoever I am making the sewing for.

Towards the back of every issue there is a double page spread for new stitchers. It explains the very basics of how to begin cross stitching as well as the euipment you will need. It has illustrations to help explain how the stitches are formed. I knew how to stitch before I started buying this magazine, however I can see it would be very helpful for someone new to the hobby.

Every magazine also contains a letters page where readers write in, usually including photos of items they have stitched. I like to read about what other people have made, especially when it's a chart I have from a previous issue of the magazine as it often inspires me to make it.

Like most cross stitch magazines, Cross stitch Crazy comes with a free gift every month. This months gift is a Christmas chart book with 126 Christmas designs suitable for cards and gift tags. I really like the free chart books and I use them a lot when making cards.
Other free gifts have included:
* thread packs
* Bentley Bear charts
* Set of bookmark charts
* 'Designs for your home' chart book
* Spring bird cross stitch kit
* Pink flowery frame
I have always found the gifts to be of a good quality. I enjoy getting the gifts, but I would not buy the magazine just for them if I was not interested in the charts as well. I see them as a nice bonus.

To conclude, I would recommend this magazine to any ability cross stitcher. There is a wide variety of charts every issue so there will almost certainly be something to suit all tastes.

Summary: Something for all tastes