Birth Sampler - Kitten and Friends

A soft, cheerful birth sampler: an elephant with balloons, a tabby kitten, a pink giraffe and a few flowers frame the central space where you stitch the baby's name and date of birth, using the alphabet and numbers given in the chart.

It is worked in counted cross stitch on 14 count Aida, whose clear weave is easy to follow even with little experience, usually with two strands of stranded cotton. The frame is not included: choose it once the embroidery has been washed and pressed, or have the piece mounted by a framer. A hoop and a pair of fine-pointed scissors also make the stitching easier.