Craft Focus - Feb/Mar (Issue 65)

84 craft focus all stitched up Go to town Offering something a bit different, this 3D cross stitch project is the first of three little houses designed by The Nutmeg Company, owned by Meg and Mike Evershed. The Paper Town collection launched in late 2017, and is stitched onto 14-count perforated paper, which is then cut, folded and glued to make a house. The roof of each design is removable, which means it can be used as a box or even a wedding favour. “Perforated paper has proved popular with many stitchers because of the large and obvious holes, and Meg has produced several successful card ranges using this material,” says Mike. “Because it is naturally stiff, it can be cut and folded just like card, and it lends itself fully to 3D projects. Over the years, Meg has already used it in kits for bags, boxes, hanging decorations and games such as snakes and ladders. The idea of miniature buildings stitched onto perforated paper has been bubbling away in the background, and the first three designs are now available.” The smaller Woodland Cottage and Tartan Cottage kits retail at £9.95, while Rose Tree House costs £14.95. The Nutmeg Company, 3dcrossstitch.co.uk A bird in the hand Heritage Crafts works with many talented artists including Peter Underhill, who designed this stunning Japanese-inspired bird. With an eye-catching background worked in shades of blue, the crane stands majestically in front of Mount Fuji. The kit makes an ideal companion piece to Peter’s Flamingo kit, which is also part of the Heritage collection. It retails at £28.95. Heritage Crafts, hcrafts.com Animal magic Hawthorn Handmade has a range of contemporary animal embroidery kits available, including this quirky alpaca design. The cotton is pre-printed ready for crafters to hoop up and get stitching. It comes with an easy-to-follow guide, which means it’s ideal for both novices and more experienced stitchers. Designed at the company’s Dorset studio, the kit contains everything needed to complete the project. Hawthorn Handmade, hawthornhandmade.com