Cross stitch lovers will adore this book of Christmas designs.

Foliage, animals and alphabets are designed to fit together to create samplers or use separately for small decorations on napkins, wall banners or bunting. I just adored the picture of the wooden box of thimbles, I feel this sets the tone for the book in general. It is traditional, warm and really makes you want for Christmas to come early.

The designs are neat and simple. The colour palette is beautifully put together and each project has a story attached as well as tips from the DIY Christmas elf. The full page charts are accompanied by a thread key, and instructions to complete each project are easy to follow. The photography is beautiful, showing the delicacy and elegance in each design.

This is a perfect book to give as a gift and one that will used year after year.

As you can see from the contents page, there is a wide range of cross stitch designs from festive foliage to Christmas animals, and from advent to alphabets. Each design is so beautiful, classy and fabulously photographed.

Following the photos of the projects, and then the charts, there is a “techniques and making up” section.

Hand embroidery enthusiasts will be so excited to explore these festive cross-stitch designs by accomplished embroiderer Hélène Le Berre The projects are suitable for beginners and advanced stitchers alike, with comprehensive information on techniques to fill in any gaps in your knowledge. There are 20 dedicated winter scenes to choose from, so the hardest part will be selecting which one to stitch first!

This book contains 20 designs and each design has an anecdote, recipe, game, or quote alongside the design picture. This is different and both informative and interesting. For example, there are regional traditions, vegan nutty star recipes, stories and more.

Now to the cross stitching. Helene works on DMC 28 count ivory evenweave and she also recommends 6 stranded embroidery thread. She gives a table for using Aida, linen, evenweave and etamine. As well as saying how many strands of threads needed for different fabric counts.

All the charts in colour with corresponding thread numbers. Helene suggests that you use a punched thread organiser and note down the chart colours to numbered thread, especially if you use your own threads. I would also recommend this.

This book has very fine embroideries and looks extremely delicate and beautiful. If you are looking for Christmas cross stitch projects with a twist and contemporary designs, I think this book would suit perfectly.

If you love hand embroidery, you will be delighted by these exquisite Christmas-themed designs created by accomplished embroiderer Hélène Le Berre. There are 20 to choose from, all delicately worked in cross stitch to create magical winter scenes featuring reindeer, birds, trees and festive foliage, as well as a Christmas alphabet.

Each design is accompanied by a full-page chart and thread key, and instructions are provided for creating cutlery pockets, a photo album cover, gift tags and Christmas candy pouches. For those new to cross stitch, there is a helpful guide to the fabrics, threads, tools and stitches you need at the back of the book.