I have stitched a fair number of designs from magazines over the years...Cross Stitch and Country Crafts (a Noah's Ark piece I stitched back when I was college is being re-framed this week here at the shop), Treasures, Just Cross Stitch, The Needleworker, Fine Lines, Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly, just to name a few. Those pieces are ones I enjoy at home (since the magazines aren't available for me to sell at the shop anymore.)

I'd wager you have a stack (large or larger) at home of needlework magazines. It's a fun afternoon to take those out and page through them. You'll be surprised how many designers you recognize, and some unknowns become familiar fixtures with series like the Heirloom Christmas Stockings by Better Homes & Gardens. But of course a lot of the designs in magazines are ones which maybe don't suit your particular taste.

I'm more of a "thrower" than a saver. Once I've had a magazine for a while, I go through and tear out (carefully) the designs that I think I might do some day. I staple the picture of the finished piece to the front of the pages of charts, punch holes in them, and put them in a big binder. In fact, I just started a Christmas present this morning from an old magazine.

The binder system allows me to save valuable space in my closet, and looking through only charts that I enjoy saves me time as well. The rest of the magazines I either donate or let other people look through to keep.

I hope you're stitching up a storm like I am. Too few hours in the day, but all of them are appreciated.

© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com