Feathers and Fashion

A wintry portrait in a tall, narrow format: a little bird bundled up in a red hat and scarf among berries, holly and a small lit lantern. The shape suits a slim frame to hang beside a door or a window, and makes a Christmas decoration you can bring out year after year.

It is worked in counted cross stitch on white Aida, following the colour chart with symbols; the threads come already sorted and numbered on the organiser, so there is no matching to do. With its many shades and plenty of bare fabric around the design, a hoop or frame, not included, helps keep the tension even. The frame in the photo is not part of the kit.