All the latest news for cross stitching for the holiday season and for Christmas, as published in Creative Poppy's newsletter.
Christmas, Scandinavian style
Each designer has a special way of celebrating Christmas. We love the way Lesley Teare pays tribute to the joyful season in her very own special way: in white and gold, with white deer dancing under an ornate tree, squirrels running in its bare limbs and a pair of doves carrying a message of peace.
>> see all Christmas patterns by Lesley Teare Designs
More Christmas, Scandinavian style
>> see all Christmas patterns (all designers)
A New Christmas SAL by Barbara Ana
Join the Christmas fun with this new Mystery chart brought to you by Barbara Ana. It is released in 3 parts so you can stitch it in time for Christmas.
Christmas cheer in town
Large but super easy-to stitch on 25ct Lugana fabric, this cityscape has a central European feel, where houses are painted bright colors and the town center fills with cheer as Christmas approaches. We love the simple subdued palette chosen by Barbara Ana, with scandinavian blue, mustard and terra-cotta. The cross stitch pattern is, as always, filled with interesting detail, a real pleasure to stitch.
>> see all Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana Designs
Crack a joke with Barbara Ana
>> see all Christmas patterns by Barbara Ana
3-dimensional stitching: Why not give it a try with Faby Reilly?
Two sorts of beautiful golden threads, one smooth and shiny, one thicker with a delightful "bead" effect, embellish this Christmas design by Faby Reilly. The technique used is quite simple: a couching stitch on a plain cross stitch base. Part of the Quick Challenge Masterclasses, the designer takes you by the hand, so you know every tip and trick of this very effective needlework technique.
More patterns with Christmas Trees by Faby Reilly
>> see all patterns with Christmas Trees (all designers)
Santa and the elusive Mrs Claus
These new Christmas releases brought to you by Kateryna (Stitchy princess) both feature Santa, but the first one, designed as a pair of ornaments also features the elusive Mrs Claus - who seems to exert quite a fascination on cross stitch designers.
More Christmas patterns by Kateryna - Stitchy Princess
>> see all Winter/Christmas patterns by Kateryna - Stitchy Princess
More patterns with Santa (all designers)
More patterns with the elusive Mrs Claus (all designers)
>> see all patterns with Santa (all designers)
Christmas in the British countryside, by Lesley Teare
Here is a beautiful cross stitch sampler featuring a typical Georgian House in winter, with red robins scavenging for food in the potted plants and deers romaing in the park. With the final Winter sampler, this seasonal series by Lesley Teare Designs is now complete.
More patterns with Christmas Houses (all designers)
>> see all Christmas Houses patterns (all designers)
A Star is Born
Inspired by the amazing displays of the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, designer Faby Reilly combines several pastel metallic colors on a cross stitch base, enhanced with a couple of whipped backstitch. The motif is expertly applied to her signature star-shape, designed in order to give maximum volume to the front part of the ornament. The cross stitch chart comes with an excellent tutorial for both specialty stitches and for the mounting process.
More Star-shaped Christmas Ornaments by Faby Reilly
More Christmas in White and Blue
>> see all Christmas Ornament patterns by Faby Reilly
Stitching ahead for Christmas!
Here are two beautiful Christmas samplers brought to you by Lesley Teare. Both are conveniently composed of separate images, so you can stitch and savor each little motif at a time, and resume your Christmas cross stitching whenever you feel in the mood for it and have time to spare.
>> see all Christmas patterns by Lesley Teare
More Christmas Advent Calendar patterns
>> see all patterns with Advent Calendars and more Xmas projects (all designers)
Pretty hand-made ornaments for Christmas
Brought to you by Perrette Samouiloff and featuring a mix of characters, Christmas motifs and and intricate geometric designs, here is a varied selection of ornaments to embellish your home for the festive season. Each set of designs comes with a detailed tutorial to help you complete the ornament up to the last detail. The 3 sets of ornaments all match and can be combined to form a full collection of hand-stitched Chrsitmas ornaments.
The joys of Christmas to come
Why not join these cheerful children and enjoy those precious times preparing the house for the festive season? Designer Perrette Samouiloff excels at both tenderly depicting children and rendering Christmas in ways intimately connected to nature.
More Christmas patterns by Perrette Samouiloff
>> see all Christmas patterns by Perrette Samouiloff
Cute little Christmas ornaments and Greeting cards to cross stitch
Perfect for making ornaments - such as these pretty Christmas stockings - or a greeting card for a Special One, these cheerful Christmas mini motifs are brought to you by Lesley Teare Designs.
More mini-motifs patterns for Christmas by Lesley Teare Designs
>> see all Christmas patterns by Lesley Teare Designs
New Tiny Christmas House Ornaments by Marie-Anne Mélin
Given how popular her first Tiny House series have been, the designer has designed 3 new ones: the green shutter House, the Hearts House and the Potted Trees House. Match them with the original series and you can build a complete village. Or mix them with Marie-Anne Rethorets' other cute hanging ornaments you can now fill an entire Christmas tree with your own hand-stitched decorations, in varied shapes but matching colors!
We love the extra cute cross stitch designs, their unique shapes and crystal clear finishing tutorials. Great cross stitch ideas brought to you by the ever creative Marie-Anne Rethoret-Melin.
More Christmas patterns by Marie-Anne Mélin
>> see all Christmas patterns by Marie-Anne Rhétoret-Mélin
Creative Poppy Gift vouchers: great to give ...or to receive
Are any of your loved ones asking you what you would like to receive for Christmas? Why not suggest some Creative Poppy Gift vouchers. They make great gifts for your stitcher friends too.
- starting from $9.99 (about £6.50)
- valid one year
>> find out more about Creative Poppy Gift vouchers
More Christmas news continued on next page...