The sun's shining (finally!), holidays are on their way and a new issue of CrossStitcher has just hit the shelves! We're feeling totally tropical this issue, and have got together a bumper stack of giveaways to celebrate the return of summer. If you love Felicity's Hall's Birds of Paradise design (this issue's cover project) then you'll be super excited to get your hands on a set of four different exotic bird charts from Celtic Rose Needlecraft. Please remember you'll need an email address to claim this prize. We've also got beautiful poppies kits from Heritage Crafts, cute Mr & Mrs Tooting owl scenes from Goldleaf Needlework, and a bouncing babies ABC sampler by Lucie Heaton. Good luck!

Exotic birds charts

Our vintage-inspired, colour-packed May issue has hit the shelves, just in time for the sun to finally make an appearance! To celebrate we've got a bumper bunch of giveaways on offer, including a fabulous stitchable cards set from Stampin' Up, a top craft book bundle from Search Press, and charts and kits from Celtic Rose Needlecraft and Sybilla Davis.

To enter any of our giveaways, simply click on the links below:

Saltram House kits from Sybilla Davis

Craft book bundles from Search Press

Vintage-style charts from Celtic Rose Needlecraft

Sweet Threads kits from Stampin' Up

It may still be freezing out there, but we're here to brighten up your day with a bumper batch of giveaways! If you're a baking fan, don't miss the chance to win this fab cake pops starter kit from Panduro Hobby. We've also got tickets to the Creative Crafts shows in Manchester and Shepton Mallet, and golf sporting scenes kits from Heritage Crafts. Good luck!

Manchester Creative Crafts Show

Shepton Mallet Creative Crafts Show

Cake Pops Starter Kits

Golf Sporting Scenes Kits

Prize Crossword

Our March issue is now on sale, and we've got a bumper bunch of giveaways for you to get your hands on! Replenish your craft stash with a gorgeous bundle from Fantastic Ribbons, or get your stitching corner all kitted out with an amazing Chrome Slimline Floorlamp from Daylight. If you're after a great gift for Mother's Day, try winning one of Flying Flower's beautiful Meadow Moments bouquets. Or, if you just want to settle down with some stitching, we've got a stunning new kit from Gorjuss up for grabs, courtesy of Bothy Threads.

To enter any of our giveaways, simply click on the links below:

Fantastic Ribbons bundles

Flying Flowers bouquets

Welcome to our final 'Needle Knowhow' feature. We hope you've enjoyed these monthly features, hosted by industry leaders John James Needles.

Last month we covered Quilting needles, but this month to round-up this collaborative online feature with a bang we're filling you in on everything about Household needles.

* For your chance to WIN the ENTIRE SET of Pebbles, scroll down to enter our final competition!

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This month, we're focusing on Household needles.

As a perfect starter kit, this bring pink Household Pebble (ref: JJP10300) contains the most popular types of needle's used in general sewing. There's a total of 12 needles in an assortment of sizes and varients, from sharps to darners. A must-have for any work box!

What are the most popular types of needle?

(A) Sharps are the most common hand sewing needles found in the home and are used for general sewing. They're also the most popular needle used by dressmakers around the world. Their small round eyes provides additional strength to the needles during the sewing process.

(B) Another really popular type of needle is the Darner. Short Darners are sometimes referred to as Cotton Darners and are commonly used in the art of mending and darning. They have long eyes making them easy to thread, especially when using yarn and mending cotton.

Both of these needles are available to purchase in a Household Assorted pack or under their own varient...

Welcome to our fourth 'Needle Knowhow' feature.

Last month we covered everything you need to know about delicate beading needles, but this month we're filling you in on a slightly larger range called chenille needles.

We've got two  features to share with you yet, as industry leaders John James Needles present all the technical advice and information you'll ever need.

* Plus, each month we're giving away the ENTIRE SET of Pebbles to one lucky reader!

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This month, we're focusing on chenille needles. As a perfect starter kit, this misty grey Pebble (ref: JJP18882) contains 6 chenille needles in sizes 18 - 22, but don't take our word for it. Scroll down to find out more about the chenille family.

What is a chenille needle?

Chenille needles are part of the embroidery needle range and are typically used for embroidery using yarn, twisted yarn and crewel wool, hence the name crewel embroidery.

How can I tell if my needle is a chenille needle?

The chenille needle is identical in size to the tapestry needle (the length and diameter are the same) but instead of a blunt round point, the chenille needle has a sharp point. You'll notice is has a large eye which is particularly useful for allowing the yarn to be threaded easily.

When should I be using a chenille needle?

These needles are designed to be used when embroidering on coarse and heavy fabrics, especially when creating Jacobean work. They're ideal for embroidery or appliqué work on chunky sweaters, for example.

You might find some people use them for sewing knitted and crochet pieces together, however it's worth taking note that care must be taken when doing so because the sharp point could split the fibres.​

What size chenille needle do I need?

Usage really depends on the openness of the fabric to be used. Size 13 and 14 are the lergest in the chenille family and are designed to be used with heavy fabrics, but the most popular are 16, 18, 20 and 22.

Welcome to our third 'Needle Knowhow' feature.

Last month we covered everything you need to know about embroidery needles, but this month we're going crazy for ebellishments with this special beading feature.

We've got three more features to share with you yet, as industry leaders John James Needles present all the technical advice and information you'll ever need - so don't forget to check back next month!

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This month, we're focusing on beading needles, so scroll down and test your knowledge!

What is a beading needle?

Beading needles have been designed to make it easdier when threading the smallest seed bead or bugle bead and attaching it to your work. They are commonly used for bead embroidery and as the name suggests are also used in the art of applying beads or sequins to freestyle embroidery work.

They are the finest needles offered within the hand sewing needle industry, designed for the sewing anthusiast.

How can I tell if my needle is a beading needle?

Beading needles have very fine diameters and this reflects on the size of the eye, which can be extremly small. They are desgined to make it easdier when threading the smallest seed bead or bugle bead.

The needles are made from the finest wire, in fact, each size of beading needle from John James are made from different diameters of wire, making them very unique - and very fragile. They should be handled with tender loving care, any additional strength placed on a beading needle can cause it to snap.

Which size beading needle do I need?

Beading needles are available in sizes 10, 12, 13 and 15, but traditionally the most popular sizes are 10 and 12 which  are also recommended for the beginner to use. If you're looking to use a beading needle in the art of jewellery making, then size 13 and 15 are likely to be most suited.

If your a beginner, you could invest a dreamy turquoise beading Pebble (code JJP10503)  at the top of this post, which includes 4 beading needles - 2 x size 10 and 2 x size 12.

Here are a few more beading needles you may discover:

1. Short beading needles, sometimes referred to as Ballpoint Bead Emboidery needles are idea for applying beads or sequins to canvas work. Their blunt tips mean that they easily pass through the canvas without splitting the fibres.

2. Curved beading needles are ideal for the art of box making when using fine fabrics such as silk or its equivalent. They come in size 10 and are manually curved during the manufacturing process.

3. Short beading needles with sharp points (offered in sizes 10 and 12) are shorter than the standard beading needles but have sharp points so they can pass through denser fabrics.

4. Long beading needles, which are only available in size 12, are extra long (76mm long to be precise!) and come in envelope packs containing 25 needles or in a bulk purchases of 1,000 needles.

Bid farewell to the winter and welcome the spring with a visit to the Country Living Magazine Spring Fair.

From 21 – 25 March 2012, The Business Design Centre (in Islington, London) will play host to 400 exhibitors heralding the start of the spring with their new product ranges and lots of demonstrations and craft workshops to get involved in.  Ooh, our favourite.

Visit www.countrylivingfair.com or call 0844 848 0160 to order your tickets today and take advantage of a special advance ticket price of £11.50 (usually £16.00) by quoting code CLSPRING3 when you order.

Or, enter our exciting competiton to win a FREE pair of tickets! We've got three pairs to giveaway, so make sure you enter the competition (using the keyword SPRING) before 5th March to be in with a chance. 

We've been hosting a week of competitions to celebrate turning 20 this year and now it's time for the big finale! *Deep breath*

We've giving one lucky reader the chance to win £250 worth of Emma Bridgewater designer pottery as the final competition in our week-long online party.
(Enter keyword: COMP7) What a fab giveaway!

If you win, you'll be able to pick your favourite Emma Bridgwater pottery to the value of £250 - from any of her fabulous designer ranges. There's everything from hearts and flowers to tractors and Diamond Jubilee designs to choose from.

Visit www.emmabridgewater.co.uk to take a peek and start your very own wish-list. We couldn't resist.

CrossStitcher issue 250 goes on sale 22nd February and not only is it our 20th birthday, but it's also our 250th issue in print.

With Easter and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee just around the corner, we've got lots to celebrate so join the party and lookout for our pretty Easter cover on the newstand later this week!

Psst! All the competitions featured this week are open until Friday 30th March, so if you've only just discovered our online party don't worry, there's plenty of time to get clicking and enter them all. Good luck!

To celebrate turning 20 this year, we're hosing a week-long online party with not one, but seven competitions for you to enter. Oh my!

First up, to satisfy your cravings for charts, here's your chance to win a trio of cross stitching bookazines (Enter keyword: COMP1) produced by the teams at CrossStitcher and Cross Stitch Collection magazines.

If you win, you'll receive a copy of Irresistible Gifts to Cross Stitch, The Best of Margaret Sherry and The Ultimate Maria Diaz Collection bookazines. That should be enough designs to keep you going for a while.

Tomorrow we'll be giving away some beautiful papercrafting supplies from DoCrafts Portobello Road collection. Perfect for making a start on some celebratory Jubilee designs. Check back tomorrow for another chance to win...