Cross Country Stitching is published by the same folks who introduced stitchers to Jeremiah Junction leaflets about 15 or so years ago, and who "guesstimated" correctly that there would be a strong market for a Christian-themed, country-emphasized cross stitch magazine. Cross Country Stitching came out in the late 80's, and has been going strong ever since--and deservedly so. Personally, I've tried a few other cross stitch magazines--i.e., bought one or two and paged through them--and next to Cross Country, there is no comparison.

Let me give you a few examples. First of all, Cross Country Stitching has beautiful, smooth, glossy front and back cover pages. So does The Cross Stitcher. "So what's the difference?" you may ask, Gentle Reader:). Well, when you look inside the body of Cross Country, the pages are sturdy, NOT glossy, and they do not smear when the oils in your skin contact them. And this is true after months and even years of hard use (read: frantically trying to finish stitching an afghan for your niece that you promised you'd have completed six months ago). However, The Cross Stitcher's pages are ALL glossy, and thus smear very badly upon contact, making it nigh onto impossible to see the chart you've chosen--much less actually stitch from said chart.

Secondly, Cross Country Stitching is chock-full of cross stitch projects and ideas--with a few yummy recipes thrown in for good measure. The only advertising that is done is through the publishers, and it's quite discreet. The Cross Stitcher, on the other hand, is full of all kinds of ads...so much so that there is much more advertising than cross stitch graphs. Cross Country Stitching has, on average, 17 to 30 projects in each magazine--complete with full-color pictures of each project. The Cross Stitcher has only a few color pictures to go with equally few projects.

Another thing that stands out, glaringly, between the two magazines is the fact that Cross Country Stitching gives you so many ideas along with their graphs besides the obvious hanging picture. For example, right now I'm looking at the December 1997 issue of Cross Country, in the section called the "Stitching Room". There is a cute, very detailed design of log cabins, quilts, and cats with the saying "Home is where you hang your quilts". This design is stitched onto a piece of 14-ct Misty Taupe Aida, and is hung over an old-timey looking wire hanger. The suggestion is to hang this on the wall in a sewing room, where someone quilts and has a bunch of quilting fabric. On the opposite page is shown another photo, that of a classy-looking vest--upon which are stitched two log cabins pulled out from the original design, on a black background. The effect is quite stunning. The Cross Stitcher, on the other hand, might have more than one use for a graph besides a hanging picture--emphasis on the "might".

So you fancy that vest, do you? Well, if you saw this in The Cross Stitcher, you would be out of luck, because it very likely would be listed as "model only" in the fine print at the bottom of the page. But in Cross Country Stitching, the stitcher is given all the pertinent details about each project, so that you can recreate it down to the very last button--if you so desire. (Personally, I like to use some of their ideas and some of mine and put the two together...but I'm rather a maverick in this area.) Prices, colors, charms, amounts needed of fabric, buttons--they even tell you what goes where in the photo, for duplication purposes. Then they give you their tollfree number to call and order--or you can use their website, www.crosscountryshopping.com, if you prefer.


(Note: When Cross Country Stitching was still pretty new, Linda Coleman had a dandy little reader interchange idea that many folks participated in, including myself. The way it worked was, you submitted a favorite scripture verse, telling why you liked it, and Linda and company would design a picture around that verse. Nifty, yes?

I certainly thought so, especially when I submitted my favorite verse at the time, Hebrews 13:8. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, forever" became a design depicting the four seasons--with a "country" sort of flavor, naturally. I bought the leaflet and though I still haven't stitched it, it gives me a little thrill whenever I see it in my cross stitch basket. Someday!!)

The graphs themselves in Cross Country Stitching are very finely detailed, and shaded with two colors so as to be easy on the eyes. Again, you will not find such detailed and intricate graphs in The Cross Stitcher--or in any other cross stitch magazine that I have checked out, to date. Allen and Linda Coleman (publishers) go to the head of the cross stitch class in this area too! I'm looking closely at my next project, now--which, I am determined, is going to be for ME and not for a gift! I have given away all my Cross Country projects up until now, and believe you me, I have made beau coups of them for other people's heirlooms--but that attitude is now going on hiatus:).

This is going to be a wall-hung picture for my kitchen, as it shows a little ol' pigtailed--and pigeon-toed--country girl laden down with a rolling pin and a cookbook in one hand, and a couple of gingerbread men in the other. Her pinafore has two patched pockets, one of which contains a large patchwork heart. The dress underneath is a big plaid pattern, and her old-fashioned bloomers have quaint stripes on them. There are large and medium-sized hearts "floating" on either side of her, and at the bottom of the picture is a checkerboard row. A running stitch goes around the entire design to give the illusion of a quilt.

At the top of the design is one of my favorite passages of Scripture: "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 15:16", in the "curly calligraphy" style that Cross Country favors. This calligraphy goes well with all their country-themed designs, I might add.

The colors featured in this design are deep greens, winey reds, indigo blues, and buttery yellows. The attention to detail is such that you almost believe this picture is three-dimensional, and this illusion stays with you as you actually STITCH the design!

(This occurs with everything I stitch from Cross Country Stitching, by the way. There has got to be a lot of hard work and a commitment to excellence for this to keep on happening--and the letters from stitchers show that it's very much appreciated. "Consistency, thou art a jewel!")

Each issue has permanent features such as: 24-Hour Cross Stitch Bug (self-explanatory); Love and Friendship--generally a continuing project, like an afghan;
Cover Story--the project that's featured on the front cover; and Country Sampler. As well, on the inside cover, there's a nifty little section called "Basic Stitches", featuring such helpful hints as: Measuring Your Fabric; Changing Skintones (Asian, African-American, Caucasian floss colors for skin shading, cheeks, and hair in the "people" you're stitching), and diagrams of--you guessed it--Basic Stitches, like backstitch, three-quarter, and so on.

Throughout the magazine you will see photos depicting accessories to go with the cross stitch projects therein, prices and how to order them, as well. If you go to the website, you can get a free issue of Cross Country Stitching sent to your house, as well as a catalog--which is correctly, in my view, stated to be "The Cross Stitch Store at your Front Door". (If this catalog does not give you cross stitch fever, then your cross stitch gene has got to be all "needled" out...and you must be resuscitated by means of a Cross Country project--without delay!)

By this time, Gentle Reader, I know you're just dying to get out your size 26 needle and that 14-ct Aida you've been saving for something special. Just put them on the end table for safekeeping, and rush out to buy the latest issue of Cross Country Stitching.

But first, please heed this piece of advice: buy the magazine at a craft store, like Michael's or JoAnn's, and then you'll be able to purchase the floss that you'll certainly need for whichever project gives you stitching fever first--AND more fabric, etc., if you so desire--all at the same time. (There is an order form for subscribing inside, telling you that Cross Country Stitching is $18.95 for six bimonthly issues--and it's worth every penny, I promise!)

Then when you return home, put the kettle on for tea, and settle in for a delightful time of cross stitching. As you follow the color key in your chosen project, you'll grow more enthralled with every stitch. This is the cross stitch magazines' cream of the crop--and you are beginning now to reap the joys thereof, and will continue to do so for years to come.

I only hope you'll remember to start supper before the family descends upon you with indignant cries of "What are you doing? I'm hungry!"--because, take it from an expert, it's deceptively easy to forget about everything and everybody else once you're cozied up with Cross Country Stitching:).

Recommended: Yes

Primary Reason for Buying: Product Reviews/Information