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Pattern includes one transfer 16" x 19¾" for cross-stitch bird design, with crosses 7 to the inch. A chart for placing the colors is also included.

The popular, vivid mallards, so well known in the marshes and ponds from Nova Scotia to California, as well as in far-off Africa and India, are a colorful addition to any home. The brilliance and depth of color, and the realistic motion of the birds, combine to give the delightful feeling of a brisk October morning in the country.

MATERIALS REQUIRED: Six-strand cotton should be used for the work in the following amounts. One skein each of white, lt. grey, med. grey, bright green blue, bright med. blue, deep blue, bright yellow green, med. green, emerald green, lemon yellow, bright yellow, bright orange yellow, burnt orange, bright rose rust, deep rust, lt. gold, gold, rose, bright red, deep wine rose, 2 skeins each of black, med. brown and beige and 3 skeins of deep brown.

BACKGROUND MATERIAL: Unbleached muslin, smooth linen, medium-weight smooth linen-like cotton, are suggested materials. The background may be cream, natural or white. Use a piece of material 22 x 25¾ inches, or larger, if desired. See framing directions below. The design is also suitable for a wall hanging.

CROSS-STITCH: Follow the chart in pattern for placing the colors and use six strands of cotton in the needle for the work. It is very important when working cross-stitch to have the crosses of the entire piece cross in the same direction. A cross is made of an under stitch and an over stitch; all the under stitches must be worked in one direction and all the over stitches must cross them in the opposite direction. Whether one starts at the left and works right, as illustrated in detail 1, or whether one starts at the right and works left is optional. However, all the rows should be worked to the right or left throughout the entire piece. Keep the stitches as even as possible. Be sure to make all the crosses touch, as shown in detail 2. To do this, put the needle in the same hole as used for the adjoining stitch.

SUGGESTION FOR FRAMING: This lovely bird design when worked in cross-stitch is about 16 x 19¾ inches. You may allow a two-inch margin around the piece when framing; or from 2½ to 3 inches, as desired. The frame should blend with the shades in the picture or it may be dark brown or mahogany. When using a rectangular frame, the frame should be 2, 2½ or 3 inches wide.

Before framing, the embroidered piece should be stretched over a stiff piece of cardboard, cut the exact size of the frame. In stretching material, be sure to keep the design perfectly straight. Pins driven through the material and into the edge of the cardboard will be helpful in keeping the material straight and tight. The edges of the material may be pasted down on the wrong side of the cardboard, or the edges of material caught together with long zigzag stitches to hold the embroidery in place.