The Deer Forest Panel Needlepoint Canvas by Seg de Paris SE950.91

Stitch The Deer, a printed needlepoint canvas by Seg de Paris: a red deer stag with full antlers standing in a sunlit autumn forest with ferns.

A little stitcher's folklore: in old forest tales the squirrel, the deer and the fox were the keepers of the woods, each with its own season. Half stitch, worked diagonally over one canvas thread, uses less thread than cross stitch, and it gives a smooth, even surface that looks like woven tapestry.

Why this canvas: the full-colour print shows exactly where each shade goes, so there is no chart to count and you can simply relax and stitch; it is printed on genuine Zweigart canvas in France, so the mesh stays square and the colours stay crisp from the first stitch to the last; and buying the threads yourself means you choose the look: Colbert wool for a classic tapestry finish, or Mouliné and Pearl cotton for a finer sheen.

Canvas includes: one Zweigart 10-count canvas (100% cotton, 40 holes per 10 cm), designed and printed in France with the design in full colour, and a thread list naming the DMC Mouliné, Colbert wool, Retors and Pearl cotton shades to buy. Stitch used: half stitch. Not included: threads, needle and frame, which are sold separately.

Match each printed colour to the thread list, then cover the canvas in half stitch, working the main shapes first and the background last. Mounting the canvas on stretcher bars or a frame keeps it square, and a tapestry needle size 20 to 22 suits the 10-count mesh.

Canvas size: 25×60 cm (9.8×23.6 in). The tall panel format suits a narrow wall, a door side or a bell-pull style hanging. It looks at home in a cabin, a study or a living room, and makes a thoughtful gift for hikers, nature lovers and animal lovers.