Cross stitchers - where do you buy stuff? Newbie/ returning to cross stitching

[Suddengeekgirl]

I did loads of cross stitching when I was a teen (nerd alert!)

I fancy getting back into it but the kits all look so twee!

Can you point me in the right direction for either a kit that isn't fluffy kittens or somewhere to buy the bits at a reasonable price? :)

I buy my threads an aida from sewandso.co.uk. I get patterns from Cross Stitcher magazine. It's really not naff like it used to be. This months for example has a fab stamps one that I'm going to make into a cushion.

The other magazines can be naff so look out for the right one.

Look out for Emily Peacock and Felicity Hall (you can find their patterns on Pinterest and I believe they have their own websites where you can buy kits).

I have just completed this one for my DS. You can buy back issues in digital format (zinio) and often find old issues on eBay.