The Cross Stitch Guild
The Cross Stitch Guild was formed by well known designer/author Jane Greenoff in March 1996. It quickly became a worldwide organisation with a committed and enthusiastic body of members.
The CSG deals with cross stitch and all other forms of counted embroidery, such as Hardanger and canvaswork.
CSG members receive a magazine with projects, technical advice and information, and special offers. On the website, we have the Stitchers' Market, the ideal place to go shopping!
In the UK, the Cross Stitch Guild runs very popular classes and weekends, available to members at a discount. And, our Retail Partners offer discounts to members in their shops and, where appropriate, on their websites.
Jane Greenoff, Managing Director
Jane Greenoff and the Itch to Stitch
This is the title of Jane’s first ever counted catalogue and was born out of a conversation with her publisher after a frank and meaningful discussion about some of the photography to be included in her 20th needlework book! Jane was, as usual, being a bit picky about some of the pictures to be included in The New Cross Stitchers Bible (published by David & Charles in November 2007) Jane said ‘they do not make me itch to stitch’ so they will have to be done again. The first Cross Stitcher's Bible (David & Charles) was to date, Jane’s most successful title and is a phenomenal worldwide best seller in more than ten languages.
The new book, completely revised with new projects, stitches and techniques, is spiral bound and the pictures do make you itch to stitch!
Jane Greenoff is largely self-taught, having discovered cross stitch after giving up a 15-year career in nursing to look after her son, James. At that time, in 1982, she and her husband Bill moved to a Cotswold cottage and looked for something appropriate to decorate the walls. A neighbour introduced Jane to counted cross stitch and unaffordable antique samplers, so in 1983 she decided to design and stitch her own. Starting with a borrowed drawing board resting on two house bricks, fine marker pens and plenty of Tippex, Jane designed actually using the symbols straight on to the graph paper.
Within six months she was marketing her first commercial kits, having discovered a gap in the market for authentic English designs of local Cotswold buildings. Thus the Inglestone Collection kit company was born, and Jane had to learn rapidly to become a businesswoman as well as a cross-stitch designer. From its early beginnings with only £25 in the bank, the company has grown into an internationally successful business - a major factor in this success being the financial acumen and sales talents of ex-banker Bill Greenoff who joined the company full time in 1990.
Jane still recalls walking the streets of Cotswold towns, pushing James in his bulging buggy weighed down with kits and samples of chart packs. This practice continued until her financial wizard, Neal Dennis, made the point that a business cannot grow if one person attempts to do it all! He pointed out that if she continued to design and make the kits, wrap and post them and walked the streets selling the ideas, the business would simply fold. Initially, Jane employed agents to sell her products until Bill, her husband became even more involved and after leaving Lloyds Bank, travelled the countryside promoting and selling Inglestone kits and products.
Jane's prolific writing career began in 1987 (coinciding with the birth of daughter Louise), the first book being Cross Stitch Castles and Cottages, based on the houses for which Jane was already well known. Jane can recall the life / work balance dilemma very clearly when referring back to this period of her life. The very idea of having a book published meant a great deal to Jane who had never imagined such a thing – and the birth of her second surprise baby girl happened just as she was about to start writing the manuscript. She talks of learning to type whilst feeding a colicky baby with a shudder, but the book was delivered on time and the business still flourished. Jane can remember a carrier arriving at the house and finding her on the floor with the baby in one arm and bubble wrapping stitched pictures in the other whilst fending off the irate midwife who was attempting to get her back to bed. Although twenty years later, Cross Stitch Castles and Cottages is out of print, Jane's publisher David & Charles published The Best of Jane Greenoff's Cross Stitch which includes many of the most popular designs from this and other books in her backlist.
The Cross Stitch Guild (now often referred to as the Counted Stitch Guild)
Jane Greenoff founded the Cross Stitch Guild in March 1996, in order to provide an organisation specifically for cross stitch and counted thread addicts. Four years later, in 2000, the Cross Stitch Guild published its first book Cross Stitching on Linen: Favourite Flowers and launched its own website. Members receive Stitch That! with Jane Greenoff, with exclusive projects and charts/patterns (5 issues per year), discount on all purchases from the Stitchers' Market (online) and our printed catalogue Itch to Stitch plus special offers and Members' treats. Members have access to the CSG Members Studio by using their membership number as a password where we include our thread colour converter, stitch diagrams, free charts, technical information, articles, and exclusive members' treats to buy.
Jane's Cross Stitch Designer software, the best selling software of its kind, is highly regarded by top designers such as John Clayton, the late Jo Verso and Sue Hawkins. Sue joined Jane in the production of a TV series for Sky Television (Stitch Perfect), now available as a DVD.
In addition, Jane is in constant demand for personal appearances, classes and workshops. She has a regular column in both Cross Stitch Collection (Future Publishing) and Needlework & Cross Stitch published by Herrschners in the USA.
Bill Greenoff, Company Secretary
Bill, co-owner and partner, is an essential part of all the Greenoff businesses. He helps in all areas, particularly using his banking experience to keep an eye on the sums! Bill is also responsible for retail sales and key customers.
When not working, he loves to play his piano, do cryptic crosswords, walk Bumble, their bearded collie, and watch cricket!
Sue Hawkins, Technical Director
Sue Hawkins began her working life with an antique dealer whose speciality was seventeenth century English embroidery. Under expert tuition, she learned to restore and care for these treasured textiles, and now they form the inspiration for her own designs.
Sue's kit company 'Needleworks' offers designs in canvaswork, cross stitch and crewel embroidery. Kits are now very widely available in the UK, particularly at Liberty, as well as in Europe, Australia and the USA.
Sue's first book was Heirlooms in Needlepoint (Charles Letts, 1994). There followed 55 Flower Designs for Cross Stitch Canvaswork and Crewel, co-written with Jane Greenoff, and A Victorian Floral Alphabet (both David and Charles). Her fourth title Crewel Embroidery (2001) was followed by two books on miniature needlecraft: Dolls House DIY: Rugs and Carpets/Embroidered Projects.
Sue teaches embroidery workshops at her home in the Cotswolds and at many other venues, including national shows and Cross Stitch Guild events. Her designs and articles appear regularly in needlecraft magazines, and her expertise makes her the ideal person to oversee the technical accuracy of all our stitching information.
Sue's latest book 'Heavenly Handmade Bags' published by David & Charles is a delicious collection of pretty little bags. She uses all sorts of techniques including knitting, canvaswork and embroidery.
Daphne Cording
Daphne has worked for me here at the Cross Stitch Guild since the beginning of time and for The Inglestone Collection before that! Our workrooms have included the spare bedroom at our old cottage, a farm ewe milking pen, and the room above a flower shop. She refers to coming to the Pinks Barn Studio as hard labour and I have no idea how I would manage without her. I can have nightmares about it! Daphne works behind the scenes making up the kits and materials packs and has the most extraordinary memory…. If you need to now what is in a particular pack just ask Daphne as she is my local Google.
Vivienne Wells
Vivienne was formerly my Editor at David & Charles and published my first book. After spending a year in Ghana, returned to work as a freelance editor and author adviser. She has been the Editorial Director of the CSG since its formation in 1996 and is responsible for our lovely magazine Stitch That with Jane Greenoff. Vivienne is one of the Directors of Rainbow Disks who produce beautiful CD Rom books. She lives in Exeter with her husband and two working cocker spaniels.
