25 Count Ash Rose Lugana Evenweave Precut Cross Stitch Fabric 19x27 in by Zweigart 3835/403

Stitch on Ash Rose, a 25 count Lugana evenweave by Zweigart: an ash rose evenweave with a muted, dusty mauve-pink tone. A coloured ground saves stitching a full background and sets the mood of the piece.

A little stitcher's folklore: girls once worked a sampler as a school exercise, stitching alphabets and numbers on linen before they embroidered anything for the house, and many of those samplers survive in museums today.

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 baby samplers, florals and spring designs.

In the pack: one precut piece of Zweigart Lugana, 52% cotton and 48% viscose, 25 count (10 threads per cm), in Ash Rose. 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. Wash finished work by hand in cool water and press face down on a towel.

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.