In 1902 the then president of the USA, Theodore Roosevelt was hunting in Mississippi, and took pity on an injured bear. One shopkeeper got his wife to make a stuffed toy bear, and placed it in the window with a sign naming the toy as ‘Teddy Bear’. He then contacted the president and asked if he could use the name. Since that day teddy bears have been popular with adults and children alike, and so this small designs which you can stitch for a baby birth card or Christening gift is a very useful addition to your cross stitching stash...download a free PDF chart & key here.

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Susan Penny shows you how to create a quick to finish bookmark...

There is nothing nicer than giving a handmade gifts to a friend or family member for their birthday, but often I don’t get myself organised, and end up looking for a quick stitch that can be finished in a couple of evenings..this bookmark idea is very simple to make using a small design from your stash. You will need a piece of 14 count aida 7x14cm (2 3/4x 5 1/2in), felt to back and stranded cotton.

Step 1

Start stitching a small design or alphabet letter of your choice at the top of the aida, and then extend running stitches down the side and across the bottom of the aida. With four squares of unstitched aida outside the design, use a needle to carefully fray the edge by remove one block of aida on all sides.

Step 2

Cut a piece of felt 6mm (3/8in) bigger at the top and sides aida, and 4cm (1 1/2in) at the bottom. Make a paper template for the point at the bottom, and then pin it on the bookmark. Cut the felt into a point,