Inspirations Magazine Issue #132 | Out Now!

SPOILER ALERT

If you do not wish to see the projects from the new issue of Inspirations magazine #132 before your copy arrives, please skip this next article!

It’s time to reveal all the wonder and joy of the brand-new issue of Inspirations magazine, #132. This year we have gone all out celebrating Christmas by including a cracking line-up of festive projects.

Before we begin, to help us get into the spirit of merriment, let’s sing a very famous carol together:

Deck the halls with boughs of holly Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la 'Tis the season to be jolly Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la Don we now our gay apparel Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Great singing everyone, well done!

And in case you missed it, the word troll, from the era this carol was written in, means to ‘sing heartily’ not get nasty on your keyboard. Maybe we need to bring that definition back!

Now it just so happens that the theme for issue #132 is ‘Deck the Halls’ so we thought it would be helpful to give some practical applications for each project from this magnificent Christmas spectacle along the way.

For The Tree

There is nothing as spectacular or satisfying as decorating a tree with ornaments you have stitched yourself. This issue gives you three ways to fill the branches. Swan Lake by Anna Scott is the cover star for good reason - a majestic stumpwork and goldwork swan gliding across a silver lake. All that Glitters by Carolyn Stanton brings a trio of beaded, crystal-tipped ornaments in warm red and cool white, each one catching the light differently.

And for some delicate elegance, A White Christmas by Di Kirchner offers a set of Aemilia Ars needlelace snowflakes, proof that white does its own kind of sparkling.

For The Mantle

Christmas Glow by Wendy Innes was made for exactly this spot - three goldwork candles nestled in holly and pine, framed and ready to sit above the fireplace looking like it's always belonged there.

For Counting Down

Twenty-four days, twenty-four gorgeous ornaments. Advent Calendar by Helen Richman hoops up a whole menagerie of animals in Santa hats, each one numbered ready for the Christmas Day countdown.

For Festival Apparel

Very Merry Cherries by Naomi Small turns a pair of glossy needlelace cherries into a brooch you can wear well past December, silk thread doing a very convincing impression of fruit.

For The Hall

A Bush Bouquet by Tania Cohen takes the season somewhere distinctly Australian - Lilly Pilly berries, wax flowers and eucalypt in soft wool threads, with a ladybird and a very hungry caterpillar hiding among the leaves.

Inside Inspirations magazine issue #132 you’ll also enjoy three fabulous feature articles.

The Red Dress tells the story of a single embroidered garment, started by UK artist Kirstie Macleod in 2009 and stitched since by 380 embroiderers across 51 countries.

The Calico Garment Initiative follows on from the Red Dress with collaborative calico garments now being made by communities worldwide.

Stitching History takes you inside the Worshipful Company of Broderers, a guild dedicated to recreating pre-17th century embroidery and dress.

And don't miss this issue's Loose Threads column either, where Ansie van der Walt makes the case that sewing is nothing short of a magic trick.

Get ready to deck the halls, trim the tree and don the brooch, as you embrace all the merriment that is Inspirations magazine issue #132.

This gorgeous new issue is out now and available to purchase using the link below.