Craft Focus - April/May 2021 (Issue 84)

72 SOLOCRAFTS Needleart World has added more than 60 designs to its popular No Count cross stitch collection, and there’s something for everyone. With summer around the corner, we have chosen to highlight this bright design called Hibiscus Macaw. The design is printed in chart format onto the 14 count aida using bright contrasting colours. This makes cross stitch simple for even a complete novice as they follow the printed pattern, and a paper chart is also provided as back up. Needleart World produce its own polyester threads, which give a lovely range of bright deep colours. Hibiscus Macaws measures 25cm x 34cm and retails for £33.99. Red Rosehips by RIOLIS makes us think of summer days in the garden, the blend of counted cross stitch and blackwork gives this design extra depth. RIOLIS cross stitch kits contain Zweigart aida, 14 count for this design with Anchor stranded cottons, the chart is printed in colour and threads are presented on a bobbin card. Red Rosehips measures 20cm x 20cm and retails for £21.99. RIOLIS has also made a matching design featuring White Lilies that also uses Blackwork stitches. sales@solocrafts.com www.solocrafts.com HAHNEMÜHLE Ready for summer holiday painting! Hahnemühle Toned Watercolour pads combine the artists desire for a toned paper with a smooth fine grain watercolour texture that’s one of a kind to the market. Each pad contains 20 sheets of smooth fine grain toned watercolour paper. Matched to the requirements of watercolour painting, these fine art papers allow the artist to focus on the motif as a natural background colour is already provided. The gently toned 200gsm watercolour paper has an even fine-grained surface structure. Due to the surface sizing, colours can be effortlessly lifted from the paper. The use of masking fluids, adhesive tapes and erasers is possible without residue. The Toned Watercolour Pad is available in grey or beige paper and are glued on the top edge. Hahnemühle Toned Watercolour Pads are available in A5 and A4 as well as square format, 20cm x 20cm. Hahnemühle toned watercolour papers are acid-free and age resistant. +44 (0)1603 759 266 uksales@hahnemuehle.com www.hahnemuehle.co.uk MICHAEL’S BRIDAL FABRICS The number of fabrics available in an eco-friendly form are continuing to expand. Michael’s Bridal Fabrics now has several plain qualities where it can offer the ‘normal’ and the eco-friendly versions of the same cloth. These are mainly plain fabrics using recycled polyester yarns as part or all of the yarn used in production. The newest one added is the bestselling soft satin in Ivory. This will be available with 40 per cent recycled yarns being used. Michael’s Bridal Fabrics is also able to offer some Guipure laces made from mostly recycled poly yarns. And one of the company’s largest suppliers of French lace is running a programme to replace all of the cotton content with organic cotton, and the viscose content is sustained by replanting trees for any cut down to make the wood pulp used for producing viscose. Michael’s can also offer qualities made from natural products like banana, milk, and rose petals. +44 (0)1322 380 480 www.michaelsbridalfabrics.co.uk CYGNET YARNS Silcaress DK is a super soft acrylic yarn with an incredibly smooth and silk like feel. Its high twist gives great stitch definition to finished knits and is perfect for bright crochet projects. Available in a spectrum of rainbow pastels, this summery yarn is a lovely sunny addition to the Cygnet collection. +44 (0)1274 743 374 www.cygnetyarns.com