Who are your favourite designers?

[nachosmiley]

I was thinking about this a while ago and it would be interesting to know which designers are firm favourites with the 'hard core' stitching community, well not that I think 'hard core' is the best description but you know what I mean 'proper' stitchers with hoards of stash and an inherent NEED to stitch !

Mine are (in no particular order)

Nora Corbett
Martina Rosenberg (Chatelaine)
Joan Elliott
Teresa Wentzler (even though I haven't stitched one yet I love her designs)
Lesley Teare
Saifhon Borisuthipandit
Brooke Nolan
Mabel Figworthy
Trish Burr (have a book but haven't been brave enough to try needlepainting just yet)
Firewing Designs

I have probably missed loads off this list that I can't think of straight away...so apologies to all those talented designers whom I have missed.

I would be interested to hear who your faves are though...maybe it will open me up to some more stash acquisition......not that I need any.....but you know how it is!

[Fizzbw]

Joan Elliot my especial favourite, but I also like a lot of John Claytons work and Peter Underhill. Wee little stitches, Lizzie*Kate.

I have loads by Skitzzzzz and she's wonderful, and Mabel of course. I'm sure I could think of more but it's late!!

Niki xxx

[nasreen]

I have two designs by Barbara Baatz Hillman and I think her work is beautiful.

[thegrindre]

Me...

[LastingAllure]

I stitch mainly:

Nora Corbett
Joan Elliott
Paula Vhann (sp?)
Barbara Batzz
Teresa Wentzler

And that's about it unless something really jumps out at me! Ill only buy a magazine if one of the above designers is in it and I can reason with myself lol.

Oh I love Nora and Joan though, I belong to their Facebook groups and both are very active in the groups, posting on people's projects and listening to what people want. Joan will help with conversions for her designs as well and Nora gives you teaser pictures for designs she is working on!

[rcperryls]

Teresa Wentzler was my first favorite designer and I have done several of hers and loved them. I did a lot of Paula Vaughn also and Barbara Baatz but except for these two I never thought about designers just subjects for afghans.

Now I have discovered among others these HAED designers: Rachel Anderson, Irena Garmashova, Sandra Kuck, Lesley Ivory, Randal Spangler, Matt Stewart and recently Anya Kai and Cynthia Schmidt.
Also Lizzie Kate for smaller patterns and absolutely Mabel Figworthy for beautiful Hardanger patterns.

Carole

[Juut]

my favorites are

LHN
Dimensions
Haed
Blackbird Design
Haandarbejdets Fremme (really like working with Blomstergarn)

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

One of my all time favourites would have to be Martina Rosenberg (Chatelaine)! Current other favourites include (but are not necessary limited to) the following:

The Primitive Hare
The Sampler Girl
The Drawn Thread
Joan Elliott
Lizzie*Kate
CCN
LHN
Just Nan
Ink Circles

[thisisadiana]

One of my all time favourites would have to be Martina Rosenberg (Chatelaine)!

I just looked up this lady on your advice and her stuff is absolutely phenomenal! Where do you buy kits/charts from her? The only place I can find is the European cross stitch company, but their prices are insane (221 dollars????).

As for me, I don't have a favourite designer per say, but I do love so much of what the company Maia puts out.

[Ravenfaerie]

Mine are

Nora Corbett
Joan Elliott
Passione Ricamo
and Gill Aldus of Dark Side of the Moon.

[vanessanjf]

Mine is Skitzzzzz and HAED designer Randal Spangler

[crosstitcher1]

No favorites here. I just do what I like on the charts.

HAPPY STITCHING IN STITCHING LAND.

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

One of my all time favourites would have to be Martina Rosenberg (Chatelaine)!

I just looked up this lady on your advice and her stuff is absolutely phenomenal! Where do you buy kits/charts from her? The only place I can find is the European cross stitch company, but their prices are insane (221 dollars????).

As for me, I don't have a favourite designer per say, but I do love so much of what the company Maia puts out.

The reason why the kit price is high is because the materials Martina chooses to use for her designs are mainly silks along with beads and crystals which up the price a lot! European Cross Stitch is the only place where you can buy Martina's charts as PDFs - or if it is a new design you can sign up for it at her site. As I am in the UK it is easier without the risk of customs charges, to buy materials for Chatelaines piece by piece - but if you are in the US, European Cross Stitch is the cheapest place to buy the materials if you can afford to part with the money all at once (you can purchase kits on layaway). Martina always offers a DMC conversion where she can for an alternative to expensive silks - or some stitchers do their own conversions using hand dyed cottons (threadworx, GASTs, WDW etc).

[gparr]

Amanda,
Is it safe to assume that Martina's kit threads/silks are top quality? I have my eye on a couple of her designs but am always leery of kits, fearing I'll end up stitching with cheap materials.
Gary

[thisisadiana]

One of my all time favourites would have to be Martina Rosenberg (Chatelaine)!

I just looked up this lady on your advice and her stuff is absolutely phenomenal! Where do you buy kits/charts from her? The only place I can find is the European cross stitch company, but their prices are insane (221 dollars????).

As for me, I don't have a favourite designer per say, but I do love so much of what the company Maia puts out.

The reason why the kit price is high is because the materials Martina chooses to use for her designs are mainly silks along with beads and crystals which up the price a lot! European Cross Stitch is the only place where you can buy Martina's charts as PDFs - or if it is a new design you can sign up for it at her site. As I am in the UK it is easier without the risk of customs charges, to buy materials for Chatelaines piece by piece - but if you are in the US, European Cross Stitch is the cheapest place to buy the materials if you can afford to part with the money all at once (you can purchase kits on layaway). Martina always offers a DMC conversion where she can for an alternative to expensive silks - or some stitchers do their own conversions using hand dyed cottons (threadworx, GASTs, WDW etc).

Good to know there's an alternative,though I think I'd still be struggling just to buy myself the chart of the one I want (Baroque Gardens). One day, when I have lots of money....

[Rose]

I have no one designer that I go to on a regular basis like most things in my life I am very eclectic in my taste and since I stitch most things as a present all tastes are very different.

Now then if you ask what I like to stitch that would definitely be

[bookknurd]

I'm kind of like Rose. My taste varies greatly (as it does with most things), and most of the things I'm stitching right now are gifts for other people.

I like working on a variety of styles, sizes, and types of stitching. Keeps me from getting bored with something.

And since I'm relatively new to stitching, I'm really just having fun right now discovering all of the designers out there and their styles.

[stitchingmae]

I'm not picky if i like it I stitch it but I have become very fond of AAN designs. I have one or two here at the house that are on...my next to do list.

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

Amanda,
Is it safe to assume that Martina's kit threads/silks are top quality? I have my eye on a couple of her designs but am always leery of kits, fearing I'll end up stitching with cheap materials.
Gary

Sorry Gary I missed your question! Cindy at European Cross Stitch basically gathers the materials to make up the kits as per Martina's design materials lists - they don't include any DMCs required for the design, but will include the other speciality threads, beads and crystals which are from brands of the very highest quality such as Gloriana, Caron, Dinky Dye etc etc.
HTH

[Stitchinkitty]

Graeme Ross
Indigo Rose
TW
Joan Elliot
P.Buckley Moss
Sampler Cove
Thea Duek
Faby Reilly
Needles Prayse
The Drawn Thread.

Re the Chatelaine designs.Martina uses the best silks-Gloriana.NPi etc.Thats why we need to mortgage the house to get the supplies.I think Vicky Clayton does conversions to her silks.