I have been cross stitching for 17 years and find this is one of the most advanced magazines on the market for the hobby. The patterns included within are generally very detailed with a stitch time of at least 50 hours, using full cross stitch, fractional stitches, french knots and back stitch so not for beginners. Some of the charts are very old fashioned in style and it is aimed at older stitchers in general rather than including 'cute' characters or patterns small enough to turn into cards or small gifts.

I don't buy this magazine monthly as a rule for 2 reasons, the first is that I could never find the time to stitch all the charts included within the magazine and the second is that I cannot guarentee that there will be a pattern in there that I like enough to know I will definitely stitch it. What I tend to do is purchase the magazine when I know for definite there will be a pattern in there that I just have to have.