So much to stitch! (CrossStitcher Magazine)

Member Name: cakemaker

Product:	CrossStitcher Magazine
Date:	31/03/09 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Variety of projects, Interesting articles and reader letters.

Disadvantages: Sometimes too wide a variety of projects and there's nothing I want to stitch.

I have been an on-and-off reader of cross stitcher and many other cross stitch mags for 5 years and a subscriber to cross stitcher for one year. I love the variety of projects that it offers. The 'Over to You' section containing readers contributions is always really interesting. You can see what other people have been stitching and you can request charts that are hard to find, and sell stitching items that you no longer need.

As someone who doesn't get the time to stitch as much as I'd like (Isn't that most of us?) I really like dreaming about completing 'the big stitch'. There is one in every issue and it's always something different, it's the largest project in the magazine and is almost always inspiring. I have a pile of them marked and waiting for when I break a leg or something and have loads of time to stitch!

There is a very good section in the back of the magazine for new and inexperienced stitchers. It shows the basics of cross stitching and any speciality stitches used in that issue. It takes you step by step through a very basic project to help you learn. And when you've done that you'll be ready to start on other projects in the magazine. All projects are marked beginner, intermediate, advanced, with a rough estimate of how many hours the project should take to complete. I've found these to be very helpful when choosing projects as I know how long it's likely to take and the complexity of the project.

The only real disadvantage I have found with cross stitcher is that some of the charts do not have a thread key for DMC stranded cottons, only for Anchor. I know this is beause DMC/Anchor pay them for producing work from specific designers with specific thread keys but it is very annoying for the stitcher (me). Because I have nearly finished getting all the DMC colours and do not want to get the Anchor ones as well, but I find it almost impossible to convert them myself.

Advantages
Variety of projects
Interesting articles
'Over to You' section
Option to buy a materials pack for some of the projects, to turn it into a kit rather than just a chart.

Disadvantages
Never enough time to stitch everything I like.
Some issues don't have any designs that really catch my attention (but I always have loads waiting from previous issues so I'm never without something to stitch.)
Lots of adverts, but I think all magazines are the same.
Not all of the charts are given with a DMC thread key.

The cover price is £3.99, subscription prices vary with different offers. I saved 35% on the cover price but didn't get any free gifts. Sometimes you can save less and get a gift such as a book or kit when you subscribe.

Overall I think Cross stitcher is a very good cross stitch magazine for beginners and experienced stitchers alike. Almost all of the disadvantages I've highlighted are beyond the control of the magazine staff and I think they do exceptionally well within the constraints they have to work with.

Summary: A great overall magazine for all levels of stitching experience.