Holiday Hounds

A line-up of festive hounds in red hats, reindeer antlers, scarves and patterned jumpers: a cheerful Christmas piece in a long, narrow format that suits a shelf or the space above a door. It is worked in counted cross stitch on the blue Aida, with back stitch for the outlines, while beads and snowflake sequins catch the light like real snow.

The woolly Lana threads create the fur: brush them up with the Velcro supplied and the dogs turn soft and shaggy. The frame is not included, and neither are hoop and scissors; for a piece this wide a large hoop or a scroll frame makes stitching easier.