Best friends

A quiet family scene: a fair-haired boy bends his face towards his newborn brother, the two of them held inside a pale blue oval that leaves the light fabric around them bare. The design relies on warm skin tones and soft blues, with gentle shading achieved from a short colour list.

The work is stitched by counting the squares of the Aida, following the large-square chart; alongside full crosses there are half cross stitches and a few long stitches for the finer outlines. A hoop and small embroidery scissors are handy. The frame is not included: once washed and pressed face down, the finished piece makes a lovely new-baby gift or nursery picture.