Summer Day

A corner of summer in the countryside: a cottage with a red roof set among cypresses and hills, a wheelbarrow spilling over with flowers and, all around, grasses, wild blooms, redcurrants and cherries. The design is built from blocks of colour on a white ground, with open areas that keep it light and make it stitch up faster than the picture suggests.

Work it in counted cross stitch on 14 count Aida, usually with two strands of stranded cotton, following the colour chart with symbols; a few backstitch lines help define the finer stems. The threads come ready sorted by colour on the organiser, so you can start straight away. You will also need a hoop or frame and, once finished, a picture frame, which is not included.