Roses Floral Needlepoint Canvas by Seg de Paris SEU928.339

Stitch Roses, a printed needlepoint canvas by Seg de Paris: pink and coral roses with buds and leaves on a soft blue background.

A little stitcher's folklore: in the Victorian language of flowers every bloom carried a message, so a bouquet could say what a letter could not. 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: 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 bedroom, a living room or a sunroom, and makes a thoughtful gift for gardeners, mothers and grandmothers.