These cute pooch cards from our June issue (266) are perfect for dog lovers or simply anyone who is animal crackers! To help you achieve a professional finish, we've even designed this printable backing paper.

The fantastic June issue of Cross Stitch Collection is on sale today and as usual it's jam-packed with fabulous designs to stitch! Lesley Teare's colourful chaffinch is perfect for summer, while fans of Joan Elliott's designs will adore her Edwardian Lady.

Plus, we've got part two of the stunning Garden Party scene, pretty cupcake bunting, a single white lily and fun Father's Day cards, as well as the latest news from the stitching world, your letters and plenty of inspiring ideas.

If you're after a quick stitch, you'll love our FREE butterfly chart by Lesley Teare! Download it here.

The fabulous April issue of Cross Stitch Collection goes on sale today! It's packed full of beautiful designs to stitch, amazing giveaways and inspirational ideas. Our chart of the month is Joan Elliott's stunning Victorian Lady - the second in her series of historical ladies.

If you want to start stitching straight away, or you're after a quick stitch, Lesley Teare's pretty flower, which accompanies her spring bird design in this issue, is perfect. Download it for free here.

These patterned puds by Angela Poole are just so funky and fun. Featured in our December issue (217) as our Weekend Workbox, they're quick and easy to stitch, and obviously super-festive too!

The polka dot and floral patterns that Angela has used are very modern and cool, but if you prefer a more traditional look, we've got a special treat for you!

We hope you're enjoying issue 214 of Cross Stitch Collection (on sale until 27 September 2012). There are some really exciting projects for you to get your teeth stuck into, from Joan Elliott's enchanting Dragonfly Fairy, to this fun Scandinavian folk-inspired deer cushion from Lesley Teare. We loved the deer cushion so much, in fact, that we couldn't resist giving you a couple of little floral motifs from the design to use as you please!

In CrossStitcher issue 250, we're going all out for cute spring-like designs to banish those February blues and these adorable animal cards (inspired by the technique of patchwork!) are no exception.

You can use your leftover threads to stitch these little characters up and get creative with brown paper and string to give them a rustic finish. Perfect for patchwork fans and animal lovers alike.

You'll find an owl, hedgehog, snail and tortoise on pages 74 - 77 of CrossStitcher issue 250 - on sale until 20th March.

If you can't wait to get started, you'll be pleased to know we've got this caterpillar design you can download for free!
Click on the chart to download our handy PDF.

Don't forget to send us photos of your finished designs or share them our facebook page and Flickr group.

With Easter just around the corner, we couldn't wait to share with you our stylish oh-so-chic take on bunnies and chick with this beautiful collection by French cross stitch designer and illustrator Tinou le Joly Sénoville from CrossStitcher issue 250.

We asked Tinou to give some traditional Easter motifs a contemporary makeover with pastel shades, cupcakes and cute bunnies and this is what she came up with. Aren't they  beautiful?

Living and working in Paris, Tinou is the creative brain behind the beautifully tempting Sweet Treats cross stitch book (one of our favourites on the office bookshelf) and she's fast becoming one of our favourite overseas designers too.

You'll find designs to create everything from napkins and cupcake decorations to cards and cake bands, in CrossStitcher issue 250 - on sale until 20th March.

As a special treat, you can download this cute Easter chick (left) and get a started on creating your very own perfect Easter setting.

Turn to page 22 of our latest issue to see the rest of the designs...

* CrossStitcher issue 250 - celebrating 20 years *

Cross Stitch Collection are celebrating all things British this month with the first of a new three-part series by Deb Lester and Sandy Littlejohns.

The first part of the design is featured in issue 207 (on sale right now!) and pays homage to the 1948 Austerity Games. Celebrated in the post-war economic climate, neighbours and families joined together in the streets for a good old fashioned knees-up with bunting, cakes and good old fashioned street games...

If you bought your copy of CrossStitcher issue 247 from Tesco's last month, you'll have noticed an exclusive little freebie packed within your magazine. 

The special little A4 supplement (left) features a contemporary welcome banner by Helen Philipps - perfect for welcoming the new year.

To get you started, download this small heart sachet design and try your hand at a mini piece of blackwork. Go on, try it.

Psst! If that takes your fancy, here's a free blackwork project courtesy of The Making Spot.

It's that time of year, when you start clearing the tinsel and making way for the new year to begin (we're not going to lie, our desks don't look like this either) and this uber-retro desk set by Angela Poole is just the thing to get you started on re-vamping your workspace.

Download a back stitch version of the telephone, the traditional quill, fountain pen or the set of handy typewriter buttons for FREE and get started on your workspace in time for January!

The rest of the designs (including the amazing duck-egg blue typewriter!) were featured in CrossStitcher's January issue (248).

Until then, why not use the cute typewriter buttons to start making labels for your files?

Or stitch-up a traditional quill in back stitch to make a monochrome address book?

Never has it been so cool to be organised...