Stitching Across Borders
A Russian pattern, a British magazine, and a whole lot of inspiration.
One of the things I love most about stitching is how it connects people from all over the world. Threads, patterns, and fabric may look different from one place to the next, but the joy of creating something by hand feels the same no matter where you are.
Not long ago, I found myself scrolling through Pinterest, just looking for inspiration. That’s when I saw a beautiful cross-stitch pattern from a Russian stitcher. It instantly caught my eye—great colors and design, and a peaceful feeling that made me want to stitch it up right away.
A Friendly Reply from the UK
There was just one problem: the post was written in Cyrillic, and I couldn’t read a word of it. Except one phrase jumped out at me—“The World of Cross Stitching.”
Now, if you’re not familiar, The World of Cross Stitching is a lovely magazine published in the UK. It’s full of sweet, colorful designs and has a very friendly tone. Thanks to my friend Libby, I’ve been lucky enough to read a few issues here and there. So, when I saw that phrase in the Pinterest post, I had a feeling the pattern might have come from the magazine.
I decided to reach out. I contacted The World of Cross Stitching directly and sent them the pictures I’d found. To my surprise and delight, they wrote back! They told me the patterns I was interested in were published in Issue 321. They even offered a digital version of the magazine.
Happy Mail on the Way
Now, I know digital is quick and easy, but I still love holding a magazine in my hands. I like flipping the pages, circling patterns I want to make, and folding corners down for later. So, I did a little searching and found a physical copy of Issue 321 on Etsy—for a very reasonable price!
It hasn’t arrived yet, but I’m already looking forward to sitting down with it, cup of tea in hand, and starting something new. There’s something special about waiting for a package in the mail, knowing it holds inspiration and joy inside.
A New Project Begins
I’ll share more about the actual stitching once I begin, but for now, I just wanted to share this little story. Stitching can take us places—even across languages and oceans. And sometimes, one Pinterest post leads to a whole new project.
If you’ve stitched something lately that made you smile—or if you’ve discovered a new favorite magazine or designer—I’d love to hear about it. Let’s keep sharing and stitching together.