Create a tailor-made towel - with cross-stitch
Add a nautical touch to a plain towel

For the towel
Cut a length of DMC 5cm-wide cross-stitch band the width of your towel plus 4cm.
Following the motif chart below, cross-stitch three anchors, equally spaced, on to the cross-stitch band. Turn under 1cm twice at both ends of the band and press.
Pin on to the towel, folding pressed ends around towel edge and stitch in place.
Guide to cross-stitch
Cross-stitch is worked following a design from a chart on to even-weave fabric, by counting the threads in the fabric to position the stitches accurately. It can be worked from left to right or vice versa – the top diagonals of each cross should slant in the same direction throughout. We used two strands of DMC embroidery thread in Blue 803 and 18-count Aida fabric.
Feature: Kirsty Robertson. Photos: Richard Burns. Illustrations: Terry Evans
DMC Aida and embroidery threads, C&H (01892 773600). Towel, Marks & Spencer (0845 302 1234).