Who'd have thought it was so easy!?

I was having a root around in a box of needlework bits yesterday, fighting of the creeping cold that was setting in because our boiler broke down.  Whilst I was delving in the box I found a small Elizabeth Bradley tapestry kit that I got for Christmas some years ago - more than 10 if truth be told.  I think it was before my first son was born anyway. I also found a millenium cross stitch kit meant for marking the year 2000 which I was going to do on maternity leave.  That is nearly 11 years old now and as yet, untouched, but I digress.

I haven't started the kit as I couldn't fathom how the colours printed on the canvas were supposed to work.  Where were you supposed to start and finish the cross stitch in relation to the colours?  It just didn't make sense to me, and being as tapestry kits are so expensive, I put it to one side rather than make a dogs dinner of it. 

Yesterday I again sat there looking at this thing completely flummoxed by it.  And then I turned the canvas upside down and suddenly, there were the first 3 rows with crosses over the canvas that lined up with the holes!!  Eureka, it all made sense!  I have done those 3 rows now and the little crosses have disappeared and again it seems like blocks of colour but I have started so it doesn't matter.  I can count the number of stitchs needed in each row, for each colour and sew them accordingly.  The printed canvas is unnecessary as a guide to the pattern and that suits me fine.  I will post a photo of what I have done when I get a bit further along but I am actually quite chuffed that I have got it.  Another needlecraft that I can say I have tried.  Can't be bad.

Now all I have to do is resist the urge to start buying tapestry kits and making my stash of UFOs even bigger!  Easier said than done.  I am already contemplating whether to make this for my in-laws Golden Wedding anniversary.

This kit comes from One Off Needlwork and I stock it in my shop. I have been thinking for a while that it would make a good pressie for the in-laws wedding anniversary in September but I haven't had the courage to have a go.  Perhaps now I will.

Thanks for reading.