16 Count Opalescent White Aida Cloth Precut Cross Stitch Fabric 19x21 in by Zweigart 3251/11

Stitch on Opalescent White, a 16 count Aida cloth by Zweigart: a white Aida woven with a fine metallic thread for a pearly, opalescent shimmer. The metallic thread catches the light, so even simple motifs sparkle.

A little stitcher's folklore: metallic threads were once real gold and silver wrapped around silk and kept for church and court embroidery; a touch of shimmer in the cloth nods to that tradition.

Why this fabric: 16 count Aida gives a finer, neater finish than 14 count while the holes stay easy to see, and it matches charts written for 32 count linen worked over two. This shade suits Christmas, wedding and winter designs.

In the pack: one precut piece of Zweigart Aida, cotton woven with a metallic thread, 16 count (6.4 squares per cm), in Opalescent White. Not included: chart, floss, needle and hoop, sold separately.

Getting started: overcast or tape the edges, fold to find the centre and stitch one cross over each block with a size 24 or 26 tapestry needle, using two strands of floss. Press with a cool iron through a cloth to protect the shimmer.

Size: 48 x 53 cm (19 x 21 in). Stitched one cross per block with a 2 in margin all round, it fits a design of about 235 x 265 stitches. One piece is plenty for a framed sampler, a pillow front or several small ornaments.