One of the great joys of my work has been finding good people to work with – and Cottage Garden Threads are one of my favourite collaborators and friends. As an early champion of their beautiful threads (and an explorer of the innovative things we stitchers can do with them!), it’s heartwarming to see how they’ve grown as stitchers all over the world are learning how special they are.
Behind the scenes, CGT continue to be personal supporters and friends, and were first on the phone to offer support as we’re all navigating these trying times for small businesses. As a result, CGT have created a new Designer Program – as a way of supporting designers and the cross-stitch community.
This program is in it’s early days, and I’m very grateful to be a part of it. Starting with some new colour conversions I’ve created, CGT will be selling threadpacks that will include a small commission for me, if you use an affiliate link. I’ve always been more excited to use Cottage Garden Threads out of a love of their unique colours and creative possibilities, and I’m really touched by their generosity and support with this new program.
For now, we’ll be starting with a threadpack for the new “Hope is the thing with feathers” design (available in the Autumn 2025 edition of Just Cross Stitch Magazine). I’ve used four colours from the “Bookshelf” Edit, my collaboration with CGT. If you use my link (CLICK HERE) to purchase, I will receive a small commission.
I’ve also long been asked to convert as many patterns as I can into CGT. While many of my designs use them, it’s been fun to re-visit some of my older designs and re-imagine them using CGT. I’ve done this with “Be Merry” and “Be Bright” – two of my most popular Christmas designs.
Now available in a single PDF, these designs now include a CGT conversion (as well as the original Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Arts and Classic Colorworks model version, and a complete DMC conversion). The CGT palette I’ve created will stitch up beautifully for these designs, and work as a handy palette for lots of Christmas stitching. You can find the palette available from CGT through this link (CLICK HERE).
I’ve also had the fun of bringing back an early antique reproduction that I love, “Manon’s Garden”. Reproduced from a gorgeous antique French sampler in my collection, it was a joy to create a new CGT palette for it (CLICK HERE), which combines some of our “Bookshelf” colours, with both old and new CGT colours. I’m dying to re-stitch it using the new palette myself!
I love this design – it reminds me of a walled garden next to a chateau – full of flower beds, resplendent flowerpots and a couple of mischevious birds. I hope you enjoy stitching it, and do show me progress picks with the new palette – I can’t wait to see!
The new PDF version of the chart contains the Cottage Garden Threads conversion, as well as the original overdyes and DMC conversion. Please note that this pattern does contain one motif that is stitched one-over-one (the purple blooms over the initial “M”). If you prefer not to stitch over-one or want to use Aida, you could add your initials there instead, or a date, or a favourite word to personalise it. Alternatively, you could re-stitch some of the existing motifs from elsewhere in the pattern, in that space.
I hope that you enjoy exploring these new palettes, and find some new colours to brighten your day. As mentioned, I receive a small commission from the sales if you use my links – and I will always be completely transparent with these going forward. My thanks to Katie and the team at CGT for their friendship, support and innovation. It’s by working together that this community is strengthened.
Mojo Stitches 