Runner - Snow hare and goldfinch

A ready-made runner, hemmed and printed: you stitch straight over the coloured lines with no counting, and the printed design washes out once the embroidery is finished. Cross stitch does most of the work, while a few details such as the stars, the berries and the hare's whiskers are worked in french knots and line stitches explained in the instructions.

The long format suits a festive table, but it also looks good on a sideboard or a chest. All you may want to add is an embroidery frame, if you prefer the fabric under tension; when you are done, a gentle wash and pressing from the back are enough.