Animal World Map Cross Stitch Kit

About the design

The continents are charted in deep teal on white, and each one carries its own small scenes: a moose and a polar bear in the north, nesting dolls, a panda and a pagoda across Europe and Asia, a camel, an elephant and a giraffe in Africa, a kangaroo beside the Sydney Opera House, and penguins along the bottom edge. Landmarks fill the gaps, from the Golden Gate Bridge and the Statue of Liberty to Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the pyramids and the Taj Mahal. A whale, a shark and a marlin swim in the oceans, a hot air balloon drifts over the Atlantic, and the Arctic Circle, the oceans and Antarctica are lettered in soft coral.

Fabric, count and finished size

The map is worked in full cross stitch on white Aida, which keeps the grid easy to see. On 14-count it finishes at 18.9 x 11 in (48 x 28 cm); on 18-count it finishes at 15.4 x 9.4 in (39 x 24 cm), with finer stitches and a smaller footprint. The chart is the same for both.

Expect plenty of color changes: the animals are small, and many use several shades. Parking threads, keeping a few needles going at once, makes that part much quicker.

How long it takes

The chart is about 265 by 154 stitches and a little under half of it is stitched, so plan on roughly 18,000 crosses. At a typical 100 to 150 stitches an hour, that is about 120 to 185 hours. Working one continent at a time breaks it into pieces that each feel finished.

Stitching tips

Stitch the teal continents before the animals. The big blocks of one color go quickly and give you landmarks for counting the small motifs inside them. Mark off each finished area on the chart in pencil, which matters on a map with this many separate pieces.

What is in the kit

• Unprinted Aida fabric, 100% cotton
• Cotton floss, sorted on a numbered card
• A printed symbol chart and instructions
• A needle

A hoop, scissors and a frame are not included. The fabric is folded in the pack, so press it from the back before you start. The wide shape suits a panoramic frame above a sofa or a desk.

Delivery and returns

Delivery is $6.95, and free on orders from $49. The delivery estimate for your address shows on this page and at checkout. You can return the kit within 30 days of delivery; return shipping is yours unless it arrives faulty or wrong. See delivery and returns for the details, or compare the other cross stitch kits.