Titmouses

A group of titmice worked in counted cross stitch on the dark blue ground of Zweigart Aida, where the pale tones of the feathers stand out far more than they would on white fabric. The long, narrow format suits a horizontal picture, a panel to hang above a door, or a cushion front.

Fabric, threads, needle, chart and instructions are all in the kit: you only need scissors and, if you like to keep the fabric taut, a hoop or frame. When stitching on a dark ground, good light helps a lot, and slipping a sheet of white paper under the fabric makes the holes much easier to count.