Leopard

A leopard's face seen up close, the green gaze filling the whole composition: the shading of the fur and the spots comes from 28 colours worked over a white evenweave ground. The threads arrive already sorted on the organiser, so you can follow the chart symbols without hunting for the right skein.

Counted cross stitch on this fabric is usually worked over two threads with two strands of stranded cotton; a frame or hoop helps keep an even tension on a piece of this size. The frame shown in the photo is not included: once finished, wash the work, press it face down and have it mounted, perhaps with a pale mount as in the picture.