Clara's Ballroom - From The Susan Penny Design Studio

Clara's Ballroom - From The Susan Penny Design Studio

It's Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaums' party, and Clara has just been given her very own Nutcracker. Open this little tin and you step straight into the ballroom where the story begins: tall double doors glinting with gold, a Christmas tree dressed with baubles, presents piled beneath it, and an elegant patterned floor in shades of winter blue.

Clara herself is a double-sided stitched figure, 7.5cm (3in) tall, in a pale blue party dress with a ribbon in her hair, holding her Nutcracker close. Stand her in front of the open tin and the scene is set; close the lid and she rests safely inside until next Christmas.

The design is worked in cross stitch, backstitch and French knots, with touches of DMC Light Effects to make the ballroom sparkle. Collect her with the Sugar Plum Fairy for a little Nutcracker suite of your own.

Chart pack with Aida and tin: tin, white 14 count Aida, needle, thread organiser and colour chart with full instructions.

Full pack: everything in the chart pack, plus full skeins of the DMC stranded cottons and DMC Light Effects you need.