Paradise

Rachel Froud's macaw portrait, from the Menagerie collection: the plumage is stitched in cross stitch while the pink background comes already printed on the Aida, so the work grows quickly and all the stitching goes into the bird itself.

The kit uses full cross stitches only — no fractional stitches and no backstitch — which makes it manageable even with limited experience, although there are plenty of shades to follow on the chart. The threads arrive pre-sorted on an organiser, so you only need to add a hoop or frame and a small pair of scissors. Once finished, the piece suits framing (frame not included).