Poppy Floral Needlepoint Canvas by Seg de Paris SEU928.338

Stitch Poppy, a printed needlepoint canvas by Seg de Paris: a large red poppy with seed pods and buds among green stems.

A little stitcher's folklore: the red poppy has been a symbol of remembrance since the poem In Flanders Fields was written in 1915. French printed tapestry canvases have been a favorite with stitchers for generations, because the colours are already on the canvas and no chart counting is needed.

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: 30×40 cm (11.8×15.7 in). A comfortable size for a framed picture or a small pillow front. It looks at home in a living room, a bedroom or a hallway, and makes a thoughtful gift for gardeners and lovers of bold color.