Merry-go-rounds Carousel Plastic Canvas Cross Stitch Kit by Crafting Spark 203CS

Stitch Merry-go-rounds, a set of four plastic canvas cross stitch motifs by Crafting Spark: four carousels with painted horses, a lion, swans and a zebra under striped canopies.

A little stitcher's folklore: the first carousels were built to train young knights for jousting, long before they became fairground rides. Plastic canvas has been a crafter's favourite since the 1970s, because it holds its shape and turns stitching into ornaments without any framing.

Why this kit: four small motifs give you a finished piece at almost every sitting, so the project never drags; the plastic canvas keeps its shape, so there is no hoop, no ironing and no framing, just trim around each design; and two charts, one with the backstitch outlines and one without, keep the counting clear and easy to follow.

Kit includes: white 14-count plastic canvas, 24 colours of 100% cotton embroidery floss sorted on a numbered card, a needle, and two black-and-white charts, one with backstitch and one without. Stitches used: full cross stitches plus backstitch outlines. Not included: scissors and ribbon or cord for hanging.

Find the centre of each motif on the chart and on the canvas, then match each symbol to its numbered floss and work full cross stitches over one square of canvas. Add the backstitch outlines last. When a motif is finished, cut around it, leaving one empty square of canvas as a border so the edge stays strong, and thread a ribbon through the top to hang it.

Finished size: each motif measures about 8×13 cm (3.1×5.1 in). The four pieces can become ornaments, gift tags, magnets or bag charms. They look lovely in a bedroom, on a backpack or the fridge door, and make a thoughtful gift for dreamers, collectors and crafty friends.