Girl with a Pearl Earring Vermeer Portrait Counted Cross Stitch Kit by Luca-S B467L

Stitch Girl with a Pearl Earring, a counted cross stitch kit by Luca-S — Johannes Vermeer's famous girl turns over her shoulder towards you, her blue-and-gold turban glowing against a deep black background and the single pearl catching the light. The dark fabric does the work of the background, so every stitch goes into her face, the folds of the headscarf and the ochre jacket.

A little stitcher's folklore: stitchers like to say that the pearl is the last stitch you should make, so that she 'turns to look' at you only when the portrait is finished. Many keep a little thread of the pearl colour tucked into the frame as a keepsake.

Why this kit: a museum masterpiece you can hang at home, charted by Luca-S from Vermeer's painting of around 1665. Stitching on black Aida gives the same rich, candle-lit depth as the original, and it makes a wonderful long project for art lovers.

Kit includes: 18-count black Zweigart Aida (100% cotton), Anchor 100% cotton threads in 42 colours, a needle, a symbol chart and instructions. A frame and hoop are not included.

Work the face and the pearl first, where the shading is finest, then build out the blue and yellow turban and the jacket block by block using the symbol chart. Good light is your friend on black fabric — a white cloth on your lap makes the holes much easier to see.

Finished size: 27×41 cm (10.6×16.1 in). A classic portrait for the living room wall or a treasured gift for someone who loves the Old Masters.