I've noticed recently quite a few craft bloggers, mainly
Hillary, getting into cross stitch. When I think back to the years (12 in total, I think) spent designing cross stitch day in, day out, I wonder exactly how many cross stitch designs I must have completed. I have no idea.
For those who are newer to this blog, my first job after leaving University was as a Needlecraft Designer for Coats Crafts UK, chances are any cross stitch, tapestry or embroidery kit with an 'Anchor' brand label made between 1994 and 2006, I will, to a varying degree, have been involved with the design.
There are some of my designs still around,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__EsHQ60FjVj0iov4kRPO3Ts1gXhK5obkccAnNV4v5VYbTCT8z-dty02HEQVXk9z-yqNZaAPmO03RRGZejYJ0rwH04CzzsiKDW7cNajvGcvYlDY8XxUlUQY1IuwyIdqrcjV0b1qn81HA/s400/owl.jpg)
the Owl was probably the best selling kit I ever did, and once designs retire from the range, they quite often pop up again in magazines.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55LdacQgk5MP01PojALcMxAAnTfoRTW9pR21EcE4Ne5LOs_JN-kheamjsVNi8kRD98FrtEU-UtYgur47AF-4ZbXrsTx1gfVQ_TNE94FQmOyqG0O0I2xu-ap-d2gonLtvhhO7lhOqJ4Qg/s400/kingfishersmall.jpg)
I left Coats when we relocated from one part of the UK to another, my parting gift was this little gem.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_688n6J3zLFHZvYRJteE9FFbV0uQN63y6h3Z0sHNE2tVcIWequg9wyKV942dfseyWOxo5EcwJT3KJRMbTomkGkyZ1dv4Sb7zgWC0O9lcDfEJwkQHZZRAAfxAeANAMYEWIUBsApgSNCw/s400/flush.jpg)
One of my first designs for Coats was a set of 3 miniature victorian style stitchettes, one was of a bath, one was a jug and bowl, and the third was of a toilet. Two were discontinued after a couple of seasons, but the toilet remained for a good few years. Once it was also discontinued, it became my ambition to get a loo back in there,
Edited to add - No, I didn't stitch any of these designs, Coats have a team of outworkers who do all the sewing. The design team churn out designs at such a fast rate, there was no time for any cross stitch!