Miracles

A fluffy long-haired cat sitting in the snow, with a small chickadee resting on its head like a hat: the warm tones of the fur stand out against the blues and whites of the background, for a watercolour-illustration effect. Twenty-two shades are enough to render the softness of the coat without making the work too demanding.

The design is worked by counting stitches on the Aida following the symbol chart, which the Saga electronic version also lets you read on a computer or tablet. No hoop, scissors or frame are included: a hoop or frame is worth having to keep the fabric taut. The tall, narrow format suits framing particularly well.