African Lady

A portrait built on strong colour: the blue of the veil and the orange of the shawl stand out against the black fabric, which is left unstitched and gives depth to the skin tones. A few details, such as the strands of the earrings, are worked in long stitch; everything else is plain cross stitch following the large-square chart.

Stitching on black calls for good light and, ideally, a hoop or frame to keep the fabric taut, which makes the holes easier to find. A frame is not included; once finished, the piece looks its best with a dark mount that echoes the background. The tall format and 29 shades make this a long project rather than a technically difficult one.