Bears in the woods

A brown bear and her cub look out from a bank of daisies; the many shades of fur and the soft foliage background give the finished piece an almost photographic look. With its size and its wide colour range, this is a project for stitchers who are already comfortable with counted cross stitch and with following a chart.

27 count evenweave is usually worked over two threads, so a hoop or frame helps to keep an even tension across such a large area. The threads come ready sorted on the organiser, which makes it easier to keep track of all the close shades. The frame is not included: the finished work is best mounted and framed as a picture.