Among the Lilies

Two sparrows pause on a garden tap surrounded by freshly opened white lilies: a nature subject with plenty of shading, worked in counted cross stitch from the chart. The olive fabric is left partly unstitched and acts as the background to the pale petals, so there is no need to cover the whole surface.

With 39 colours it is a project that calls for careful chart reading, best suited to stitchers who have already completed a counted design or two. A hoop or frame and a small pair of embroidery scissors make the work easier. The frame shown in the photo is not included: once finished, the piece can be framed or mounted on a board.