Cross-Stitch Magazines

Whilst travelling back on the train from a works conference quite a few years ago now (before marriage and children entered my life), I noticed a colleague doing some sort of sewing. When I asked her about it, she explained that it was cross stitching and a hobby she had been doing for many years. As she explained more about it, I became quite interested. As she bought the magazine regularly and didn't always have time to do the free kits, she promised to bring one into work for me to try...... And so another cross stitch fan was created!! I started buying Cross Stitcher shortly after and still buy it to this day. The only difference is now I ...

You may not immediately associate former General Secretary of the TUC Norman Willis with a needle and thread, but prepare to be shocked. I have been getting Cross Stitcher on and off since last year, and did a double take when I read his regular column, now called Norman’s Month. Far from being a gimmick, Norman Willis is a keen stitcher, and very active - even stitching signs for a tea room, and for the members room of the Embroiderers’ Guild at Hampton Court palace. Norman’s column is a welcome reminder that cross stitching, and needlework in general is not an exclusively female pastime. This is reflected in the charts ...

Origin Publishing launched Cross Stitch Gold in a blaze of advertising and hype a few weeks ago. In the run up to the launch the magazine was spoken of in hushed tones on cross stitch websites. I think it is fair to say that the reaction to the magazine when it finally appeared was, "It's good, but...". Cross Stitch Gold describes itself as, "The world's most beautiful cross stitch designs in one unique collection". The magazine also boasts that it will focus on large charts unlike most of the other magazines on the market. I have a problem with both of these statements. Firstly some of the designs are quite nice, but nothing to ...