Stitcher's World gone?

I've been a subscriber for a few years now, but I have to admit I've been pretty disappointed with the designs in the magazine for awhile now, so I was planning to let my subscription run out this year. I was hoping that the recent change in ownership would bring a fresh look to the magazine and breathe new life into it, but I guess it wasn't enough.

I've read a lot of posts recently from other stitchers about the mag, and the majority seemed disappointed with it, also. Especially after their recent switch to color charts, that didn't go over very well at all. It made the charts very difficult to follow and in some cases impossible to read.

But I'm glad they plan to replace it with another needlework magazine, at least. I can't recall how many issues I have left on my subscription, but I'm looking forward to seeing the new magazine. Perhaps it will be more appealing to stitchers since it won't be limited just to cross stitch, like Stitcher's World was.

Now I have to hope that Just Cross Stitch is still doing well, that's the only cross stitch magazine I have left and I really enjoy that one! If they wen't under I'd be extremely disappointed, especially since they put out the wonderful Christmas Ornament issue every year.

Michelle Stitchy Kitty

Didn't know it was gone........I'm a subscriber and haven't heard anything....what's the scoop?

the "story

"

Usually, I just thumb through it at the newsstand before buying, but the last issue was SO good (which surprised the heck out me) that I was eager to see what was next. (I'm cleaning up, so I spotted it and re-read it). I'll buy an issue of the new magazine if it shows up at Barnes and Noble.

Cheryl

Sounds like they rallied for the last issue, but I quit subscribing two years ago. I was less and less interested in the charts. Plus they would do a designer focus, which I liked, but my luck was that the designs I most liked from the article were never the one they chose to chart in the magazine (personal taste). Anyhow, I let my subscription lapse because the charts were less and less my style.

Barbara

It sounds like Stitcher's World has some lofty goals for coming back under the name of Cross-Stitch and Needlework. Although in MHO now the best American needlework magazine ever published it was better than most! It did feature many designers who, if they weren't well know at the time are now. Sue Hillis, Linda Reeves, Linda Abel, Emi Bishop, Betsy Stinner, Shepherd's Bush and Nora Corbett are just a few that I recall seeing in that magazine for the first time as I didn't have LNS or computer access. They also introduced new techniques such as hardanger, Swedish weaving, needle lace edging and the double layered technique!...remember that one? :)

Hopefully they're serious about producing a quality magazine and aren't just hoping to ride on the reputation of their namesake.

Mavia

No. Would you explain the double layered technique?

Dianne

Thanks for asking that question Dianne as it gave me a good excuse to go through my old magazines! There are some really interesting projects in some of them! The 'double layered technique' I was referring to is in the February 1998 issue. It's called Victorian House designed by Patricia Andrle. There are two layers of stitching...the bottom layer is of what you would see through the windows and door of the house....curtains, plant etc. The top layer is the outside of the house itself. It uses about a dozen specialty stitches including hardanger to create a beautiful Victorian house! When framing the project the bottom layer is put on one piece of foam core and the top layer on a second which has a center square removed so that you can see through the open hardanger windows! A very unique project! I hope my description wasn't too confusing! :)

BTW Karen C. are you familiar with the 'lily of the valley' jar top design in the April 1998 issue? :) Also Ruby... there is a cute blackwork boot in the February 1998 you might like! :)

Mavia

I remember that one - it was NEAT! Dianne - you'd like this.

If they're going to be CS&CC's Second Coming, then they'd better get the same designers on board. There wasn't a single issue of CS&CC that I didn't have sticky notes on multiple pages.

Haven't done that with an American magazine since. In fact, several of them, I wound up putting more than half my subscription in the box to give to Mary because there was absolutely nothing I wanted to stitch.

Well, DUH, Mavia. You think I haven't had it kitted up since 1998 just waiting for the jar to appear in my stash?

Stitcher's World always had color charts from the beginning of the magazine. It wasn't just cross stitch; there was needlepoint, too. In fact, there was a regular column devoted to needlepoint. The content, photography and general production changed drastically when the Atlanta office was closed and Jules Bekker was no longer the publisher.

I used to work there and left before the office was closed.

Janet Walker

It's just a little design! While you're waiting for one of those pretty porcelain ones to appear you could always put it on the lid of a squat Mason jar and use it as an ort container! :)

Mavia

For anyone interested here is a list of designs by Patricia Andrle found in Needlework magazines:

Mavia

Cross Stitch and Country Crafts

Sep/Oct 94 Christmas House Nov/Dec 94 Owl Sampler Nov/Dec 94 Cardinal Sampler Mar/Apr 95 Illuminated House May/Jun 95 Bee Sampler Sep/Oct 95 The Goblins Jul/Aug 95 Romantic Gazebo Nov/Dec 95 Gloria Sampler Nov/Dec 95 Peace and Plenty Jan/Feb 96 Christmas Bells Jan/Feb 96 The Flower Shop Mar/Apr 96 Trellis Sampler

Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine:

Nov/Dec 96 Toy Shop Jan/Feb 97 Choose Thy Love Mar/Apr 97 Beauty of the House Sep/Oct 97 Halloween Window Jan/Feb 98 Victorian House Jan/Feb 98 Four-seasons Sampler Sep/Oct 99 Circle Sampler April 1999 - Blackwork Treasure Box June 1998 - Needlework Tool Case Jan/Feb 2000 - Intertwined Squares

Just Cross Stitch magazine:

Jul/Aug 1994 - Swimming Swans Sept/Oct 1994 - The Jousters July/Aug '95 - Fine Feathers Nov 95 - Three Ships

1993 issue of Cross Stitch Christmas by Better Homes and Gardens - "Christmas is Coming"

Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly

19: Butterfly Pin Keep (one "side" option is simple blackwork, the other is a simple design)

25: Hardanger Scissors case and scissors fob. (standard Hardanger type motifs and surface geometrics)

De-lurking to chime in with my two cents on this issue...

I received my (subscription) copy of the former Stitcher's World, now known as Cross-Stitch and Needlework. In my opinion, not much has changed with just this one issue. The designs are mostly cross-stitch, with a few specialty stitches thrown in. The projects are mostly small pieces: a bunny porcelain box topper, egg-shaped ornaments, kitchen towels, pewter pin and box toppers, stitched cards, patchwork ornaments. The charts are still printed in color with symbols. There is a nice article on the history of CS&N, and the hopes for future issues. The technique column discusses the use of linen floss and metallic threads. They have added a column called "Alternate Finishing", which gives another option for finishing one of the designs in the magazine. In this case, the bunny topper and pewter pin have been finished as greeting cards.

The Editor's note mentions plans to bring in a reproduction sampler, and also mentions a two-layer project as well. There are plans to start another needlepoint rug series that Stitcher's World used to feature.

By far, the most interesting article for me was a piece on the embroiderers of Mani, Mexico, who wear traditional Mayan garments called "huipil", a heavily embroidered garment dress-length, or worn as shorter version over a skirt. The related project takes a simple motif and uses satin and back stitch surface embroidery.

I'll wait to see what new projects come in over the next few issues remaining on my subscription before I decide to renew.

-diane

Your description was indeed helpful. Sounds like a lucious project! Thanks for taking the time to go through all that. There's a gentleman from Australia (or it might be New Zealand) that has done stumpwork pieces in layers similar to your description. I'm always amazed at how creative some of these designers truly are.

Dianne

Mavia Beaulieu wrote:

But what if the jar lid doesn't fit the size of the completed stitching?

I actually do now have a perfect jar (thank you, Dianne!), but I haven't gotten the stitching done -- too many other things to do, not enough hours to do them.

It would work well with 36ct. linen! :)

Mavia

I stitched Romantic Gazebo--the hardanger layer was tricky, since I had never done anything like that before, but it came out phenomenally! I think her patterns are just beautiful.

After reading this thread I subscribed to the new CS&N. Never took to Stitcher's World, but loved the old Cross Stitch & Needlework. I hope they revive the format. It was worth trying it for a year. Since there are so few cross stitch mags, I feel like I need to encourage any company that wants to try.

Hi Allie

Is there any chance you could post a picture of Romantic Gazebo in the Yahoo group RCTNP (Photos)? I don't have the July/August 95 issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework and I'd love to see it!

thanks Mavia