Butterflies & coneflowers

A strip of meadow in full bloom, with pink coneflowers, yellow daisies and monarch butterflies settling among the leaves: a nature study in Marjolein Bastin's style, full of soft greens and small details such as the caterpillars tucked between the stems.

The design is worked in counted cross stitch on evenweave, usually over two threads with one or two strands of stranded cotton depending on the coverage you prefer; the threads come ready sorted on the organiser, which saves time at the start. Given the width of the design, a scroll frame or a large hoop helps, and it is worth leaving a few extra centimetres of fabric for finishing. A frame is not included.