Design Works Crafts 5435 12 Days of Christmas Counted Cross Stitch Kit, 14 by 18" , White

Giving this kit 5 stars to counteract the 1-star reviews that say there isn't the right amount of floss in this kit. The kit does say you will be getting x number of a particular color of 36" lengths of floss. I've made at least 6 or 7 other Design Works kits & some of them the kit has longer lengths of floss... which explains why you get fewer strands than what is on the printed pattern. They aren't quite twice as long, the one I measured out was 65" long... so if you cut them in half before counting (and the instructions say to do this) then some colors you actually end up with MORE strands than what is printed on the pattern.Also, the review complaining the lengths of floss are too long is silly... I wonder if this person ever bought skeins of DMC floss (which are 8.7 yards long)... how one earth would they stitch with such long floss?I would actually give this kit 5 stars for the pattern design... Design Works does have some lovely designs that you can only buy as kits, which is why I buy them... but I wish the materials were higher quality so I'd give 3 stars for materials. That means my review should be 4 stars... but again, I felt I should up it to 5 stars because some reviewers didn't understand why they seemed short of floss.The floss in every DW kit I've made some colors (maybe all) is obviously NOT DMC. If you do a lot of cross stitch with DMC (as I have for over 40 years) you will notice the difference in the look & feel, especially when stitching. DW does provide DMC numbers, but those are similar colors & not always an exact match. Some of their floss doesn't have the same sheen as DMC, and some colors look in the same kit looks like different brands than other colors. Some colors are very matte & barely twisted... while other colors are shiny & each strand is more tightly twisted than DMC (they look more like 6 strands of sewing thread). I've noticed every DW kit I've done their black color floss is used for most or all of the backstitching & it is a cheaper brand that can indeed fuzz up if you're using too long a length (so yes you might want to use scissors to cut them in half, the instructions even say this).Other popular-brands of cross stitch kits I've made (Janlynn, Dimensions, Bucilla) provide higher quality fabric & floss... but they also come with a higher price tag. The aida fabric in this & other DW kits is not the thick "gold" quality (which I prefer for large designs), and it's not quite "silver" quality, either (which I often use for smaller designs). It's a decent quality fabric, the weave is consistent & I haven't noticed any obvious flaws... but it's a thinner light-weight aida that usually needs a hoop or frame to get good, even tension when stitching a large project. I prefer to stitch in-hand (without a hoop or frame) so I've always replaced the DW kit fabric with gold-quality fabric (I save the DW fabric for small projects). I do use their kits' floss even though it's a lesser quality than DMC because I don't want to buy 15-20+ skeins of floss when I've already paid for a kit. I don't ever use the needles they provide... they look to be a size 22 or 24 & I always use a size 26 on 14 count aida... so I buy these DW kits for the patterns & floss.Also, some said the pattern was printed too light to read... I might have lucked out & got a better quality print out... page 2 is a tad lighter than page 1 but my old eyes can still make out the symbols. And I always repaint my kit patterns in Pattern Maker so I can have the pattern in color & easily stitch from my computer monitor or iPad, so having lighter-print doesn't bother me.Haven't stitched this particular DW kit yet... but it seems to have sufficient supplies & be the same quality as other DW kits. I might replace the beads as I can see they aren't as consistent in size as Mill Hill beads, which I think I already have on-hand. Will update my review if I come across anything different than what I've already mentioned.

I haven’t begun this project yet but I opened it up and the materials are very nice with gorgeous colors and it’s a beautiful design-I can’t wait to get started. Not only am I going to make the full design but I am going to make tree ornaments out of the individual designs of the piece! This really isn’t what I would call beginner work because it’s a large and layered piece with a lot of outlining and detailing, including beading, and I think it would be just a tad bit more than a beginner could handle. But if they were determined and patient and learn easily from written instruction, why not go for it? ;)

It's the one we ordered, thanks

Full disclosure: I haven't actually stitched this kit yet.However, to people looking to purchase, you should know that the print on the pattern is TINY. It's legible, it's not blurry or poor quality or anything (it is in black and white only, if that affects anyone's decision-making). But I will need to get a magnifier of some kind before I begin the kit. I am excited to make the kit, though! Will update this review if there are any new revelations.

Thank you beautiful a little advanced not for beginners.

The pattern is so small and complex I couldn’t see it. The floss is virtually indecipherable. Do not think you can immediately use this kit and get working! I had to get the pattern enlarged and decode the instructions to sort out the floss. Very poor.

Loving this cross stitch. Was looking for a challenge and I found it! Look forward to working on this every day.

The counted cross stitch pattern is printed on two 11 X 17" sheets. The second of the two sheets I received was very faintly printed. I attempted to use the website for the company and found that their listed email address does not connect to anyone. I called the phone number I found five times and left messages each time. I was told first that I would receive a pdf of the document via email and it never arrived. Then I was told I would receive a paper copy via the mail. Nothing has been received after waiting over two weeks. It is VERY difficult to interpret the pattern and complete the project now that I have almost a month of work invested in it.