Along the Riverbank Shoe Art Counted Cross Stitch Kit by Bothy Threads XSK2

Stitch Along the Riverbank, a counted cross stitch kit by Bothy Threads — a shoe woven from reeds and a lily pad hosts a kingfisher, a wren and bulrushes, with a white heron forming the heel.

A little stitcher's folklore: a kingfisher can plunge into the water at around 25 mph to catch a fish.

Why this kit: part of Sally King's Shoe Art Collection, it turns a fantasy high heel into a whole scene, stitched on fine 16-count Aida for crisp detail in the birds.

Kit includes: 16-count white Zweigart Aida, pre-sorted stranded cottons, a needle and a clear stitch diagram and instructions. Stitches used: full cross stitches, fractional stitches, back stitch and French knots. A frame is not included.

Stitch the birds and reeds in cross stitch from the centre, then add fractionals, back stitch and French knots.

Finished size: 27×22 cm (10.6×8.7 in). A lovely gift for a birdwatcher.