Mr X Stitch Guide to Cross Stitch

Jamie Chalmers took up cross stitching fifteen years ago and he’s never looked back.Since establishing the Mr X Stitch website in 2008, he has been showcasing new talent in the world of textiles and stitch and has curated a number of stitch-based exhibitions in the UK and Ireland. Jamie is an accomplished and internationally exhibited artist in his own right, and the curator of PUSH Stitchery, part of a series of books published by Lark showcasing the work of contemporary embroidery artists from around the world. He writes articles for textile publications across the world, including Fiber Art magazine and Surface Design Journal and is the founder of the game-changing XStitch cross stitch design magazine.Jamie Chalmers is an active leader in the online stitch community and what he has dubbed ‘the new embroidery movement’ and is active on various social networking platforms. He is a regular feature at the Knitting and Stitching Shows and The Handmade Fair, appearing alongside craft celebrities like Kirsty Allsopp, Poppy Chancellor, Patrick Grant and Annie Sloan. He loves introducing new people to the benefits of embroidery from a creative and wellbeing standpoint and is proud to be an ambassador for this ubiquitous craft.

Think you know everything about cross stitch, or perhaps you have always wanted to have a go but think it might not be for you?  Here is a book that cheerfully debunks lots of stitching myths and shows you that there is more to cross stitch than you might think.I do love a book that challenges stereotypes and shakes up the rules that inevitably accumulate around any hobby.  Mr X Stitch does not look like most people’s idea of what a cross stitcher should look like which is refreshing in itself, and you can expect no charts of teddies, pets or gardens.  Instead you get a humorous and common sense look at getting kitted out, learning the basics and stitching on more than just even weave fabrics.  Topics often omitted or glossed over briefly get some fairly detailed coverage too, such as washing, pressing, framing, sorting out the back of the work and a whole page of useful tips.  There are some charts to get you started including words, a geometric squirrel, rainbow flower, creative use of glow in the dark threads and even a Game of Thrones inspired piece.  The book also looks at how other people have used cross stitch in creative ways including stitching on metal, abstracts, decorating biker gear, 3D work and even large scale work on fences.  If you fancy having a go at your own charts there is a section on doing this with a computer, including an excellent beginner introduction to using software featuring a simple design.  This is put through the paces in various sizes and a limited palette showing how to work with different fabric counts, getting the best look for your work and even how to do a pop art version.  I wish I had seen something like that when I got my first cross stitch design program as it takes a lot of the trial and error out of getting to grips with using one.  The book concludes with looking at plastic canvas, aluminium foil and other things with holes in that can be stitched, as well as a few pages of handy alphabets to aid your designing.  There is even more in here than everything I have described so whatever your level if you want a good contemporary look at cross stitch this is the book for you.

• Foreword by Julie Jackson 6Introduction 8Tools & materials 10Making a start 18How to cross stitch 20Framing your work 28The back 32Colour 36A moment of context 46Outlier: Zoe Gilbertson 54Glow in the Dark 56Stitching and travelling 63Outlier: Kate Blandford 72More Than a Hobby 74Peace of mind 76Embroidery as therapy 79Craftivism 83Embroidery as an art form 86Outlier: Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriauneviĉienė 90Pattern Design 92Computer design 94Fabric count 99Colour 100Epic pineapple 102Outlier: Lord Libidan 116Thinking Outside the Hoop 118If it’s got holes in it... 120Stitching on plastic 122Stitching on metal 127We’re all adults 131Outlier: Les Deuz'Bro 132Final thoughts 134Alphabet fonts 136Acknowledgements 140Index 141ProjectsBack in Black 32Fleur de Couleur 40From Ampersand to Bargello 42Something Meaningful 47Sqrl! 50Empire State 58Winter is Coming 64Home Sweet Home Network 68VodkAtomic 70I Got Yer Mindfulness Right Here 76I am an Addict 80#StitchforSyria 83Mona 87Introducing the Pineapple! 95Portrait of a Pineapple 104Pop Art Pineapple 108Whitby Abbey at Sunset 112Bling 120Silver Devil 124C-Tron 125Yellow Blade 126Look! 127What The?! 128