The Accolade (E. Leighton)

The knighting scene painted by Edmund Blair Leighton, rendered in counted cross stitch with a wide palette that captures the drape of the fabrics and the light of the original. The design is worked from the chart onto 16-count Aida, a fine weave that rewards good lighting and an unhurried pace.

The kit provides fabric, threads, needle, chart and instructions; a hoop or frame, scissors and a picture frame are chosen separately. For a piece this size, a large hoop or a scroll frame makes the work easier to handle. Once finished, it is meant to be framed as a picture.