Steady Neddie!

A stocky pony seen from behind, with its young rider in a red hat and an 'L' plate on her jumper: one of Norman Thelwell's cartoons translated into cross stitch, where the soft browns of the coat and tail do most of the work. The threads come already sorted by colour, so you can start stitching straight away from the chart.

As well as cross stitch, the design uses back stitch for the outlines and French knots for small details, both covered in the instructions. A hoop or frame and a small pair of scissors make the work easier. The frame is not included: the tall, narrow format suits a simple moulding, for the house or the tack room.