Hydrangea on a Bench

A bouquet of hydrangeas and anemones in soft blue and pink tones, resting on a wooden bench beside a straw hat: a design by Coraline Bäcker whose gentle shading comes from blending the 24 stranded cotton colours, following a large-square chart that is easy on the eyes even if you have not stitched much before.

Everything needed for the stitching is in the kit, threads included; the frame and mount shown in the photo are not included, nor is a hoop, though one is handy to keep the fabric taut. On 27 count fabric cross stitch is usually worked over two threads with one or two strands, depending on the coverage you prefer. Once finished, it makes a generously sized picture for a living room or bedroom.