25 Count Vintage Dune Lugana Evenweave Precut Cross Stitch Fabric 19x27 in by Zweigart 3835/1079

Stitch on Vintage Dune, a 25 count Lugana evenweave by Zweigart: an off-white evenweave with soft, cloudy sand-toned mottling for an aged feel. The marbling is printed onto the cloth, so you get the look of hand-dyed fabric with an even, reliable weave.

A little stitcher's folklore: stitchers used to dip new linen in tea or coffee to give a sampler an antique look; a printed vintage fabric gives the same aged effect without any risk of the colour running.

Why this fabric: Lugana is a soft cotton and viscose evenweave with perfectly even threads, so there are no slubs to work around. Worked over two it gives 12.5 stitches per inch, a little larger than 14 count Aida, which makes it a comfortable first step from Aida to evenweave. This shade suits primitive, country and seasonal samplers.

In the pack: one precut piece of Zweigart Lugana, 52% cotton and 48% viscose, 25 count (10 threads per cm), in Vintage Dune. Not included: chart, floss, needle and hoop, sold separately.

Getting started: overcast the edges, fold to find the centre and stitch over two threads with a size 24 or 26 tapestry needle, using two strands of floss. The marbling is printed, so each piece varies a little; buy enough for a whole project at once, and test a corner before washing a finished piece.

Size: 48 x 68 cm (19 x 27 in). Worked over two with a 2 in margin all round, it fits a design of about 185 x 280 stitches. It is a good piece to keep in the stash or to tuck into a gift for a stitching friend.