April Newsletter

Hello All

After 2 months of hard work we have now completed our 'all new and fully re-designed' website!! Existing customers will hopefully notice the change, the site is a lot more user friendly, both for ourselves when we add new products and for visitors to the site with features like a search facility, improved shopping cart with 'savable' shopping list etc.

This should give us more time to design new products as well as making visiting us a more pleasurable experience - hopefully a real win-win situation!

To celebrate our new launch we are running a new special offer:

10% DISCOUNT ON ALL ORDERS!!!!

This offer is available to all and does not require you to spend a minimum amount - whatever you add to your basket will be reduced by 10% regardless of the cost. We are also offering FREE P&P on all orders over £20.00 - regardless of where in the world you are ordering from so visit our new site today by clicking on the link below:

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE

We have also just sent out our new newsletter that gives details of new releases, special offers, competition and access to 9 free patterns that are only available to our newsletter subscribers. you can sign up for this newsletter by visiting our FREE PATTERNS PAGE.

Thanks to all for your continued support, best regards and happy stitching!

Alison

New Free Pattern - 'Congratulations'

Hello all,

After quite a long time away from my blog (due to redesigning our website) - here is the latest free cross stitch pattern for you all! We wanted to launch our new website with a BANG so here is a pattern based on fireworks, I hope you will think of some good uses for these 2 designs

The pattern comprises of 2 separate charts, 'Congratulations 1' is 4.6" x 1.0" (when stitched on 14 / 28 count fabric) and uses 4 colours. 'Congratulations 2' is 2.2" x 1.7" (when stitched on 14 / 28 count fabric) and uses the same 4 colours. As with all our patterns it also contains:

• Printed thread organiser
• List of threads required with both DMC and Anchor numbers
• List of thread lengths and finished sizes when stitched on 11/22, 14/28, 16/32 and 18/36 count fabrics
• Colour picture of finished designs
• Full cross stitching instructions

Click on the link below the picture to download this FREE cross stitch pattern

Download our FREE Congratulations' cross stitch patterns

Don't forget to check out the free cross stitch patterns page on our website for 20 more free patterns.

Best regards and happy stitching!

Alison

New Free Pattern - 'Happy easter - Cross Stitch Chick'

Hello all,

Here is the latest free cross stitch pattern for all of my blog readers, Easter is approaching so you can 'say it with cross stitch' (forget saying it with flowers, that is SO last year!)


The pattern is 3.4" x 2.4" (when stitched on 14 / 28 count fabric) and uses 4 colours. As with all our patterns it contains:

• Cross stitch chart




• Separate back stitch chart




• Printed thread organiser




• List of threads required with both DMC and Anchor numbers




• List of thread lengths and finished sizes when stitched on 11/22, 14/28, 16/32 and 18/36 count fabrics




• Colour picture of finished design




• Full cross stitching instructions

Click on the link below the picture to download this FREE cross stitch pattern

Download our FREE 'Happy Easter' cross stitch pattern

Don't forget to check out the free cross stitch patterns page on our website for 18 more free patterns.

Best regards and happy stitching!

Alison

What's New?

Hello all,

Sorry for not posting for a long time but I have been very busy! We are currently re-writing our website which is taking up most of my time at the moment. The new software we will be using should, however, make it easier for our customers and also make the running of the website much more efficient for me - so I will have more time in the future to do new designs! A case of a little short term pain for a long term gain hopefully, as writing websites is not as pleasing as designing cross stitch!

I am still doing some design however, here is a sneak preview of a new 'Teddies Wedding' wedding sampler pattern that is nearing completion:

Don't forget to visit our site to see our other wedding cross stitch kits

Best regards and happy stitching!
Alison

Maggies 'Diet Begins Tommorrow' Coaster

After very kindly posting a comment on the entry for the 'Diet Begins Tomorrow' free cross stitch pattern (see below) saying she has sewn up the pattern to use as a coaster, Maggie has sent in a photograph of the finished piece.

I have to say she has made a lovely job of this - thank you so much for sharing your work with us Maggie.

Best regards and happy stitching to all!

Alison

New Free Pattern - 'The Diet Begins Tomorrow'

Hello all,

Here is a new free pattern for all of my blog readers, it seemed appropriate for this time of year although perhaps it should be 'Life's too short to diet!' - what do you think?


The pattern is 2.4" x 2.4" (when stitched on 14 / 28 count fabric) and uses 5 colours. As with all our patterns it contains:

• Cross stitch chart


• Separate back stitch chart


• Printed thread organiser


• List of threads required with both DMC and Anchor numbers


• List of thread lengths and finished sizes when stitched on 11/22, 14/28, 16/32 and 18/36 count fabrics


• Colour picture of finished design


• Full cross stitching instructions

Click on the link below the picture to download this FREE cross stitch pattern

Download our FREE 'The Diet Begins Tomorrow' cross stitch pattern

Don't forget to check out the free cross stitch patterns page on our website for 16 more free patterns.

Best regards and happy stitching!

Alison

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Hello all

Fistly I would like to send everyone my very best wishes for the New Year - let's hope it contains LOADS of time for cross stitching (yes, I do know it is unlikely but we can hope can't we?).

Thanks to everyone who left comments on this blog, sent us emails, posted nice comments on their blogs etc last year. What really makes this job extra special is the contact with so many lovely people from all around the world - it makes all of the hard work and long hours worthwhile!

We are looking forward to a very exciting year at Country Cross Stitch Kits and have lots of plans for new products and tools to help our fellow cross stitchers. So, stay tuned and keep in touch and lets hope for a good year for all of us.

Best regards and happy stitching!
Alison

December Newsletter

Hello all,

We have just sent out our December newsletter. This gives details of our Special Offers including FREE WORLDWIDE P&P between now and 7th December 2006!

It also includes free patterns exclusively available to newsletter subscribers and details of our 4 new ranges:

• Coaster / Drinks Mat Kits (to match our lavender sachets and gift sets)
• Chinese Symbol Cross Stitch Kits
• Chinese Symbol Coaster Kits

We have also released our Stitch Count Rulers as mentioned earlier in the blog. So if you haven' t already signed up for the newsletter do it now - PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR SUBSCRIBER LIST

Best regards and happy stitching!

Alison

Free Pattern - Twinkle the Fairy

Hello All

Here is our latest 'exclusive to blog' free pattern - Twinkle the Fairy!

The pattern is 2.1" x 2.7" (when stitched on 14 / 28 count fabric) and uses 5 colours. As with all our patterns it contains:

• Cross stitch chart
• Separate back stitch chart
• List of threads required with both DMC and Anchor numbers
• List of thread lengths and finished sizes when stitched on 11/22, 14/28, 16/32 and 18/36 count fabrics
• Colour picture of finished design
• Full cross stitching instructions

Click on the link below the picture to download this FREE cross stitch pattern

Download our FREE 'Twinkle the Fairy' cross stitch pattern

Don't forget to check out the free cross stitch patterns page on our website for 14 more free patterns.

Best regards and happy stitching!

Alison

Cross Stitch Tools - Stitch Count rulers

Hello all,

We are looking to produce a range of free items to help all of you cross stitchers out there. The first item we are going to release is a 'Stitch Count Ruler'. This item, as shown below, will be available to download from our website Country Cross Stitch Kits after our major update planned on 1st December.

Stitch Count Ruler

These rulers will be available for 11, 14, 16 and 18 count aida fabrics (which equate to 22, 28, 32 and 36 count evenweave) on a one sheet .pdf document that you can download, print out and then either stick to a piece of card or laminate for strength.

The divisions on the rulers are not inches or mm but stitches, if you lay the ruler along a row of stitches it will tell you how many stitches there are.

Whilst there are 'check marks' on the downloadable document that you can check against a standard ruler to ensure your computer / printer has not rescaled the document, we would not recommend using the rulers as the sole method of counting stitches. They are intended as a confirmation tool so when you have counted the row twice and are thinking "maybe I should count it one more time...." you can use the ruler to verify your count. We will have these ready in time for our next newsletter on 1st December, if you want to be notified when these are ready simply sign up for our newsletter now. Either visit our website or use the link below:

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Hope you are all well and our American friends and customers had a great Thanksgiving Day. Keep looking for the next post, the update on December 1st will be big!

Happy stitching!

Alison

Coming VERY Soon - 'Chinese Horoscope' Coaster Kits

Hello all,

We are just putting the finishing touches to the next range of products to be released, our new 'cross stitch coaster kits'.

We are launching these first as 'Chinese Horoscope' kits. There are 12 symbols for the Chinese horoscopes, each one being represented by an animal, the 12 are: snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit and dragon.

We will put a list on the website so you can check which year is relevant to you (or the person you are stitching the coaster for) and then pick the correct symbol from the 12 available. An example of the 'tiger' coaster is shown below.

The left hand image shows the front of the coaster, the right hand image the rear. We will provide a cream coloured card to place in the back of the coaster as shown. This will match the cream fabric and will show the image, the title (i.e 'Tiger') and show 4 of the main characteristics of people born under this sign - in the case of the tiger 'Sensitive, Determined, Enthusiastic and Positive. The card will also cover the back of the fabric - always a good thing!

The coasters are just under 4" (95mm) square and the kits will contain everything you need to complete a coaster as shown above - i.e fabric, thread, needle, chart, coaster (back, front and non slip feet), card insert, all instructions etc.

Hot on the heels of these we will also be releasing a range of coaster kits to match out cross stitch Lavender Sachets. This means you will be able to stitch a matching lavender sachet, coaster and a greetings card to give to someone as a gift. Alternatively if you are looking for gift for a cross stitcher why not buy them matching lavender sachet and coaster kits? Enjoyable to stitch as well as being attractive and practical!

An example of our 'Mackintosh Style Roses' coaster kit - COMING SOON!

Well that's about it for now - as soon as these new kits are ready I'll post a quick message here to let you all know.

Enjoy your weekend and happy stitching!

Alison

Thank You For Your Emails!

Hello all

Thanks to all of you who have read my blog and thanks especially to those of you who have emailed me with your very kind comments.

I have received messages from here in the UK, from Europe, the USA - even as far away as Calcuttaca in India - saying thank you for doing my blog, for offering the free pattern and just generally full of kind comments.

I must say that it only goes to reinforce what I know already - cross stitchers are lovely people!

So thank you all so much once again, feel free to comment or email at any time.

Happy stitching!

Alison

'Christmas Smiley' - One of the 12

free cross stitch patterns

available on our website