Curtain call

■ DMC Natura Just Cotton (100% cotton, 50g/155m) 1 ball of each: Passion (N23) Coral (N18) Blé (N83) Spring Rose (N07) Geranium (N52) Chartreuse (N48) Light Green (N12) Safran (N47) Blue Layette (N05)

Emma Leith’s fabric and yarn combo makes adding detail easy. Pick a floral print and you’re already halfway there! ■ Yarnsmiths Create DK (100% acrylic, 100g/290m), 2 balls of Yarn A Cream (3050), 1 b

MATERIALS Of Caron Simply Soft, 1 170g ball in each of Bone (9703) A, Autumn Maize (0008) B and Taupe (9783) C for Brown version; Cobalt Blue (9784) A, Plum Perfect (9761) B and Sage (9705) C for Blue

■ Rico Essential Cotton DK (100% cotton, 50g/120m) 2 balls of Pistachio (086) 1 ball of each: Denim (108) Fuchsia (014) Pumpkin (087) Dark Teal (040) ■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook ■ A plain cushion, 33x33cm ■

One of our favourite illustrators whose pieces we love to turn into cross stitch is Cherelle Brown of KitsCH Noir. This attentive gardener is another one to add to the growing portfolio of Cherelle’s

Egypt is a country overflowing with history, archaeology and landmarks – the Pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings, for example – that have stood the test of time. The writing system they used